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This article describes the application distribution and installation functionality for Windows devices, detailing the usage process, relevant information, and use cases for administrators and users.
Windows application distribution offers several practical applications to optimize device management. Below, we present two common use cases:
Remote Tool Installation for New Employees: When a new employee joins the company, the administrator can add their Windows device to the group corresponding to their department. Automatically, the standard software and applications for that role will be installed, streamlining the onboarding process and ensuring the new employee has all the necessary tools from day one.
Implementing Software Policies by Department: It's possible to create specific groups for each department (finance, HR, engineering, etc.) and distribute the applications required for each team's activities. This ensures that each user has access only to the tools relevant to their work, optimizing resource usage and information security.
Prerequisites
To distribute Windows applications, the following prerequisites must be met:
Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Agent Version 1.2.8+
The system supports the upload and installation of the following file formats for Windows applications:
.msi (Windows Installer Package)
.exe (Executable File)
Note: It is recommended to verify the integrity and validity of installation files before uploading to ensure successful distribution.
Use installers that are compatible with silent mode: whenever possible, opt for MSI or enterprise installers from vendors.
Accessing the Functionality
The application management functionality is accessed as follows:
Go to the Applications tab → Add New in the upper right corner.
Click on Upload App.
Select the .msi or .exe file for download and the group where the application will be installed.
a. Select the file for upload;
b. In this section, the administrator can select the Windows device group(s) to which the application will be distributed.
c. If necessary, you can include an extra parameter to ensure that the silent installation is performed correctly.
Click Add.
Silient Installation via Pulsus Web on Windows
Many software installations on Windows require special command-line parameters to run in silent mode (without windows or prompts). When an .exe or .msi installer is executed remotely by the Pulsus agent without the necessary parameters, it typically fails to install or attempts to display the graphical interface and waits for user interaction. Since no one is there to click, the process gets stuck waiting for input or fails. In other words, without a silent installation parameter, the installer expects input and may not proceed.
Additionally, while the Pulsus agent likely has administrative privileges to install software without asking for a password, many .exe installers do not perform a complete silent installation by default. Each manufacturer can define their own command-line syntax for silent mode. Unlike .msi files (which follow the Windows Installer standard), .exe files are not standardized and may require extra parameters (or not support silent mode at all).
Differences Between EXE and MSI Installers in Silent Mode
MSI (Microsoft Installer) Installers: These have native support for silent installation using standard msiexec options. For example, you can use msiexec /i package.msi /qn or msiexec /quiet to install without a graphical interface. Therefore, if the administrator uploads an .msi file, the platform should execute it with the /qn (quiet, no interface) flag so that it doesn't show any windows during installation.
EXE Installers: Each installation executable can have its own silent mode option. There is no single standard—common parameters include /S, /s, /silent, /quiet, -s, among others. It is crucial to consult the application's documentation or knowledge bases to find the correct parameter. Without the appropriate parameter, the ".exe" installer will display installation screens (wizard, license terms, etc.) or simply fail the installation.
In summary, when an app doesn't install via Pulsus Web, it's usually because its installer requires a specific silent parameter that was not used.
Some Examples of Applications That Need Extra Parameters
Mozilla Firefox: The full Firefox installer (.exe) supports silent installation with the /S (silent) parameter. Without this parameter, it opens the graphical wizard and asks for administrator confirmation. Alternative: Mozilla provides MSI Firefox installers for corporate use, which can be deployed with /q (e.g., msiexec /i Firefox.msi /qn).
7-Zip: The standard 7-Zip installer (.exe) is based on NSIS and **requires the /S parameter for silent installation. Without /S, the installation fails. There is also a 7-Zip package in MSI format, which can be installed silently via msiexec (for example, msiexec /i 7zip.msi /qn).
Other common utilities and software (such as Google Chrome, Notepad++, etc.) also require their respective silent parameters. For instance, Inno Setup-based installers generally use /silent or /verysilent along with options like /norestart to suppress reboot dialogues. InstallShield installers may use syntax like /s combined with MSI arguments (/v/qn).
In general, each software may have its own "secret codes" for non-interactive installation. It is important to research the official documentation or reliable sources to discover these parameters before deployment. Management tools expect the administrator to provide the correct parameters when uploading the installer so that the installation occurs automatically and without windows. Otherwise, the silent installation may fail, as seen with Firefox and 7-Zip, due to the lack of appropriate parameters.
Synchronization Process and Time
After uploading and assigning the application to a device group, the synchronization and installation process will begin on the devices belonging to the group. The time required for this process to complete is variable and depends on the following factors:
Application file size.
Device network connection speed.
Important: Synchronization and installation usually begin within a few minutes. The total installation time can vary significantly. It is recommended that the end-user does not interrupt the installation process.
Viewing Locally Installed Applications
To check applications installed directly on the Windows device (not just through Pulsus), follow the steps below:
Navigate to the Devices section.
Select the desired Windows device.
Access the Applications tab.
The Applications tab will display a complete list of software installed on the device, including those that were not managed by the environment's application distribution functionality.
Important: The local user of the device will only be able to install applications outside of the flow described above if they are the device administrator. Otherwise, this action will not be permitted.