Manage GPOs - MCSA Windows Server 2012 R2: Installation and Configuration Study Guide - page 329

In the following sections, you'll look at how the processes of assigning and publishing
applications can make life easier for IT staff and users alike. The various settings for
assigned and published applications are managed through the use of GPOs.
Assigning Applications
Software applications can be assigned to users and computers. Assigning a software pack-
age makes the program available for automatic installation. The applications advertise their
availability to the affected users or computers by placing icons within the Programs folder
of the Start menu for Windows 8 (and before) and Windows Server 2012, and within the
Apps area on Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2.
When applications are assigned to a user, programs will be advertised to the user
regardless of which computer they are using. That is, icons for the advertised program will
appear regardless of whether the program is installed on that computer. If the user clicks
an icon for a program that has not yet been installed on the local computer, the application
will automatically be accessed from a server and it will be installed.
When an application is assigned to a computer, the program is made available to any
users of the computer. For example, all users who log on to a computer that has been
assigned Microsoft Office 2013 will have access to the components of the application. If
the user did not previously install Microsoft Office 2013, they will be prompted for any
required setup information when the program first runs.
Generally, applications that are required by the vast majority of users should be assigned
to computers. This reduces the amount of network bandwidth required to install applications
on demand and improves the end-user experience by preventing the delay involved when
installing an application the first time it is accessed. Any applications that may be used by
only a few users (or those with specific job tasks) should be assigned to users.
Publishing Applications
When applications are published , they are advertised, but no icons are automatically cre-
ated. Instead, the applications are made available for installation using the Add Or Remove
Programs icon in Control Panel.
Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 do not have the Add Or
Remove Programs feature. They use the Programs icon in Control Panel to
install the software.
Implementing Software Deployment
So far, you have become familiar with the issues related to software deployment and man-
agement from a theoretical level. Now it's time to drill down into the actual steps required
to deploy software using the features of Active Directory and the GPMC. In the following