Installation and updates of software applications can consume considerable time. Software vendors face challenges in software distribution and often turn to Internet solutions to provide their customers with readily available, easy-to-use software installations and updates. Network administrators face similar challenges within corporate network environments and can utilize many of the same techniques for software deployment.
Over the next 12 months, your company will be installing several new internally developed software applications and upgrading several others. You have been assigned the task of planning the deployment of these applications throughout the network. Your task for this project is to develop a software deployment plan with a focus on how scripting can be used to minimize the labor required to complete the deployments. The tasks you will plan for are as follows:
- Provide all users on the network the ability to download and install Software Application A, Software Application B, and Software Application C, which are new, internally developed applications that have never been installed on any of the network workstation computers. Users should only be allowed to download Application A if they are in the Sales or Marketing departments, Application B if they are in Engineering or IT, or Application C for all others. Users who elect to download the software must first have their system checked to make sure it has at least 2 GB of memory and 250MB of free disk space, then successful installations must be recorded in a network-based database.
- Determine which users on the network do not have the latest version (3.0) of internally developed Software Application D. E-mail users in need of the update, providing them with a download link where they can install the update. Record successful updates in a network-based database.
The project deliverables are:
- Prepare a document to submit your work:
- Use Microsoft Word.
- Title page
- Course number and name
- Project name
- Student name
- Date
- Task 1: Software installation:
- Identify each subtask.
- Discuss if and how scripting can be used to help complete each subtask.
- Select appropriate scripting languages for subtasks that can be scripted, and justify your selection.
- Task 2: Software update:
- Identify each major subtask.
- Discuss if and how scripting can be used to help complete each subtask.
- Select appropriate scripting languages for subtasks that can be scripted, and justify your selection.
- Provide well-documented source code for at least 1 of the subtasks for Task 1 or Task 2.