Learn AD in 15 Minutes a Week: Windows 2000 Server Software Management Tools Page 4

GPOs can be configured from the General tab of the Software Installation Properties dialog box, with specific settings that affect the installation, maintenance and any subsequent removal of Group Policy deployed applications.

To do this the Administrator would open the Group Policy snap-in and open the Software Settings in Computer or User Configuration section. (This would depend on whether it was a Computer or User deployment.)

Then, you would right-click the Software Installation node and select Properties, which would bring you to the Software Installation Properties dialog box, shown below.

In the General tab of the Software Installation Properties dialog box, you would enter the path to the Software Distribution Point for any necessary MSI files in the Default Package Location box. If you don't know the full path, you can use the Browse button.

Directly below the Default Package Location field is the New Packages section of the Software installation Properties. Here you will need to select one of the following options:

• Display The Deploy Software Dialog Box to specify that when you add a new package, the Deploy Software dialog box will display, allowing you to assign, publish, or configure package properties.
  


• Publish is used to specify that when a new package is added it is to be published with standard package properties. Packages can only be published to users, not computers, and this is why under the Computer Configuration node of the Group Policy snap-in the Publish option is grayed out.
  


• Assign is used to specify that when you add a new package it is to be assigned with standard package properties. Packages can be assigned to both users and computers.
  


• Advanced Published Or Assigned is used to specify that when you add a new package, the Configure Package Properties form should appear.

In the Installation User Interface Options section you will need to select one of the following:

• Basic to provide only a basic display of the install process.
  


• Maximum to provide all installation messages and screens during the package installation.

Check the "Uninstall The Applications When They Fall Out Of The Scope Of Management" check box to specify that the software should be removed when the GPO no longer applies to users or computers.

Click OK to close out the properties sheet.

Well, that wraps up this section of Learn Active Directory Design and Administration in 15 Minutes a Week covering Windows 2000 Server Software Management Tools for handling the deployment and management of software through Group Policy. I hope you found it informative and will return for the next installment. Next week is going to focus on Deploying Software and Software Maintenance.

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Until then, best of luck in your studies and remember,