Centralized Software Deployment

Overview

This lab sets up a centralised software deployment system across a small AD environment — one Domain Controller and two domain-joined workstations (PC1 and PC2).

The goal is to push WinRAR and AnyDesk from the DC to both machines without touching them manually. The script handles everything: checking if the temp folder exists on the client, copying the installers over the admin share, running them silently, then cleaning up.

What it does

• Hosts the installers on the DC under C:\Remote Install\
• Copies them to \\hostname\c$\Temp on each target
• Runs silent installs remotely via Invoke-Command
• Deletes the installers from the client after installation

Environment

DC acts as the deployment hub. PC1 and PC2 are joined to the rajkumar.local domain.

Installers sit on the server at C:\Remote Install\:

Automated Deployment Script

The PowerShell script reads target hostnames from a text file, checks for the presence of the deployment folder, copies the installation files, and triggers a remote, silent installation.

# central_deployment.ps1
# Read list of target workstations
$HostsList = Get-Content "C:\Remote Install\livepc.txt"

# Installer binaries to deploy
$Folder = "C:\Remote Install\winrar-x64-601.exe", "C:\Remote Install\AnyDesk.exe"

foreach ($Machine in $HostsList) {
    $remotePath = "\\$Machine\c$\Temp"
    $Test = Test-Path -Path $remotePath

    # Check if Temp folder exists on client, if not, create it
    if ($Test -eq $true) {
        Write-Host "Path exists on $Machine. Proceeding with installation."
    } else {
        Write-Host "Path does not exist on $Machine. Creating folder..."
        New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $remotePath -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }

    # Copy installer packages to client
    Write-Host "Copying files to $remotePath on $Machine..."
    Copy-Item -Path $Folder -Destination $remotePath -Force

    # Trigger remote silent installation and clean up installers
    Write-Host "Starting installation on $Machine..."
    Invoke-Command -ComputerName $Machine -ScriptBlock {
        # Run silent installations
        &cmd.exe /c "C:\Temp\winrar-x64-601.exe /silent"
        &cmd.exe /c "C:\Temp\AnyDesk.exe --install /silent" 

        # Clean up temporary installation binaries
        Remove-Item -Path "C:\Temp\winrar-x64-601.exe", "C:\Temp\AnyDesk.exe" -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    } -ErrorAction Continue

    Write-Host "Installation complete on $Machine."
}

Deployment Steps

Step 1: Check target machines

Before running the script, check what state the targets are in:

• PC1 already has a C:\Temp folder
• PC2 doesn't — the script will create it

PC1 — Temp folder already exists.

PC2 — no Temp folder yet.

Step 2: Enable WinRM on the targets

WinRM needs to be running on both machines for Invoke-Command to work. Run this on each workstation:

Enable-PSRemoting -Force

WinRM service started on the workstations.

Step 3: Run the script

Run the script from the Domain Controller. It connects to each machine, copies the files, installs silently, then removes the installers.

PC1

Files copied, installed silently, and cleaned up on PC1.

PC2

Temp folder created, files deployed, installed, and cleaned up on PC2.

WinRAR and AnyDesk showing in the installed programs list on the target host.

Final check

Open Control Panel on the target hosts and confirm both apps are installed.