Difference between revisions of "Test Area"

Latest revision as of 15:46, 19 December 2012

Self Service advertisements in Microsoft's SCCM allow us to provide users on Microsoft Windows PCs with the ability to install software at their own convenience. In nearly all cases, these installs will be completely automated and so will require no user input or interaction aside from starting the software install. This guide is intended to walk a user through the steps of locating and running Self Service advertisements on their machine with the Software Center.

NOTES:

Administrator access is not required to run Self Service advertised installs.
Many of these installs have been set to run completely silent in order to reduce unnecessary interruption of your work. Please note, you will likely receive no alert or notification when an install finishes. Please be sure to confirm that your install has finished before logging out or restarting your machine.
Advertised installs can be performed while off-campus. However, downloads and installs will be the most reliable when your machine is connected to the on-campus network.
If your machine does not have the SCCM applets described on this page, or never lists or provides notifications of advertisements, there may be an issue with the SCCM client on your machine. Contact your department or college computer support department for assistance, and be sure to provide the name of your machine.
All screen images on this page are from Windows 7, but text and options should be the same for Windows 8 and Windows XP.
At this time, Windows 7 is the only version of Windows that is fully supported for Self Service advertisements. Windows 8 should be fully supported in early 2013. We cannot guarantee that all advertised programs will work properly with Windows XP.

Starting the SCCM Software Center

To open the Software Center, open the Start Menu, and go to All Programs > Microsoft System Center 2012 > Configuration Manager, then click on Software Center.
After the Software Center finishes loading, you should see the list of applications that have been advertised to your machine. An example view of the Software Center is provided in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1 - Software Center

Whether or not a program is advertised to your machine is the decision of your college or department computer support. Some softwares may not be available due to licensing restrictions or other reasons. You should contact your support personnel if you have questions or a request for a particular software to be advertised.
Please also note that you are not required to install a software that is advertised to your machine. Just as some softwares may not be advertised for varying reasons, others may be advertised that you do not need.

Searching for Advertisements

Search and the Top Section

The new Software Center contains a very useful Search field in the top right. The search will look for matches in the Name, Publisher, and Description fields, and in any Keywords set for an advertised package.
- To use it, simply type in the Search field. You can type in a software or manufacturer name, or even a version number.
- The search is not case-sensitive. So "microsoft" will work the same as "Microsoft".
The search bar is highlighted in Figure 2 below, which shows the top section of the Software Center.

Figure 2 - Top Section - Provides a search field

We strongly recommend that you make use of the Search to locate advertisements you wish to run.
The other options and tabs in this top section can be safely ignored at this time.

The Software List

The middle section of the Software Center lists the available advertisements on your machine. If you have utilized the Search field, it will display any advertisements that match your search.
Figure 3 below shows an example of the software list.
- Note that a Mozilla Firefox advertisement has been selected in this image.

Figure 3 - Middle Section - The list of available software

The "Name" and "Status" columns are the most important in this section.
- All advertisement names should include the software name, the manufacturer of the software, and the software version. Any other details are for internal use.
- The status for an advertisement will change when downloading, installing, and after completion. A finished advertisement should show either "Installed" if successful, or "Failed" if not.

Understanding and Running an Advertisement

Advertisement Details

The bottom section provides additional information about the advertisement you have selected.
Figure 4 below provides a view of this section.
- Note that this view is displaying information about the Mozilla Firefox advertisement selected in Figure 3.

Figure 4 - Bottom Section - Details about the selected advertisement

The important information to look for is:
1. Package Name: Again, all package names should include the software name, the manufacturer of the software, and the software version.
2. Status: Will start as Available, and will update as an advertisement is downloading, installing, and when finished.
  - When an advertisement is installing, you will see Installing.
  - If an advertisement succeeds, it will change to Installed.
  - If it fails, it will change to Failed. You will then be able to click on it to get additional details about the failure.
3. Requirements Section
  - Restart required: Unfortunately, this field is unreliable. Most advertisements should not require a restart. If one does, you *should* receive a notification of a required restart in your taskbar.
  - Download size: This is the size of the downloaded install files. It is not the amount of space required to install the program. Contact your college or departmental IT support if you are unsure if you have enough disk space.
  - Estimated time: The time required to install the program. This does not include the time required to download the install files. Older advertisements do not properly fill out this field. You can safely assume 1 hour for most installations.
4. Description: Additional details about the installation will go here, if provided by the administrator who creates the advertisement. Please note, not all advertisements will have any information here.
5. INSTALL: Click this button to run the advertisement. Your machine will begin downloading the installation files and will immediately start the installation once the download is finished.
  - If an install succeeds, this button will change to either REINSTALL or UNINSTALL. Please do not
  - If an install fails, this will change to RETRY.

