Windows Installer in managed environments

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Windows Installer in managed environments

Windows Installer is an integral part of IntelliMirror, and a core component of the Group Policy-based change and configuration management technology. By using the IntelliMirror technologies, Group Policy, and change and configuration management, administrators can approve certain applications, specifying that all configuration operations on those applications (installation, removal, and repair) run as the local system account. The administrator has control and management of the file system and registry, and Windows Installer performs user-initiated software installations. Only applications that are approved by the administrator run with elevated privileges. For more information about Windows Installer, see Using Windows Installer.

Administrators use Active Directory, IntelliMirror, and Group Policy to assign and publish applications to groups of users or computers within the enterprise. Active Directory is a secure, distributed, partitioned, and replicated directory service that provides management services. These services include a standardized method of locating resources within the enterprise, and applying Group Policy to objects managed by Active Directory. For more information about Active Directory, see Active Directory.