Create a Custom Detection Script for Cisco Packet Tracer (PowerShell)

Microsoft Endpoint Manager Configuration Manager (MEMCM / SCCM) and Microsoft Intune use Detection Rules to determine the presence of Applications & Win32 Apps. The detection rules ensure that application installations only begin to run if the application is not already installed on the device. This article will serve as an informative guide and give you a clear understanding of how to create an updated custom detection script for each new version of Cisco Packet Tracer using PowerShell.

How to Create a Custom Detection Script for Cisco Packet Tracer

Cisco Packet Tracer (File Detection Method)

Install the version of Cisco Packet Tracer you want to deploy on a test box or VM
- Check out the following posts for further details
  - Cisco Packet Tracer Silent Install (How-To Guide)
  - Cisco Packet Tracer Install and Uninstall (PowerShell)
Open Windows PowerShell ISE by Right-Clicking on Windows PowerShell ISE and selecting Run as Administrator
Copy the following code into the Windows PowerShell ISE

## Check for Cisco Packet Tracer (File Detection Method)
$PacketTracerExe = (Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\Program Files\Cisco Packet Tracer*\bin\PacketTracer.exe","C:\Program Files (x86)\Cisco Packet Tracer*\bin\PacketTracer.exe" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)
$PacketTracerExe.FullName
$PacketTracerPath = $($PacketTracerExe.FullName).Replace("C:\Program Files\","").Replace("C:\Program Files (x86)\","")
$FileVersion = (Get-Item -Path "$($PacketTracerExe.FullName)" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).VersionInfo.FileVersion

## Create Text File with Cisco Packet Tracer File Detection Method
$FilePath = "C:\Windows\Temp\Cisco_Packet_Tracer_Detection_Method.txt"
New-Item -Path "$FilePath" -Force
Set-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "If([String](Get-Item -Path `"`$Env:ProgramFiles\$PacketTracerPath`",`"`${Env:ProgramFiles(x86)}\$PacketTracerPath`" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).VersionInfo.FileVersion -ge `"$FileVersion`"){"
Add-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "Write-Host `"Installed`""
Add-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "Exit 0"
Add-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "}"
Add-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "else {"
Add-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "Exit 1"
Add-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "}"
Invoke-Item $FilePath

Click Run Script (F5)
A text file will open with the Cisco Packet Tracer Detection Method script required to detect the current version of Cisco Packet Tracer that is installed on the device you are running the script from.

Example:

If([String](Get-Item -Path "$Env:ProgramFiles\Cisco Packet Tracer 8.2.0\bin\PacketTracer.exe","${Env:ProgramFiles(x86)}\Cisco Packet Tracer 8.2.0\bin\PacketTracer.exe" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).VersionInfo.FileVersion -ge "8.2.0.0162"){
Write-Host "Installed"
Exit 0
}
else {
Exit 1
}

Copy the Cisco Packet Tracer Detection Method script content into the Custom Detection Rules (Script)
Microsoft Endpoint Manager Configuration Manager (MEMCM / SCCM)
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/configmgr/apps/deploy-use/create-applications#bkmk_detect-script
Microsoft Intune
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/intune/apps/apps-win32-add

Cisco Packet Tracer (Registry Detection Method)

Install the version of Cisco Packet Tracer you want to deploy on a test box or VM
- Check out the following posts for further details
  - Cisco Packet Tracer Silent Install (How-To Guide)
  - Cisco Packet Tracer Install and Uninstall (PowerShell)
Open Windows PowerShell ISE by Right-Clicking on Windows PowerShell ISE and selecting Run as Administrator
Copy the following code into the Windows PowerShell ISE

## Check for Cisco Packet Tracer (Registry Detection Method)
$PacketTracer = Get-ChildItem -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall","HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall" | Get-ItemProperty | Where-Object {$_.DisplayName -match 'Cisco Packet Tracer' } | Select-Object -Property DisplayName, DisplayVersion, PSChildName
$PacketTracer.DisplayName
$PacketTracer.PSChildName

## Create Text File with Cisco Packet Tracer Registry Detection Method
$FilePath = "C:\Windows\Temp\Cisco_Packet_Tracer_Detection_Method.txt"
New-Item -Path "$FilePath" -Force
Set-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "If((Get-ItemPropertyValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\$($PacketTracer.PSChildName)','HKLM:\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\$($PacketTracer.PSChildName)' -Name DisplayName -ea SilentlyContinue) -ge '$($PacketTracer.DisplayName)') {"
Add-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "Write-Host `"Installed`""
Add-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "Exit 0"
Add-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "}"
Add-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "else {"
Add-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "Exit 1"
Add-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "}"
Invoke-Item $FilePath

Click Run Script (F5)
A text file will open with the Cisco Packet Tracer Detection Method script required to detect the current version of Cisco Packet Tracer that is installed on the device you are running the script from.

Example:

If((Get-ItemPropertyValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Cisco Packet Tracer 8.2.0 64Bit_is1','HKLM:\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Cisco Packet Tracer 8.2.0 64Bit_is1' -Name DisplayName -ea SilentlyContinue) -ge 'Cisco Packet Tracer 8.2.0 64Bit') {
Write-Host "Installed"
Exit 0
}
else {
Exit 1
}

Copy the Cisco Packet Tracer Detection Method script content into the Custom Detection Rules (Script)
Microsoft Endpoint Manager Configuration Manager (MEMCM / SCCM)
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/configmgr/apps/deploy-use/create-applications#bkmk_detect-script
Microsoft Intune
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/intune/apps/apps-win32-add

Always make sure to test everything in a development environment prior to implementing anything into production. The information in this article is provided “As Is” without warranty of any kind.