Distributing Your Connection Manager Service Profiles

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

There are several ways to distribute your service profile, each with costs and benefits. Choose one of the following methods, or provide more than one method to give your users a choice.

Distributing Service Profiles on CD or Floppy Disk

You can distribute CDs or floppy disks containing your self-installing Connection Manager package. Connection Manager and the service profile fit on a floppy disk. However if you want to include other programs, such as anti-virus software, you might need more space than a floppy provides so a CD is a better choice.

The benefit of distributing this way is that you can physically give a copy to all users or send them easily through the mail. However, this solution might be costly and has little inherent security.

Distributing Service Profiles by E-mail

You can send a service profile through e-mail to your users. If you choose to send the service profile through e-mail, ensure that users are able to receive .exe files, because not all e-mail systems allow executable files as attachments.

Distributing Service Profiles by Download

You can set up a Web site where users can download the service profile. Desktop users can download to a floppy disk, and portable-computer users can download directly to their computers from a Web site inside your network.

It is also possible to make the service profile available by download from a Web site over the Internet. However, identify any security risks to your organization before posting your service profile on an Internet site.

Pre-installing Service Profiles

You can install the service profile on each client individually. The benefit of this method is that users are not required to install anything themselves, which can reduce user frustration and calls to your help desk. However, this method requires administrator or help desk resources during the initial installation, which might be a large resource hit during the roll out phase of your deployment. This method is useful when there are a small number of client computers or when all of the client computers and devices are controlled by your organization.

Combining Distribution Methods

You can also use a combination of distribution methods. For example, a company could distribute the Connection Manager service profiles on CD to users who work from their own computers from remote locations, provide downloads for local employees who have portable computers, and pre-install the service profile on any new portable computers before distribution.