Preparing the configuration file for Microsoft Windows

In the configuration file, you provide information that is used by the Patch Downloader utility.

This information includes definition of a proxy server (if one is used), identification of a local, temporary directory on the server that is used by the Patch Downloader utility during download, and filter definitions which determine the metadata and payload that is downloaded from the Shavlik Technologies website.

Warning

Ensure that the editor you are using to edit the XML file supports UTF-8 encoding. The downloaded utility expects a configuration file with UTF-8 encoding. If the file uses a different encoding method, the application may fail with parsing errors.

Before you begin

If you are using a proxy server, use the following command to encrypt the password supplied to the proxy server by the Patch Downloader utility. You must specify the resulting encrypted password in the <password></password> parameter in the configuration XML file.

If you are running the downloader on Microsoft Windows:

windows_downloader.bat -encode <passwordToEncrypt>


If you are running the downloader on UNIX:

sh windows_downloader.sh -encode <passwordToEncrypt>


Tip

To obtain more information about the proper syntax and the filters for downloader commands, use the following options:
windows_downloader.bat -helpwindows_downloader.bat -listProducts

To prepare the configuration file for Microsoft Windows

  1. Edit the sample XML configuration file (sample-windows-downloader-config.xml) for use as the configuration file.

  2. If you are using a proxy server, perform the following actions:

    Note

    If you are not using a proxy server and decide to delete the contents of the proxy-settings section, do not delete the <proxy-settings></proxy-settings> opening and closing tags. This section is required in the XML file even if you are not using a proxy server.

    1. Remove the comment indication within the proxy-settings section. That is, remove the <!-- characters that appear before the <proxy> tag.

    2. Add proxy information using the following XML tags:

  3. Define download settings using the following XML tags.

  4. In the <subscription> tag, specify filters for limiting the patches that are included in the download.

    Note

    The same filters entered here must also be entered during catalog creation.

    For example, to create a filter that defines product category and language, use the following syntax:

    <subscription>
     <products>
       <include-product>
         <product-category>Microsoft Windows Server 2003</product-category>
         <product-category-language>English</product-category-language>
       </include-product>
     </products>
    </subscription>

  5. Save the file.
    The sample-windows-downloader-config.xml file is shown below and includes sample data:

    <windows-downloader-config>
     <config>
       <proxy-settings>
         <proxy>
           <protocol>http</protocol>
           <port>8080</port>
           <host>_IPAddress_</host>
           <username>patch</username>
           <password>NWKIPRTPCWEB</password>
           <domain-name></domain-name>
           <proxy-type>ntlm</proxy-type>
         </proxy>
       </proxy-settings>
       <temporary-location>c:\tmp</temporary-location>
       <payload-repository-location>d:\tmp\windows</payload-repository-location>
       <download-request-retries>10</download-request-retries>
       <download-request-timeout>180000</download-request-timeout>
       <downloader-parallel-threads>10</downloader-parallel-threads>
     </config>

     <subscription>
       <products>
         <include-product>
           <product-category>Microsoft Windows Server 2003</product-category>
           <product-category-language>English</product-category-language>
         </include-product>
         <include-product>
          <product-category>Microsoft Office XP</product-category>
           <product-category-language>English</product-category-language>
         </include-product>
       </products>
     </subscription>
    </windows-downloader-config>

Where to go from here

Use the command in Downloading-patches-using-defined-filters-for-Microsoft-Windows and pass the configuration file as a parameter to download the patches.

 

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