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Snapshot Guide - Pt1
!SNAP TO IT!
A snapshot is a method used by ZENworks to capture all file, ini,
text, and registry changes made to a workstation during the install
of a software package. ZENworks is then able to duplicate those
changes on client workstations which result in the package being
fully installed and configured on the client machine. This allows
programs to be installed with little or no user interaction and
without requiring any special rights by the user. This is very
useful for deploying software, which normally requires
administrative rights to install to users who do not have
administrative rights
I have broken the SNAPSHOT and APPLICATION CREATION two main
parts. Part A describes the process of creating the AOT file,
which defines all the changes that need to be made to the client
workstation. Part B describes the process of converting the
AOT file into an Application object to be delivered to the client
workstations.
PART A
Creating a Clean Machine
Performing the
Initial PC Scan
Installing the Software
Tweaking the Software
Performing Final
Scan of Software
Common Snapshot
Troubleshooting
PART B:
Creating an Tweaking the Application Object
BONUS SECTION: Tips, Tricks, and Pitfalls to
Avoid!
Creating a
Clean Machine:
- This machine should have the oldest32-BIT OS possible. (Do
Win3.x Separate)
- The machine This machine should have the minimum number of OS
patches with the oldest Novell client that you may have on your
network.
- This machine should not have ANY software currently or
previously installed on the box.
- Use a product such as "Drive Image" or "Ghost" to restore your
"Clean" machine to a pristine state before each snapshot.
My Personal clean machines are a "Windows 95A W/SP1 and Novell
Client 2.5" installed and a "Windows NT 4 W/SP3 and Novell Client
4.11" installed. Avoid installing Workstation Manager on the PC to
prevent accidental software pushes to the "Clean" PC.
I use the Windows NT box for any software that will be deployed
only to NT workstations. I use the Windows 95 box for any software
that will be deployed only to Windows 95 boxes or to both Win95 and
WinNT boxes.
Performing the Initial
PC Scan:
- Boot PC
- Login to PC – Do not run any login scripts (This prevents
accidental software installs.)
- Manually Map any desired Network drives to be used for running
snapshot or installing software and set them to permanent.
- Run file \\Server\Public\Snapshot\snapshot.exe"
- Select "Standard" Snapshot
- Enter an NDS Object Name. This is the name of the object in
the NDS that will be created with the AOT is imported.
- Enter an Application icon title. This is what will appear
under the Icon on users desktops. If this field is left blank, the
value will default to the NDS Object Name. Select "Next" to
continue.
- Enter the File location for the file updates to be placed.
This can be either be a network location or a local location
(Which means copying them to a server later.) Select "Next" to
continue.
- Select Yes to create the "directory" for your snapshot.
- Select Next to accept the default name for the AOT object.
- Select drives snapshot needs to scan. These drives should be
the "Boot Drive", the drive containing Windows, and the drive to
which the software will be installed if it is a local drive. DO
NOT ADD THE NETWORK DRIVE TO WHICH YOU INSTALL SOFTWARE. This will
cause each person who installs the software to try and update the
network copy of the software, which is clearly unnecessary.
- Select "Next" to proceed past the "Drive Scanning" options and
the select "Next to begin the initial Scan of the PC."
Installing the Software
- Install the Software. Select the "Run Application Install" tab
to run the setup program. You may also run the program from
explorer or a command prompt.
- Reboot Now. (Select "Yes" to shutdown now when prompted by
snapshot. Login once again without running any login scripts after
the PC has rebooted. Select to complete the snapshot when prompted
after logging back into the network. If snapshot does not
auto-restart, just rerun snapshot.exe and then select the option
to complete the previous snapshot.)
Tweaking the Software
- The Final step is to configure the software as you want it
configured.
- Start the application and configure all the options you want
configured
- Loading a couple files so they appear under the recent file
list may also help in some cases.
Performing the
Final Software Scan
- From the Snapshot window, select the next button to begin the
capture all the changes.
- The Snapshot program will now run for a few minutes and
capture all the changes made.
- Select Finish to Complete the Process
Common Snapshot
Troubleshooting
- On occasion the snapshot process does not run or complete
properly. Though this is a very rare occurrence, and the steps
mentioned do not normally need to be taken
- The first tip is to save the comparison files to the local
PC. Once the snapshot is complete, they can be saved to the
network.
- If the first tip does not help, snapshot can be started with
the /SLOW parameter. This usually resolves any other problems
that occur with the snapshot program. The /SLOW parameter does
cause the snapshot to run quite slow and should only be used when
necessary.
(Note: I am note aware of any other switches than
/SLOW for snapshot)
PART B:
Creating an Tweaking the Application Object
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03-Apr-05,
