Background

Some customers deploy software packages using Active Directory (AD) Group Policy Objects (GPO). This document describes the process of deploying the CentreStack Cloud Drive software via GPO.

Procedure

1. The basic process for deploying software via GPO is well documented and hasn’t changed in a number of years. For instance: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/816102/how-to-use-group-policy-to-remotely-install-software-in-windows-server
2. Download the latest 32-bit and 64-bit Windows clients from https://www.centrestack.com/p/download_gce.htm and save the msi files in the share that is being used as the software distribution point. The clients must be version 9.6.2543.41446 or later. Earlier versions have problems installing silently via GPO.
3. On the AD domain controller run Group Policy Management.
4. Create a WMI Filter such that a GPO will only apply to 32-bit workstation computers:
   1. Right click on the WMI Filter node in the tree pane and select New…
   2. This filter will apply to 32-bit workstations only (it won’t apply to 64-bit or Windows Server computers). Fill in the Name and Description fields, then click the Add button:
      
   3. Paste this text into the Query text box:
      

      SELECT ProductType, OSArchitecture FROM Win32_OperatingSystem WHERE OSArchitecture = "32-bit" AND ProductType = 1

   4. Click the OK button in the WMI Query dialog. 
   5. Click the Save button:
      
5. Create a WMI Filter such that a GPO will only apply to 64-bit workstation computers:
   1. Right click on the WMI Filter node in the tree pane and select New…
   2. This filter will apply to 64-bit workstations only (it won’t apply to 32-bit or Windows Server computers). Fill in the Name and Description fields, then click the Add button:
      
   3. Paste this text in the Query text box:
      SELECT ProductType, OSArchitecture FROM Win32_OperatingSystem WHERE OSArchitecture = "64-bit" AND ProductType = 1
      
   4.  Click the OK button:
      
   5. Click the Save button:
      
6. Create a GPO to install the 32-bit Cloud Drive client:
   1. Right click on the Group Policy Objects node and click New.
   2. In the Name text box using something descriptive:
   3. Select the new policy in the tree node, then click the Scope tab. In the WMI Filtering drop-down select the Only 32-bit Workstation filter that was created earlier:
      
   4. Click Yes:
      
   5. Right click on the GPO in the tree node, then click Edit…
   6. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Policies > Software Settings > Software installation:
   7. Right click on the Software installation node and select New then Package...
   8. Navigate to the share and select the 32-bit client from the list. It’s the msi package that does not have “x64” in the name. Click Open:
      
   9. Leave the default of Assigned then click OK:
   10. In the end the Editor window will display:
       
   11. Close the Editor window.

7. Create a GPO to install the 64-bit Cloud Drive client:
   1. Right click on the Group Policy Objects node and click New.
   2. In the Name text box using something descriptive:
      
   3. Select the new policy in the tree node, then click the Scope tab. In the WMI Filtering drop-down select the Only 64-bit Workstation filter that was created earlier:
      
   4. Click Yes:
      
   5. Right click on the GPO in the tree node, then click Edit…
   6. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Policies > Software Settings > Software installation:
      
   7. Right click on the Software installation node and select New then Package...
   8. Navigate to the share and select the 64-bit client from the list. It’s the msi package that includes “x64” in the name. Click Open:
      
   9. Leave the default of Assigned then click OK:
      
   10. The Editor window will display something similar to this:
       
   11. Close the Editor window.

8. Link the newly created GPOs to Organizational Units containing computers that should be assigned the Cloud Drive client packages.