Deploying the Client for Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 : Preparing the Deployment

As the planning phase of the deployment comes to a close, administrators can focus on preparing the different areas of the Outlook client deployment.

Each of the different methods that will be utilized to deploy the software should be reviewed and tested to ensure a seamless installation.

Outlook Systems Requirements

Prior to deploying the Outlook client to user desktop systems on the network, the desktop hardware must be evaluated to determine whether it meets the recommended Microsoft hardware and software requirements to support the client.

Tip

Utilizing Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007, administrators can conduct remote hardware inventories on managed systems. SCCM can then create a report detailing the current status of all hardware, software, and available drive space on these systems.

Ensure that the desktop systems meet the minimum installation requirements by reviewing Table 1.

Table 1. Outlook System Requirements

Requirement	Outlook 2003	Outlook 2007
Client operating system	Microsoft Windows 2000 SP3 or later	Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows XP2 or later
Processor speed	233-MHz processor or higher	500-MHz processor or higher
Memory	128MB of RAM or higher	256MB of RAM or higher
Hard disk space	400MB	2GB required for installation
Messaging system	Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 or greater	Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server or greater
Monitor resolution	800x600 or higher recommended	Minimum 800x600; 1024x768 recommended
Additional components	Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 or higher	Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher

Although the installation of Outlook 2007 requires 2GB of hard disk space, a portion of that space will be released after installation if the original download package is removed from the hard drive.

Note

If installing Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 with Business Contact Manager, a 1-GHz processor and 512MB of RAM or higher is required. Also, prior to installing Outlook 2007 with Business Contact Manager, administrators will first have to install Outlook 2007.

Planning Predefined Configuration Options

Another area to understand when planning for the deployment of the Outlook client is what options can be configured using the CIW and transform configuration files.

Understanding how to utilize PRF files, transforms, and various ORK utilities enables Exchange Server administrators to create a baseline plan detailing what options will be used prior to actually creating the individual configuration files.

Using the Office 2003 Resource Kit tool CIW, you can configure the following features:

• Outlook User Profile Settings— Administrators can specify how users’ profiles will be created. Using this option, administrators can set new profiles, modify existing profiles, or add additional user profiles.

• Exchange Server Settings— Settings defining Exchange server names and specific options, such as Exchange Server connection options, can also be defined.

• Installation States for Outlook and Features— Using the installation options, administrators can define installation states to make individual features available, available at first use, or not available.

• Mail Options— Options such as PST and OST settings and synchronization options can be defined using the CIW.

• Settings and Options— Many of the options available when configuring Outlook from within the application can be defined when creating custom installation files.

• Installation Path— Ensure that the installation directory path on the desktop where the Outlook client will be installed contains enough free disk space to complete the installation.

Using the Office 2007 OCT, the following features are configurable:

• Outlook Profile— Customizes the user default Outlook or customized profile.

• Specify Exchange Settings— Configures the user Microsoft Exchange Server settings in a new or modified Outlook profile.

• Exchange Server connection— Configures an Exchange Server connection for new or existing profiles.

• Cached Exchange Mode— Configures users’ Outlook profiles to use a local copy of the Exchange Server mailbox.

• More Exchange Server Settings— Configures Exchange Server offline use options and the Outlook Anywhere features.

• Add Accounts— Includes additional Outlook email accounts in the user profile, such as a shared helpdesk mailbox.

• Remove Accounts and Export Settings— Removes existing email accounts and exports settings to a PRF file. Under Remove the Following Accounts if They Exist, select Lotus cc:Mail or Microsoft Mail to remove these accounts from users’ computers when Outlook first starts. More important, used to save the Outlook profile settings to a PRF file.

Creating Administrative Installation Points

If the deployment requires administrative installation points, administrators can create them using the setup.exe program of the Outlook or Office installation software and utilizing the /a switch. Outlook 2003 files are compressed on the media and need to be uncompressed to support network installations. Outlook 2007 installations are done from the compressed source files, so no special preparation is needed for the files for a network installation.

