How do I ensure that multiple computers are running the same versions of software development tools?

Question

I work Change Control for a small company. I have been trying to find a way to make sure all 6 members of our software development staff have the same versions of their softeare development tools to prevent conflicts.

Answer 1

You're not giving enough detail about the "tools" you're trying to check or even the environment they're on!



Oh well - *ASSUMING* it's a wintel environment; and If they're installed from an InstallShield msi file, the name of the apps should be written into the registry -



To do ANYTHING remotely, you're going to have to have admin rights to the machines to access the system drive. Given these presumptions, here are some ideas.



1. you could write a CSCIPT that runs at login to check the registry on each machine and writes the versions onto a file on a shared drive somewhere.



2. Write a Perl script that runs on your machine that uses the Win32::Registry::File package to read the remote machine's registry and determine the version.



3. Write a perl script that uses Win32::GetFileVersion(FILENAME) to get DLL versions on the machines if you have a specific DLL in the apps (you *do* vrsion your DLL's, don't you?)



BTW-

This is what Tivoli is good at - so if your company has money, you might want to call a sales rep about their product line.



HTH

Answer 2

Your first step should be to get a copy of Belarc Advisor from http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html



Install it on your own computer, get a flash drive (Sandisk Cruzr, etc) and then turn it in to a U3 app by downloading a free program from http://www.eure.ca/



That way time needed at each PC is minimal.

Answer 3

You could run a software audit on the network or just go to each one and check the version.