Create an automated citrix server Installation with RIS and Orca.
Wednesday, 16 January 2008 by Jan van der Elst
 

The next thing to do is to adjust the default ristndrd.sif file wich can be found in the ..\1386\templates folder of your w2k3-image. In this ristndrd.sif file you can specify al sorts of settings to be sure that your installation is fully unattended. (computer name, domain join, administrator password, install windows components etc.). Below is my version of de ristndrd.sif file. The lines that need attention are marked bold


[data]
floppyless = "1"
msdosinitiated = "1"
ORISrc = "\\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%"
OriTyp = "4"
LocalSourceOnCD = 1

[SetupData]
OsLoadOptions = "/noguiboot /fastdetect"
SetupSourceDevice = "\Device\LanmanRedirector\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%"

[Unattended]
OemPreinstall = yes
FileSystem = LeaveAlone
ExtendOEMPartition = 0
TargetPath = \WINDOWS
OemSkipEula = yes
InstallFilesPath = "\\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%"
LegacyNIC = 1

[Components]
TerminalServer = ON (This option is to install Terminal Services)

[TerminalServices] (These options need to be configured to configure Terminal Services)
AllowConnections = 1
LicensingMode = PerSession
PermissionSetting = 0

[UserData]
FullName = "Your name" (Fill in you name)
OrgName = "Your company" (Fill in your company name)
ComputerName = %MACHINENAME%
ProductID="Your windows license key" (Fill in your license key like AAAA-BBBBB-etc.) 

[GuiUnattended]
OemSkipWelcome = 1
OemSkipRegional = 1
TimeZone = %TIMEZONE%
AdminPassword = "adminpassword" (Specify the local admin password)
Autologon = yes (Logs on to the server with the local admin password after the installation completes. This option is used to install software or adjust settings that need to be set after the installation is completed. For example: When you would like to install Citrix, you need to set autologon = yes and autologoncount = 1 so that the server is logged on when the installation is finished. By specifying the installation command:  "msiexec /I c:\citrix\ps.msi /qn" in the GuiRunOnce section, Citrix is installed during that first logon. It's starting to get difficult when you want to install more than one application. The GuiRunOnce section is no longer an option because it would start multiple installation processes simultaneously and what to think of installations that needs a reboot?.  Therefore, and for common management reasons, i use an install.cmd file to control what is installed and when.  )
AutologonCount = 2 (Number of "autologons", so you can do something with installation processes that need a reboot. Because I work with drive remapping, and this needs a reboot, my autlogoncount is set to 2. After the drive remapping and reboot is completed, the local administrator is logged on for the second time. In my situation, Citrix PS is installed now. )

[GuiRunOnce]
"C:\citrix\INSTALL.cmd" (This CMD file will run on the first logon after the installation completes)

[LicenseFilePrintData]
AutoMode = PerSeat

[Display]
BitsPerPel = 16
XResolution = 1024
YResolution = 768
VRefresh = 60

[NetServices]
MS_Server=params.MS_PSched

[Identification]
JoinDomain = DOMAIN (Fill in you domain)
DoOldStyleDomainJoin = Yes

[RemoteInstall]
Repartition = Yes
UseWholeDisk = Yes

 
[OSChooser]
Description ="Windows Server 2003, Standard SP1"
Help ="Automatically installs Windows Server 2003, Standard without prompting the user for input."
LaunchFile = "%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%\templates\startrom.com"
ImageType =Flat
Version="5.2 (3790)"


 

 

Example install.cmd with Drive remapping and installation of Citrix PS:

 


 regedit /s %systemdrive%\citrix\CTXinstall.reg
%systemdrive%\Citrix\DriveRemap.exe /u /drive:C /drive:M


In this install.cmd you can kick-off many other software instillations as well. In this document and install.cmd example i keep it quite basic because I know that many of you use other tools to deploy applications. For example to install Microsoft Office, just add a line to the install.cmd like: msiexec /I office.msi /qn (/qn for silent).

 

Example CTXinstall.reg:

In the RunOnce section a value is added so that Citrix is installed at the next, in this case the second, reboot/logon:

 


Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce]
"citrix"="msiexec /i M:\\Citrix\\CTXMFPS.msi /qn"