hdlbatchinstaller --version You should see output like: hdlbatchinstaller v2.4.1 (build 2025-03-15) The magic of hdlbatchinstaller lies in its manifest format. You can use JSON, YAML, or a simple INI structure. Below is a practical example ( deploy-workstation.json ):
"global": "log_level": "verbose", "rollback_on_fatal": false, "timeout_per_task": 300 , "packages": [ "name": "7-Zip", "source": "\\\\fileserver\\installers\\7z2409-x64.msi", "type": "msi", "arguments": "/quiet /norestart", "checksum": "sha256:1a2b3c..." , "name": "Google Chrome", "source": "https://dl.google.com/chrome/install/latest/chrome_installer.exe", "type": "exe", "arguments": "/silent /install", "depends_on": ["Microsoft Edge WebView2"] , "name": "Node.js LTS", "source": "C:\\local_repo\\node-v20.11.0-x64.msi", "type": "msi", "arguments": "ALLUSERS=1 /qn", "env_vars": ["NODE_HOME=C:\\Program Files\\nodejs"] ]
"only_if": "NOT exists('C:\\Program Files\\Adobe')" This prevents reinstalling Creative Cloud if it’s already present. If a deployment is interrupted (e.g., power outage), run:
hdlbatchinstaller --manifest deploy-workstation.json --output-log installation.log Advanced Features Power Users Love hdlbatchinstaller isn't just a loop that runs installers. It incorporates several intelligent features: 1. Pre- and Post-Installation Hooks You can execute scripts before or after the batch:
"arch": "amd64": "installer-amd64.exe", "arm64": "installer-arm64.exe"
Start small. Build your first manifest with two applications. Gradually add complexity—dependencies, hooks, conditional logic. Soon, you'll wonder how you ever deployed software without it.
hdlbatchinstaller --pre-script="disable_windows_defender.ps1" --post-script="enable_audit_logging.ps1" Use --only-if flags to check for registry keys, file existence, or OS version. For example:
☐ Test your manifest on a (snapshot before run). ☐ Verify all silent switches work individually ( /quiet , -q , --silent ). ☐ Set a realistic timeout for each package (some SQL installers take 20 minutes). ☐ Implement a rollback strategy—critical for database tooling. ☐ Store your logs on a network share for centralized monitoring. ☐ Train your team: hdlbatchinstaller --help should be in every admin’s cheat sheet. Conclusion: Embrace the Batch hdlbatchinstaller is more than just a utility; it's a philosophy of automation. In an era where infrastructure-as-code is standard, manual clicking is a liability. Whether you are a solo sysadmin managing 10 servers or an IT manager rolling out software to 10,000 endpoints, mastering hdlbatchinstaller will save you hundreds of hours per year.