1.13.1 General procedure for installing software
You can use the distribution function to install software on the computers in your organization in case of new software implementation or version upgrade.
To distribute and install software on the computers in your organization by using the distribution function:
- 1. Check the software installation status.
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When you plan to upgrade the software or add new licenses, check the software installation status to determine how many licenses are necessary. When you decide on the number of necessary licenses, purchase them from the vendor.
- 2. Create a software distribution plan.
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Create a software distribution plan before you begin the procedure. Also notify the users in advance of the details of the distribution plan.
- 3. Install software on the computers.
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In order to install the software, create a package in which the software to be installed is registered and a task to distribute the package. The package is distributed according to the schedule specified in the task.
- 4. Review the results of the task execution.
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Review the execution status of the software distribution. If a failure occurs on the computer during the distribution or installation, find the cause of the failure to solve the problem, and then re-execute the task.
Now the software has been installed on all the target computers.
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- Organization of this subsection
(1) Checking the software installation status
When you upgrade the software version or add new licenses, you need to check the software installation status to determine how many licenses are necessary. When you decide on the number of necessary licenses, purchase them from the vendor.
You can view the software installation status and the usage status of the licenses in the Managed Software view of the Assets module.
In case of software version upgrade, determine how many computers you have with the old version to be upgraded. In case of new software license addition, determine how many computers you have for installation.
- Tip
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Also in case of new software license addition, we recommend that you check whether you have any surplus license. To optimize the license usage, you can use the surplus to fill the request and order additional licenses as required.
If you decide on the number of the licenses to purchase, place an order with the vendor. Register the details of the purchased software as the asset information (software license information and managed-software information) in JP1/IT Desktop Management 2 so that you can view the usage status of the software license.
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(2) Creating a software distribution plan
Create a software distribution plan before you begin the procedure. Also notify the users in advance of the details of the distribution plan.
- 1. Create a software distribution plan.
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Consider the following items included in the software distribution plan:
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Computers to which the software is to be distributed
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Date and time on which the software is to be distributed
When you set the date and time on which the software is to be distributed, you need to consider the load placed on the network. For example, you can schedule the distribution during night to avoid business hours, or divide the target computers into groups to perform distribution over several days.
Also, you need to do some preparation before you use the distribution function.
- Tip
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Before you start the software distribution procedure, we recommend that you make sure that the software is successfully distributed and installed by using the computer for testing.
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- 2. Notify the users of the details of the software distribution plan.
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Notify the users in advance of the details of the software distribution plan to successfully install the software as scheduled and to avoid confusion among the users. For example, notify the users of the following information:
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Software name
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Software version
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Reason of distribution
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Distribution date and time
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Cautions
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Now the preparation for the software distribution is complete.
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(3) Installing software on the computers
You can use the Install Software wizard to distribute and install software on users' computers.
By using the Install Software wizard, you can create a package in which the software to be installed is registered and a task to distribute the package. When the wizard is complete, the package is distributed according to the schedule specified in the task.
To install the software on the computers:
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Display the Distribution (ITDM-compatible) module.
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In the menu area, select Packages and then Package List.
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In the information area, from Action, select Launch Install Wizard to start the wizard.
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In the What is this Wizard? view, read the instruction, and then click the Next button.
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In the Select Software view, select Create New Package, specify the files to be registered in the package, and then click the Next button.
If you have created a package already, you can select it in this step.
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In the Specify Package view, set the package information, and then click the Next button.
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In the Create Package Distribution Task view, set the schedule to perform distribution and so on, and then click the Next button.
By clicking Execute Option, you can specify option settings such as the installation timing, email message to notify the users, and so on.
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In the Select Target Computers view, click the Change button.
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In the Change Applicable Computers dialog box, select the computers on which the software is installed, and then click the OK button.
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Click the Next button.
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In the Confirm Settings view, check the settings, and then click the Complete button.
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In the Distribution Settings Configured view, click the Close button.
The software is distributed and installed on the specified target computers according to the schedule specified in the task. You can view the execution status of the task in the Tasks view of the Distribution (ITDM-compatible) module.
- Tip
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The users can change the schedule to execute the installation later if more urgent or important operation is in progress on their computers.
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(4) Reviewing the results of the task execution
You can review the task execution status in the Tasks view of the Distribution (ITDM-compatible) module.
We recommend that you check the task execution status on regular basis until the task is complete. If a failure occurs on the computer during the task execution, find the cause of the failure to solve the problem, and then re-execute the task.
- Tip
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You can also configure JP1/IT Desktop Management 2 to automatically send an email when a distribution management event occurs (such as task completion and task failure).
- 1. Review the execution status of the task.
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In the Tasks view of the Distribution (ITDM-compatible) module, select a task to view its execution status. After you select a task, the detailed information of the task is displayed in the tab at the bottom of the information area. In the Task Information tab, select Task Status Details and then Progress (Completed/Total) to check whether the task has been completed successfully.
- 2. Find the cause of the task failure, and then solve the problem.
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If a failure occurred on the computer during the task execution, click the Failed link in the Task Information tab. The Task Status tab opens with a list of computers on which the task has failed.
Click the link in Task Status to display a dialog box showing the details of the task status. Find the cause of the task failure, and then solve the problem.
- 3. Re-execute the task.
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When the problem has been resolved, re-execute the task.
- If you re-execute the task with the same settings:
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You can just re-execute the task with the same settings as the previous execution.
- If you re-execute the task with different settings:
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If you need to change the settings such as execution schedule or target computer, edit or copy the settings, and then re-execute the task.
Now the task will be re-executed on the target computers.
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