To create the administrative installation point for Outlook 2003, complete these steps:

Note

In the following example, the administrative installation point is created using the Microsoft Office 2003 installation media.

1.	Insert the installation CD-ROM into the systems where the installation point will be created. Click Start, Run, type setup.exe /a in the Open text box, and then click OK to continue.
2.	When prompted, enter the product key that came with the Office 2003 installation software, and click Next to continue. Note Use the Install Location option on this screen to change the installation path that Outlook will use when being deployed.
3.	Accept the End User License Agreement (EULA) and select Install; this begins the installation process.
4.	Select the installation state for Outlook and Outlook options; click Next to continue.

The Outlook 2003 installation files will be uncompressed and copied to the share. For Outlook 2007, simply copy the files to the share directly.

Automating Outlook Profile Settings

You have multiple options for configuring Outlook profiles when deploying. The most commonly used are the PRF files that generate Outlook profiles and apply Outlook settings.

To configure profile settings using PRF files, administrators can use the CIW or the OCT. Profile settings are defined on the Outlook: Customize Default Profile page. This section guides administrators through the standard configuration of the PRF file to generate a user’s profile dynamically after the Outlook client installation has completed. In this scenario, you configure a single PRF file and create the Outlook profile for any user when the Outlook client is launched for the first time.

To create a new profile, open the CIW by selecting Start, Run, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office Tools, Microsoft Office ORK, Custom Installation Wizard. Then follow these steps:

1.	Select the default options until the Outlook: Customize Default Profile page appears. Select the New Profile option, enter Outlook for the profile name, and click Next. Tip To configure the PRF file to run when Outlook is launched for the first time, use the Add/Remove Registry Entries page of the Custom Installation Wizard. To enable the run-once option, make the following Registry changes: 1. Delete the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Setup\First-Run 2. Expand the Registry tree to the following: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Setup 3. Add the string value and enter the path of the PRF file share created earlier.
2.	To configure the PRF file to dynamically configure each user profile, enter the %username% variable in the User Name field. Also, enter the name of your Exchange server.
3.	Because this PRF file is a default profile configuration file, click Next at the Add Accounts screen.
4.	On the Remove Accounts and Export Settings screen, select the Export Profile Settings option. Enter the name “Outlook” for the name of the new PRF file and save the file to the desired location. Select Finish to complete the PRF file creation.

Note

Microsoft PRF files can also be configured with additional Outlook profile settings, such as Personal folders and Outlook option settings. To understand more about configuring PRF files, go to www.microsoft.com/office/ork and search for .PRF.

Creating Transforms and Profile Files for Office 2003

Several different types of configuration files can be used to deploy Outlook 2003 client configurations to the desktop. In this section, you complete the steps needed to configure Outlook using the CIW to create transforms and PRF files.

Creating Transforms

Transform files, designated with a .MST extension, are created using the Office CIW. Transforms can be used to create detailed custom settings when installing and configuring the Outlook client.

Note

Use the Transform option when extensive settings are required for the Outlook deployment and when deploying Outlook with the Office application suite. Transforms can be configured with custom settings and Outlook profile information, making this option the most comprehensive of all configuration options when deploying.

Be sure to document all settings expected to be used when creating configuration transform files.

To create a transform file, download and install the appropriate ORK, launch the utility, and then follow these steps:

1.	From the Welcome to Microsoft Office Custom Installation Wizard screen, click Next.
2.	On the Open the MSI File page, enter the path and filename for the Outlook MSI Installation package. Use the Browse button to locate the MSI installation package being used for this Microsoft Transform file. Click Next to continue.
3.	Because this scenario is creating a new Transform file, on the Open the MST File page, click the Create a New MST File option, and click Next.
4.	Select the location where the new MST file will be created, and click Next.
5.	Enter the location where the Outlook installation will be placed on the desktop when the client is deployed, and then enter the name of the organization that will be used for registration information.
6.	If previous installations of Outlook and Microsoft Office exist on the desktop, select which installation version to remove. Note Selecting the option to remove a previous version of Outlook removes the selected version and all components of the Microsoft Office suite existing on the client desktop prior to installation of the new Outlook client or Office Suite.
7.	On the Set Feature Installation States page, select the Outlook components that will be installed. Select the Microsoft Outlook for Windows and the Run from My Computer options.
8.	Use the Custom Default Application Settings page to define and add an Office Application Settings (OSP) file. If upgrading, select the Migrate User’s Settings check box to maintain the existing user-defined options after the upgrade.
9.	Use the Change the Office User Settings page to define the settings and options to be applied to Outlook after the installation is finished.
10.	Use the Options pages to modify the Outlook installation; continue through the configuration pages to create the transform files.