Running an Advertised Install

Again, please note that you do not have to be an Administrator on the machine to run an advertised install. However, once installed, a software may require administrator privileges in order to use certain features.
Advertised installs can be performed from off-campus as well. However, downloading the installation files may take longer while off-campus, so please allow for extra time.
Select a software from the list and click INSTALL in the bottom right. Your computer will begin downloading the install media and will immediately begin the installation once the download is finished.
Do not log out or restart your machine while an advertised install is running.
If an install prompts you to restart as part of the process, please note that after Windows restarts, you must log back in for the advertised install to continue.
Again, please note that most installs may be completely silent. We recommend that you keep the Software Center open and periodically check the status of your selected install.

Additional details and troubleshooting

If the Software Center shows no advertisements available, your machine may not yet have checked in and received its assignments. To resolve this, wait 10-15 minutes and then check again.
If necessary, you can manually force your machine to check in (requires administrator privileges). To do so, go to Control Panel > System and Security > Configuration Manager, click on the Actions Tab, and initiate the "Machine Policy Retrieval and Evaluation Cycle" action.
The Software Center sometimes does not properly load the list of advertisements if you are running it while connected by Remote Desktop Connection. If you encounter issues while connected remotely, restart the machine and connect again, or wait until you are locally at the machine.
If a program fails to download or install, check the amount of free disk space on your C drive. It is good practice to keep at least 10-15% free disk space for Microsoft Windows.
If a silent install appears to have failed, restart your computer. If it is still missing, attempt the install one more time. If after that it still fails, click on the Failed status and note the error code. Then notify your computer support for assistance and provide them that error code along with any other useful information.
If you receive an error message either from the install or during the download process, or a software appears to have installed properly but is missing features or licensing information, contact your department or college computer support for assistance.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 __NOTOC__
-==Location and Access==
+Self Service advertisements in Microsoft's SCCM allow us to provide users on Microsoft Windows PCs with the ability to install software at their own convenience.  In nearly all cases, these installs will be completely automated and so will require no user input or interaction aside from starting the software install.  This guide is intended to walk a user through the steps of locating and running Self Service advertisements on their machine with the Software Center.
-BLUEWHALE is located in room 2091 EB2.  Currently the printer is restricted to faculty and staff.  However, faculty may send an email to [mailto:ecehelp@ncsu.edu] and request that a member of their research group be given access to print to BLUEWHALE.  Located near BLUEWHALE is a computer station that you may use to print to the printer.  We encourage users to use this station when printing so that you can view your document as it prints and cancel it should there be any errors, saving paper and ink.
-For issues not covered by this document, see Brian Carty in 3218 EB2 or Valerie Bell in 3114 EB2.  If you need technical assistance with the printer, email [mailto:ecehelp@ncsu.edu?Subject=Request_for_BLUEWHALE_access/assistance ecehelp@ncsu.edu], or if an emergency, call the Wolftech workroom at 515-0124.
-==Adding the Printer==
+'''NOTES:'''
+* Administrator access is '''not''' required to run Self Service advertised installs.
+* Many of these installs have been set to run completely silent in order to reduce unnecessary interruption of your work.  Please note, you will likely receive no alert or notification when an install finishes.  Please be sure to confirm that your install has finished before logging out or restarting your machine.
+* Advertised installs can be performed while off-campus.  However, downloads and installs will be the most reliable when your machine is connected to the on-campus network.
+* If your machine does not have the SCCM applets described on this page, or never lists or provides notifications of advertisements, there may be an issue with the SCCM client on your machine.  Contact your department or college computer support department for assistance, and be sure to provide the name of your machine.
+* All screen images on this page are from Windows 7, but text and options should be the same for Windows 8 and Windows XP.
+* At this time, Windows 7 is the only version of Windows that is fully supported for Self Service advertisements.  Windows 8 should be fully supported in early 2013.  We cannot guarantee that all advertised programs will work properly with Windows XP.
-BLUEWHALE is available over the network via our domain print server.  To add the copier/printer to your machine, please view the following pages:
-* For WOLFTECH-domained machines, use [http://www.wolftech.ncsu.edu/support/support/Adding_printer_to_Windows_machine "Add by Directory Search"].
+==<span style="color:blue">Starting the SCCM Software Center==
-* For ECEW2K-domained machines or personal machines, use [http://www.wolftech.ncsu.edu/support/support/Adding_printer_to_Windows_machine#Add_by_Print_Server_and_Queue "Add by Print Server and queue"].
-==Important Notes==
+* To open the Software Center, open the Start Menu, and go to All Programs > Microsoft System Center 2012 > Configuration Manager, then click on Software Center.
