Microsoft Dynamics AX Silent Mode Installation

Microsoft Dynamics AX Silent Mode Installation

The silent mode Microsoft Dynamics AX installation comes in handy in situations where an Engineer  has to install Microsoft Dynamics AX client on every computer in an environment, in this case using the manual method is always time consuming and therefore not an efficient way to go about it.

Doing this requires a mass deployment mechanism such as Group Policy to deploy the AX clients.

There are certain processes which are recommended for deploying Microsoft Dynamics AX clients on multiple computers. These are listed below:

• The contents of the Microsoft Dynamics AX DVD should be copied to a shared directory on the network.
• A common configuration file should be created in a shared directory on the AOS computer that clients will connect to.
• Create a batch file to install clients with a shared configuration. It is important that the file be located in a shared directory in the Microsoft Dynamics AX DVD shared folder, at the same level as Setup.exe.
•  Test the batch file on a local computer.
• A mass deployment tool such as Group Policy or Microsoft Systems Management Server should then be used to run the batch file from a logon script.

Determining Parameters to use

It is important to bear in mind that whether you decide creating a parameter file or using command prompt, the same parameters are available.

One recommended way of deciding parameters which will be used is by installing a client on a single computer and then reviewing the Setup log file, which is located at <Drive>\Program Files\Microsoft Dynamics AX\Dynamics AX\60\Setup logs\Date Time\DynamicsSetupLog.txt. The log lists the parameters used in the installation.

Sample Parameter File

Below is an example of a parameter file which can be used in installing the databases as well as the Application Object Server (AOS). Your parameter file will vary, based on the components that you are installing.

HideUI=1

AcceptLicenseTerms=1

DbSqlServer=SQLServerName

DbSqlDatabaseName=DatabaseName

InstallApplication=1

ApplicationInstanceName=ApplicationInstanceName

InstallAos=1

AosInstanceName=AOSInstanceName

AosApplicationPath="C:\Program Files\Microsoft Dynamics AX\60"

AosReportErrors=0

• Once the parameters have been decided, the next steps will be opening command prompt on the computer and running the installation by entering parameters at the command prompt.
• Type the following information: <Path to DVD or shared directory>\Setup.exe parameter1="value" parameter2="value".
•  For multiple parameters, insert a single space between parameters.
• After all parameters have been listed, press Enter.

 WARNING: Duplicate parameters should not be entered as it will result to the setup failing silently.

Create a Group Policy Logon Script

Use the following procedure to run the installation by specifying a parameter file at the command prompt.

·         Create a text file that lists the appropriate installation parameters and their values. In the parameter file, the Name=Value combination for each parameter must be on a separate line.

WARNING: If you enter duplicate parameters, Setup will fail silently.

Double Quotation marks should be avoided in parameter files as a line return is used as a delimiter in a parameter file, values that otherwise require the use of double quotation marks do not require them here. To prevent a line in a parameter file from being read, type a number sign (#) before the line. The line will be treated as a comment rather than a command or parameter.

Open a Command Prompt window.

At the command prompt, type the following information: <Path to DVD or shared directory>\Setup.exe ParmFile=<path to file\FileName.txt>. The path can be fully qualified or relative to the location of the Setup.exe file. Relative paths can include upward qualifiers such as "..\..\".

Press Enter.

Procedure to Create a Group Policy Logon Script

To install clients using Group Policy, follow these steps:

1.     Open Start > Administrative Tools > Group Policy Management.

2.     Expand Group Policy: Management > Forest: Contoso.com > Domains > Contoso.com.

3.     Right click Contoso.com, and select Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here.

4.     In the Name field, type "Dynamics AX Logon Script", then click OK.

5.     Right-click "Dynamics AX Logon Script", then click Edit.

6.     Expand User Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Scripts (Logon/Logoff).

7.     In the right pane right click Logon, and then click Properties.

8.     Click Show Files. This will bring up a file dialog in a logon folder.

9.     Right-click the folder and then click New > Text Document to create a new text document in this directory.

10.  Double-click the new file to open it in Notepad.

11.  Enter the following script and save the file: D:\Setup.exe HideUI=1 AcceptLicenseTerms=1 InstallClientUI=1 ClientAosServer=Company1 ClientLanguage=en-US ClientHelpLanguages=en-US

NOTE: The directory path for Setup.exe should be a network path

12.  Right-click and rename "New Text Document.txt" to "AxInstallClient.cmd", then confirm the change of the file name extension when you are prompted.

13.  Close the Windows Explorer menu.

14.  Click Add, then click Browse.

15.  Select "AxInstallClient.cmd", and then click Open.

16.  Click OK.

17.  Notice that the script has been added to logon properties, and then click OK.

18.  Close Group Policy Management Editor.