Install SharePoint Unattended

Solution: Use the Install-SharePoint cmdlet from the SPModule.

The first step in unattended installation and configuration is to install SharePoint onto the server. The SPModule provides the Install-SharePoint cmdlet to perform the installation. This cmdlet is used in conjunction with a setup configuration file that contains the installation parameters.

The SharePoint installation disc includes sample setup configuration files, located in their own folder within Files, as shown in Figure 3.1. Listing 3.2 shows an example of the configuration file contents.

Figure 3.1. Sample configuration files are contained within the folders shown.

Listing 3.2. Sample Farm Setup Configuration File

<Configuration>
    <Package Id="sts">
        <Setting Id="LAUNCHEDFROMSETUPSTS" Value="Yes"/>
    </Package>

    <Package Id="spswfe">
        <Setting Id="SETUPCALLED" Value="1"/>
    </Package>

    <Logging Type="verbose" Path="%temp%"
Template="SharePoint Server Setup(*).log"/>
    <!--<PIDKEY Value="Enter Product Key Here" />-->
    <Setting Id="SERVERROLE" Value="APPLICATION"/>
    <Setting Id="USINGUIINSTALLMODE" Value="1"/>
    <Setting Id="SETUPTYPE" Value="CLEAN_INSTALL"/>
    <Setting Id="SETUP_REBOOT" Value="Never"/>
</Configuration>

Copy the config.xml file that matches your intended installation to a local drive location. Open the file in Notepad and uncomment the PIDKEY line by removing the <!-- from the front and the --> from the back. Enter your SharePoint product key in place of Enter Product Key Here. Save your changes.

You can now use this configuration file with the Import-SharePoint cmdlet, which has the following syntax:

Install-SharePoint -setupexepath <path to setup.exe on disc>
-configxmlpath <path to the setup config.xml>

Listing 3.3 shows a sample command-line entry.

Listing 3.3. Installing SharePoint from the Command Line

Install-SharePoint -setupexepath D:setup.exe -configxmlpath
c:config.xml

SharePoint is installed on the server accordingly.