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Q180918: SMSINST: Guidelines for Using SMS Installer

Article: Q180918
Product(s): Microsoft Systems Management Server
Version(s): WINDOWS:1.0,2.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): smsinst
Last Modified: 15-JAN-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Systems Management Server Installer versions 1.0, 2.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

Systems Management Server Installer is not appropriate for many system upgrades,
configuration changes, and some application installations. This article provides
information on tasks that are not appropriate uses for the Systems Management
Server Installer.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Microsoft Technical Support provides guidelines for Systems Management Server
Installer use, repackaging, and installation, but can not provide installation
scripts testing or installation validation. When using Systems Management Server
Installer to deploy applications, adequate testing in a lab environment on
hardware and software client configurations similar to that in your production
environment is a prerequisite for a successful rollout.

Guidelines
----------

Do not use Systems Management Server Installer to repackage operating system
service packs or operating system upgrades.

Do not use Systems Management Server Installer to upgrade or deploy Microsoft
Internet Explorer 4.0 (IE 4.0). Internet Explorer provides an automated setup
with custom configuration options instead. Refer to the IE 4.0 documentation for
more details.

Do not use Systems Management Server Installer to install applications that make
changes on a computer hardware- or software-specific basis. An example of this
would be network configuration changes that require bindings to be reviewed and
re-applied after the desired changes are made. A programmatic method should be
used instead.

Avoid using Systems Management Server Installer to repackage an application if
the original setup program makes any modifications to shared or network files.

Do not use Systems Management Server Installer to add printers, change video
display, or add/change/modify hardware or device drivers.

For additional information about Systems Management Server Installer, please see
the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q168776 SMSINST: Using the Repackager Successfully

  Q176990 SMSINST: Installer Does Not Install Printers

For additional information about automating IE 4.0 setup via Systems Management
Server, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q176323 SMS: How to Install Internet Explorer 4.0 with SMS

  Q185339 SMS: How to Deploy Internet Explorer 4.0 to Windows NT

For more information on automating network and printer configuration tasks, or
installing or reconfiguring drivers programmatically, see the Microsoft Software
Development Kit (SDK) and Driver Development Kit (DDK) documentation.

Additional query words: prodsms rules guidelines guideline limits limitations limited extra above beyond boundary policy

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Keywords          : smsinst 
Technology        : kbSMSSearch kbSMSI100 kbSMSI200
Version           : WINDOWS:1.0,2.0
Issue type        : kbinfo

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