Is it Possible to Disable Notes Instant Messaging via Scriptable (Silent) Install?
Product:
Lotus Notes > Lotus Notes > 6.5
Platform(s):
Windows
Doc Number:
1153969
Published: 13.09.2004
Problem
Is it possible when creating a scriptable installation for users to disable Notes instant messaging? It appears that the script requires that an instant messaging server be specified; otherwise, the user is prompted to enter the server name during the actual install process.
In Notes 6.5, there is no straight-forward way to script an installation without an instant messaging server defined. This issue was reported to Lotus software Quality Engineering and has been addressed in Notes 6.5.1 in the form of a Notes.ini parameter.
Excerpt from the Notes 6.5.1 Fix List:
SPR# RMAA5S3SLB - With this fix it is possible to make the Instant Messaging server name optional for a scriptable install. A new Notes.ini variable allows users to bypass the IM Configuration. If the ini parameter "IM_NO_SETUP=1" is used, the IM configuration dialog box will NOT display during new client setup (or client upgrade). In addition, if "IM_NO_SETUP=1", any IM variables in a scriptable client setup will be ignored. If the user wants to config IM, they can leave the Notes.ini variable out of their Notes.ini file or set it to 0 (IM_NO_SETUP=0).
Additional Information:
To make use of the Notes.ini variable in a silent install, you would use the InstallShield Tuner (which is included on the Notes/Domino 6 CD) and define the IM_NO_SETUP=1 notes.ini parameter within the transform file you create using the InstallShield Tuner.
A particularly helpful resource for creating transform files with the InstallShield tuner is the Redpaper titled, Distributing Notes Clients Automatically.
See Chapter 1, Customizing client installations with transform files.
URL link to Redpaper:
http://publib-b.boulder.ibm.com/Redbooks.nsf/RedbookAbstracts/redp3693.html?OpenWorkaround for Notes 6.5:
In Notes 6.5, there is a workaround that can be implemented to prevent users from being prompted to enter information related to an Instant Messaging (Sametime) server either during install or during the initial launch of the Notes 6.5 client. This workaround applies to both a new install of Notes 6.5 and an upgrade. This workaround does not disable the Instant Messaging compoents within the client UI, but it can prevent users from potential confusion during the installation process.
Important: The workaround requires familiarity with installing the Notes client via a scriptable setup and desktop policies. Familiarity with transform files is also helpful. If you need general information about scriptable setups, refer to the Domino 6.5 Administration Help database and the technote titled "How to Set Up a Notes Client without User Intervention Using a Scriptable Setup" (#1112835).
At a high level, there are two parts to the workaround:
A scriptable setup that "preconfigures" the Notes 6.5 client during installation with a "dummy" entry for the Sametime server name. This dummy entry prevents the install from displaying prompts for Sametime information to the user.
A Desktop policy that removes the dummy entry for the Sametime server. Once the Notes 6.5 client is installed, the Instant Messaging server field in the Location document should either be blank or contain a valid server name. This part of the workaround is optional, but it is recommended to reduce the chance that the user is prompted at a later time for the Instant Messaging server information.
First, create a setup.txt file that contains the following parameters and values:
IM.Server=dummyservername
IM.Port=80
IM.Connectwhen=2
IM.Protocol=1
Notes:
If the IM.Server parameter has no value; users will be prompted to enter a server name during the Install. Effectively, Notes 6.5 requires that this value be specified (or that the user cancels manually out of the prompt during install). Despite this, administrators can specify a dummy value in this field to surpress prompts for this information during the actual install.
The IM.Connectwhen=2 setting configures the Notes 6.5 client to attempt a login to a Sametime server only if the user manually chooses to login. By default, the Notes 6.5 client is configured to attempt to log in to Sametime server when the user logs into Notes.
The setup.txt can be placed either on a shared network resource or distributed to individual workstations. This setup file will then need to be referenced by the notes.ini by the addition of a line such as:
ConfigFile=\\path\to\file\setup.txt
As a further protection against a user clicking on the Instant Messaging buttons in the Notes 6.5 client, Administrators should implement a Desktop Policy that sets the "IBM Lotus Instant Messaging Server" field (item name "SametimeServer") to empty. This step overwrites the previously provided dummy value established during the installation/upgrade and setup so that Notes will not attempt at any point in the future to connect to the Instant Messaging server.
To ease distribution of this additional parameter to the notes.ini the "IS Tuner for Lotus Notes" application can be used to created a transform file (.mst). This application can be found on the Lotus Notes install CD, in the \apps directory. Instructions for this application can be found in the Domino 6.5 Administration Help.
Steps to add the "ConfigFile" parameter to the notes.ini:
Click on the IniFiles item under the Target System Configuration Section.
In the center pane, select "Destination Computer" and right click to choose Show Folder > ProgramFilesFolder.
Expand the ProgramFilesFolder Directory to Lotus to Notes to Data.
Select the VDIR_INI entry, right click and select "New Inifile."
Create the entries you want to add to the notes.ini file.
Rename the default ini that is created to "notes.ini".
Rename the default section that is created for the "notes.ini" to "Notes".
Modify "New Key" to "ConfigFile" and "NewValue" to the path of your setup.txt under the Key and Value columns respectively. The action should be set to "Add Line" which it should be set to by default. (These items appear in the rightmost pane of the Tuner).
Thema: Notes.INI und Instant Messaging - Aus (Gelesen 7201 mal)