WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) is often used to manage Windows systems using different graphical utilities - an implementation of the object-oriented management standard WBEM. You can use wbemtest.exe as a GUI utility for working with WMI. To work with WMI from the console created wmic.exe. We will use WMIC remotely with domain administrator credentials to scan the list of nodes (PCs / laptops) and install software without interrupting user experience. Although there are several advanced ways to accomplish this task, we will consider the simplest method: the MSI installation file, which does not require options, is located on the local disk of each remote user.
2. WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) is often used to
manage Windows systems using different graphical utilities - an
implementation of the object-oriented management standard
WBEM. You can use wbemtest.exe as a GUI utility for working with
WMI. To work with WMI from the console created wmic.exe. We
will use WMIC remotely with domain administrator credentials to
scan the list of nodes (PCs / laptops) and install software without
interrupting user experience. Although there are several advanced
ways to accomplish this task, we will consider the simplest
method: the MSI installation file, which does not require options,
is located on the local disk of each remote user. action1.com
3. 1. Load up a Command Shell with Appropriate Access
Permissions
Although WMIC instructions can be provided with appropriate
credentials before starting work, it is usually recommended to
avoid clear-text typing the password(who looks over his
shoulder;)). We will execute the runas command as follows:
runas /user:DomainAdminAccount@DOMAIN cmd
that will ask us for the credentials of our DomainAdminAccount.
In the case of successful authentication, we will get a shell
running on behalf of the administrator. action1.com
Manually:
4. 2. Step into WMIC Remotely to Install Software
One of the nice advantages of WMIC is that it can work from
any machine. With our admin shell, we're going to type wmic
and then push Enter button. (Note: we could go to WMIC
directly from the runas command ... it just breaks the steps).
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Manually:
5. 3. Call the Installation (for a Single Machine)
The main problem is that individual MSI packages will have
different “options”. To simplify our example, we perform an
installation with MSI, which does not require any options. We
will enter the setup call as shown below. We’ll enter the install
call like the following:
> /node:exampleremotemachine product call install true,"" ,
"c:PathToYourFile.msi" action1.com
Manually:
6. 3. Call the Installation (for a Single Machine)
If we do not enter an wmic invalid node, we will be asked to confirm in
the following format:
Execute (Win32_Product)->Install() (Y/N)?
To which we must answer yes (y) to confirm. If your WMI compliant MSI
package was successfully installed, you should see something like the
following:
Method execution successful. Out Parameters:
instance of __PARAMETERS
{
ReturnValue = 0;
};
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Manually:
7. 4. Call the installation (for a list of machines):
We will use the WMIC feature to process the flat text file as
input to the nodes to perform this installation on the list of
machines (in our example, stored on the local administrator’s
hard disk in C: computers.txt) by running the following
command:
> /node::@"c:computers.txt" product call install true,"" ,
"c:PathToYourFile.msi
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Manually:
8. 4. Call the installation (for a list of machines):
Which will iterate through the list in computers.txt… skipping
over invalid nodes (eg: the machine is turned off), and asking
for installation confirmation for each machine.
Although there is an opinion about the rather scant wmic
documentation, most of the users are sufficient instructions on
the official Microsoft site to deploy software or to create wmic
list installed software.
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Manually:
9. Also consider using Action1 to deploy software remotely if:
- You need to perform this action on multiple (hundreds or even
thousands) computers simultaneously.
- Some of your endpoints are laptops not connected to
corporate network at all times.
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With Action1 :
10. Other Relevant HOWTOs:
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How to Get a List of Active TCP Connections on Domain
Computers
Free Tool: Install Software Remotely (MSI Package)
Free Tool: Remotely Install Windows Updates
Free Tool: Sleep Remote Computer
Free Tool: Wake Up Computer Remotely (Wake-On-LAN)
11. Sign Up for Action1
• Instant sign-up
• No phone calls to activate
• Quick configuration
Go to action1.com/free
12. Free Help
• Call 1-346-444-8530
• action1.com/contact_us.html
• Free technical support
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