deploying customized office 2007 setup to remote users

[kt]

i've customized office 2007 setup and tested successful deployment w/in our
LAN.

currently, my challenge is to deploy this same customized office 2007 setup
to our users who work remotely and not connected to our network. do any of
you have such experience? has anyone tested deploying customized office 2007
setup via vpn? any advice would be appreciated.

thank you.

 

[Susan Ramlet]

Hi, kt,

I don't have direct experience with this, but did you run across this
article?

Deploying the Office 2007 System with limited network capacity
http://technet2.microsoft.com/Offic...8622-4317-b21d-1aa5f72e15bf1033.mspx?mfr=true

It might be helpful in your situation.

 

[kt]

Dear Susan,
Thank you for your response. I've read this article and every documentation
available pertaining to office 2007 deployment. The documentation ONLY covers
network-base deployment. The article titled 'Precache the local installation
source for the 2007 Office system' is still a network-base deployment since
the computer must be connected to the network before you can perform
precache. Precache works really well within the network. Our situation is
that our users are working from home or remote locations.

Any way, i've came up w/ a solution that worked for us. Here is my solution
to the challenge:
1. Create a network installation point for the 2007 Office system
2. use OCT to customize the setup/installation and copy the msp file to the
Updates folder.
3. replicate this network installation point onto dvd. unfortunately, our
network installation won't fit on a cd.

Just to be thorough, I also tested precache over vpn. Don't recommend it to
anyone. It takes forever.

 

[Susan Ramlet]

I figured that was probably the most logical solution presented thus far.
Glad you tried it...and that it's somewhat acceptable.

I'm glad you posted back with the VPN info. I am checking to see if there
are any Microsoft recommendations that aren't published yet, so I'll let you
know. I work for a field-based organization, so I'm also interested in the
topic. VPN is the only connection method for most.

 

[Jeff]

Susan,

Once I have used SMS to create the local precache on clients, how then do I
use the same setup (different advertisement) and have the install run from
the local precache and not attempt to recopy the package from the network
installation point? Will the network installation point "see" the local
precache already there and skip the recopy and continue on with using the
local precache copy??

 

[njonsey]

hi kt,
go to the technet website you can find all your answers and solution there.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/desktopdeployment/default.aspx

the BDD2007 shows you how to deploy office 2007 alone or as part or an OS
image.

It has been the best place for me to find information. I remember reading
about caching the source file locally to install off line. if I can remember
where I will post.

Hope this helps?

 

[njonsey]

ok. kt I have found this link.

http://technet2.microsoft.com/Offic...30a9-47bb-a3b2-5166b394fbf51033.mspx?mfr=true
this is for precaching office source fiiles on local computers.

All the info you need is here on the Office 2007 resource kit.

http://technet2.microsoft.com/Offic...30a9-47bb-a3b2-5166b394fbf51033.mspx?mfr=true

Again hope this helps.