Symantec Packager User guide

Symantec™ Packager

Implementation Guide

2

Symantec™ Packager Implementation Guide

The software described in this book is furnished under a license agreement and may be

used only in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

Documentation version 1.3

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Contents

Chapter 1 Introducing Symantec Packager

About Symantec Packager .................................................................................... 7

What you can do with Symantec Packager ........................................................ 8

Customize standard product installations ................................................. 8

Include custom commands with product installations ........................... 9

Install multiple products at once .............................................................. 10

Reuse product installations in different packages .................................10

How Symantec Packager works .........................................................................11

About the Import Products phase .............................................................12

About the Configure Products phase ........................................................13

About the Configure Packages phase ....................................................... 15

About the Deploy Packages phase .............................................................16

Where to find more information ....................................................................... 17

Accessing online Help .................................................................................17

Accessing the Symantec technical support Web site ............................. 17

Chapter 2 Installing Symantec Packager

System requirements ..........................................................................................19

System requirements for Symantec Packager ........................................ 19

System requirements for installation packages .....................................20

User rights requirements ........................................................................... 20

Installing Symantec Packager ...........................................................................21

Installing Symantec Packager from the installation CD ....................... 21

Starting the Symantec Packager installation program manually ....... 22

Uninstalling Symantec Packager ......................................................................22

Chapter 3 Symantec Packager basics

Opening Symantec Packager after installation ..............................................25

Updating Symantec Packager ............................................................................ 26

Changing Symantec Packager Preferences and view options ...................... 26

Changing Symantec Packager data folders .............................................27

Listing supported product .msi files on the Deploy Packages tab .......28

Showing or hiding the Symantec logo ...................................................... 28

Changing the appearance of icons in Symantec Packager .................... 28

Accessing commands in Symantec Packager ..................................................29

4 Contents

Chapter 4 Importing products in Symantec Packager

About importing products .................................................................................. 31

Importing product modules ............................................................................... 32

Deleting products from Symantec Packager ................................................... 33

Chapter 5 Configuring custom products

About configuring custom products ................................................................. 35

Working with custom products ......................................................................... 37

Creating custom products .......................................................................... 37

Viewing product details .............................................................................. 38

Deleting custom products .......................................................................... 39

Configuring custom products ............................................................................ 39

Selecting product features ......................................................................... 39

Setting product installation options ......................................................... 41

Adding or removing configuration files ................................................... 42

Building and testing custom products ............................................................. 44

Building custom products .......................................................................... 44

Testing custom products ............................................................................ 45

Chapter 6 Configuring custom commands

About configuring custom commands ............................................................. 47

Working with custom commands ..................................................................... 49

Creating custom commands ....................................................................... 49

Viewing custom command details ............................................................ 50

Deleting custom commands ....................................................................... 50

Configuring custom commands ........................................................................ 51

Specifying command-line parameters and switches ............................. 52

Including files in a command ..................................................................... 54

Specifying operating system support ....................................................... 55

Building and testing custom commands .......................................................... 57

Building custom commands ....................................................................... 57

Testing custom commands ........................................................................ 57

Chapter 7 Configuring installation packages

About configuring packages .............................................................................. 59

Working with package definitions .................................................................... 61

Creating package definitions ..................................................................... 61

Viewing package definition details ........................................................... 62

Deleting package definitions ..................................................................... 62

5Contents

Configuring package definitions .......................................................................63

Adding products and commands to a package definition ..................... 63

Changing the installation sequence ..........................................................65

Setting package installation options ........................................................66

Building and testing packages ........................................................................... 77

Building packages ........................................................................................ 77

Testing packages .......................................................................................... 78

Chapter 8 Deploying installation packages

About deploying packages ..................................................................................79

Installing packages on the local computer ......................................................80

Using the Package Deployment Tool ................................................................81

Package Deployment Tool requirements ................................................. 82

Specifying the packages that you want to deploy .................................. 82

Selecting target computers ........................................................................83

Entering deployment authentication information ................................. 86

Viewing deployment status information .................................................87

Deploying packages with other programs ....................................................... 90

Glossary

Index

6 Contents

Chapter

1

Introducing Symantec

Packager

This chapter includes the following topics:

■ About Symantec Packager

■ What you can do with Symantec Packager

■ How Symantec Packager works

■ Where to find more information

About Symantec Packager

Symantec Packager lets you create, modify, and build custom installation

packages that you distribute to target systems. You can use Symantec Packager

to tailor installations to fit your corporate environment by building packages

that contain only the features and settings that your users need.

