Overview
This guide explains the steps required to deploy Workplace Chat application via Windows installer (or .msi
package). .msi
is an installer package file format used by Windows for installation, storage, and deletion of programs. The files are stored within a package, which is then used with the program’s client-side installer service to open and install the program.
The system administrator of a company will typically deploy .msi
packages via the Windows Server group policies objects (GPO) or through a third party software deployment tool.
The main idea is that an application will be automatically installed the next time a user logs in to their computer. This means that the application will automatically be installed without the need for an end-user, who might not have permissions to install applications, to run the executable manually.
Deploy Workplace Chat MSI by using group policies (GPO)
In order to deploy Workplace Chat MSI by using group policy objects, follow the steps below:
.msi
to a shared folder so that the installer can be deployed over the network.![](https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.2365-6/72742715_1135672679972095_452911525498191872_n.png?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=e280be&_nc_ohc=nB7VoG-IYScQ7kNvgGDsb07&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AYBXfx8lVJmYnBPBhPKejOm8C44Hk0aWZpWOg0ECl3NLhg&oe=66F72500)
.msi
and click on Open. ![](https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.2365-6/73016912_537608167015174_7267318465671725056_n.png?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=e280be&_nc_ohc=v7rxVZzKiyAQ7kNvgELazXY&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AYB3AHiAIzchay2TJ6Ee-6EtFmn_8y4TVw8FUNSwNCyFqg&oe=66F735BE)
gpupdate /force
to update the group policies.![](https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.2365-6/72742292_405535860132873_7540351512363401216_n.png?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=e280be&_nc_ohc=yT9lM_czR5YQ7kNvgFQsnvp&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AYB7Kf4dxDET9cgvU6HwghtEbbWblqUl9o-Qp8tfw5-QWw&oe=66F73A15)
Workplace Chat MSI deployment features
Workplace Chat .msi
deployment follows a sequence of steps:
.msi
is running by some provisioning system across many PCs), then run with "START=N"
. E.g.: msiexec /i WorkplaceChat.msi START=N
msiexec /i WorkplaceChat.msi INSTALLEROPTS="/S"
which runs the installer in silent mode.Troubleshooting
When you want to deploy an .msi
, you can use the .msiexec
to run a couple of commands in a terminal prior to deploying the .msi
in the group policies or third party deployment tool. The msiexec
has the possibility to run install, display, restart and most importantly logging options.
Installation Options
msiexec.exe
[/i
][/a
][/j{u|m|/g|/t}
][/x
] <path_to_msi>
/i
Trigger a normal installation
/a
Trigger an administrative install
u
Advertise the product to the current user
m
Advertise the product to all users
/g
Specify the language identifier used by the advertised package
/t
Apply transform to advertise package
/x
Uninstall the package
Display Options
msiexec.exe
/i
[/quiet
][/passive
][/q{n|b|r|f}
] <path_to_msi>
/quiet
Quiet mode (there is no user interaction)
/passive
Unattended mode (installation shows only a progress bar)
n
UI level: no UI
b
UI level: basic
n+
UI level: no UI (except for a modal dialog at the end)
b+
UI level: basic (except for a modal dialog at the end)
b-
UI level: basic (with no modal dialog)
r
UI level: reduced
f
UI level: full
qb+!
or qb!+
to hide the Cancel button.Restart Options
msiexec.exe
/i
[/norestart
][/promptrestart
][/forcerestart
] <path_to_msi>
/norestart
Machine will not be restarted after the installation
/promptrestart
User will be prompted if a reboot is required
/forcerestart
Machine will be restarted after the installation
Logging Options
msiexec.exe
[/i
][/x
] <path_to_msi>
[/L{i|w|e|a|r|u|c|m|o|p|v|x+|!|*}
][/log
] <path_to_log>
i
Include status messages in logs
w
Include non-fatal warnings in logs
e
Include all error messages in logs
a
Mention when an action is started in logs
r
Include action-specific records in logs
u
Include user requests in logs
c
Include the initial UI parameters in logs
m
Include out-of-memory or fatal exit information in logs
o
Include out-of-disk-space messages in logs
p
Include terminal properties in logs
v
Generate a verbose output
x
Include extra debugging information in logs
+
Append output to an existing log file
!
Flush each line to the log
*
Log all information, except for v
and x
options