Smart-app Installation options for Rainbow Telephony for Microsoft Teams (OLD VERSION - v2)

Context

When using Software Distribution Tools (or software deployment tools) to automate the process of delivering software to all computers on a network, it may be useful to set certain installation options, such as disabling automatic updating or installing in silent mode (no end-user interaction is required during the installation process).

Installing the Rainbow application on a Remote Desktop (VDI - Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) requires a "per machine" installation which will change the location of cache files and registry entries.

How does it work?

Available options:

Different options exist and can be passed as arguments to the installer for Rainbow installation:

• /VDI : modifies location of cache files & disables auto update
  • works only for the "Per Machine" installation file.
  • to be used for Remote Desktop environment.
• /DisableAutoUpdate : disables automatic update
• /DisableAwayOnSessionLock : this will make the presence not turn to away automatically when the screen is locked
  • works only for the "Per Machine" installation file.
  • to be used for Remote Desktop installation because away detection may not work well in VDI environment.
• /AutoStart : start the application when user connects to Windows.
• /NoOutlookAddIn : disables Outlook add-in (can be activated by the user after installation).
• /SILENT : the setup will not ask then end-user to manually check any options. If no other option is defined then defaults will be used.
• /RESTARTAPPLICATIONS : Execute the application when the installation is finished.
• /CreateDesktopShortcut : creates a desktop shortcut icon.

How to use these options?

How these options are passed to the installation file depends on the software distribution tool used. It is possible to provide several arguments at once. 

For example using Windows command line tool (cmd.exe), you'll have to execute following command:

msiexec.exe /i Rainbow.msi WRAPPED_ARGUMENTS="/arg1 /arg2"

For debug purpose, following command will generate installation logs:

msiexec /i "Rainbow.msi" /l*v rainbow_msi.log WRAPPED_ARGUMENTS="/arg1 /arg2"

Resulting keys in the PC registry database

Depending on the installation file type used (Per User/Per Machine) and the provided arguments, the installation process creates different keys in the PC registry database.

Per Machine mode:

• Autostart:
  • Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
• VDI:
  • Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise\Rainbow
• DisableAutoUpdate:
  • Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise\Rainbow
• DisableAwayOnSessionLock:
  • Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise\Rainbow

Per User mode:

• Autostart:
  • Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
• DisableAutoUpdate:
  • Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise\Rainbow
• no VDI in user mode

Following options will not create keys in the PC registry database:

• SILENT
• NoOutlookAddin
• CreateDesktopShortcut

Tips about disabling automatic update

When the application starts, it checks the registry for two entries "VDI" or "DisableAutoUpdate".

It checks for these entries in both

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise\Rainbow
and
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise\Rainbow

If one entry is found then no automatic update will be proposed when starting the application.

Application has been installed without this option, how can I disable automatic update?

If the application is installed in Per Machine mode then you can add the one of following Keys into the registry

1- In Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise\Rainbow

Add a Registry Key with value name VDI, type DWORD 32bit, value 1, base Hexadecimal

2- In Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise\Rainbow

Add a Registry Key with value name DisableAutoUpdate, type DWORD 32bit, value 1, base Hexadecimal

If the application is installed in Per User mode then you can add the Key into the registry

In Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise\Rainbow

Add a Registry Key with value name DisableAutoUpdate, type DWORD 32bit, value 1, base Hexadecimal