Modern Software Management on Windows w/Chocolatey - That Conference 2017
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Chocolatey is a package manager for Windows that simplifies software management using PowerShell and packages as independent deployment artifacts. It offers a unified approach for deploying internal and third-party software with features such as automatic uninstallation, package synchronization, and comprehensive reporting. The solution is targeted at organizational use, enhancing software lifecycle management and integration with various automation tools.
Modern Software Management on Windows w/Chocolatey - That Conference 2017
- 1. Chocolatey The package manager for Windows Modern Software Management w/ Chocolatey Rob Reynolds Founder Chocolatey Software @ferventcoder
- 3. Rob Reynolds • Creator and Founder of Chocolatey • Enjoys long walks on the beach and designing solutions that make hard things easy • Co-wrote infrastructure framework known as the Chuck Norris Framework • Over 10 years experience in infrastructure automation • Obsesses over user experience • Microsoft MVP for whatever they are calling .NET area now
- 4. Agenda • Chocolatey • Why • What • Features • Demo • Questions
- 8. Software management may account for 50-90% of your automation
- 9. Windows Software Ecosystem • Over 20 installer formats and thousands of installers in the wild • Zips and other archive formats • Software installers are messy • Deploy internal/3rd party software using same approach? • It’s like the Wild West
- 10. Why? • You already deploy software • Likely already use deployment scripts • Delivery mechanisms • Internal Software
- 11. Why?
- 12. Why?
- 15. But Seriously, Why Chocolatey? • Reporting • Features • Offline • Secure • Flexibility • Beyond Programs and Features • Beyond just running installers • Integrates with everything
- 16. But Seriously, Why Chocolatey? • Focused solution - does 1 thing very well for over 6+ years • Uses PowerShell - not learning new or proprietary technologies • One approach for all software management - 3rd party and internal • Reinventing Chocolatey could cost over $1 million • Hundreds of other companies are using it, there must be a reason
- 18. What is Chocolatey? • Software Management • PowerShell • Fancy zip files = “packages” • Packages are independent software deployment artifacts • Takes your deployment scripts to the next level
- 19. Chocolatey - Sane Software Management • Easily manage the software lifecycle • Native installers, zips, binaries • PowerShell module simplifies work • Packages are independent building blocks • Integrates with configuration management and RMM tools • Business friendly features
- 20. Chocolatey - The Approach • Single, unifying interface - control the chaos • Decentralized - multiple places to get packages, including internal • PowerShell • Flexible • Secure • Reliable 6+ years - proven technology
- 23. Community Package Repository • https://chocolatey.org/packages • Community Feed / Community Maintained • Moderated as of October 2014 • Everything goes through VirusTotal • Organizations Should Avoid • Not Fully Reliable - public repo means subject to distribution rights (download CDN cache feature helps) • Trust and Control
- 24. Sweet Features
- 25. FOSS vs Chocolatey for Business (C4B) • Chocolatey open source (FOSS) == package management • Works well in organizational use • C4B == complete software management • Smoother experience • Builds on top of FOSS • Better system integration, endpoint management, etc • Better visual interfaces (GUIs) • Features geared specifically towards organizational use
- 26. Smart Installs / Smarter Upgrades • Track software installation in Programs & Features to map packages to system installs • Track environment variable changes • Leave out guesswork by reporting on software installation location • Upgrades - Use Xml Document Transform (XDT) for .NET configuration file changes • Exclusive to Chocolatey - Use new tools / commands without closing / re-opening your shell for environment changes to take effect
- 27. Graphical Interface - ChocolateyGUI • Configure Chocolatey • Manage software installations
- 28. Automatic Uninstallation • Exclusive to Chocolatey - Automatically uninstall over 90% of installations without uninstall script • AutoUninstaller reduces time by not developing and managing uninstall scripts
- 29. Integrates with Everything • https://chocolatey.org/docs/features-infrastructure- automation • Puppet • Chef (built-in), cookbook • PowerShell DSC • Ansible • Saltstack • Octopus Deploy • Boxstarter • SCCM • RMM, or really anything that can run scripts
- 31. Inventory - Comprehensive Software Audit • Exclusive to Chocolatey - Visibility beyond just the software ‘installed’ in Programs & Features • Track versions of zip archives & own internal software that is not visible in system installation. • Get a complete view of your systems. Chocolatey reports applications in systems not directly under its management. • Package Audit (C4B) adds who and when
- 32. Logging - Detailed Reporting • Log file captures very detailed information - environment and state • Reduces rollback / recreation necessity
- 33. Compliance – Audit Out of Date Software • choco outdated • Comprehensive reporting on available upgrades • See what will upgrade on next maintenance window
- 35. Hosting Your Own Package Server • https://chocolatey.org/docs/how-to-host-feed • Non-Windows Hosting • Artifactory • Sonatype Nexus • NuGet Gallery proper • ProGet / MyGet • NuGet.Server / Chocolatey.Server • Puppet - chocolatey/chocolatey_server module • Visual Studio Team Services
- 37. Chocolatey Packages • Terminology: "Package" is nupkg file, "Software" is binaries or installers • Zip files + Versioning, Dependencies & PowerShell • Metadata - Software Information / Package Information • PowerShell - https://chocolatey.org/docs/helpers-reference • 30+ Built-in functions - complex tasks become 1 liners • Handle additional missing installer logic (like add to PATH) • Add options missing from installer arguments • Files - drop in binaries, native installers
- 38. Creating Packages • https://chocolatey.org/docs/create- packages • choco new • Generates package files with most of the work done • Create your own packaging templates!
