Set Up Unattended Support on Multiple Computers

Unattended Support can be installed on multiple domain machines simultaneously by automating the installation of the unattended installer through built-in Windows software distribution methods. This is ideal for anyone responsible for managing and updating an IT infrastructure or other network of machines.

Topics in this article:

Install Using Group Policy Management

Installing Unattended Support on Multiple Windows Computers on your Network

Installing Unattended Support Only on Selected Computers

Other Software Distribution Methods

Install Using Group Policy Management

Installing Unattended Support on Multiple Windows Computers on your Network

1. Start with an existing shared folder on a server in your network, or create a new one.

2. Download the .MSI file from the GoToAssist web application (http://app.gotoassist.com) into the shared folder (you can rename it if you wish).

Note: You can also download a test .MSI file to try out the process before using the actual file (before downloading, you will be asked to enter some information for tracking purposes only).

3. Optional step: If desired, complete the steps for Installing Unattended Support Only on Selected Computers to restrict which computers this applies to.

4. Ensure that both the share permissions and folder permissions are set to “Authenticated users = read and execute” or “Domain Computers = read and execute.”

• To access share permissions: Properties > Sharing tab > Advanced Sharing button > Permissions button > Authenticated Users
• To access folder permissions: Properties > Security tab

5. Recommended step: Run a test installation of the .MSI file to verify its integrity.

6. Open Microsoft’s Group Policy Management tool and create a new policy.

Note: This is usually done on a domain controller, but if you installed Group Policy Management on one of your workstations then it will also work.

a. On the top level of the left navigation, right-click and select Create a GPO on this domain.

b. Enter a name and leave the Source Starter field blank.

c. Click OK. A new policy is created in the “Group Policy Objects” folder.

7. Right-click the newly created policy and select Edit.

8. In the left navigation of the Group Policy Management Editor, select Computer Configuration > Policies > Software Settings. Right-click Software Installation and select New > Package.

9. In the Open window, select the .MSI file that you copied to the shared folder in Step 2 and click Open.

10. In the Deploy Software window, select “Assigned” and click OK. The new package appears in the right pane of the Group Policy Management Editor.

Note: To change deployment and language options, right-click the new package and select Properties.

11. Reboot one or more workstations to install the .MSI file; you should see the installation happen just before you see the logon prompt. You can also check the Programs and Features list to see if the GoToAssist Customer application was successfully installed.

Note: If the GoToAssist Customer application was not successfully installed, check the Windows Event Viewer for errors.

For more information, see the Microsoft® Support web site.

Installing Unattended Support Only on Selected Computers

You can restrict which computers have unattended support installed by selecting which ones receive the group policy.

Note: To use this process, you must first create a group that includes only the computers that you want unattended support installed on.

1. Before completing Step 4 in Installing Unattended Support on Multiple Windows Computers on your Network, create a new filter by clicking Add under “Security Filtering” in the Group Policy Management tool.

2. In the Select User, Computer or Group window, type the name of the existing group of computers in the Enter Object Name field and select Check Names to search for the group.

3. Select the group and click OK. The group is added to the Security Filtering list.

4. Remove the default “Authenticated Users” filter by selecting it and clicking Remove > OK.

5. Recommended step: To optimize the policy, in the “Install [file]” section (at the top of the window) select Details tab > GPO Status menu > User Configuration Settings Disabled > OK.

6. Complete Steps 4 –11 of Installing Unattended Support on Multiple Windows Computers on your Network.

Note: In Step 4, substitute “Authenticated Users” for the new filter that you created here.

For more information, see the Microsoft Support web site.

Other Software Distribution Methods

You can also use some third-party and/or paid software rather than Active Directory to install Unattended Support on multiple machines. See their support sites for more information on automating the installation of an executable (.exe) file.

Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM)

Prism Deploy

| Views: 7420 | Last Updated: Fri, Jun 14 2013 2:52 PM

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