Software Application Packaging

Couple of Free Design tools helpful for package building

2011-01-31T01:24:00.001-08:00

http://www.gliffy.com/

http://www.lucidchart.com/

Deep Dive on Designing a BranchCache Infrastructure

2011-01-27T08:21:00.000-08:00

Voice and Slideshow

http://www.msteched.com/2010/Europe/WSV303

How to Create App-V Packages More Efficiently With the New App-V 4.6 SP1 Sequencer

2011-01-27T08:19:00.000-08:00

Voice and Slideshow

http://www.msteched.com/2010/Europe/VIR304

Windows MultiPoint Server 2011

2011-01-26T06:19:00.000-08:00

Windows® MultiPoint™ Server 2010 and Windows® MultiPoint™ Server 2010 Academic are Windows solutions that allow multiple users, each with their own independent and familiar Windows experience, to simultaneously share one computer. User stations, consisting of a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, are directly connected to the host computer through USB or video cables.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/multipoint/2011.aspx

Free books links

2011-01-26T06:12:00.000-08:00

Virtualization for Dummies – HP special edition http://media.wiley.com/assets/2109/45/9780470607527.pdf

Understanding Microsoft Virtualization Solutions, Second Edition http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/B/4/5B46A838-67BB-4F7C-92CB-EABCA285DFDD/693821ebook.pdf

Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V: Insider’s Guide to Microsoft’s Hypervisor
http://books.google.com/books?id=ryu8EW4D9EsC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Windows+Server+2008+Hyper-V:+Insider%E2%80%99s+Guide+to+Microsoft%E2%80%99s+Hypervisor&source=bl&ots=VNOoQCwCrx&sig=EbL2PF21l9TjwsXjUCrbK623Q90&hl=hr&ei=WtcMTPjuHIH54AazrcB_&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=Windows%20Server%202008%20Hyper-V%3A%20Insider%E2%80%99s%20Guide%20to%20Microsoft%E2%80%99s%20Hypervisor&f=false

Ready to Use App-v generic tools and apps

2011-01-26T05:57:00.000-08:00

http://www.instantapp.net/index_audacity.html#audacity

Microsoft App-V 4.5 Client Stand alone

2011-01-26T05:56:00.000-08:00

http://www.tmurgent.com/WhitePapers/Microsoft_AppV_Stand-Alone.pdf

New Collaboration tool from Microsoft : Lync

2011-01-13T02:29:00.000-08:00

http://lync.microsoft.com/En-us/launch/Pages/launch.aspx

Microsoft 30% Off and one re-take exam free

2010-10-05T01:13:00.000-07:00

This offer is exclusively available for Microsoft Partners and is designed to make it as easy as possible for you to meet competency requirements and showcase your organization's skills.

MPN Competency Exam Packs allow you to save up to 30% and come with free Second Shot exam retakes on all exams! By purchasing these exam packs, you can hand out exam vouchers to any individuals within your organization that need to take an exam. These packs will be available until December 31, 2010 and allow you to take your exams until June 30, 2011.

http://www.prometric.com/microsoft/partners

Windows Package Manager

2010-03-17T05:37:00.000-07:00

A Windows Vista command-line tool which can used on offline Windows Image to install, remove, or update Windows packages and can install only .cab files.

Benefits of Package Manager

* Install or uninstall hotfixes provided by Microsoft.
* Install language packs.
* Add out-of-box drivers to the driver store.
* Enable or disable Windows features.
* Accept an answer file as input (offlineServicing settings only).
* Add packages to an offline Windows image.
* Install or uninstall multiple packages with one command string.

Limitations

* Remote installation over the network is NOT possible.
* Do not use Package Manager to install Windows PE.
* Do not use Package Manager to service a Windows image (.wim file) on which the Out Of Box Experience (OOBE) has already been run

Boot.ini on Vista and later

2010-03-11T05:22:00.000-08:00

Boot.ini is replaced by Boot Configuration Data Store (BCD Store). BCDEdit.exe is the command line tool used for managing these BCD Stores.

BCDEdit.exe is the replacement for Bootcfg.exe.

You can also configure BCD Stores using WMI which is having more flexibility with scripting and lot range of custom requirements can be implemented.

