Software Management: Windows

To install software apps on Windows devices, JumpCloud utilizes Chocolatey packages. Using Chocolatey via JumpCloud Software Management allows administrators to have more control over the installation, updates, and removal of software on their JumpCloud-managed Windows fleet.

You can create and manage software apps using the Admin Portal; however, you can also use the JumpCloud API to install and manage software apps. For information on using the JumpCloud API, see JumpCloud API Documentation.

Considerations:

• Windows 10 versions below 1909 and Windows Server 2012R2 are not supported.
• The community public repository hosted at chocolatey.org and any installation scripts and packages from that repository aren’t components of the JumpCloud Service. You’re responsible for testing those scripts and packages for any third-party software you download or install using this functionality.
• If ChocolateyGet is not present on the device, the JumpCloud agent installs the latest version of it.
  • ChocolateyGet requires Windows Powershell 7 and above.
• The JumpCloud agent will install a specific tested version of Chocolatey regardless of Chocolatey being already installed. If ChocolateyGet is already present on the device, JumpCloud will automatically update it to the latest version. If administrators update Chocolatey outside the scope of JumpCloud’s Software Management, the agent will upgrade or downgrade it with a specific tested version of Chocolatey 
• JumpCloud checks to see if the application already exists. If the application is present and was installed without ChocolateyGet there will be an attempt to install the latest version. If the application is present and was installed with Chocolatey, JumpCloud won’t attempt to re-install it unless Keep Up to Date is configured and there is a newer version.

What is a Chocolatey Repository?

A Chocolatey repository is the location where the chocolatey software packages are stored. JumpCloud supports two types of Chocolatey repositories:

• Public – Repository hosted by Chocolatey. Chocolatey hosts and manages the software packages on its own servers, as well as imposes its own rate limits. Click here to view the Chocolatey repository.
• Internal – Internal repositories are hosted by the organization itself, rather than Chocolatey. This has some advantages, such as no rate limits (if the organization doesn’t set any) and more freedom in terms of what packages can be hosted. You can create custom software packages for your org, host them, and download them to your devices directly. There are two types of repositories:
  • Proxy Repository – Automatically downloads and caches a copy of the software packages from another repository and sends the cached packages when package install requests are made. The advantage of this is eliminating Chocolatey rate limits.
  • Custom Package Repository – Hosts custom software packages that your organization creates.

For more information, see Prevent Chocolatey Rate Limiting in JumpCloud.

JumpCloud recommends organizations use internal repositories and custom software packages. This provides the organization greater security and control of the package, scripts, and binaries. Internal repositories are also recommended if the organization is experiencing rate limiting using Chocolatey’s Community repository.

Installing Software Packages Using Chocolatey

When you add an app to a device: 

• If ChocolateyGet is already present on the device, JumpCloud upgrades it. If ChocolateyGet is not present on the device, it is installed.
• After the app is installed on the device, ChocolateyGet remains.

The process to install a software package varies depending on whether it’s a package from the Chocolatey community repository or an internal repository. See below:

• Installing Software Packages from the Chocolatey Community Repository
• Installing Software Packages from an Internal Repository

Installing Software Packages from the Chocolatey Community Repository

To install a software package from the Chocolatey community repository:

1. Go to the Chocolatey community public repository: https://chocolatey.org/packages.
2. Search the repository for the package you want to use.
3. Copy only the package ID. The package ID is the text after >choco install. 
4. Log in to the JumpCloud Admin Portal: https://console.jumpcloud.com.
5. Go to DEVICE MANAGEMENT > Software Management.
6. Select the Windows tab, then click (+).
7. Enter a unique display name in the Software Name field.
8. Paste the package name you copied from chocolatey.org into the Package ID field.
9. Select Install this software.
10. (Optional) Select Keep software package up to date to automatically update this app as updates become available. For more information, see Auto-Update below.
    • (Optional) Select Allow end users to delay updates for up to one week to avoid updates during a busy time. 

11. Click save.

To deploy your community app to your devices, see Deploying Windows Apps to Your Devices below. 

Installing Software Packages from an Internal Repository

To install a software package from an internal repository:

1. Build or host a custom Chocolatey package:
   • To create custom Chocolatey packages, see Package Creation Quick Start.
   • To host packages on Chocolatey, see Host Packages Internally.
2. Log in to the JumpCloud Admin Portal: https://console.jumpcloud.com.
3. Go to DEVICE MANAGEMENT > Software Management.
4. Select the Windows tab, then click (+).
5. On the Details tab, enter a unique display name in the Software Name field.
6. Add the Package ID of the custom Chocolatey package. This package ID should be unique. 
7. Select Create a custom package. 
8. Enter your custom package’s Repository URL in the following format: https://repourl.com.
9. Click save.

To deploy your custom app to your devices, see Deploying Windows Apps to Your Devices below. 

Auto-Update

Software Packages can be configured to be automatically updated with the latest package in the configured repository. The JumpCloud Agent will check for an update periodically. If it finds one, that update will be automatically installed. 

Deploying Windows Apps to Your Devices

Whether your app is a custom app or a community app, you can deploy it to either a single device or to a preconfigured Device Group.

To deploy the app immediately to specific devices:

1. Log in to the JumpCloud Admin Portal: https://console.jumpcloud.com.
2. Go to DEVICE MANAGEMENT > Software Management.
3. Select the Windows tab and select the app you want to deploy.
4. Select the Devices tab.
5. Select the devices where you want to deploy the app.
6. Click save.
7. Click save again.

To deploy the app immediately to a device group:

1. Log in to the JumpCloud Admin Portal: https://console.jumpcloud.com.
2. Go to DEVICE MANAGEMENT > Software Management.
3. Select the Windows tab and select the app you want to deploy.
4. Select the Device Groups tab.
5. Select the groups that you want to deploy the app to.
6. Click save.
7. Click save again.