How to create an installer to deploy a full .net solution

Question

I have a solution that needs to be packed up in an installer and consists of the following:

• 4 iis websites (1 mvc, 1 webAPI, 1 wcf, 1 angular enabled site)
• 1 windows service
• MySQL server with 2 databases

Right now I have been given a bat file (along with a resources folder) that is to run on a vanilla WinServer2012 or later and does the following:

• Install IIS 7 role
• Setup Microsoft .NET Framework (installer file bundled in resources)
• Register Microsoft .NET Framework
• Setup Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (installer file bundled in resources)
• Install MySQL (installer file bundled in resources)
• Install MySQL Connector (installer file bundled in resources)
• Run mySQL scripts to create databases (script files bundled in resources)
• Opens web.config files of sites one by one in editor to be edited regarding connection strings and other application settings
• Copy site files to folders of C:\inetpub (site files bundled in resources)
• Encrypt connection stings
• Create windows Service user
• Install windows Service and assign user to it (service files bundled in resources)
• Setup websites and application pools

I need to make a more user friendly deployment application and replace the batch file running on console, but I dont have experience in tools like InstallShield or AdvancedInstaller and I dont know if these will provide me with such capabilities.

Any suggestion please?

Answer 1

Both tools you mentioned have support to install websites, windows services and database servers and run sql scripts. On the Advanced Installer web site they have a section with tutorials where you can learn how to build your setup package.