applicationPackaging created the topic: InstallAce FAQ
I want to setup InstallAce. How can I start?
Please refer to ReadMe file for detailed information on System Requirements, Configuration Settings and InstallAce components. ReadMe file shall be available under root folder of InstallAce Setup program.

Which components should I install on my machine?
Following are the separate InstallAce components that can be installed separately as per available license and user requirement.

* Client Tools:

1. Solution Designer: Application developer may use Solution Designer to package application components & build deployment package.

2. Installation Manager: Support team may use Installation Manager to load deployment package, configure pre-installation settings like environment binding etc. and run installation.

* Server Components:

1. Installation Service: Windows Service component run on target server in background made and create communication channel with Installation Manager

I have installed InstallAce. What are the minimum configuration requirements before I start using it?

Before you start using InstallAce, you shall verify default configuration settings in following configuraion files. You may find configuration files in the Application folder as you may have selected with setup program.

* Installer Service:: IAInstaller.exe.config
* Solution Designer:: SDesigner.exe.config
* Installation Manager:: IManager.exe.config

Please note that Installer Windows Service is not started just after installation and you shall start the Installer Service after verification of default application settings. To start the Installer Service please open the “Services” management console under “Administrative Tools” and start “InstallAce Installer” Windows Service.

How may I configure Server side User Authentication?

If ‘ValidateUserAccount’ setting is ‘true’ then Installer Service will validate all installation requests and access would be permitted only to the limited users as defined in the ‘AuthorizedUsersList’ section of the application configuration file. Installation Manager sends user’s domain name & username in encrypted form and Installer Service validate user credentials in accordance with the server side policy.

The user list is defined in following format:

Note: The domain name is optional to define but if defined then the (Installation Manager) user must be on the same domain.

How may I configure Server side Directory Permissions?

It is highly recommended to configure server side settings for directory permissions. By defining these settings you can ensure that InstallAce is not used by malicious users to modify sensitive server contents. if directory check is enabled then InstallAce will not allow running any such installation package that may modify contents of non-permitted folders.

If ‘RestrictInstallationToAllowedFoldersList’ setting is ‘true’ then Installer Service will monitor all installation requests and file access would be permitted only under the directory locations as defined in the ‘AllowedFoldersList’ section in application configuration file.

Similarly if ‘RestrictInstallationForDeniedFoldersList’ setting is ‘true’ then file copy would be denied under the directory locations as defined in the ‘DeniedFoldersList’ section. The directory list is defined in following format:

Please note that permissions are only applied to parent folders and same permissions are used for sub folders. Thus if you define ‘C:\’ in ‘DeniedFoldersList’ list then no file can be installed on C drive.

How can I restrict direct access to SQL Server and still allow running SQL Server tasks?

InstallAce need ConnectionString details to be defined for all Database Servers otherwise it cannot run SQL Server Tasks. The connection string can be defined in Solution Designer or by the Installation Manager. However if you don’t want to share User Name & Password with the InstallAce users then you may define the Connection String(s) in the ‘connectionStrings’ section of configuration file and just share the Connection String ‘Name’ with the InstallAce user. InstallAce will automatically detect the actual Connection String at run time and replace with the Connection String ‘Name’. Connection String is defined in ‘Name – connectionString’ format as following:

How can I define a timeframe to restrict installation for specific period?

You may use ‘RestrictWeekDays’ setting in the application configuration file to define days of week on that installation shall NOT be permitted.

What are other security settings available to manage controlled access?

You may configure following settings in the application configuration file:

1. AllowWindowsScriptExecution: Turn flag on/off to allow/deny VBScript & Power Shell Scripts execution on the server.
2. AllowIISConfigurationTask: Turn flag on/off to allow/deny executing IIS Server Tasks on the server.
3. AllowCustomFileAction: Turn flag on/off to allow/deny executing Custom File Action on the server.

Tagged : InstallAce

created the topic: InstallAce .Net Assembly Tasks

.Net Assembly Tasks

Q. How to install .Net Assembly in Global Assembly cache on Server side? Why ‘Assembly Cache’ folder always exists in the File Manager?

The files associated with the ‘Assembly Cache’ folder in File Manager are automatically installed in the Global Assembly Cache on the target environment. Only .NET Strong name assembly can be added in the GAC folder and a error is reported on compilation if a unsigned Assembly is found to be mapped to GAC folder.

You may also use the Custom File Action templates ‘Install Assembly in GAC’ & ‘Un-install Assembly from GAC’ to install or uninstall .NET assemblies in the GAC folder. Because GAC is a special folder, therefore you should set the deployment instruction to ‘Copy file if not exist on Target environment’ for such files so that an existing file is not replaced on target environment until it’s uninstalled first. You may create both actions, Uninstall & then Install for such files.

Q. How can I install/Uninstall Windows Service on Server side?

You can easily (un)install Windows Service using Custom File Action templates.

Q. How can I register/Unregister a Assembly or (COM+) Serviced Components on Server side?

You can easily register or Un-register Assembly or Serviced Components using Custom File Action templates.

Tagged : InstallAce

created the topic: InstallAce Miscellaneous Task
Miscellaneous

Q. How can I set individual property or advance properties of (IIS) Web Server objects that are not available in property list?

You may use the ‘PropertySettings’ attribute of Server Task to define list of custom properties that are not included in the standard property list. The detailed description of contents format has been provided as part of property description with in the Designer.

If you want Installer to only change a few/single property on IIS Server then define the desired property settings in the ‘PropertySettings’ atttibute and set ‘IgnoreIndividualSettings’ to ‘true’. If ‘IgnoreIndividualSettings’ is true then Installer Service does not process the standard property list.

Q. How can I manage server side Configuration files?

If the earlier installation was not done using InstallAce then create a new solution and add the configuration file into Solution by creating a new Server & Folder Structure. Please make sure that the ‘Deployment Instruction’ is set to ‘Condition: File must pre-exist on target environment’ so that the pre-existing configuration file is not overwritten because few settings may have been ,modified post initial deployment, to match with production environment. With this ‘Deployment Instruction’, the Installation Manager will validate that the file is already existing on the target Server and will also not replace the existing file. Still we need to add this file into Solution to resolve target location. Once the configuration file has been added into the Solution, then open the ‘Configuration Files Settings’ window and you will see the Configuration file in the files drop down. Add ‘Configure XML Node’ or ‘Configure Attribute’ Configuration Task and set Task properties appropriately. Run the solution using Installation Manager and the Server side file(s) would be updated as per defined configuration. Please refer to Online Tutorials for better understanding of Configuration Tasks.

Q. What Scripting Platforms are supported?

VBScript & PowerShell Scripts can be executed using Server Tasks.

Q. How can I trap errors raised by VBScripts on Server side?

Installation Manager capture the VBScript execution errors raised on Server side and same are displayed within the Installation Manager dashboard.

Q. What is the use of Installation Checklist?

Using Installation Checklist application developer can provide instructions to the support team to help them in making pre-installation changes in the Solution contents and by marking critical steps as mandatory, application developer can ensure that installation is not done until all settings have been verified.

Q. What is the use of User Instruction?

Application developer can attach User Instructions with various contents to provide instructions to the support team to help them in understanding & making pre-installation changes in the Solution contents.

Tagged : InstallAce