Tom Armitage's presentation on the University of Edinburgh's process for install QGIS across a network. Presented at 6th Scottish QGIS UK user group meeting.

1. Installing QGIS on
a Network
How the University of Edinburgh made QGIS
available on its Managed Desktop system

2. The University Network
• Serves over 13,000 staff and over 37,000 students
• Largest campus computing network in Britain
• More than 3000 computers across open-access and
specialist labs

3. The Human Network
• Identify
• Connect
• Inform

4. Mailing List
• Poll users:
• When to update
• Which version to update to
• Inform users of the changes
• Share links to resources

5. Options & Conditions
• 64 Bit
• Version 2.14.3 (LTR)
• No Desktop Icons
• Must be easy to cleanly Uninstall

6. How wasn’t it done?
• Usually use App-V but not in this case
• Not sure that this would support the use of user downloaded plugins
• No MSI or other standard installer
• No well known scripting installer
• Silent installer is not well documented
• Needed to search QGIS forums for details

7. How was it done?
Using a command script to manually install then customise:
• A very simple command defines the installer
QGIS-OSGeo4W-2.14.3-1-Setup-x86_64.exe /S
/D=<installationlocation>
• Where /S means silent install and /D is the location i.e.
C:Program Files
• Manual tidy up cleans the start menu & removes desktop icons

8. How is it undone?
• Another simple command defines the uninstaller
C:Program FilesQGIS EssenUninstall-
QGIS.exe /S _?=c:PROGRA~1QGIS Essen
• There are some registry items to clear:
• HKLMSoftwareQGIS Essen
• HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstallQGIS
Essen
• Manual tidy removes the QGIS installation directory

9. Conclusions
• Very easy by normal standards
• Best to avoid virtual installers for plugins
• Get a community to consult on changes
• There is no need to be afraid of OpenSource
software on large network installations
• Can’t wait to run the process for QGIS 3.2!