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Deploying the RingCentral desktop app MSI file to employees using Group Policy
IT admins can use MSI (Microsoft System Installer) package files to deploy the RingCentral app to users or computers within a company. By design, apps installed using an MSI file don’t support the auto-update feature. This gives IT complete control over the app version their employees use.
You can use Group Policy to deploy the MSI file using either of these methods:
Assigning the RingCentral MSI file
: Assign a program distribution to users or computers:
Assigning the program to a user
: It is installed once the user signs in to their computer. The installation is completed after the user runs the program.
Assigning the program to a computer
: It is installed once the computer starts, and it’s available to every user who signs in to the computer. The installation is completed after a user first runs the program.
Publishing the RingCentral MSI file
: Publish a program distribution to users.
The information above applies specifically to Windows Server 2012 R2. If you’re using a different version of Windows Server, the information may vary.
Preparing to assign or publish the RingCentral MSI file
Before assigning or publishing the RingCentral MSI file, you must first create a distribution point and Group Policy Object (GPO).
Creating a distribution point
To publish or assign a computer program, create a shared folder and a distribution point on your publishing server:
Sign in to the server as an admin user.
Create a shared network folder that will contain the MSI file you’ll distribute.
Set permissions on this shared network folder to allow access to the distribution file.
Install or copy the MSI file in the shared folder.
Creating a Group Policy Object
The MSI file is deployed through a Group Policy Object (GPO). To create a GPO, do the following:
Click
Start > Administrative Tools > Active Directory Users and Computers
.
Right-click your domain in the console tree, then click
Properties
.
Click
Group Policy
, then select
New
.
Enter a name for this policy, then press
Enter
.
Click
Properties
, then select
Security
.
Check the
Apply Group Policy
box for the groups where this policy will be applied.
Click
OK
.
Assigning the RingCentral MSI file
The RingCentral MSI file is assigned on a per-computer basis and installed when the computer starts:
Click
Start > Administrative Tools > Active Directory Users and Computers
.
Right-click your domain in the console tree, then click
Properties
.
Click
Group Policy
. Select a policy, then click
Edit
.
Under
Computer Configuration
, expand
Software Settings
.
Right-click
Software Installation
, then click
New > Package
.
In the
Open
dialog box, enter the Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path of the shared installer file you want to assign. For example: \\<file server>\<share>\<file name>.msi.
Click
Open
.
Click
Assigned
, then click
OK
. The file will be listed in the right pane of the
Group Policy
window.
Close the
Group Policy
window and click
OK
. Then, close the
Active Directory Users and Computers
window. Once the computer starts, the RingCentral MSI file is automatically installed.
Publishing the RingCentral MSI file
Click
Start > Administrative Tools > Active Directory Users and Computers
.
Right-click your domain in the console tree, then click
Properties
.
Click
Group Policy
. Select a policy, then click
Edit
.
Under
Computer Configuration
, expand
Software Settings
.
Right-click
Software Installation
, then click
New > Package
.
In the
Open
dialog box, enter the Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path of the shared installer file you want to assign. For example: \\<file server>\<share>\<file name>.msi.
Click
Open
.
Click
Publish
, then click
OK
. The file will be listed in the right pane of the
Group Policy
window.
Close the
Group Policy
window and click
OK
. Then, close the
Active Directory Users and Computers
window.
Test the file:
Sign in to a computer using an account you published the file to.
Click
Start > Control Panel
.
Double-click
Add or Remove Programs
, then click
Add New Programs
.
In the
Add programs from your network
list, select the file you published, then click
Add
. The program will be installed.
Click
OK
, then click
Close
.
Redeploying the RingCentral MSI file
In cases like upgrading or changing the file, you can redeploy the RingCentral MSI file.
Click
Start > Administrative Tools > Active Directory Users and Computers
.
Right-click your domain in the console tree, then click
Properties
.
Click
Group Policy
. Select a policy, then click
Edit
.
Under
Computer Configuration
, expand
Software Settings
.
Click the software installation element that contains the deployed file.
Right-click the file in the right pane of the
Group Policy
window, then click
All Tasks > Redeploy application
.
Click
Yes
to reinstalling the program wherever it is installed.
Close the
Group Policy
window and click
OK
. Then, close the
Active Directory Users and Computers
window.
Removing a file
Click
Start > Administrative Tools > Active Directory Users and Computers
.
Right-click your domain in the console tree, then click
Properties
.
Click
Group Policy
. Select a policy, then click
Edit
.
Under
Computer Configuration
, expand
Software Settings
.
Click the software installation element that contains the deployed file.
Right-click the file in the right pane of the
Group Policy
window, then click
All Tasks > Remove
.
Select either of the following:
Click
Immediately uninstall the software from users and computers
, then click
OK
.
Click
Allow users to continue to use the software but prevent new installations
, then click
OK
.
Close the
Group Policy
window and click
OK
. Then, close the
Active Directory Users and Computers
window.
In this article
Preparing to assign or publish the RingCentral MSI file