INTRODUCTION
Chocolatey allows you to install packages from third-party sources.
The integration of Chocolatey with RG SYSTEM enables users to leverage Chocolatey's features through the App Manager to automate the installation and management of applications on machines managed via the RG SYSTEM dashboard.
App Manager Legacy
For users of the previous version of the App Manager, it will still be possible to view the policies through the "Access the old App Manager" button on the "Application Management" page.
To manage these policies through the new version of the App Manager, you will need to reinstall the applications from the application addition page by clicking the "Add an application" button.
SUMMARY
Prerequisites
To deploy your applications, App Manager relies on version 2.0.0 of Chocolatey which will be deployed automatically when you first add an application.
The targeted machines must meet the following minimum technical prerequisites :
- Windows 10 / Windows Server 2012 R2
- PowerShell 3.0
- .NET Framework 4.8
Attention /!\
All applications installed using App Manager must be uninstalled via App Manager. Applications uninstalled from the control panel on a user's computer will still appear in App Manager.
Advanced information
For analysis and debugging purposes, we inform you that deploying applications via Chocolatey is done using the following command :
cmd /c rmdir "%programData%\\chocolatey" /Q /S & powershell $env:chocolateyVersion = '2.0.0'; Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force; [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol -bor 3072; iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://community.chocolatey.org/install. ps1'))- If Chocolatey is not present on the machine, this command will have the effect of goal to install version 2.0.0 of Chocolatey.
- If a different version (less than version 2.0.0) of Chocolatey is already present on the machine, an upgrade chocolatey command to version 2.0.0 is carried out.
Conversely, if the version observed is greater than version 2.0.0, a de downgrade is carried out to return Chocolatey to version 2.0.0. - If a failed installation attempt is spotted on the machine, the command will have the effect of deleting all associated folders and installing the version 2.0.0 of Chocolatey.
Access
To access it, click on “Actions” then “App Manager”
Inheritance Concept
Inheritance is enabled on nodes and agents. This default setting makes it easier to deploy applications en masse on a node.
An application deployed from a node is labeled as "Inherited," which means that only modifications to this application are allowed from the node from which it was deployed.
However, it is possible to override an application from an inheritor (direct agent). To do this,
- Click on the agent concerned in your tree, then on the Appmanager menu.
- Add the desired application again.
The application is then labeled as "Overridden".
This means that it is now possible to modify this application (version for example) from the agent directly.
Add apps
To add apps, click the “Add app” button
Then from the add applications page:
- Use the search bar or scroll down to find the app that you wish
- Then click on the application to select it
Once the application(s) have been selected; it is possible :
- To integrate installation parameters (optional) from the “parameter(s)” field installation(s)"
Note: The installation parameters are described in Chocolatey. - To choose the version of the application (currently 10 versions are available including auto shift)
Validate your choice by clicking on the “Add” button at the bottom right of the page for adding applications.
The applications will be deployed on your agent(s) (depending on your context) regarding your deployment programming.
Scheduling
Scheduling allows you to organize application deployment on agents online.
It is possible to plan the deployment over time slots or specific weekdays.
The notion of inheritance is always present (activated by default), the latter being dissociated from package inheritance.
Therefore, when inheritance is enabled, planning is only available read-only.
It is however possible to deactivate inheritance (see below).
In this case, it is possible to manually configure the schedule. THE choice of times or days is automatically saved.
Application management
Application management allows:
- To view the applications present on the node or agent in the form from "Cards".
- Manage the version of applications deployed on the node or agent (see above the notion of inheritance) by clicking on the drop-down menu.
From the "Card" of an application, it is possible:
- To display the description of the application (directly retrieved from the Chocolatey website)
- To delete the application without uninstalling it on the workstations where it has already been deployed (this then goes into "Out of policy" status and is not more managed).
- To remove by uninstalling the application, which will be deleted at once of App Manager and positions where it has already been deployed. Inactive on applications inherited
- To view the defined command options.
Note: The deletion options (with or without uninstallation) are possible only on applications that are installed outside of inheritance (whether overloaded or not).
Application status
Important information
The Application Status tab only lists applications deployed via Chocolatey.
Here are the different statuses that will be displayed in the application status :
- Installed: The application has been installed successfully.
- Installed (required): Status dedicated to the Chocolatey application.
- Scheduled installation: The deployment is scheduled and the application will be installed according to your settings.
- Bad version detected: The version of the installed application does not match the one defined for this package, an attempt to achieve compliance will be carried out.
- Installation aborted: If the application is not installed after 30 days of attempts, installation is canceled.
- Installation in error: The installation of the application failed. For more information you can consult the logs by clicking on the status. A new attempt will be made once per day for 30 days.
- Out of policy: The application was deleted via the "delete" option without uninstalling".
Note: It is also possible to directly view the list of applications installed on a computer using the command prompt windows (or RG).
- Use the following command:
choco list
Example:
Learn more
Responsibility
The use of Chocolatey via the App Manager is optional and proceeds solely from customer choice.
This system is external to RG System.
As such, the customer alone assumes full and complete responsibility and RG System cannot, under any circumstances, be held liable in the event of damage, direct or indirect and of any nature whatsoever, resulting, in whole or in part, from the use of Chocolatey.
Third-party applications
It is possible to install applications outside App Manager (not present on Chocolatey)
To do this you can follow the link below:
https://docs.chocolatey.org/en-us/create