More information : Click here

Windows Language Pack Installation Command

2010-03-11T04:55:00.000-08:00

lpksetup.exe is used to install the Windows Language Packs. This is available by default on all Windows Operating Systems.

lpksetup.exe /i * /p

This command will install all the language packs from the indicated path

lpksetup.exe /i en-US /p

This command will install only the english language pack. You can extend the command by including more language packs

lpksetup.exe /u en-US

This command will uninstall the indicated language pack.

Silent

If you want this command to be executed silently without user interface being displayed, please use /s at the end of the commandline for silent installation or uninstallation

1E Nomad Enterprise - Nomad Branch

2010-03-10T04:45:00.000-08:00

Users in the remote branches will be benified from Nomad in Software Distribution. Nomad has a very tight intergration with Microsoft SMS and SCCM Config Manager .

Once the data is distributed by Nomad Branch , it shares the data with Peer's. You can configure Nomad branch with or without multicasting.

Benefits of Nomad Branch

- Cost Reduction by reducing the number of Servers in Branches
- Bandwidth Control
- Multicasting

Microsoft - Second Shot Returns

2010-02-05T06:22:00.000-08:00

Take a Second Shot at certification and advance your career
Whether you are currently unemployed, looking for a promotion, or trying to become indispensable in your existing role, Microsoft Certifications can validate that you have the skills needed to work in the top IT professional and developer jobs in the industry.
Take advantage of our Second Shot offer and get a free retake when you do not pass an IT professional or developer Microsoft Certification exam the first time. You must take both the first and (if necessary) the retake exam before June 30, 2010.
Register to acquire a voucher for a Second Shot (Prometric.com)

Offer details:
Dates: January 13, 2010 – June 30, 2010.
Details: You must register, obtain a voucher code, schedule, pay, and take the first and (if necessary) the retake exam before June 30, 2010.
Applicable exams: This offer applies to all Microsoft Learning IT professional, developer, project management, and Microsoft Dynamics exams, including academic exams.
Visit the Learning Catalog and search for your next exam
Eligible countries and regions: This is a worldwide offer that is available at Prometric test centers only.
Note Only one Second Shot voucher is available per purchased exam.

How to use your Second Shot voucher
Go to the Prometric Web site, call center, or test center. Use your Second Shot voucher number and schedule and pay for your initial exam.
Go to the Prometric Web site or visit the call center or test center (Prometric.com)
Take your exam.
If you do not pass, return to the Prometric Web site or visit the call center or test center and use the same voucher number for your free retake exam.
Return to the Prometric Web site or visit the call center or test center (Prometric.com)
Note You must wait one day after taking your initial exam before you can register for your retake exam.

Where to find more information about this offer
View our frequently asked questions (Microsoft Office Word file, 17.2 KB)

Software Packaging Tools

2010-01-25T06:15:00.000-08:00

Actual Installer
Advanced Installer
ClickInstall
CreateInstall
CreateInstall Free
CreateInstall Light
DeployMaster
DreamShield
Excelsior Delivery
Excelsior Installer
Iceberg
Inno Setup
Install Creator (Pro)
InstallAce
InstallAnywhere
InstallAware
InstallBuilder
Installer VISE
InstallShield
Instyler Setup
JExpress
LANrev InstallEase
MSI Package Builder
MS Visual Studio
Nullsoft Scriptable Install System (NSIS)
QSetup
ORCA
Remote Install Mac OS X
Scriptlogic Desktop Authority MSI Studio
Scriptlogic Desktop Authority MSI Studio
Setup Factory
SetupBuilder Professional Edition
Smart Install Maker
SMS Package Tool
Tarma Expert Install 3
Tarma Installer 5
Tarma QuickInstall 2
VISE X
Windows Installer
Wise Installation Express 7
Wise Installation Studio 7
Wise Package Studio
WiXwyBuild
wyUpdate

What is Ubuntu?

2010-01-13T01:50:00.000-08:00

What does Ubuntu mean?
Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'Humanity to others', or 'I am what I am because of who we all are'. The Ubuntu distribution brings the spirit of Ubuntu to the software world.

