What software do you use to support packaging?

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All Forums >> [Management Products] >> System Center Products >> System Center Configuration Manager >> What software do you use to support packaging?

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What software do you use to support packaging? - 5/5/2008 12:55:28 PM

rheuermann

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I'm using an old version of Wise which has compatibilty problems on Vista so it's time to upgrade. Not that I was happy with the older Wise scripting engine anyway - it had so many problems...

What do you (the community) like to use for:
1) detecting all changes to a computer completed by a 3rd party vendor install?
2) wrapper script (sometimes called bootstrapping) to complete supporting tasks to a vendor's install?
3) automating window dialogs (for non-compatible msi or re-packaging problem) during a vendor install?
4) re-packaging?
5) msi (or transform) editing?

Thanks in advance, hopefully you can share the streangths and weaknesses of your favorite solutions....

Ray

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RE: What software do you use to support packaging? - 5/5/2008 1:00:19 PM

jmlewis

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wininstallLE or AdminiStudio SMS Edition

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RE: What software do you use to support packaging? - 5/5/2008 1:43:51 PM

jbezdan

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I had been using the old Wise Installer Pro 9 and Wise Studio 6.x at my previous employer, but since leaving them, I have mainly relied on SMS Installer (Wise Installer with a few less options). I have been working with a client that was using WinInstall Pro, but so far I am not impressed with it. I have also used the Admin Studio SMS edition a bit as well but it is very limited.

What bugs me with Altirus/Wise as well as Admin Studio is that the pricing is pretty steep. You have to buy the full blown suite even if you don't need all of those features.

At MMS MyITforum was handing out CDs with a trial of MSI Studio from Scriptlogic. I had heard of it but never tried it. I will be installing it and testing it later today. From what I saw on their website, it looks like it is pretty powerful for the money; about $425 for the standard and $825 for the pro. You can download the trial on their site.

< Message edited by jbezdan -- 5/5/2008 1:45:04 PM >

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RE: What software do you use to support packaging? - 5/5/2008 6:15:04 PM

skissinger

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From: Sherry Kissinger
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We used to have Wise Package Studio (4.5) now we use AdminStudio/InstallShield (7.5). As someone who started with SMS installer, I find Wise easier to use and understand; but Installshield has it's advantages over Wise, too.

If you are looking for the cheap (read "free") solutions: Acresso (Flexnet) SMS edition to do true repackages into MSIs of your own internal applications, or applications that the vendor refuses to provide you in MSI format. Use Orca (in conjunction with understanding what you are doing via appdeploy or training) to edit existing .MSIs (understanding you'll probably lose vendor support if you do that). Most people use SMS Installer for anything they need to script a solution for (i.e., install app1, then change 6 reg keys, modify an .ini)

If you need to edit or create .MSTs beyond using a vendor-provided Tuner (like Adobe Acrobat Tuner), then you will need either Acresso(Installshield) or Altiris(Wise).

In a very simplistic description of the differences, if you are a programmer by training, you'll probably prefer Installshield. If you are an Administrator/scripter by training, you'll probably prefer Wise.

As a tip, I suggest getting training from http://desktopengineer.com/windowsinstallertraining I found it much more informative on how an MSI was constructed, and could then apply that knowledge to either Wise or Installshield. If you take training from Acresso or Altiris, their training programs are geared toward teaching you how to use their product, not necessarily how an MSI works.

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(in reply to jbezdan)

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RE: What software do you use to support packaging? - 5/5/2008 10:13:57 PM

jhinkle

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To this day, the WiseScript Editor is by far our most used feature of Wise Package Studio. I've liked the suite less and less as I've moved forward.

One other consideration is virtualization. If you have Software Assurance and MDOP, disregard this. If you are using others, odds are the decision might be made for you. If you're using Altiris SVS, WPS is the only solution. If you're using Thinstall, now owned by VMWare, AdminStudio is the only choice.

