Creating the Installation Package

The installation package includes:

• The application image
• The client installation scripts
• An optional server installation script to customize the application image. This script allows you to customize an application image for the distribution point where it is installed.

In order to create the installation package, complete the following tasks:

Add the installation scripts, the application image, and any referenced files to the package source directory.

All the files required for the duration of the program’s deployment within the package must be installed in the package source directory, including programs required during setup, execution, and removal. SMS 2.0 does not support the SMS 1.2 MSTEST common directory available to all packages, so you must be sure to include all required files in each package you create.

To set up the directory as a package source directory, in the Data Source tab of the Package Properties dialog box, select This package contains source files and enter the full path of the package source directory.

If you have server scripts in addition to the application image:

If you have server scripts to run and you want to use software distribution to run them, you must make sure that the following requirements are met. These steps are not necessary for the application image, since it is only replicated to the distribution points, not installed.

Install the SMS client on each distribution point where you want to run any server programs.

In order to run any programs on the distribution point using software distribution, you must install the SMS client software on each distribution point. This is necessary because software can only be distributed to an SMS client. You can install a client on a distribution point by running the SMSman program or by using any other client installation method. For more information, see Chapter 9. “Discovering Resources and Installing Clients,” in the SMS 2.0 Administrator’s Guide.

Create a collection containing the distribution points for any server programs.

You must create a collection that contains the distribution points where you want to run any software distribution programs, since software is always distributed to a single collection. This collection can include all the distribution points from which you want the users to run the application, or it can include a subset of these

You can create a direct collection that specifically includes all of the distribution points where you want to install the application, or you can create a query that returns all the distribution points you want and create a collection from that query. For more information, see Chapter 11, “Managing Collections and Queries,” in the SMS 2.0 Administrator’s Guide.

  To create an installation package

1. Prepare the client programs, which should include the configuration program, the uninstall script, and any other files necessary for the client installation.
2. Prepare the server-side package files, which should include the application image and any scripts necessary to modify the application image on each distribution point.
3. Create a package source directory for the package and copy the files to the package source directory.
4. Navigate to Packages in the SMS Administrator console.

Systems Management Server   Site Database (site code - site name)      Packages

5. Create a new package or a new package from definition, or use the Distribute Software Wizard. Identify the package source directory. Check the security settings for this instance in the SMS Administrator console, modifying them if necessary.
6. Create software distribution programs for each client installation script.