-* Use this template whenever possible -- [[media:poster_template_lf.ppt| sample poster template]]
+* After the Software Center finishes loading, you should see the list of applications that have been advertised to your machine.  An example view of the Software Center is provided in ''Figure 1'' below.
-* A roll of paper on BLUEWHALE is 36 in. wide.  This means that '''at least one''' of the dimensions of your poster must be 36 in. or less.
+<table align="center">
+<TR><TD>[[Image:SC_offer1.jpg|thumb|500px|'''Figure 1 - Software Center''']]</TD></TR>
+</table>
-* Create your poster in the size that you intend to print it.  PowerPoint allows you to set a page size under File -> Page Setup and any image program allows you to set the size of the picture/document you are creating before you start on it.
+* Whether or not a program is advertised to your machine is the decision of your college or department computer support.  Some softwares may not be available due to licensing restrictions or other reasons.  You should contact your support personnel if you have questions or a request for a particular software to be advertised.
+* Please also note that you are not required to install a software that is advertised to your machine.  Just as some softwares may not be advertised for varying reasons, others may be advertised that you do not need.
-* Posters can be printed in Portrait or Landscape.
-* Print in "Normal" quality only.  There is little to no discernible difference between "Normal" and "Best" qualities.
+==<span style="color:blue">Searching for Advertisements==
-* We '''strongly''' encourage you to use a white background for your poster.  If you absolutely must have a colored background, use a single color that is not heavy or dark.  Nearly all programs allow you to reduce the intensity or percentage of a color before you use it.  Do NOT use patterns or your poster will print very slowly.
+===Search and the Top Section===
-* Use short filenames for your files.  BLUEWHALE will not print files with long filenames.
+* The new Software Center contains a very useful Search field in the top right.  The search will look for matches in the Name, Publisher, and Description fields, and in any Keywords set for an advertised package.
+** To use it, simply type in the Search field.  You can type in a software or manufacturer name, or even a version number.
+** The search is not case-sensitive.  So "microsoft" will work the same as "Microsoft".
+* The search bar is highlighted in ''Figure 2'' below, which shows the top section of the Software Center.
-==Printing a Document==
+<table align="center">
+<TR><TD>[[Image:SC_offer2.jpg|thumb|600px|'''Figure 2 - Top Section - Provides a search field''']]</TD></TR>
+</table>
-At this time, Microsoft Powerpoint is the preferred application for printing posters/jobs to BLUEWHALE.  Adobe Acrobat/Reader may also be used.  If you need to print through a different program, please email us for assistance.  Also note that the directions in this document are for MS PowerPoint 2003 and Adobe Reader/Acrobat 7.  If you are having difficulties with previous or future versions, again, please let us know.
+* We '''strongly''' recommend that you make use of the Search to locate advertisements you wish to run.
+* The other options and tabs in this top section can be safely ignored at this time.
-There are two parts to printing to BLUEWHALE. First you must tell the printer what paper size and orientation you wish to print. This is covered in steps 1 and 2 below, and are the same for PowerPoint and Acrobat.
+===The Software List===
+* The middle section of the Software Center lists the available advertisements on your machine.  If you have utilized the Search field, it will display any advertisements that match your search.
+* ''Figure 3'' below shows an example of the software list.
+** Note that a Mozilla Firefox advertisement has been selected in this image.
-The second part is setting an option that will fit the poster to the margins of the paper size you have chosen. This is covered in step 3, and differs depending on what program you are using.
+<table align="center">
+<TR><TD>[[Image:SC_offer3.jpg|thumb|600px|'''Figure 3 - Middle Section - The list of available software''']]</TD></TR>
+</table>
-[[Image:mastiff1.jpg|left|thumb|500px|'''Figure 1 - Paper and Output options''']]
+* The "Name" and "Status" columns are the most important in this section.
-[[Image:mastiff2.jpg|thumb|500px|'''Figure 2 - Layout and Style options''']]
+** All advertisement names should include the software name, the manufacturer of the software, and the software version.  Any other details are for internal use.
-<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
+** The status for an advertisement will change when downloading, installing, and after completion.  A finished advertisement should show either "Installed" if successful, or "Failed" if not.
-<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
-. '''Job type:'''
-:* Leave as default option of "Normal Print"
+==<span style="color:blue">Understanding and Running an Advertisement==
-. '''2 sided print:'''
-:* Used to make job print on one or both sides of a sheet of paper
+===Advertisement Details===
-:* Options are "1 sided print", "2 sided print", or "2 sided print, Flip on short edge"
-:* Default is "1 sided print"
+* The bottom section provides additional information about the advertisement you have selected.
-. '''Output/Stapling:'''
+* ''Figure 4'' below provides a view of this section.
-:* Used to make copies output as automatically collated or stapled
+** Note that this view is displaying information about the Mozilla Firefox advertisement selected in Figure 3.
-:* Options are "Uncollated", "Collated", "1 Staple", "2 Staples"
-:* Default is "Collated"
+<table align="center">
-. '''Saved Settings:'''
+<TR><TD>[[Image:SC_offer4.jpg|thumb|600px|'''Figure 4 - Bottom Section - Details about the selected advertisement''']]</TD></TR>
