C3 Security Consulting LLC
Confidentiality
Integrety
Availability		 company banner
HomeSecurityServicesVistaInformationCompany
  
floating layer default test box
Windows Vista
Overview
I.Unattended Install
II.Custom Vista Image
III.Deploying with
BDD Workbench
Creating Unattended
Application Installations
On this page:
VM Ware
MS Office 2007
Related Links
Benefits of Linux
If you are undecided on what OS to use, see some of the added value of Linux.
Cerberus
Cerberus, an IPsec implementation from NIST. This implementation contain many different encryption cypher (including all the AES finalists), but is subject to US export controls.
Center for Internet Security
A non-profit enterprise whose mission is to help organizations reduce the risk of business and e-commerce disruptions resulting from inadequate technical security controls.
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) is an easy-to-use tool designed for the IT professional that helps small- and medium-sized businesses determine their security state in accordance with Microsoft security recommendations and offers specific remediation guidance.
Great security tools for smaller environments
CounterSpy Enterprise Wins Best Spyware Blocker Second Year in a Row; Sunbelt Messaging Ninja Wins Best Antispam Mail Server.

Preparing Applications for unattended instalation

Print view

Without considering the behavior of individual applications during the installation process, the unattended chaining of tasks can be terminated prematurely. Applications that require a user response need to be identified and alternative setup parameters applied. The same problems apply to applications that require license keys or a reboot of the computer.

Here are a few example applications and how each has overcome these issues.


Adding VM Ware tools as an application

  1. Mount the windows.iso file.
  2. Expand the source files to a temporary directory:
    3. Setup /a and follow the prompts
    Note: it is possible that not all the files needed are extracted to the necessary directories. There should be (along with the MSI file) two sub-directories; Program Files and System32. Copy these directories from the original installation CD (Windows.iso), and over write the directories extracted by the setup program.
  3. Within Deployment Workbench add an application and select the option to copy the source files.
  4. Use the installation command line:
    5. msiexec.exe /i "vmware tools.msi" /qn ADDLOCAL=ALL REBOOT="ReallySuppress" /log %tmp%vmtools.log
  5. Finally, either within any other applications listed in Deployment Workbench, create a dependency on the completed installation of the tools application, or assign the installations as synchronous or consecutive tasks.


Customizing Microsoft Office 2007 for an unattended installation.

  1. Open a command prompt and navigate to the Office source files.
  2. Run Setup /admin to start the customization tool.
  3. Select Create a new Setup customization for the following product: and highlight Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007.
  4. Scroll down to Licensing and user interface and enter the volume license key. (Currently, an evaluation version of Office 2007 can be downloaded from Microsoft for a 60 day trial).
  5. Check the I accept the terms in the License Agreement check box.
  6. Even if it is anticipated the customization will only be used for fully unattended installations, it is still worth leaving the Display level at Full. The duration of the installation is quite long and so displaying the installation splash screen will prevent the appearance of a “hung” process. However, to avoid disruption to the installation, check the No cancel check box.
  7. The selectable options under Features are very granular. It is worth spending time configuring these settings, for the environment and user community, to reduce installation time.
  8. Click File and Save As. Save the file with the Office source files, and name it appropriately, e.g. “MyOffice07.msp”.
  9. To run the customized installation use the syntax:
setup.exe /adminfile MyOffice07.msp
▲Top of page
Did you know?
Who is using your computer?
Don't leave your computer whilst you are logged on. It only takes a moment for someone to send an email with your account. Always shut down at night and set a password for your screen saver so your PC will remember even if you don't.
Spam problems?
Microsoft filters out over three billion spam messages a day.
Size does matter - passwords.
Make it longer, using upper and lower case, with numbers and special characters. Don't forget spaces and punctuation points can frequently be used to make more memorable, but still secure, pass phrases.
Patch management is the cheepest security fix available.
Having an automated patchmanagement system is straight forward to setup with almost no administrative overhead. Set it up once for your environment and it will do the work.
An average of $1,300 is spent per employee in companies of $10m revenue or less.
This is 10 times greater than companies with revenue of $100m - $1bn. Unable to realize the economies of scale, smaller companies spend disproportionately higher amounts on security - learn how to leverage lessons learnt by larger companies.
Trademarks© Copyright (2006) C3 Security Consulting LLC, Washington DC. (+1 866 799 2969) - Hosted by Webmasters.com