Program installation priority

Good day,

I have a package containing 6 programs.  These programs are vb scripts which calls MSIs and executes very quickly ( in seconds).  They will be deployed with 3 deployments, 10 minutes apart via assignment schedule.

The programs breakdown is as follows:

Program 1:  Upgrade software A - First deployment (Time stamp 07:00:00)

Program 2:  Uninstall software A

Program 3:  Upgrade software B - Second deployment (Time stamp 07:10:00)

Program 4:  Uninstall software B

Program 5:  Upgrade software C - Third deployment (Time stamp 07:20:00)

Program 6:  Uninstall software C

Program 1 is dependent on program 2 with the "run another program first option" (uninstall software A then upgrade software A).

Program 3 is dependent on program 4 (uninstall software B then upgrade software B).

Program 5 is dependent on program 6 (uninstall software C then upgrade software C).

I am trying to test what would happen if my test client is offline when the deployment is scheduled and come online well after the assignment schedule for the third deployment has passed.

When I set the deployment assignment schedules for programs 1, 3 and 5 to run 10 minutes apart the results (in execmgr.log sequence) when the client comes online after the fact are as follows:

Program 1 - software A completes its dependency (program 2 uninstall A) first (Time stamp 09:00:20).

Program 3 software B completes its dependency (program 4 uninstall B) second (Time stamp 09:00:20).

Program 5 - software C completes its dependency (program 6 Uninstall C) third. (Time stamp 09:00:21).

Program 2 - software A completes fourth (Time stamp 11:00:22).

Program 4 - Software B completes fifth (Time stamp 11:00:22).

Program 6 - Software C completes sixth (Time stamp 11:00:23).

Logic would dictate that the Program 1 must complete its dependency (Program 2) and then Program 1 first, before starting to execute Program 3.  This is not the case.  After three deployment tests the results are consistent.

Any Ideas as to why this is the case?  Your assistance will be much appreciated.

July 31st, 2015 5:16am

Is there something special in the .vbs scripts else than simple msiexec /i command? Why aren't you using the application model with supersedence and dependency features? You could also use task sequence for this, although it's designed for OSD.

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July 31st, 2015 5:24am

Thanks for your reply, Narcoticoo.

The scripts creates log files, checks the state of the currently installed MSI and its GUID, installs the MSI etc.

I realise that the application model would be better suited, but the design is currently for a package and I would like to understand the behaviour of the installation.

July 31st, 2015 5:58am

They will be deployed with 3 deployments, 10 minutes apart via assignment schedule.

assignment schedule for the third deployment has passed.

When I set the deployment assignment schedules for programs 1, 3 and 5 to run 10 minutes apart the results 


The execution sequence will be nodeterministic then. All deadlines are already reached so they will be executed "randomly". 
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July 31st, 2015 6:10am

Thanks, Torsten.  They do seem to execute in order (after two tests), but the all the dependencies (programs 2,4 and 6) complete before the programs they are dependent on executes (Programs 1,3 and 5 - also in the correct sequence).

Are you saying that if i continue to test, I would get different results?

July 31st, 2015 6:38am

Are you saying that if i continue to test, I would get different results?

Maybe yes, maybe no. It's non-deterministic meaning no order is guaranteed.

Why not put everything into the same script to enforce the order?

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July 31st, 2015 9:17am

Ok tanks, Jason.  That's something I"ll take up with the packagers then.  :)

For the interim, I've chained all the programs up to ensure that that the installation happens in the correct sequence.

Thank you very much, guys.  Happy weekend.

July 31st, 2015 10:14am

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