Continue through the installation and configure the following:

1.	Add/remove additional custom installation files.
2.	Add/remove custom Registry entries.
3.	Modify shortcuts and Outlook icons.
4.	If deploying across WAN links, select an additional installation point for the deployment.
5.	Establish Outlook security settings.
6.	Add additional programs to be installed with Outlook.

Note

For more information regarding options on each page and additional settings, use the Help option on each page to review the Microsoft Custom Installation Wizard help file.

Configuring Profiles with Transforms

Customizing the configuration of a profile during the installation can be accomplished using the Customize Default Profiles page. Using the options available, administrators can select the method in which to create the client profile with the Outlook Deployment tool.

For this transform, select Apply PRF File and select the PRF file created in the previous section. If you want to use an existing profile, modify an existing profile, or create a new profile, you can select one of those options instead.

• Use Existing Profile— Use when upgrading the Outlook client; this option maintains the existing settings.

  Note

  When Use Existing Profile is selected and no profile is found on the client desktop, this option prompts the user to create the profile.

  
  

• Modify Profile— Select this option to customize profile information and Exchange Outlook options.

• New Profile— Use this option to create a single new profile and configure connection settings.

Additional options are available, such as Send and Receive Options and Mail settings; continue through the configuration screens by choosing the desired options for your organization’s deployment. The creation of the PRF file can be completed at any time by clicking the Finish button on any setup screen.

After the PRF has been created, the command syntax required to implement the transform file will be shown for you. Copy the command as it is shown for future reference.

Creating Patch and Profile Files for Office 2007

You can use several different types of configuration files to deploy Outlook 2007 client configurations to the desktop. In this section, you complete the steps needed to configure Outlook using the Office Customization Tool (OCT) to create patch and PRF files for Outlook 2007 clients.

Creating Patch Files

You create Microsoft Patch files, designated with a .MSP extension, using the Office OCT. Use Patch files to create detailed custom settings when installing and configuring the Outlook 2007 client.

Note

Use the MSP option when extensive settings are required for the Outlook 2007 deployment and when deploying Outlook 2007 with the Office 2007 application suite. Patch files can be configured with custom settings and Outlook profile information, making this option the most comprehensive of all configuration options when deploying.

Be sure to document all settings expected to be used when creating configuration transform files.

To create a Patch file, follow these steps:

1.	From the root of the Office 2007 media, enter setup.exe /admin to launch the Office Customization Tool.
2.	Click OK to create a new setup customization file.
3.	Select the Install location and organization name under Setup from the left tree. Configure the Default installation path and the Organization name settings.
4.	Select the Licensing and user interfaces under Setup from the left tree. Configure the Product key setting, and check the I Accept the Terms in the License Agreement box.
5.	On the Set Feature Installation States page, select the Outlook components that will be installed. Select the Microsoft Office Outlook and the Run All from My Computer options.
6.	Select the Modify User Settings page. Expand the Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 folder in the right window. Review all the customizable settings that can be incorporated in the MSP.
7.	To save the MSP, select File, Save and save the MSP.

Configuring Profiles with Patch Files

You can customize the configuration of a profile during the installation using the Outlook pages in the Office Customization Tool. Using the options available, administrators can select the method in which to create the client profile with the Outlook Deployment tool.

The profile settings will be saved with the MSP file and applied at installation.