SMS: How to Distribute a Package

MORE INFORMATION

How to Create a Package

1. To create a package, you must first set up your package source. This step may be as simple as placing files into a directory, or running the command "setup /a".
2. After setting up your package source, open the Package window in the Systems Management Server Administrator program.
3. On the File menu, click New.
4. Give the Package a name.
5. At this point you have three choices: Workstation, Sharing, and Inventory. Select Workstation.
6. Specify the source directory that you set up in Step 1 of this procedure (for example, c:\package or \\server\package) and then click New.
7. Specify the command name to install or run the package, for example, setup or notepad.
8. Select the operating system platform that the package is destined for.
9. Click OK until you return to the Packages window.

Your package is now set up for distribution.

How to Create a Job

1. To create a job, drag your newly created package and drop it on a site, a computer, or a group of computers. This opens the Job Details window. At this stage, you specify how you want to run the job.
   
   There are three main options for the job:
   
   
   • Send Phase
     This option specifies whether the package will be recompressed, or whether Systems Management Server will use the already compressed package (if the package has been sent before).
     
     
   • Distribute Phase
     With this option, you can specify what servers will receive the package; for example, default servers or a machine group. You can also select whether you need to redistribute the package.
     
     
   • Run Phase
     With this option, you can specify the client pieces. That is, you can specify when the package should be offered to the client, whether the job will be mandatory, or when it should expire (no longer offered).
   
   
   You can leave all of these settings at their respective default values and click OK.
2. You should now see three buttons: Details (the screen you were just in), Schedule, and Status. Click Schedule.
3. Specify options such as when the job will be activated, what priority the job has, and whether you want the job to repeat.
4. After specifying any options you want, click OK until you return to the Packages window.

Your job is now properly configured.

How to Activate the Job

After you specify all the job details in the Job Details window and click OK, Systems Management Server creates a Pending job. Systems Management Server will activate the job at its next watchdog cycle.

What to Do at the Client Computer to Run the Software

1. Before sending the package, install the client as a Systems Management Server client.
2. Send the package to the client.
3. After the package has been distributed, use Package Command Manager (PCM) on the client to run the package.