Is there a silent install feature?

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Mister Tech
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2015 2:07 pm

Is there a silent install feature?

Post by Mister Tech » Tue Jul 28, 2015 2:11 pm

Hello all.

I very much like the SoftEther client, and I would like to use it in the company I for. However, we are large enough that installing and later updating the client on each individual machine would be a major hassle.

Is there a way for SoftEther to be silently installed so it can be distributed through software deployment tools? I've tried the usual switches such as /s, /verysilent, etc. None of them seem to work, and I can't find any silent install options in the documentation.

kh_tsang
Posts: 551
Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2013 12:09 pm

Re: Is there a silent install feature?

Post by kh_tsang » Tue Jul 28, 2015 2:45 pm

It is really a problem. SoftEther VPN Client provides enterprise-class management with remote access but without remote updating.

thisjun
Posts: 2458
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 11:03 am

Re: Is there a silent install feature?

Post by thisjun » Thu Aug 06, 2015 5:47 am

Please try to use batch to replace files.
Please stop the VPN service before replacing files.

Mister Tech
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2015 2:07 pm

Re: Is there a silent install feature?

Post by Mister Tech » Tue Aug 11, 2015 2:55 pm

A batch file might work, but it's rather unfortunate that SoftEther doesn't use any of the standard installer packages with built in silent features. Or better still, an MSI package. I don't mean to complain too much, as a VPN SoftEther is vastly superior to any of the alternatives. The installer just needs some work.

What about registry entries? Are they likely to change between versions?

kh_tsang
Posts: 551
Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2013 12:09 pm

Re: Is there a silent install feature?

Post by kh_tsang » Tue Aug 11, 2015 4:08 pm

Yes, at least the version numbers. However, I guess replacing the files should be enough.

The adapter driver may also change, but you can remove and add vpn adapter again using vpncmd.

gmj23
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2018 3:02 pm

Re: Is there a silent install feature?

Post by gmj23 » Wed Mar 14, 2018 11:40 pm

Bump

cedar
Site Admin
Posts: 2070
Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2013 5:37 am

Re: Is there a silent install feature?

Post by cedar » Thu Mar 15, 2018 7:57 am

The missing registry key is automatically filled in, so you do not need to set the registry at install time.

gmj23
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2018 3:02 pm

Re: Is there a silent install feature?

Post by gmj23 » Thu Mar 15, 2018 2:45 pm

Thanks cedar.

Is there or will there be an MSI or silent deploy option for deploying software across a domain?

Thanks.

thisjun
Posts: 2458
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 11:03 am

Re: Is there a silent install feature?

Post by thisjun » Thu Mar 29, 2018 5:20 am

I think it's good to just distribute the files and register the service.

ethanolson
Posts: 50
Joined: Mon Dec 02, 2019 6:29 am

Re: Is there a silent install feature?

Post by ethanolson » Fri Dec 06, 2019 7:06 am

1. Install the client
2. Configure the client completely (just don't populate usernames or passwords)
-create virtual network adapter
-set password
-set remote management on or off (probably on)
-install trusted CA cert(s)
-create VPN connection
3. Test config and finalize
-duplicate the connection
-test the copied connection and incorporate any refinements into the original connection properties
-delete the copied connection
-set locked settings password
-set mode (probably Easy)
4. Create script to automate vpncmd to create virtual NIC during install
-let's create a text file in "C:\Program Files\SoftEther VPN Client" and call it net.scr and include an upgrade call in case an existing install is being upgraded. If there's an existing adater, it'll upgrade it. If not, it errors and moves on. If there's an existing adapter, it errors on the creation command. If not, it creates the adapter. Either way, you end up with a minty adapter.

-----net.scr-----
2
NicUpgrade VPN
NicCreate VPN
exit


-ensure there's an additional blank line after 'exit' or the install will hang within vpncmd
-save and close the file
5. Package the files for deployment
-stop the SoftEther VPN Client service (NET STOP SEVPNCLIENT) to unlock vpn_client.config
-use 7zip to create an SFX of the entire "C:\Program Files\SoftEther VPN Client" directory, omitting installer.cache, vpn_client.config.log, the backup.vpn_client.config folder, and any files in the client_log folder. In this case, we'll call the resulting file se431.exe
-rename se431.exe to se431.dat so stupid users don't mess things up by running it
6. Create installation script (called inst_se431.cmd) which will do the following:
+ check for admin rights to execute
+ stop the SE VPN client service if there is one
+ copy se431.dat to %TEMP%\se431.exe
+ extract archive to "C:\Program Files\SoftEther VPN Client" directory, creating the directory if it doesn't exist, overwriting without prompt if it does exist
+ register service and set it to auto start
+ set the client manager UI to start when Windows starts
+ start service
+ upgrade or create virtual NIC

-----inst_se431.cmd-----
@echo off
REM Obviously, this is a typical Ethan Olson batch file.

setlocal enableextensions

echo Checking permission levels...
net session >nul 2>&1
if %errorLevel% == 0 (
echo Administrative permissions verified.
goto run_program
) else (
echo Current permissions insufficient. Please reexecute with elevated privileges.
echo.
echo Press any key to exit.
)
pause >nul
goto end

:run_program
NET STOP SEVPNCLIENT >NUL
copy %~dp0\sevpn431.dat %TEMP%\sevpn431.exe
%TEMP%\sevpn431.exe -o"C:\Program Files\SoftEther VPN Client" -y
sc query SEVPNCLIENT >NUL
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 (
sc create SEVPNCLIENT binPath="\"C:\Program Files\SoftEther VPN Client\vpnclient_x64.exe\" /service" DisplayName="Softether VPN Client" start=auto
) else (
sc config SEVPNCLIENT binPath="\"C:\Program Files\SoftEther VPN Client\vpnclient_x64.exe\" /service" DisplayName="Softether VPN Client" start=auto
)
sc description SEVPNCLIENT "This manages the Virtual Network Adapter device driver and connection service for the SoftEther VPN Client. When this service is stopped, it will not be possible to use SoftEther VPN Client on this computer to connect to a SoftEther VPN Server."

NET START SEVPNCLIENT
cd /d "C:\Program Files\SoftEther VPN Client"
vpncmd localhost <"C:\Program Files\SoftEther VPN Client\nic.scr" >NUL
del "C:\Program Files\SoftEther VPN Client\nic.scr"
del %TEMP%\sevpn431.exe

reg ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run /v "SoftEther VPN Client UI Helper" /t REG_SZ /d "\"C:\Program Files\SoftEther VPN Client\vpnclient_x64.exe\" /uihelp"
reg ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run /v "SoftEther VPN Client UI Helper" /t REG_BINARY /d 020000000000000000000000

NET START SEVPNCLIENT
"C:\Program Files\SoftEther VPN Client\vpnclient_x64.exe" /uihelp

:end

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