How do you automatically distribute Desired State Configuration custom resources as part of a deployment?

Question

I'm working on leveraging Microsoft's DSC Resource Kit (specifically, XWebAdministration, at least for starters). I'm relatively familiar with DSC, so no worries on the script's actual functionality... it does what it's supposed to, or at least I'm pretty sure it does.

The problem is that when I execute the script from my orchestration box, the servers I'm targeting return this error:

The PowerShell provider xWebAdministration does not exist at the PowerShell module 
path nor is it registered as a WMI provider.
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidOperation: (root/Microsoft/...gurationManager 
   :String) [], CimException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : ModuleNameNotFound
    + PSComputerName        : [redacted]

The reason why it's happening is obvious: I didn't install the xWebAdministration module on those machines. The question is: What's the proper method for automatically distributing custom resources as part of a deployment? It's onerous to manually install custom resources on dozens or hundreds of boxes, so there has to be a way, I just don't see any documentation on the subject anywhere.

Answer 1

Keep an eye on the following

http://www.powershellgallery.com/

PowerShellGet in powershell v5

https://github.com/OneGet/oneget

Also here's some info about these http://www.systemcentercentral.com/day-14-finding-installing-modules-dsc-resources-powershellget/ and Installing a PowerShell Module

Answer 2

You could configure a centralized pull-server for DSC that clients can get configuration and resources from. Check out:

• How to Deploy and Discover Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration Resources
• Building a Desired State Configuration Pull Server

Answer 3

If you don't want to use a Pull Server, the only other option you have is to manually Push the resources out, either doing it by using the File Resource in your Configuration (and using Depends On) or copying them out manually somewhere else.

I highly recommend the PowerShell.org E-Book on DSC. It walks you through this scenario and many others. https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=7f868aa697b937fe&id=7F868AA697B937FE%21107

Answer 4

Assuming you're using Windows Management Framework / PowerShell 5, you can use Install-Module to install the resource from a NuGet feed.