This document describes how DRACOON for Windows can be deployed on a corporate network and automatically installed on PCs of Windows domain users.
It also explains how a specific DRACOON server address can be preconfigured so that users don't have to specify it themselves.

Deploy installation files

The regular setup program of DRACOON for Windows (.exe file) is only suitable for single-user installations.
For automated installation on a network (e.g. by Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager or group policies), MSI installation packages (.msi files) must be used instead, which we provide here.

Starting with version 3.2, DRACOON for Windows can only be installed under 64-bit versions of Windows.

DRACOON for Windows consists of the following two installation packages:

Please note:

• For the full functionality of DRACOON for Windows, all two MSI files above must be deployed: The actual program installer (first MSI package) and both Explorer extensions (second and third MSI packages). The third installation package is required under 64-bit Windows so that the DRACOON commands on shortcut menus can also be displayed in file browsers of 32-bit programs (e.g. in 32-bit versions of Microsoft Office).
• If you only install the first MSI package, the DRACOON Explorer extensions (DRACOON commands in shortcut menus of Explorer) are not available (which can be used, for example, to control the synchronization of individual folders/files explicitly). However, it is basically possible to use DRACOON based on just the first MSI package (not recommended).
• The MSI packages can also be used to update existing installations of DRACOON for Windows. Ensure all two MSI packages are deployed when updating DRACOON for Windows.

Preconfigure server and drive letter: Prepare and deploy bookmark file

To establish a connection with your DRACOON server, its Internet address must be specified in DRACOON for Windows. This is done by creating a new bookmark in DRACOON for Windows.

If no bookmark is available at the first run, DRACOON for Windows automatically displays the dialog box for specifying the server settings (and thus for creating a new bookmark).
This may be undesirable for automated installation on a network — in this scenario, it probably makes sense to include a preconfigured bookmark so that not every user has to enter the server address manually but can connect directly to the corporate DRACOON.

The solution: Create a bookmark file that serves as a template and is automatically deployed on PCs of your users after installation.

To do so, follow these steps:

1. Install DRACOON for Windows on a test PC using the regular .exe installer.
2. Start DRACOON for Windows.
3. The Specify Server Settings dialog box appears (Create a new bookmark).
   
   • In the Server text box, enter the Internet address of your DRACOON.
   • If you want all users to use the same drive letter for the DRACOON drive (e.g. so that the local DRACOON paths are the same for all users), select it in the Drive Letter field.
   • Click OK to save the settings as a bookmark file.
4. Locate the file where the bookmark was saved.
   To do so, open the following folder:
   %AppData%\DRACOON\Bookmarks
     Copy Path
5. The folder contains one or more bookmark files (file extension .duck). Open the last modified file in the folder with an editor.
6. A file in XML format should be displayed as follows:
   • In the line below <key>Hostname</key> should be the server address you entered.
   • Important: The line below <key>Protocol</key> must be <string>dracoon</string> — please don't change the name dracoon. In addition, the line below <key>Provider</key> is required to be <string>dracoon-oauth</string> — this value must not be changed as well.
   • The long digit code below the line <key>UUID</key> is automatically generated when a bookmark is created and is different in each case. It is used to uniquely distinguish the individual DRACOON bookmarks on a PC and can be identical on several PCs. A bookmark with a single, specific UUID can therefore easily be deployed on multiple PCs.
7. If the information is correct, copy the .duck file to another folder. Please do not change the default file name, otherwise, the drive shortcut may be created multiple times on the client PCs.
8. Deploy the generated file via Active Directory to the bookmarks folder (%AppData%\DRACOON\Bookmarks) on any desired PC.
9. After the installation, the preconfigured bookmark file is recognized at the next start of DRACOON for Windows. The user only has to enter his username and password in the web browser, which opens automatically at login—the server address is already preset.
   Note: The new bookmark file will be recognized at the next program start as soon as it exists, even if DRACOON for Windows is already installed. This means that an additional bookmark file can be deployed anytime, even if DRACOON for Windows has already been installed and used on user PCs.

Installation of updates

DRACOON for Windows includes an integrated update check. As soon as a new version is released, the update check will detect it within 24 hours, and the user will receive an update notification with the option to install the update or to be reminded again later.

The update check is not run if the user does not have administrator rights in Windows! Regular users (non-administrators) therefore do not receive update notifications, and in this case, no updates are installed by the client, even if the update check is activated in Preferences.

This also means that you are responsible on your own that updates for DRACOON for Windows are deployed in your supported environment. It is important that you make sure that newly available updates are deployed as soon as possible, as they usually contain important bug fixes and improvements.
You can always download the MSI files required for the latest update from the top of this page. The latest version of DRACOON for Windows with its release date can always be found under Downloads for DRACOON.