AppNote: Updating Client on all Workstations via Login Script

Novell Cool Solutions: AppNote
By Christian Mies

Digg This - Slashdot This Posted: 2 Feb 2005

Christian Mies
email: cmies@gne.de
Network Consultant, GNE GmbH (Germany)

I want to demonstrate how to upgrade all workstations to an updated client version. I did this for a customer with about 200 workstations using a solution that works completely by login script with no interaction from the IT help desk.

For this customer I updated several installed versions of the Novell Client (Client 4.73 to Client 4.83 SP 2) to Version 4.90 SP1a. Each client had the ZENworks for Desktops 2 Dynamic Local User (DLU) and some workstations had installed the NDPS Printer Agent. The users were local administrators.

The customer wanted to upgrade all clients, remove ZfD, and update to ZfD 4.0.1 - all with a login script.

For this solution I first looked for problems in the KnowledgeBase. There I found the blue screen issue in TID 10065942, and a problem where only the Workstation Manager is updated.

Here is my Solution:

Login Script Parts:

Login Script Parts:
rem-------------------------------------------------------------------
rem Look for Novell Client Version
rem-------------------------------------------------------------------

regread "HKLM,Software\Novell,CurrentVersion"

rem-------------------------------------------------------------------
rem Verify regread Value if < then Client 4.90
rem-------------------------------------------------------------------
if "%99" < "4.90" then

rem-------------------------------------------------------------------
rem Validate if NWDNS.SYS exist (exist.exe found on Cooltools.)
rem-------------------------------------------------------------------
#f:\install\novell\nwtools\exist.exe c:\winnt\system32\netware\nwdns.sys

rem-------------------------------------------------------------------
rem If NWDNS.SYS exist do the following
rem-------------------------------------------------------------------
    if  "%ERRORLEVEL" = "0" then
       write "A critical System File will be deleted,"
			 write "and the Workstation will be restarted"
        #cmd /c del c:\winnt\system32\netware\nwdns.sys

        rem Deregister Nal Service

        #f:\Install\novell\nc49SP1\WINNT\i386\nal\nalntsrv.exe deregister
        #f:\install\novell\nwtools\shutdown.exe -r -t 01
       pause
   endif

    write "The new Client will be copy to the local Workstation"
		write "and the old Client will be uninstalled."   
    write "Afterwards the PC restarts,"
		write "and comes up with the Windows Login."   
    write "Their you can use your normal Password for Login."   
    write "After Login the new client will be installed automatically."   
pause

    rem---------------------------------------------------------------
    rem Copy Client from Drive F: 
		rem to D:\ToInstall\nc49sp1a (look ACU.INI)
    rem---------------------------------------------------------------
    #f:\Install\novell\nc49SP1\winnt\i386\nwlocal.exe

    rem---------------------------------------------------------------
    rem Starting Novell Client Uninstall Script from Network. 
    rem---------------------------------------------------------------
    @f:\install\novell\nwtools\uninst48.bat
exit
endif

Uninst48.bat:

rem echo off
copy g:\public\testreg.reg %WINDIR%\testreg.reg
copy g:\public\sleep.exe %WINDIR%\sleep.exe (found by Google)

echo Uninstalling Client is waiting for Windows Explorer
echo is loaded
sleep 30

h:\Drivers\cl480\redir\setupw2k.exe /U nw_wm
sleep 5
h:\Drivers\cl480\redir\setupw2k.exe /U nw_ndps
sleep 5
h:\Drivers\cl480\redir\setupw2k.exe /U nw_nwfs
sleep 2
%WINDIR%\regedit.exe /s %WINDIR%\testreg.reg
sleep 2
g:\public\shutdown.exe -r -t 02

Testreg.reg:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"clinst"="D:\\ToInstall\nc49sp1a\\setupnw.exe /ACU /U:your.unattend"

ACU.INI:

[LaunchInstall]
Launch=yes
[DisplayDialog]
Display=Yes
[UnattendFile]
Use=no
File=\\server\volume\path\file
[StatusLogging]
Use=No
File=\\server\volume\path\file
[SupportPack]
Check=Yes
[AdministratorMessage]
Message=
[ClientLocalInstall]
LocalInstall=Yes
LocalDirectory= D:\ToInstall\nc49sp1a
DeleteLocalInstall=No

Conclusion:

I used the Novell Client 4.8 for uninstall, because with this client version it was possible to uninstall all older client versions also.

With this script solution the failed workstation rate was 1%, or 2 workstations out of 200. The failed workstations have had other Windows errors.

My experience suggests this method provides an easy and reliable solution for client updates.

Reader Comments

• Why not simply use ACU.exe? Saves one reboot, customers don't see a different (MS) login box and works fine, too? You can provide an unattended.txt in acu.ini to remove unwanted components...
• "The users were local administrators." Now, try it with Restricted Users...
• Useless in a restricted environment, users with admin access = BAD
• Updating the client is a piece of cake when the users are local admin. Much more difficult to accomplish when they aren't.
• Interesting, but I'd like to see some detailed info on how to make use of the Update Agent in client 4.90 or higher - this seems like one possible way to get around the admin. rights problem.
• Useful if you have a misguided security policy. Having non-admin users on WinNT or later is futile - almost everything wants it. Establish "Known Good" with ZEN, and set up users as local admins. It'll save time and headaches.
• usless rookey stuff. how about something where AD is involved and users are restricted
• About time there was a solution for Restricted users!

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