Microsoft KB Archive/185342

= SMS: How to Install, Share, and Inventory Software =

Article ID: 185342

Article Last Modified on 10/8/2002

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.1 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q185342



SUMMARY
You can use Systems Management Server to do the following tasks:


 * Package Command Manager (PCM) Install software on selected workstations throughout your enterprise.
 * Program Group Control (PGC) Install software on distribution servers, where it can be shared by specified workstations.
 * Inventory Perform an inventory or audit of the software installed on networked computers.



MORE INFORMATION
To complete the tasks described above, complete following steps:


 * 1) Create a source directory, share the directory, and copy the installation files to it. (Note that this is not applicable for software inventory.)
 * 2) In the Systems Management Server Administrator program, create a package that uses the source directory specified in step 1 and contains instructions for executing the package on the target clients and support operating systems.
 * 3) In the Systems Management Server Administrator program, create a job explaining where to send the package. Note that this step is not necessary for inventory packages.

Systems Management Server compresses a package before sending it to the target site, thus reducing the amount of traffic on the network as the package is passed through the site hierarchy.

When the target site server receives the package, it places the package on one or more distribution servers, and places the installation, sharing, or inventory instructions for the target computers on the appropriate logon servers.

The three steps above are common for all types of packages. However, depending on the defined package properties, Systems Management Server handles each package differently. Systems Management Server uses the following properties to define packages:


 * Workstation properties are used to install a package on the clients (Run Command On Workstation jobs).
 * Sharing properties are used to install a package on each of the servers and then share it from those servers (Share Package On Server jobs).
 * Inventory properties are used to maintain inventory on a package.

You can define any (or all) of these properties for any package. You can also add or modify properties after the package has been created.

Systems Management Server includes package definition files (PDFs) and configuration scripts for many popular Microsoft applications and operating systems. If you are creating a package to distribute a Microsoft application, you can use a PDF to define many package properties for you.

Additional query words: prodsms

Keywords: kbinfo kbfaq KB185342

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