Deploying Packages for Installation and Update

CCM provides an easy way to install and update applications. The CCM Command Center enables you to deploy packages and package profiles to a computer or a computer group. The packages can be deployed to computers within one server, or from one server to another server.

NOTE: Before you begin managing computers, make sure that packages and their required components and vendor files are imported to the CCM Package Depot. Use the CCM Package Import Tool to put packages into the Package Depot and the CCM Database.

General Package Deployment Procedure

Keeping in mind special restrictions, when you deploy a package installation or update job, the following procedure applies.

  1. Check the current software configuration of the computers, if applicable.

  1. Select a single computer or a computer group on which to execute the installation or update job.

  2. Select packages or a package profile to be installed or used as updates.

WARNING: The Packages listed in the Result pane do not indicate whether there are missing dependencies or vendor files. If an incomplete package is deployed to a computer, the execution of the package will fail. Verify that all packages are complete and valid before deploying them to computers.

  1. Save and confirm the jobs.

  2. Choose either installation or update, as required.

  3. Add required packages, if packages are missing.

  4. Confirm delete jobs, if a package that you want to install excludes packages already installed or queued for installation.

  5. Specify installation drives and installation date, if desired.

  6. Set parameters for packages.

The CCM Windows Agent executes the packages during its next action interval or when the job is pushed to the computer.

If the computer is in sleep mode, the Windows Agent will execute jobs after the computer restarts.

WARNING: OS-initiated sleep mode may interfere with the successful execution of a package job.

While the Windows Agent is executing jobs on the computer, the computer keyboard is locked.

WARNING:On a Windows 2000 computer, the CCM Windows Agent locks only the keyboard that is already attached to the computer at boot time. The Windows Agent does not lock any keyboard that is attached to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) after the computer is booted. Using an unlocked keyboard during package execution could cause the job to fail.