WAPT (deployment software)

WAPT
Developer(s)	Tranquil IT
Stable release	1.5.1.21 / March 14, 2018
Repository	https://github.com/tranquilit/WAPT
Engine
Operating system	Microsoft Windows, Linux
Type	Deployment Software
License	GNU GPL and Proprietary License
Website	https://wapt.fr/en

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WAPT ^[1] is a automated software deployment solution for Windows developed in France by Tranquil IT^[2]. It is used to install software packages such as installers, Services Packs, hotfixes from a central WAPT server or replicated remote repository.

An agent is installed on client computers and it can be started as local service to install software in the background, without user interaction. Configured as such, it can work even if the Windows user does not have administrator privileges. New packages are downloaded and cached at regular interval and installation is triggered at shutdown or on a fixed schedule.

WAPT allows sysadmins to package installers such as the MSI, Installshield, Inno Setup, NSIS, configuration files, and registry keys, INI files, executable files without proper installers, etc. WAPT can also offer users with a self-service catalog of software stored in the organization repository.

On February 14, 2018, the WAPT software received the CSPN (First Level Security Certification) from the National Cybersecurity Agency of France for WAPT Enterprise version 1.5.0.13^[3]

History[edit]

The WAPT project was launched in April 2012. The name WAPT is a neologism derived from the concatenation of the initial of Windows and the name of the tool Apt-Get. Apt-Get is the package installation tool on Debian environments and its derivatives like Ubuntu. The initial goal was to port the concepts, ideas and the ease of use of Debian package management to Windows. In its early versions, WAPT could only be used on the command line using the wapt-get.exe command, and did not have a running agent as a service. Like Apt-Get on Linux, these early versions of the wapt-get.exe utility did not allow remote control from a centralized console, nor did they send inventory or package installation status feedback.

WAPT version 1.0.0 was released in February 2015 and had both an administration console, a basic inventory management, and a resident WaptAgent service on Windows workstations. Releases 1.1 and 1.2 arrived quickly in the following year to fix bugs reported by a fast growing community of users.

In November 2016 the WAPT 1.3 version was released which, with its minor sub-versions, remained the major public version for a year and a half. This is the most deployed version currently. It has benefited from a large set of patches. It provided Centos7 server support in addition to Debian, Ubuntu and Windows servers.

WAPT version 1.5.0 was an intermediate version published only in Enterprise version and served as the basis for submission to ANSSI First Level Elementary Certification.

WAPT 1.5.1 was released in March 2018 and introduced several technological changes:

the MongoDB database is replaced by PostgreSQL
the connection between the console and the agent is no longer made through an open port on the agent, but through a WebSocket that remains open on the WAPT server
Packet signing has been improved for more security and hash algorithm SHA-1 has been replaced by SHA-2.
the Apache web server has been replaced by Nginx which better handles large numbers of WebSocket
only 64bit servers are now supported

An exhaustive changelog is available in the WAPT documentation itself^[4].

WAPT features[edit]

WAPT allows installations, updates and deletions of software or configuration on workstations.

It is also possible to run custom python scripts on workstations, such as configuration for time synchronization, print settings, file permissions or adding entries in the Windows registry

Here is a summary of WAPT functions:

deploying software in any format (MSI, Executable, etc.)
software deployment on different groups or on a single machine
easy installation, removal and update of software
launching custom scripts
update of hardware inventory information and software posts

WAPT server can be installed on different systems:

Debian Linux server Jessie / Stretch 64 bit version
CentOS Linux 7 / RHEL version 7
Windows Server 2008R2 server and higher in 64bit version

WAPT client supports Windows workstations from Windows XP onward up to latest Windows 10, 32-bit and 64-bit version.

Event if it is better to have the workstation in a Windows domain, it is not a requirement per se. It is still a big plus for security as it allows to authenticate the initial registration of the workstation on WAPT server using Kerberos strong authentication. For high security context where no extra running service is accepted, it is still possible to run wapt-get.exe on the client without a WaptService agent running like on the workstation.

In the schematic overview of WAPT operation below, the package repository and the inventory may be located on the same machine if there is only one WAPT server: Schema of WAPT operation

WAPT in academic environment[edit]

French schools were among the first to massively adopt WAPT. For example, all 147 high schools in the regions of Poitou-Charentes and Limousin are using it for their day to day software deployment and updating. The Academy of Lille also provides tutorials directly on its site for installation for its schools^[5].

Several universities are also equipped, such as the University of Lille^[6] and Valencienne. WAPT is also on the program for some Brevet de technicien supérieur (technician certificate) in IT system administration, as for example in the Académie de Limoges^[7].

WAPT is also used in research lab like in INRA/SupAgro Montpellier^[8], and it was a topic of a talk at the last JRES conference^[9]. A sysadmin group dedicated to host a WAPT package repositories for common softwares used throughout French research lab has been setup at the University of Strasbourg^[10].

Even though WAPT is still mainly used in French speaking countries, it's beginning to be also used in Brazil like in the state of Rio Grande do Sul by the Federal_Institute_of_Rio_Grande_do_Sul on the Sertão campus for remote installation of packages, where it's currently serviced 5 info labs with 30 computers each and more than 100 computers to the administrative servants that works in several areas in this Institution. Among these several areas, the T.I area has 4 employees and is where the WAPT started^[11].

License[edit]

WAPT Community 1.3 is a free software released under the GPL v3. Starting from version 1.5 onward, WAPT adopts on an Open core model ^[12] with a WAPT Community 1.5 version under GPL v3, as well as a WAPT Enterprise 1.5 version under proprietary license.

Notes[edit]

External links[edit]

https://wapt.lesfourmisduweb.org/tous-les-packages popular non-official repository
https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=mtg4ndm

French language popular IT sites talking about WAPT:

Other articles of the topic Microsoft : Windows
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[1] WAPT Project Site

[2] Tranquil IT corporate web site

[3] WAPT Enterprise Security Visa 1.5.0.13

[4] ttps://www.wapt.fr/fr/doc/changelog.html

[5] ttps://www.ac-lille.fr/daip/pole-pedagogie/fiches-techniques/kwartz/le-deploiement-dapplications-avec-wapt

[6] ttp://lille1tv.univ-lille1.fr/videos/video.aspx?id=9ab1bef2-206a-4ff6-8af2-e2835ba58760

[7] ttp://cours.btssio.ac-limoges.fr/cours/doku.php?id=sisr1:wapt

[8] ttps://www.jres.org/en/presentation?id=171

[9] ttps://www.jres.org/en

[10] ttps://resinfo.org/spip.php?article178

[11] ttp://cti.sertao.ifrs.edu.br/

[12] WAPT Community vs WAPT Enterprise

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