Suggestions for free/cheap asset/patch management software (Adobe, Java, etc)
Solution 1:
WPKG
http://wpkg.org
"W-package" (GUI and Command line) is an automated software deployment, upgrade and removal tool for Windows.
- WPKG is open source software.
- It can be used to push/pull software packages, such as Service Packs, hotfixes, or program installations from a central server to a number of workstations.
- It can run as a service to install software in the background (silent install), without user interaction.
- It can install MSI, InstallShield, PackagefortheWeb, Inno Setup, Nullsoft, other software installers or .exe packages, .bat and .cmd scripts and similar: no more repackaging to perform software installation.
Here's a list of software that have already available silent installs, upgrades, and uninstalls configurations (yes, Adobe flash/reader, Java, Firefox, Quicktime are included here). You can write your own too, and contribute to the community.
It doesn't include a full "software-push" feature, but we solved this by using psexec to run it on all our client/hosts, from a remote computer.
You can use the wpkgCreateReport tool to generate a report showing which packages are installed on which computers.
check out the other user contributed software/tools, might come in useful
LUP
http://localupdatepubl.sourceforge.net
Another solution could be using software called Local Update Publisher. It allows you to publish 3rd party software updates through your WSUS server. It seems to use WSUS API feature called "Local Publishing". I haven't used it though, here's what claims to do:
- Publish applications to a domain or workgroup.
- Create rules to define install behavior.
- Monitor progress of installations.
- Use WSUS groups for approvals.
- Utilize existing WSUS architecture. Support multiple parent and child servers.
- Import and export standard update catalogs.
Solution 2:
We've started using PDQDeploy, which is free and has worked very well so far (mostly Adobe Flash/Acrobat/Reader updates). Their support is also pretty good.
Solution 3:
You can use WSUS to deploy all sorts of updates...step by step guide to doing it with Java updates is here.
Also stuff on there for doing it with Adobe updates..