Managing a Custom Package

Custom packages are installation packages of any type which are specifically created for a software distribution, such as setup, UNIX, file distribution, and so on. They can be used with all platforms supported by BMC Client Management.

How does a Custom Package Work?

Similar to the MSI packages Custom packages are already created before they are ’copied’ to a specific location on the remote computer through Packager. There all further files and scripts necessary for the software distribution will be added to the base package before it will be published to the master database.

1. The Packager allows for selecting the files that are included in the package and wrapping this information into a .zip file. You can also select another file extension for your compressed package in the respective configuration file.
2. The Packager then forwards the .zip file to the master server.
3. The master server distributes the .zip file through the cascade of servers and relays to the target computers.
4. The agent on the target opens the .zip file and calls the configured command line.

The following topic provides more information about adding files to custom package:

Adding files to a Custom Package

After having defined all installation options through the contents of the Configuration and Contents nodes, the custom package is created. You can add now files to this package which will then be sent to the targets for installation. To add files, proceed as follows:

1. Click Edit > Add Files to Package .
   The Add Files to Package dialog box appears on the screen.
2. The Add Files tab provides the list of all available drives through which you can go down in their hierarchy to select the files to be added to the .zip file.
3. Specify if the package is to include the full path of the file or put the file at the root of the installation by checking/unchecking the Enable Full Path box.
4. Define through the Fast File Collection check box, if the files are to be added in normal (unchecked) or fast (checked) mode. Fast mode can be useful if you add large numbers of files to a package.
   However, you need to be very careful when using this option, because there will be no verification taking place, that is, if the files already been added before, they will be added a second time and will not replace the already existing version, thus possibly causing the package to become very large.
5. Click OK at the bottom of the window to confirm the additions or Cancel to stop and close the window.

For more information, see Knowledge Article  000421472 (BEST FAQ on BMC Client Management Package Deployment Issues) .