Which application formats can I install using Endpoint Central and how do I install them?

Summary

Endpoint Central supports a wide range of application-formats that can be installed using the Software Deployment feature in the product. This document provides information about the type of application extensions that can be installed and the silent switches that are used while installing each of them.

Description

The table below provides information about the application extensions that can be installed using Endpoint Central and the installation commands that you would use in each case.

Application Formats and Extensions Installation Command
.exe/ .appx files Enter the complete path to the executable file with the application specific silent switches. For example, \\share\IE8\ IE8-WindowsServer2003-x86-ENU.exe. /quiet /passive /update-no /norestart
.msi files Enter the complete path to the .msi file. You need not specify the silent switches for .msi files; they are added automatically by Endpoint Central. For example, \\share\skype\skype.msi.
Batch files: .cmd, .bat Enter the complete path to the batch file. For example, \\share\scripts\installitunes.bat
InstallShield Setup Parameters or Answer files: .iss For example, \\share-server\Software\winvnc\Setup.exe /s /f1"\\share-server\software\Winvnc\silentinstall.iss"
For more details about creating and using .iss files, see How to use .iss files while deploying software applications?
VbScript files: .vbs (applicable to .vb, .js, .jse, .vbe, .vbs, .wsf, .wsc and .wsh files) Specify the path to the vbscript engine to which the script is passed as an argument. For example: %windir%\system32\cscript.exe "checkIE8Installed.vbs".
Windows Installer Patch files: .msp Specify the path to mixexec to which the .msp file is passed as the argument along with its silent switches. For example, %windir%\system32\msiexec.exe /update "\\share\xyz.msp" /qn
Windows Patch files (for Windows Vista and later versions) For example, wusa.exe "\\server\sharename\Windows6.0-KB934307-x86.msu" /quiet /norestart
AutoIt scripts (.au3) Specify the AutoIt executable to which the auto it script is passed as an argument. For example, AutoIt3A.exe "<script-name.au3>"
For details on using AutoIt to automate software installation, refer to this article.
.dll and .ocx files Use regsvr32.exe to deploy .dll and .ocx files.

RegSvr32.exe has the following command-line options:
Regsvr32 [/u] [/n] [/i[:cmdline]] dllname

/u - Unregister server
/i - Call DllInstall passing it an optional [cmdline]; when used with /u calls dll uninstall
/n - do not call DllRegisterServer; this option must be used with /i
/s - Silent; display no message boxes (added with Windows XP and Windows Vista)

For example, regsvr32 /u /s msbind.dll and regsvr32 /u /s mswinsck.ocx.

Mac packages ( .dmg, .app, .pkg, .zip, .tar, .targz, .bz2, and .tgz files) The software will be installed using the default installation commands. If the software installation should be customized according to the preferences, it can be done by providing the customized installation commands.
Example for .pkg installer:
 installer -pkg "/volumes/Wireshark/Wireshark 1.10.0 Intel 64.pkg" -target "/Volumes/Drive1"
Example for .app installer:
ditto "/Volumes/Appcleaner/appcleaner.app" "/TargetPath/appcleaner.app"