How to: Deploy the .NET Framework by Using Systems Management Server

Note

This topic applies only to the .NET Framework version 1.0 redistributable package. For information about deploying later versions of the .NET Framework core redistributable, see the .NET Framework 3.5 Deployment Guide for Administrators.

Microsoft Systems Management Server allows you to deploy software with administrative privileges across a network. This section describes the specific procedures for using Systems Management Server to deploy the Windows Installer setup package for Dotnetfx.exe across a network. For additional Systems Management Server product information and documentation, see the Systems Management Server Web site.

To deploy the .NET Framework redistributable package, Dotnetfx.exe, with administrator privileges, you must extract the Windows Installer file, Netfx.msi, from the Dotnetfx.exe file. Netfx.msi is the file you must use to deploy the .NET Framework. After you extract Netfx.msi, you can run the Systems Management Server Administrator console from the network administrator computer and configure it to deploy Dotnetfx.exe on a selected group of computers on the network.

Before you can install a Windows Installer setup package on a Systems Management Server client computer, the client computer must have the Windows Installer installation service installed. The procedures described in this section assume that Windows Installer 2.0 is installed on all client computers prior to the deployment of Netfx.msi. The network administrator is responsible for ensuring that all client computers meet this requirement. You can use Systems Management Server to install Windows Installer 2.0 on client computers. For more information, see Deploying Windows Installer Setup Packages with Systems Management Server 2.0.

After the network administrator has ensured that all networked computers on which Dotnetfx.exe will be installed meet the minimum configuration requirements, the following five tasks and their individual procedures must be performed on the server running Systems Management Server. These procedures must be performed in the order in which they are presented.

First, extract the Windows Installer file, Netfx.msi, from the Dotnetfx.exe file. Netfx.msi is the file used to deploy the .NET Framework.

To extract the Dotnetfx.exe file to deploy

  1. Download Dotnetfx.exe to the root directory of drive C on the server running Systems Management Server.

  2. Open a command prompt.

  3. Change the directory to the root of drive C.

  4. Type mkdir dotnetfx at the command prompt to create a directory in which to copy Dotnetfx.exe.

  5. Type dotnetfx.exe /T:c:\dotnetfx /C at the command prompt to extract the files to the dotnetfx directory.

Next, create a Systems Management Server package for the .NET Framework. A Systems Management Server package is the basic unit of software distribution. It contains the source files for the program and the details that direct the software distribution process.

To create a .NET Framework package

  1. Open the Systems Management Server Administrator console. Click the Start button, point to Programs, and choose Systems Management Server.

  2. Expand the Site Database node, and right-click the Packages node in the Site Database tree.

  3. From the Action menu, point to New, and choose Package. The Package Properties dialog box is displayed.

  4. In the Package Properties dialog box, complete the information in the General tab as follows:

    • Type .NET Framework in the Name section.

    • Type 1.0.3429.0 in the Version section.

    • Type Microsoft in the Publisher section.

    • Type English in the Language section.

  5. In the Package Properties dialog box, click the Data Source tab.

  6. Select the This package contains source files check box.

  7. Select the Always obtain files from source directory option.

  8. Click the Set button. The Set Source Directory dialog box is displayed.

  9. In the Set Source Directory dialog box, select the Local drive on site server option.

  10. Click the Browse button. The Browse for Folder dialog box is displayed.

  11. Select the C:\DotNetFx directory, where you extracted the files to previously.

  12. In the Browse for Folder dialog box, click OK.

  13. In the Set Source Directory dialog box, click OK.

  14. In the Package Properties dialog box, click OK.

Next, create a .NET Framework program for the .NET Framework package. Each Systems Management Server package contains at least one Systems Management Server program*,* which is a command line that runs on each targeted computer to control the execution of the package.

To create a program for the .NET Framework package

  1. Expand the Microsoft .NET Framework 1.0.3529.0 English node, located under the Packages node.

  2. Right-click Programs, point to New, and choose Program. The Program Properties dialog box is displayed.

  3. In the Program Properties dialog box, complete the information in the General tab as follows:

    • Type .NET Framework Program in the Name section.

    • Type msiexec /i netfx.msi /q ARPSYSTEMCOMPONENT=1 ARPNOREMOVE=1 in the Command line section.

  4. In the Program Properties dialog box, click the Environment tab.

  5. Clear the User input required check box.

  6. Select the Run with administrative rights option.

  7. Click OK.

Next, create a distribution point for the .NET Framework package. Systems Management Server Distribution Points are shares on site systems where package source files are copied for access by client computers.

To create a .NET Framework distribution point

  1. Right-click Distribution Points, located under the Microsoft .NET Framework 1.0.3529.0 English node.

  2. Select New, and choose Distribution Points. The New Distribution Points Wizard appears.

  3. In the New Distribution Points Wizard, click Next.

  4. Select the distribution point to which you want to copy the .NET Framework package.

  5. Click Finish to start the distribution.

Finally, create an advertisement for the .NET Framework program. An advertisement specifies the program that is available to client computers, which computers will receive the advertisement, and when the program will be scheduled for installation.

To create a .NET Framework advertisement

  1. In the Site Database tree, right-click the Advertisements node

  2. Select New, and choose Advertisement. The Advertisement Properties dialog box is displayed.

  3. In the Advertisement Properties dialog box, complete the information in the General tab as follows:

    • Type .NET Framework Advertisement in the Name section.

    • Select Microsoft .NET Framework 1.0.3529.0 English from the Package drop-down list.

    • Select .NET Framework Program from the Program drop-down list.

  4. Click the Browse button and select the appropriate collection of computers on which to deploy the .NET Framework. To determine the computers to which you can deploy the .NET Framework, see Minimum Configuration Requirements.

  5. Click OK.

See Also

Tasks

How to: Deploy the .NET Framework by Using Active Directory

Concepts

Distributing Dotnetfx.exe Using an Electronic Software Distribution Tool

Minimum Configuration Requirements for Dotnetfx.exe

Other Resources

Redistributing the .NET Framework