What is Ubuntu?
Ubuntu is a community developed operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. Whether you use it at home, at school or at work Ubuntu contains all the applications you'll ever need, from word processing and email applications, to web server software and programming tools.
Ubuntu is and always will be free of charge. You do not pay any licensing fees. You can download, use and share Ubuntu with your friends, family, school or business for absolutely nothing.
We issue a new desktop and server release every six months. That means you'll always have the latest and greatest applications that the open source world has to offer.
Ubuntu is designed with security in mind. You get free security updates for at least 18 months on the desktop and server. With the Long Term Support (LTS) version you get three years support on the desktop, and five years on the server. There is no extra fee for the LTS version, we make our very best work available to everyone on the same free terms. Upgrades to new versions of Ubuntu are and always will be free of charge.
Everything you need comes on one CD, providing a complete working environment. Additional software is available online.
The graphical installer enables you to get up and running quickly and easily. A standard installation should take less than 25 minutes.
Once installed your system is immediately ready-to-use. On the desktop you have a full set of productivity, internet, drawing and graphics applications, and games.
On the server you get just what you need to get up and running and nothing you don't.

Extract from http://www.ubuntu.com/

Windows Installer 4.5

2008-06-24T03:56:00.000-07:00

Microsoft released latest version of Windows Installer 4.5

Download: Windows Installer 4.5

ThinApp 4 by VMWare

2008-06-12T00:44:00.000-07:00

(Application Packaging )

ThinApp 4 (formerly called Thininstall) is a Application Virtualization Suite,
now part of VMWare.

ThinApp does not require any pre-installed software on physical or virtual PCs and even does not require any new deployment infrastructure. Packagers can use ThinApp to generate application packages in .MSI or .EXE formats.

Features or advantages of ThinApp 4

Application Sync : This feature streams byte-level updates to users’ critical applications inside and outside the enterprise using HTTP/HTTPS, and on managed and non-managed PCs running virtualized applications.
Application Link : This feature allows interdependent applications to communicate with one another.
Conflict-free applications: Applications are isolated from the underlying OS, allowing different versions of an application to run side by side
Package once, deploy anywhere

MSI Studio for SCCM

2008-06-11T03:47:00.000-07:00

Application Packaging (MSI)

ScriptLogic released its latest version of MSI Studio compatible and Microsoft SCCM and has many new features.

- Importing and exporting MSI packages in the WIX format
- Importing and exporting Industry standard XML file format that was developed by Microsoft and is now widely used in the open source software community
- Support for Windows Server® 2008.

For more information: Visit MSI Studio

Windows Vista : New Elevation PowerToys

2008-06-09T05:16:00.000-07:00

Windows Vista with UAC is a blocker installing software or executing scripts which need administrator access.

In Windows Vista we miss the RunAs command for executing the scripts in System Context.

I found a very good and use-ful article in Mircosoft Technet, hope it will be useful for you also

Link : New Elevation PowerToys for Windows Vista

Windows Power Shell Scripting

2008-04-17T05:17:00.000-07:00

Windows PowerShell is a new Windows command-line shell designed especially for system administrators. The shell includes an interactive prompt and a scripting environment that can be used independently or in combination.
For More information

Microsoft Certifications

2008-04-09T06:42:00.000-07:00

Get a second chance to pass your Microsoft Certification exam—free offer!

Due to popular demand, the Second Shot offer has been extended through June 30, 2008! For a limited time, you can take advantage of this free offer—a second shot at any IT professional, developer, project manager, or Microsoft Dynamics certification exam. Just register for this offer before your first exam, and you will get two chances to pass. But this offer won't last forever.

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/offers/secondshot/default.mspx

Creating Packages using Install Shield

2008-04-08T07:58:00.001-07:00

Creating Packages using Install Shield

Creating Packages using Wise

2008-04-08T07:50:00.001-07:00

Wise Studio is one of the best tools for authoring / creating packages.

Software Application Packaging Overview

2008-04-08T06:27:00.000-07:00

Software Packaging also some times termed / called as Scripting is becoming more important to the business.

Software Packaging has many forms, basic form starts from generating a setup for installing the software on a PC or Computer.

Windows Installer plays an important role in stabilizing the installation of a sofware on a PC or computer and made the installation process Globally Unique by creating this technology. Also most frequently termed as generation of MSI's.