-:* Use to save or load pre-set configurations
+</table>
-:* ''To Save:'' After changing options to desired settings, click Save, choose a name, then click OK.
-:* ''To Load:'' Click Load, choose the saved configuration you wish to use and click OK.
+* The important information to look for is:
-:* Configurations are saved only in your profile on the specific machine you are using.  They will not carry over to other machines.
+*# '''Package Name:'''  Again, all package names should include the software name, the manufacturer of the software, and the software version.
-. '''Page Layout:'''
+*# '''Status:'''  Will start as ''Available'', and will update as an advertisement is downloading, installing, and when finished.
-:* Options are "N-Up" or "Booklet Layout"
+*#* When an advertisement is installing, you will see ''Installing''.
-:* Default is "N-Up".  This option allows you to choose to print multiple pages on one side of a sheet
+*#* If an advertisement succeeds, it will change to ''Installed''.
-:* "Booklet layout" automatically makes the job print in landscape orientation, 2 pages per side, and will print on both sides of a sheet.  These options cannot be changed if you choose this style.
+*#* If it fails, it will change to ''Failed''.  You will then be able to click on it to get additional details about the failure.
-. '''N-Up (Normal-Up) options:'''
+*# ''Requirements Section''
-:* Only available if you choose "N-Up" under Page Layout.  This allows you to print multiple pages on one side of a sheet.  (This is not the same as 2-sided print!)
+*#* '''Restart required:'''  Unfortunately, this field is unreliable.  Most advertisements should not require a restart.  If one does, you *should* receive a notification of a required restart in your taskbar.
-:* Default is "Normal (one-up)", which is one page per side
+*#* '''Download size:'''  This is the size of the downloaded install files.  It is not the amount of space required to install the program.  Contact your college or departmental IT support if you are unsure if you have enough disk space.
-:* Other options allow for 2, 4, 6, 9, or 16 pages per side
+*#* '''Estimated time:'''  The time required to install the program.  This does not include the time required to download the install files.  Older advertisements do not properly fill out this field.  You can safely assume 1 hour for most installations.
-. '''Image Orientation:'''
+*# '''Description:'''  Additional details about the installation will go here, if provided by the administrator who creates the advertisement.  Please note, not all advertisements will have any information here.
-:* This will cause your job to print in Portrait or Landscape orientation
+*# '''INSTALL:'''  Click this button to run the advertisement.  Your machine will begin downloading the installation files and will immediately start the installation once the download is finished.
-:* If you choose "Booklet Layout" under Page Layout, it will automatically print in Landscape orientation and cannot be changed.
+*#* If an install succeeds, this button will change to either '''REINSTALL''' or '''UNINSTALL'''.  Please do not
-:* Default is "Portrait"
+*#* If an install fails, this will change to '''RETRY'''.
+===Running an Advertised Install===
+* Again, please note that you do not have to be an Administrator on the machine to run an advertised install.  ''However'', once installed, a software may require administrator privileges in order to use certain features.
+* Advertised installs can be performed from off-campus as well.  However, downloading the installation files may take longer while off-campus, so please allow for extra time.
+* Select a software from the list and click '''INSTALL''' in the bottom right.  Your computer will begin downloading the install media and will immediately begin the installation once the download is finished.
+* '''Do not''' log out or restart your machine while an advertised install is running.
+* If an install prompts you to restart as part of the process, please note that after Windows restarts, you must log back in for the advertised install to continue.
+* Again, '''please note''' that most installs may be completely silent.  We recommend that you keep the Software Center open and periodically check the status of your selected install.
+==<span style="color:blue">Additional details and troubleshooting==
+* If the Software Center shows no advertisements available, your machine may not yet have checked in and received its assignments.  To resolve this, wait 10-15 minutes and then check again.
+* If necessary, you can manually force your machine to check in (requires administrator privileges).  To do so, go to Control Panel > System and Security > Configuration Manager, click on the Actions Tab, and initiate the "Machine Policy Retrieval and Evaluation Cycle" action.
+* The Software Center sometimes does not properly load the list of advertisements if you are running it while connected by Remote Desktop Connection.  If you encounter issues while connected remotely, restart the machine and connect again, or wait until you are locally at the machine.
+* If a program fails to download or install, check the amount of free disk space on your C drive.  It is good practice to keep at least 10-15% free disk space for Microsoft Windows.
+* If a silent install appears to have failed, restart your computer.  If it is still missing, attempt the install one more time.  If after that it still fails, click on the Failed status and note the error code.  Then notify your computer support for assistance and provide them that error code along with any other useful information.
+* If you receive an error message either from the install or during the download process, or a software appears to have installed properly but is missing features or licensing information, contact your department or college computer support for assistance.