Using Software Distribution Tools and Wizards

SMS includes the following software distribution tools and wizards.

SMS Installer

You can use SMS Installer to create an executable file that you can add to a package and advertise to clients. SMS Installer creates a self-extracting file or Windows Installer file that includes the data and files for the software application and the installation script that you created using SMS Installer. By using the SMS Installer Script Editor, you can modify the installation script that SMS Installer creates.

SMS Installer does not create the package, distribution points, or advertisements within SMS, so you must use another method to perform these tasks. SMS Installer creates a package definition file that can be imported into SMS with either the Distribute Software Wizard or the Create Package from Definition Wizard. For more information about SMS Installer, see Chapter 7, "Creating Software Installation Packages with SMS Installer."

Distribute Software Wizard

The Distribute Software Wizard automates the complete software distribution process. With this wizard, you can accomplish all the steps needed to distribute software. You can also use this wizard to perform the following individual software distribution-related tasks:

  • Create a package and program manually.

  • Create a package and program from an existing package definition.

  • Specify package source file options.

  • Specify distribution points for the package.

  • Select an existing target collection.

  • Create a new collection.

  • Add a resource to a new or existing collection of resources.

  • Create an advertisement.

    Each of these tasks might not apply to all software distributions.

    To open the Distribute Software Wizard, navigate to it by right-clicking Systems Management Server, or any collection, resource, package, or program in the SMS Administrator console. Right-click the item you chose in the SMS Administrator console, select All Tasks, and then click Distribute Software.

    The panes that appear depend on how you started the wizard. For example, if you start the Distribute Software Wizard by selecting a package from Packages in the SMS Administrator console, the wizard is set to use the selected package.

    When the Distribute Software Wizard creates an advertisement, it sets the advertisement to not run when no local distribution point is available. If you want the advertised program to be downloaded before running, or to run from a remote distribution point, you must modify the advertisement after using the wizard.

    The Distribute Software Wizard requires appropriate security rights. For more information, see Chapter 5, "Understanding SMS Security," in the Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 Concepts, Planning, and Deployment Guide.

Create Package from Definition Wizard

This tool uses a package definition file to create a package. You can use the package definition files included in SMS, create one by using SMS Installer, or create a package definition file yourself. For more information about package definition files, see the "Import a Package Definition File" section earlier in this chapter.

Manage Distribution Points Wizard

For information about this wizard, see the "Distributing Packages" section earlier in this chapter.

Advertised Programs Wizard

For information about this wizard, see the "Running Advertised Programs on SMS Clients" section later in this chapter.

Advertised Programs Monitor

For information about this Control Panel item, see the "Running Advertised Programs on SMS Clients" section.

Run Advertised Programs

For information about this Control Panel item, see the "Running Advertised Programs on SMS Clients" section.

Program Download Monitor

For information about this Control Panel item, see the "Running Advertised Programs on SMS Clients" section.

Add or Remove Programs

For information about this Control Panel item, see the "Running Advertised Programs on SMS Clients" section and the operating system Help.

Delete Package Wizard

For information about this wizard, see the "Delete a Package" section earlier in this chapter.

Delete Program Wizard

For information about this wizard, see the "Delete a Program" section earlier in this chapter.

Delete Collections Wizard

For information about this wizard, see Chapter 4, "Managing Collections and Queries."

For More Information

Did you find this information useful? Please send your suggestions and comments about the documentation to smsdocs@microsoft.com.