- 40. Package Builder (C4B) - “Generate software deployment packages in seconds” • Package Builder automatically creates high quality packaging from an installer/zip in 5-10 seconds • Determines everything necessary for silently installing software • Supports passing urls (and checksums) - downloads files first • Allows customization • Supports exe, msi, 7z, zip, msu, and msp files
- 41. Package Internalizer (C4B) - “Convert existing packages to 100% offline and reliable” • Take advantage of existing packages without dependency on the internet • Downloads existing package and all remote resources • Recompiles package to use those internal resources • Option to download and point to other locations • Ability to host packages on private internal repositories • Visual Interface coming
- 42. How does it work?
- 44. Package Synchronizer (C4B) - stay in sync w/system
- 45. Package Synchronizer (Licensed) - Auto Sync • Chocolatey maintains state based on packages. System state can be manipulated outside of Chocolatey • Any Chocolatey command will trigger synchronization in licensed editions of Chocolatey • Package Synchronizer syncs with manual software removal • Syncs w/software that automatically upgrades, such as Chrome
- 46. Package Synchronizer (C4B) - All Packages in Programs and Features • Any Chocolatey package installed will result in an entry in Programs and Features, even if it doesn't have a native install • Supporting legacy inventory reporting systems is now a snap • Do not need to build MSIs / Installers for internal use just to support legacy reporting
- 47. Package Synchronizer (C4B) - Choco Sync Command • Brings all software in Programs and Features under Chocolatey management • Generates packaging and baselines to Chocolatey install • Provides packaging code to take back to source control
- 48. How does it work?
- 50. Self-Service (C4B) - “Non- administrative desktop users can install/upgrade software!”
- 51. Self-Service Installer / Background Mode (C4B)
- 52. Package Reducer (Licensed) • Reduce Chocolatey space usage down automatically • Reduction on install/ upgrade • choco optimize to clean existing
- 53. Other Features • https://chocolatey.org/docs/release-notes • Internal sources (like ProGet) • choco upgrade all - Windows update for your 3rd party and internal software • Shimming - like symlinks but better • Pass install arguments directly through to installer (append or override package args) • Package Parameters to adjust logic in packages • Handles locking on upgrades in package folders • Great reference docs - https:// chocolatey.org/docs/commands- reference & https://chocolatey.org/ docs/helpers-reference • Excellent open source support community • 30+ built-in PowerShell Functions • Extend functionality with your own PowerShell Modules • Custom Package Templates • Can manage anything on Windows
- 54. Other Features (C4B) • https://chocolatey.org/docs/ release-notes-licensed • Auto-uninstaller more effective - uninstaller detection / Package Synchronizer • Install/upgrade keeping secrets out of logs • Ubiquitous Install Directory Option • More built-in PowerShell functions • Uninstall non-Chocolatey managed software • Direct Installer - install directly from exe/msi • Package Throttle • Runtime malware protection • CDN Cache • Professional Packaging Services • Amazing expert support team - https://chocolatey.org/support
- 55. Chocolatey Roadmap • https://chocolatey.org/docs/ roadmap • Central Management UI (C4B) • Choco Deploy CLI (C4B) • WSA / Windows Nano Support • PowerShell PackageManagement Official Provider • Package Enhancements • Pack Validation • Virtual packages • GPG Signing • Package Grid (C4B) • Deferred Installer (C4B) • Possible support on other platforms
- 56. Demo
- 57. This is you
- 59. This is you on Chocolatey
- 61. Any Questions?
- 62. https:// chocolatey.org/ contact • ferventcoder - twitter, gmail, etc Questions?