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RE: What software do you use to support packaging? - 5/6/2008 9:51:39 AM

wbracken

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I started my packaging days with SMS installer and moved to Wise Installation Systems 9 and had a lot of great years with it. I did however move to Wise Package Studio a few years back (currently on v7) and cant imaging doing without. We now only do setup captures into MSI's and use Wise Script Editor and Wise Installer Editor for wrappers and other minor things. I have used both Installshield and Wise products and in my opinion Wise Package Studio is much more intuitive and provides a very compelling set of tools. As stated above though its not cheap (about 4000.00 a license for the professional version) but well worth every penny. Our package success rate as jumped exponential since I came to my current employer and ditched SMS installer/AutoIT for Wise Package Studio. Our turn around time is a fraction of what it used to be. So the ROI is very evident. Again my 2 cents. :)

< Message edited by wbracken -- 5/6/2008 9:53:01 AM >

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RE: What software do you use to support packaging? - 5/6/2008 11:15:49 AM

rheuermann

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Thanks for the great feedback!

I thought about upgrading to Wise Package Studio but now it's owned by symantec. This company has always been a pain for me, poorly written support articles, not a lot of product focus or commitment, won't even return a phone call when you're trying to get pre-sales support and then they were missing from MMS this year. So not sure what to make of the future for this product...

I see a lot of peers are just repackaging the setup into an MSI. However, our org likes to use the vendor provided setup to ensure support (could be a invalid belief) and / or a lot of vendors are providing MSIs - which I try to avoid repackaging.

I did stop by Acresso (InstallSheild) at MMS and asked about their solutions. They suggested editing the vendor MSI or adding custom actions in an (MSI?) and call the vendor install from there...

< Message edited by rheuermann -- 5/6/2008 11:18:50 AM >

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RE: What software do you use to support packaging? - 5/7/2008 8:50:55 AM

fracine

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The best way is to always use the setup provide by the manufacturer. This is what we are doing.

From my point of view, you should repackage only:
- home applications
- package where you are only copying files
- what you cannot deploy by using the setup if you are 100% sure there is no MSI inside and if you really understand what the setup is doing.

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RE: What software do you use to support packaging? - 5/7/2008 10:12:16 AM

jnelson993

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I agree. If you look at many of the EULAs for different programs they'll explicitly say that repackaging or modifying their setups will render the software unsupported. Now, will they find out? Probably not, but I'd hate to have support cut off because I repackaged something that I could have just called with some switches or run with another customization package afterwards to get the results I wanted.

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RE: What software do you use to support packaging? - 5/7/2008 5:26:12 PM

bcrosley

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I'm the product manager for desktop management tools at ScriptLogic, including MSI Studio. Not trying to get in a shameless plug. Just wanted to explain that you have hit on exactly our goal for MSI Studio. The Wise and Acresso products are outstanding tools, but really oriented toward much larger teams. The goal of MSI Studio is to provide all of the functionality needed to repackage, create transforms, custom actions, etc., in a product built for individual administrators and small teams.

I'll be around if people have specific question about MSI Studio, and will be happy to help where I can.

Bob Crosley
Sr. Product Manager
ScriptLogic Corporation

(in reply to jbezdan)

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RE: What software do you use to support packaging? - 5/7/2008 8:11:44 PM

jhinkle

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Not shameless, just a plug? Just kidding.

I'm planning to evaluate your product when I come up for air.

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RE: What software do you use to support packaging? - 5/8/2008 1:19:30 PM

MhermanNBME

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I agree with using the provided installer as much as possible, and I am able to do it on just about all of the software that I use. I use an old version of Wise Install Taylor that was free (not free anymore, but maybe you can find it somewhere?) to create MST's (or answer files) for MSI's. For installshield apps, you can use the /r switch to record an answer file.

Good source: www.appdeploy.com lots of good tips on silently installing software without having to repackage.

(in reply to jhinkle)

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RE: What software do you use to support packaging? - 5/10/2008 10:31:09 AM

fracine

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There is also ORCA or Admin Studio SMS Edition (free).

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