The Package Factory node

BMC Client Management - Software Distribution provides a module which provides several different ways of creating packages and is also responsible for publishing the finished packages to the master server or a collection/depot server for distribution.

1. The user interface of the Packager allows for the creation of all types of packages. It handles the different creation types and proposes the appropriate options based on the selected type. Then it creates a container .zip file including all files required for the distribution.
2. In a second step the Packager publishes the .zip file. Publishing can be done either directly to the master to store it in the database and make the package available to the whole network. Otherwise the package can be published to a relay, which makes the package available to all its children only. At the same time an information is sent apprising the master of this fact.

All packages created through the Packager contain the following information stored in the package's properties file and stored in the master database:

• A unique package identifier which is generated at the time of package creation on a random basis to uniquely tag a package.
• The package name which will be displayed in the master server database to access the package.
• The file checksum which is the checksum of all files and the scripts included in the package.
• A package description which contains further comments on the package.
• The date of creation.
• The date on which the package was last modified.
• The name of the administrator who last modified it.

Any type of device can be a Packager, however, because the Package Factory is a restricted module a device must be declared as such. This is done in the client's properties, for more information about this subject refer to the Devices topic. By default the master is defined as a Packager. This functionality, the Package Factory , is accessible remotely on any computer of the network through the main Packages node of the console.

The first-level of the Package Factory node lists all devices which are Packagers and the following information about these: