Internet Explorer Administration Kit

How to Distribute Your Browser

By default, the IEAK wizard creates files for downloading via the Internet. You can also create a custom browser package on CD-ROM or on multiple floppy disks. Or you can distribute a single floppy disk that contains the files necessary to initiate the Setup and connection processes.

Downloadable files

Internet service providers can distribute a single file to users that contains the install engine, which will then download application components from an Internet server.

If you created the browser package on an Internet server, you need to set up your Web site so that users can download the files. For example, you might create a page where you post download information and a link to the install engine, IE4setup.exe.

If you created the browser package on your hard disk or network drive, you need to move the following items to your Internet server:

The folder within the Ie4site folder that contains the language version you are posting and the folder contents. For example, the folder for the English version is named En, so you need to move the En folder and the files it contains.

The file named Ie4sites.dat. This file points to the download site (or sites) you specified when you ran the wizard.

Signing your custom packages

Be aware that Web browsers have security features that help protect users from downloading harmful programs. Depending on the security level, the user may be prevented from or warned against downloading programs that aren't "digitally signed." You should digitally sign the custom .cab files created by the IEAK wizard. You should also digitally sign any custom components you distribute with your browser package.

The custom files you must sign are:

Branding.cab
Desktop.cab
Ie40cif.cab
IE4setup.exe
Folder<n>.cab
Chl<xxxx>.cab

Notes

Folder<n>.cab represents every numbered cabinet file beginning with the name Folder, such as Folder1.cab, Folder2.cab. Chl<xxxx>.cab represents every numbered cabinet file beginning with Chl, such as Chl001.cab, Chl002.cab, and so on.

You also need to sign any custom programs—in either .exe or .cab format—that you include in your IEAK package.

Signing the cabinet files and custom programs requires two steps: obtaining a digital certificate—from a certificate authority (CA) such as Verisign or GTE—and signing the code. For more information, see Signing Your Programs.
You may need to change the case of file names on a UNIX FTP server. Below are the conventions you should use for specific UNIX operating systems.
- Solaris UNIX
  If you are using a case-sensitive UNIX FTP server, you must make sure your ie4site directory is not capitalized, but the following files are capitalized: BRANDING.CAB, CUSTOM.CIF, DESKTOP.CAB, IE40.CIF, IE40CIF.CAB, and IE4SITES.DAT.
- AT&T UNIX
  All files must be capitalized on an AT&T UNIX FTP server.
- IRIX UNIX (Silicon Graphics)
  The following files must be captialized: BRANDING.CAB, CUSTOM.CIF, DESKTOP.CAB, IE40.CIF, IE40CIF.CAB, and IE4SITES.DAT. You should also use a text editor to modify the file names listed in IE40.CIF to match the case of the files.

CD-ROM

If you distribute your custom browser for Windows 95 users, a splash screen Autorun program appears when the user inserts the compact disc. This program offers users the choice of installing your custom browser or viewing more information. If the current version of Internet Explorer is already installed, the Autorun program detects it. The browser appears in what is known as Kiosk mode with the Start.htm file loaded.

Single floppy disk

With Active Setup, you can just post the files to the Internet. You can also provide users with a single disk that contains the files they need to initiate the Setup and connection processes. These files will be placed in the \Floppy\Win95_nt subfolder of the folder in which your custom browser is created—for example, \En\Floppy\Win95_nt. The rest of the files are downloaded from the Internet during the Setup process.

Multiple floppy disks

You can also distribute your custom browser on multiple floppy 1.44 MB disks.