Installation through System Center Configuration Manager

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2

Another possible way to deploy the client in large environments is to use a software deployment tool such as System Center Configuration Manager 2007. System Center Configuration Manager 2007 provides the capability to create an installation package and target it to client computers based on their properties, such as operating system version, applications installed, and configurations.

In order to deploy an application through System Center Configuration Manager or through similar tools, an installation package has to be created first. In the case of the AD RMS client, creating the installation package consists of extracting the deployable installers from the downloaded file and indicating that the files must be deployed and executed.

The AD RMS client contains two installer files, as well as some additional files. One of the installer files is the RMS client itself (MSDrmClient.msi) and the other one is a compatibility client to support older applications that are designed to use older versions of the client (RMClientBackCompat.msi). The next sections will explain how to extract these files from the Windows Rights Management executable and how to create a distribution package for the RMS client.

How to extract the MSDrmClient.msi and RMClientBackCompat.msi files

The following steps describe how to extract the MSDrmClient.msi and RMClientBackCompat.msi files from the WindowsRightsManagementServicesSP2-KB917275-Client-ENU-x86.exe file. These steps assume that you have already downloaded the client file.

Note

This method also applies to the x64 client file, WindowsRightsManagementServicesSP2-KB917275-Client-ENU-X64.exe amd the I64 client file, WindowsRightsManagementServicesSP2-KB917275-Client-ENU-IA64.exe

  1. From the Start button, click Run, click Browse, navigate to the location of the client file, select the file and click Open.

  2. On the Run box, next to Open:, the path and file should be visible. Go to the end and add /x. Example: drive:\WindowsRightsManagementServicesSP2-KB917275-Client-ENU-x86.exe /x

  3. Click OK. This will bring up an Open File – Security Warning box. This can be safely ignored. Click Run.

  4. This will bring up a Choose Directory For Extracted Files box. Browse to a location for the files and click OK. Click OK.

  5. This will bring up an Extraction Complete box. Click OK.

How to create a distribution package

To create packages from the MSDRMClient.msi and the RMClientBackCompat.msi files follow the steps indicated below.

  1. Navigate in the System Center Configuration Manager Administrator console to System Center Configuration Manager / Site Database / Computer Management / Software Distribution.

  2. Right-click Packages, point to New, and then click Package from Definition.

  3. Click Next on the Welcome page.

  4. In the Package Definitions page click Browse… and specify MSDrmClient.msi (extracted from the downloaded file). Click Next.

  5. In the Source Files page choose the third option, Create a compressed version of the source files. Click Next.

  6. In the Source Directory page indicate the path to the folder where the. msi files are stored. Click Next.

  7. Click Finish.

  8. Repeat the process for the second MSI file.

When you create a program to deploy the package, make sure you indicate, that for the RMClientBackCompat.msi file, that the MSDrmClient.msi file needs to be installed first through the “Run Another Program First” in the New Program wizard.

During the configuration of the package for deployment, it must be set to check that both Windows Installer files are successfully applied. If an error occurs that prevents installation of MSDrmClient.msi, installation of RMClientBackCompat.msi should not be attempted.