Dynamics Community Forum Thread Details

Easy way to deploy Dynamic GP clients

This is probably not a questions as much as it is a rant. We have 135 clients that I need to deploy to. I could simply say that Microsoft doesn't provide a way to deploy to multiple clients but I know people would start responding with the GPO deploy guide. So instead I will write down the reasons why it doesn't work.

Dexterity Shared Components

The GPO Deploy doesn't work because you still have to get the shared components out. Now I use to get past that by using the MSI file to deploy it ahead of time but it seems Microsoft has stopped updating that. Also if I deploy the shared components useing the msi file, the SP1 msp file will error out. I could use the installer combine the MSP with the MSI which I have done in the past but wait once you do that no future service packs will install. I can maybe live with that so lets move onto GP.

I tried to deploy using the GreatPlains.msi file. The problem is I still need to get the service pack out. I tried using the Auto Client Update feature but that was a joke. First it was too slow and it would error out because I installed Dexterity Shared Components using the msi.

Ok, how about this, I will create a template using the DVD (GP 2010 SP1). Then I will use the command line the show in the SMS deployment guide Command line: msiexec /i \\%UNCpath%\Setup.exe /q. First thing the /q doesn't work. Second the DVD install with SP 1 doesn't install SP 1 (no I didn't call support to see why). So in the end I still have to install the msp file....wait that won't work will it.

So now I have to go to 135 desktops, run the setup.exe, run the msp, install all my third party add-on's (don't get me started on those), then I need to use my specially created VB script to get all my VBA, REports.dic, forms.dic files to my client. That sounds like fun.

Thank you for spending some time reading my rant. This rant was not meant to offend anyone. It an attempt to show that Microsoft need a better way to deploy client in a large organization (and we really are not that large). I know some of you may have some ideas and I always welcome them.

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