Page Nav

HIDE

Grid

GRID_STYLE

How to deploy Java to clients using WSUS Package Publisher

Introduction WSUS Package Publisher is an app that can run alongside your WSUS installation (on the same server) and deploy third-pa...


Introduction

WSUS Package Publisher is an app that can run alongside your WSUS installation (on the same server) and deploy third-party updates or progams via WSUS's distribution mechanism.

Once you've published an app or update on WSUS Package Publisher, the installation will appear on the client computers Windows Update dialog as though it were a native update from Microsoft!
This how-to assumes that you have WSUS Package Publisher installed and functioning properly - It's free! Find it here: https://wsuspackagepublisher.codeplex.com/
Installation documentation: https://www.codeplex.com/Download?ProjectName=WsusPackagePublisher&DownloadId=742282

Steps (12 total)

1

Create a Distribution folder on your WSUS server.

On your WSUS server, create a new folder. For the sake of this how-to, we're going to create it in the root of C:\, and call it 'Distribution.' This is where we'll store our deployment files.
Underneath, create a 'Java' folder.
2

Download the current OFFLINE version of Java

Download the offline installer for Java from here: http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
Make sure that you are downloading the OFFLINE installer.
3

Extract the MSI by beginning the Java installation

Execute the Java installation as you normally would, wait until the first dialog box comes up and do not click any buttons.
If you are on a Windows 7 or newer machine, browse to the following folder: %LOCALAPPDATA%Low\Oracle\Java (as of Java 8 update 60).
In this folder, you should see the Java installation MSI. In our example of version 8 update 60, you'll see a file named 'jre1.8.0_60.msi.' Copy this file to 'C:\Distribtuion\Java' on your WSUS server.
Cancel the Java installation to close the setup wizard.
4

Get the Product UID for this version of Java

Download Insted from here: http://www.instedit.com/download.html
Make sure to download the free edition.
Using Insted, open up the java msi file. In the lefthand column, browse to the 'Property' table.
In the right-hand column, find the 'ProductCode' field. The value here is the Product UID. You'll need this later.
In our example, Java 8 update 60's UID is {26A24AE4-039D-4CA4-87B4-2F83218060F0}
5

Create the Java update in WSUS Package Publisher

From the Package Publisher Console, click on 'Updates' > 'Create an Update...'
Next to the 'Update File' field, click the 'Browse...' button to locate your Java installation MSI.
Click to highlight the file, then click 'Open.'
You should now see the filename appear in the 'Update File' text field.
Click 'Next.'
6

Enter the details into the Update Creation Wizard

From the Update Creation Wizard, enter pertinent details. You might want to copy some information from the source website and paste it into the 'Description' field.
Fill in the following:
Vendor Name: Oracle Corporation
Product Name: Java
Title: Java 8 Update 60 (or whatever version you are deploying)
Package Type: Application
Impact: Normal
Reboot Behavior: CanRequestReboot
Return Codes: Value=0 and Result=Succeeded
Leave other options as default. Click 'Next.'
7

Create installation rule (determine if the product is already installed)

Select from the drop down a new rule 'Msi Product Installed.'
Click 'Add Rule...'
Paste the UID from step 4 into the 'Msi Product Code' field.
Click 'Ok.'
Once returned to the main wizard screen, tic 'Delete Rules at Package Level.'
Click 'Next.'
8

Create installation rule (determin if the product is installable)

Select from the drop down a new rule 'Msi Product Installed.'
Click 'Add Rule...'
Paste the UID from step 4 into the 'Msi Product Code' field.
Tic 'Reverse Rule.'
Click 'Ok.'
Once returned to the main wizard screen, tic 'Delete Rules at Package Level.'
Click 'Next.'
9

Publish the update

At the next screen, click 'Publish' to publish the update to your WSUS server.
You should now see a window stating that your update has been published. Click 'Ok' to close out of this window.
10

Open the properties for your Java installation

In the left-hand pane, scroll down to 'Updates' and expand the tree to expose (among other things) 'Oracle Corporation.'
Click on 'Oracle Corporation.'
In the right-hand pane, you should now see information about your published update. In my picture to the right, I have two Java updates. One is approved for uninstallation (8u51) and another for installation (8u60).
11

Approve Java for installation against a computer group

At the top of the right-hand pane, click the update you want to publish (in this case 'Java 8 update 60'). In the lower right-hand pane, click the 'Approve...' button.
Your WSUS target groups should now appear. As you do with WSUS updates, click the drop-down next to the computer groups you wish to deploy and click 'Approve for Installation.'
Click 'Ok' to finish the approval.
12

Profit!

When your computers check in, they should now see the Java update as an available installation from the update applet!

Conclusion

WSUS Package Publisher is something I'm learning, so I don't have all the ins-and-outs nailed down, but I wanted to document my steps just in case anyone else would like to build upon this and improve upon them.
After some experimenting, it seems you can indeed get your Java update to remove prior versions, although it's not through the native installer (at least the way I've discovered). Doing this requires that you put together a 'custom update,' and then point it at a batch file that has all the logic goodness which removes the prior versions and then installs the newest Java.
Also note, you can approve these updates for UNINSTALLATION, so if you are looking to remove one version in particular, simply approve the older version for uninstallation and let Windows Update do the rest.
Please comment below if you have any tips!

No comments