Would you like to... Print this page Email this to a friend Post a comment

What is a Silent Installation?

The Silent Install installation enables you to install the Kar2ouche application across multiple client workstations without having to run through the setup process each time.
 
Many network systems do allow you to duplicate an installation across many workstations and we would recommend using the network manufacturer’s method if available (both Microsoft and Novell have integrated software management services for the purpose of distributing software).

A Silent Install installation installs Kar2ouche without asking the user questions; instead it gets the answers from a separate file called the answers file. The answers file is created by performing a sample installation on a typical workstation and recording the responses given, these can then be ‘played back’ to perform an identical installation on a different workstation.  The silent install answers file must be made on a workstation that starts out with the same QuickTime and DirectX configuration as the target workstation. If for example the answers are recorded on a workstation that starts without DirectX and then used on a workstation that has DirectX before installation then the answers will not work and the silent install will fail.

The Kar2ouche software you will need to perform a Silent Installation

The Kar2ouche application is made up of Kar2ouche Composer, which includes the Kar2ouche software engine and a content title that includes a variety of props, characters and backgrounds to get you started.  Kar2ouche content titles are additional software modules that allow you to expand on educational content to suit your curriculum, such as Kar2ouche Macbeth and Kar2ouche Romans.

The Kar2ouche CD packs and registration serial numbers for the Kar2ouche software will be required for the installation.  Details of the Authorised User Name and Organisation Name will also be prompted for during the install process.

The step-by-step process

These step-by-step instructions assume that the Systems Administrator has administrative access to the server and is familiar in administering networks.

1. At the Server console, create a new directory called Kar2ouche (normally in a location on the server drive that contains application software).  This directory will be used to store the contents of each Kar2ouche software title and the answers file for each Kar2ouche setup program.

2.  In the new Kar2ouche directory create a new directory called Composer.  Insert CD1 of Kar2ouche Composer into a CD drive accessible to the server and copy the entire contents of CD1 into the new Composer directory (if the Autorun program launches the blue Kar2ouche install box please click Cancel).

3.  Remove the Composer CD1 from the CD drive and keep in a safe place.

4.  If applicable, create a new directory for each Kar2ouche content title (Macbeth or Romans for example) in the Kar2ouche directory.  Insert CD1 of each Kar2ouche title into a CD drive accessible to the server and copy the entire contents of CD1 into their respective directories (if the Autorun program launches the blue Kar2ouche install box please click Cancel).

5.  You should now have a structure looking very similar to this, containing Composer, and other content titles if applicable, each containing the contents of CD1:

6.  The next step is to create the answers file for Kar2ouche Composer (please note that steps 6 - 8 will need to be repeated for each Kar2ouche content title in turn).  The location of the answers file should be placed in a suitable location on the server; for the purposes of this guide the location of the answers files will be placed in the same directories as their Kar2ouche software titles, respectively.

To create the Kar2ouche Composer answers file we must install the Kar2ouche application on a typical workstation by running the Kar2ouche Composer setup executable file with a /r switch.  Remember also that you must have ‘write’ permissions to the serverLocationPathKar2oucheComposersetup.iss path where the answers files are to be written to.  On the typical workstation open the Command Prompt, type in the following command line and press Enter to run it:

setupLocationPathsetup /r /f1 serverLocationPathKar2oucheComposersetup.iss

An example of the Command Prompt and command line is shown here:

NOTE: The setupLocationPath is the server name or IP address of the location of the setup file.  The serverLocationPath is the server name or IP address where the setup.iss (answers file) is to be written to.

7.  The setup installation wizard will now launch.  Follow the installation instruction wizard.  At the end of the installation an answers file called setup.iss will have been created in the location you assigned; an example is shown here in the bottom right-hand corner:

NOTE: On some Microsoft Windows operating systems, the answers file is created on your local drive in the (C:Winnt or C:Windows) and named setup.iss, as shown below.  Move this file to your preferred location on the server, as stated in your command line.

8.  Once the setup.iss file is created, a Silent Install can be performed of Composer by running a command line script on a target workstation (note the use of the /s switch).

To do this, open the Command Prompt on a target networked workstation, type in the command line as shown below and press Enter to run it:

setupLocationPathsetup /s /f1 serverLocationPathKar2oucheComposersetup.iss

An example of the Command Prompt and command line is shown here:

TIP: By adding this line to a login script that executes each time a user logs on, the Silent Install can be performed on each workstation as people log into the workstation.  Test the script on one target workstation first before deploying network-wide.

NOTE: If the script does not run correctly then please check the following:

• Make sure command lines are correct
• Make sure your directory structures are correct
• Check the directory permissions making sure the target workstation has permissions to read and execute from the Kar2ouche directories on the server
• Check that the Systems Administrator running the script has permissions to write the Kar2ouche files to the target workstation
• The typical workstation used to create the answers files must have the same QuickTime and DirectX configuration as the target workstations

9.  If there are any Kar2ouche content titles to install then repeat steps 6 to 8 for each Kar2ouche content title, otherwise move straight onto to the next step.

10.  Once installed, Kar2ouche can be configured to suit your network and users.  Read through the configuration sections in the knowledgebase to find out more http://support.immersiveeducation.eu/index.php?ToDo=view&questId=16&catId=13