This page explains the process of creating an Application distribution object using Zen.

creation process

What you will need

• An installer account
• virtual machine of the current client OS
• Installation CD(s) and any serial numbers etc needed to install
• Time
• Patience (for when things don't go quite right!)

Actual process

Steps:

1. create a folder to store the distribution files in. E.g for a staff application called MyApp (with a version number of 1.0 this should be stored in \\Athena\APPS\Staff\MyApp1. Make sure that the folder name is easy to work out, it helps later on!
2. load a clean virtual machine in VMWare, this will be used to create the distribution files for the application. It is important for a number of reasons to use a clean virtual machine, firstly it stops any other applications interfering with the process and secondly it helps to speed the process up abit
3. Delete your installer account profile, make sure that you have no important files in it!, this also stops any other items hiding in your profile from causing problems. Your profile can be found in \\CRIUS\DATA\Support\inst-XXX [replacing XXX with your initals]
4. Now login to your clean virtual machine with your installer account and stop any applications installing from zen
5. From the start menu go to Technical Applications->ZenWorks->ZenWorks snAppShot
6. On the first dialog select custom
7. The next menu will ask about snapshot preferences, seeing though this is the first time you may have done this will will just use the default for the purposes of this guide. Click next
8. Next you will need to enter the names that will appear for the object and also what will be shown in menu from which the application will be loaded, click next
9. Now you will be asked where to store the files for the new application, for this enter the (or browse to) the folder that was created in \\Athena\APPS, click next
10. You will then be asked where to store the AOT file for the application, make sure that the file is set to the correct folder and click next (you shouldn't need to change the location specified)
11. Now you will be asked what snAppShot should scan, leave the default selection and click next
12. Leave snAppShot to scan c:\ and click next
13. snAppShot will then present you with a summary of what it will do, if you are happy click next
14. snAppShot will now scan throught the C:\ to see whats what in terms of files etc on the drive
15. Now install the application just like you normally would, don't forget serials etc it wont be so easy to add the later!
16. Once your applcation is fully installed restart your virtual machine
17. When your virtual machine has rebooted (once again stopping Zen from instaling any applications), login and you will short be asked if you want to resume the snAppShot, click yes