DOCUMENT:Q180918 15-JAN-2000 [sms] TITLE :SMSINST: Guidelines for Using SMS Installer PRODUCT :Microsoft Systems Management Server PROD/VER:WINDOWS:1.0,2.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:smsinst ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Systems Management Server Installer versions 1.0, 2.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= Systems Management Server Installer is not appropriate for many system upgrades, configuration changes, and some application installations. This article provides information on tasks that are not appropriate uses for the Systems Management Server Installer. MORE INFORMATION ================ Microsoft Technical Support provides guidelines for Systems Management Server Installer use, repackaging, and installation, but can not provide installation scripts testing or installation validation. When using Systems Management Server Installer to deploy applications, adequate testing in a lab environment on hardware and software client configurations similar to that in your production environment is a prerequisite for a successful rollout. Guidelines ---------- Do not use Systems Management Server Installer to repackage operating system service packs or operating system upgrades. Do not use Systems Management Server Installer to upgrade or deploy Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 (IE 4.0). Internet Explorer provides an automated setup with custom configuration options instead. Refer to the IE 4.0 documentation for more details. Do not use Systems Management Server Installer to install applications that make changes on a computer hardware- or software-specific basis. An example of this would be network configuration changes that require bindings to be reviewed and re-applied after the desired changes are made. A programmatic method should be used instead. Avoid using Systems Management Server Installer to repackage an application if the original setup program makes any modifications to shared or network files. Do not use Systems Management Server Installer to add printers, change video display, or add/change/modify hardware or device drivers. For additional information about Systems Management Server Installer, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q168776 SMSINST: Using the Repackager Successfully Q176990 SMSINST: Installer Does Not Install Printers For additional information about automating IE 4.0 setup via Systems Management Server, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q176323 SMS: How to Install Internet Explorer 4.0 with SMS Q185339 SMS: How to Deploy Internet Explorer 4.0 to Windows NT For more information on automating network and printer configuration tasks, or installing or reconfiguring drivers programmatically, see the Microsoft Software Development Kit (SDK) and Driver Development Kit (DDK) documentation. Additional query words: prodsms rules guidelines guideline limits limitations limited extra above beyond boundary policy ====================================================================== Keywords : smsinst Technology : kbSMSSearch kbSMSI100 kbSMSI200 Version : WINDOWS:1.0,2.0 Issue type : kbinfo ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2000.