Using a software distribution system, MailStore Outlook Add-in can be distributed among the users' computers automatically. To be able to do so, the distribution system must be able to execute MailStore Outlook Add-in's setup program without requiring any input or confirmations.

Using Group Policies

Installation

In addition to being installed manually, MailStore Outlook Add-in can also be distributed to all user computers using Active Directory. Once the distribution process is set up successfully, MailStore Outlook Add-in will be installed automatically when the user logs on. This process runs in the background and requires no action on part of the user. Immediately after the distribution, the user can use the MailStore Outlook Add-in as usual.

Example: Setting up distribution in Windows Server 2003

Download MailStore Outlook Add-in in .msi format from the MailStore website http://www.mailstore.com/de/mailstore-server-download.aspx
Save the download in a directory on the server that is shared and accessible to all users of the domain.
Open the Group Policy Management Console. If this is not available, download the installation routine under http://www.mailstore.com/?gpmc.
Install the console.
Open the group policy management console of the Windows server
Right-click on the administrative folder Group Policy Objects, select New and create a new group policy object called MailStore Outlook Add-in Deployment.
Highlight the new object and click on Edit. Expand User Configuration and Software Settings and right-click on Software installation. Select New and Package...
Select an MSI package. Please keep in mind that the path for the file must be entered in UNC notation (e.g. \\Server\Setup\MailStoreOutlookAddinSetup...) and that the users of the domain need to have read-access to this directory share.
In the following dialog window, select Advanced and click OK.
On the next screen, please select the settings as shown below:
Click on OK to confirm all settings. The group policy should look similar to the one shown below:
Close the group policy editor. The group policy is now configured and can be linked to the corresponding user objects. Linking is done using organizational units (OU).
Highlight the organizational unit (OU) which contains the desired user objects, right-click on the OU (DE_Viersen in the example below) and select the option Link an existing GPO. In the dialog window Select GPO, highlight MailStore Outlook Add-in Deployment and click on OK.
The group policy is now available and becomes active the next time users log on to the Windows client.

Updating

With group policies, the MailStore Outlook Add-in software on the user machines can be updated automatically. To edit an existing MailStore Outlook Add-in deployment group policy so that an automatic update of the clients can be performed, please proceed as follows:

Open the existing group policy MailStore Outlook Add-in Deployment. Create a new package and select the updated MailStore Outlook Add-in MSI file. In the following dialog window, select Advanced and click on OK. Please select the settings as shown below:
In the Updates-tab, click on Add and select the software to be updated. Choose the settings as shown below and click on OK and confirm by clicking on OK again.
The group policy should look similar to the one in the following graphic:

MailStore Outlook Add-in will be updated the next time users log on to their Windows workstations.

To avoid complications when installing software using group policies, the following settings for the MailStore Outlook Add-in Deployment group policy should be adjusted as well:

Activate Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/System/Scripts\Run logon scripts synchronously
Activate Configuration/Administrative Templates/System/Logon\Always wait for the network at computer startup and logon

Configuration

Installation of Group Policy Template

Configuring MailStore Outlook Add-In

With the new MailStore Outlook Add-in, you can configure the way the add-in contacts the MailStore Server.

Show MailStore Toolbar in Outlook
Here you define, whether the MailStore Outlook Add-in is shown or hidden by default. Possible values are activate or deactivate.
Choose authentication method
Here you define, which authentication method should be used for logins.

Possible values are users choice, Default Authentication or Windows Authentication. Windows Authentication is only available in Active Directory environments.
Address of MailStore Server
Here you set up the hostname or IP-address of your MailStore Server to which the clients should connect. Should MailStore Web Access configured to listen on other than the default ports (8461/8462), you need to add the port information to the hostname or IP-Address in the format :port.
Use SSL secured connection
If you activate this option, the communication between the MailStore Outlook Add-in and your MailStore Server is SSL encrypted. Possible values are activated or deactivated.

Note: If you activate this option, no unencrypted communication is possible with you MailStore Server. You need to make sure, that encrypted communication to you MailStore Server is configured properly.

Uninstalling

For Each Installation Distributed Using Group Policies

Like the distribution, the uninstalling of the software packages can be done using group policies. Please proceed as follows:

Open the group policy management console of your Windows server.
Expand the folder Group Policy Objects.
Right-click on the group policy object which was created for the software distribution of MailStore and select Edit.
Expand User Configuration | Software Settings | Software Installation.
Right-click on the packet to be uninstalled and select All Tasks -> Delete...

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In the following dialog window, select Software sofort von Benutzern und Computern deinstallieren and click OK.

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Close all open windows and exit the group policy
The software will be uninstalled the next time the user logs on to the server.

Without using Group Policies

Currently there is no single setup file available for the MailStore Outlook Add-in, which can be deployed without group policies.

As the MailStore Outlook Add-in is shipped together with the MailStore Client Installation, you can follow the instructions for deploying MailStore Client without group policies.