Is this possible? Seems to not be..

dcjinc · 11-19-2009, 08:29 AM

You guys are my last hope. Im trying to make the Software Portal even easier for our end users by providing them a one click solution to installing an Altiris served Application.

I am a VB programmer and am looking at tying into the SWRAgentUtils.exe for a simple shell command. I would like to write a script that would initiate the Portal so that a request for the single application could be queued for installation.

For example, the client could go to a website

Click on a button called "Install App XYZ"
Vb script initiates the install, bypassing the software portal with all of its click requirements.

I downloaded the ASDK but did not see anything that would allow me to tie into the client request.

Not being an expert in Altiris, I may not understand the back way of doing this. The ASDK seem to provide a way of managing clients from the server, not the other way around.

Any direction would be appreciated.

DCJ

Ace58 · 11-19-2009, 09:24 AM

Hi

I am just trying to figure out why you will do so much work, just to safe the user for 2 clicks

click Open Software Portal, click choose software, click request, and then click ok.

And how will you setup software installation that needs approval ?

Maybe you just ask too much

but good luck anyway.

/Kurt

dcjinc · 11-19-2009, 09:39 AM

If it was that easy but its not for us. We have tons of applications and variations of them are confusing to the end users. To easy for them to select version 2.1 and not 1.2.

Approvals are setup by not publishing the app to the users. They would login to a website and a series of buttons would be available based on access. No access, no buttons.

Its also an 8 -10 point and click process to install a single app.

Ace58 · 11-19-2009, 10:07 AM

We have about 250 software packages, and its very different whats needed, depending of witch department and location the user are placed.
The way we do it is that we setup in the package who can install it though AD.
So ex. the Bangkok Office only gets those packages relevant for Bangkok Office in there portal.

Ofcause i can see you have a problem if you have ex. 1000 packages and they are relevant for all users, that will be quite a list.

But good luck

/Kurt

Ace58 · 11-19-2009, 10:15 AM

I forgot to ask why 8-10 clicks for a single application ? Arent you using sequential software delivery task ?
The big difference is that you can setup Software Portal access on the Task in a sequential software delivery task, so i runs through all packages in the installation, in the order you want to. So if an application contain 10 different sub installations, you just create a package for each one, and gather them in the sequential software delivery task, and setup witch order they should be installed in.
And the user only see it as one task.

Was this any help ?

/Kurt

dcjinc · 11-19-2009, 01:21 PM

From start button to the confirmation button is around 8-10 clicks.

We are setup identically and we also use sequential apps, thats not the point. The goal is a website with a single button that submits the request to the NS to install the app.

tmsmith2 · 03-11-2010, 08:40 AM

Maybe everybody does not need access to all 250? Maybe you can use permissions to give only certain groups access to certain apps?

dfrancis · 03-11-2010, 08:49 AM

It's an added cost (additional product), but Workflow Solution should allow you to set up something like that. I'm still on NS6, but I've been told that you can do basic Altiris workflow functions within NS7 without buying the solution, you just don't have full functionality of the product, such as tying into external systems.

dcjinc · 03-11-2010, 09:14 AM

They issue here is not permissions. What the issue here is an ability to deliver applications via a method outside the software portal.

An API that could be used within VB.NET for instance that would allow one to customize the method of software delivery.

JeffreyJRiggs · 03-11-2010, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfrancis

It's an added cost (additional product), but Workflow Solution should allow you to set up something like that. I'm still on NS6, but I've been told that you can do basic Altiris workflow functions within NS7 without buying the solution, you just don't have full functionality of the product, such as tying into external systems.

that is a pricey solution (quoted to us for about $150,000!!!!)

dfrancis · 03-12-2010, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffreyJRiggs

that is a pricey solution (quoted to us for about $150,000!!!!)

Yeah, I've only seen the countless demos and labs on it, I never got into looking at how much it cost but I figured it was up there a bit. $150K is a bit steep, though!

DeusIrae · 04-10-2010, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcjinc

You guys are my last hope. Im trying to make the Software Portal even easier for our end users by providing them a one click solution to installing an Altiris served Application.

I am a VB programmer [...]

Not being an expert in Altiris, I may not understand the back way of doing this. The ASDK seem to provide a way of managing clients from the server, not the other way around.

Any direction would be appreciated.

DCJ

What you said there just made me think what the logical answer is ... write a web app to run on the NS that does what you want?

Did you ever find an answer? If so I'd be interested in knowing about it