Symantec products that are included in installation packages are protected by

copyright law and the Symantec license agreement. Distribution of these

packages requires a license for each user who installs the package.

Note: Symantec Packager runs on Windows NT/2000/2003 Server/XP

Professional platforms only. However, installation packages created with

Symantec Packager can be installed on all Microsoft 32-bit platforms except for

Windows 95/NT 3.5.x.

8 Introducing Symantec Packager

What you can do with Symantec Packager

Symantec Packager gives you the flexibility to select only the features that you

require, which lets you reduce the deployment size and the installation

footprint. It also lets you tailor products to adhere to your security policy, which

lets you give users full access to all features or limit access where appropriate.

Customize standard product installations

Typically, a product installation lets you select standard options, such as the

user and company name, installation directory, and whether the installation is

compact or complete. Although these options offer some flexibility, they are not

custom installations. Symantec Packager lets you select only the features and

options that you want your users to have, which lets you create a true custom

installation.

Table 1-1 lists examples of how you can use Symantec Packager.

See “Configuring custom products” on page 35.

Table 1-1 Examples of product customization options

Goal Solution

Reduce deployment bandwidth

and application footprint.

Symantec Packager lists optional and required

features so that you can select minimal features for

low-bandwidth deployments. Fewer features also

decrease the application footprint and memory usage

on the target system.

Tailor installation to specific

users.

Once you import a product in Symantec Packager, you

can customize that product into as many different

installations as you need.

For example, for your administrator users, you can

include all features. For temporary personnel or other

users who should have limited access, you can

exclude the features that you do not want them to

use.

Reduce installation complexity. Relying on end users to configure product options can

result in lost productivity and increased costs for

support personnel. Symantec Packager lets you

include preconfigured data files so that you do not

have to configure the product manually after

deployment.

9Introducing Symantec Packager

What you can do with Symantec Packager

Include custom commands with product installations

If a product that you want to deploy is not supported by Symantec Packager, you

can create a custom command that contains the product installation and include

that custom command in a package installation.

Examples of custom commands include running executable files, Microsoft

Software Installer (.msi) files, batch files, and so on. If you can run a command

from the command line, you can create a custom command for it.

In addition to running programs from the command line, you can also create a

custom command that copies files to the end user’s system.

Table 1-2 lists examples of how you can use custom commands.

See “Configuring custom commands” on page 47.

Table 1-2 Examples of custom commands

Goal Solution

Execute a command on the target

system.

If the file or command that you want to execute is

already on the target system, you can specify the

command-line argument to execute it.

For example, you want to uninstall a program on the

target system before you install a new version. You

specify the command-line argument and switches

that execute the uninstallation for that program.

Copy files to the target system. Symantec Packager lets you include files of any type

in a custom command. You can also specify where to

copy those files on the target system.

For example, you want to roll out an updated file for

an application that you use. You include the file in a

custom command and specify the destination on the

target system.

Copy a file and execute it on the

target system.

If the file that you want to execute is not already on

the target system, you include the file in the custom

command, the destination location on the target

system, and the command-line argument to execute

that file on the target system.

For example, you want to include a text file in a

package so that it displays at the end of the

installation. You include the text file in a custom

command and specify a command-line argument that

opens that text file in Notepad.

10 Introducing Symantec Packager

What you can do with Symantec Packager

Install multiple products at once

Symantec Packager lets you combine multiple product installations into one

installation package to reduce installation complexity and minimize

deployment costs. In addition to Symantec products, you can include third-party

programs, command-line arguments, batch files, and so on.

See “Configuring installation packages” on page 59.

Reuse product installations in different packages

Symantec Packager lets you reuse your custom product installations and custom

commands in other installation packages. You can reuse and combine product

installations and custom commands to achieve different goals.

For example, you might want to deploy a Symantec pcAnywhere host to all of

your users, but you first need to uninstall the previous version. A subset of your

client systems may also require a service pack to address a security issue.

Another group of users may require an upgraded version of their antivirus or

firewall product. You can create multiple packages that contain the custom

commands and product installations that you need to accomplish this goal.

Figure 1-1 shows an example of how you can reuse components in multiple

packages.

Figure 1-1 Reusing product installations in different packages

See “Configuring installation packages” on page 59.

Package 1

Custom command to

uninstall previous version of

pcAnywhere

Custom command to

install antivirus product

Custom command to

install service pack

Package 2 Package 3

pcAnywhere host

11Introducing Symantec Packager

How Symantec Packager works

Symantec Packager uses a phased approach for creating custom installation

packages. Each phase depends on the output of the previous phase.

Figure 1-2 shows the process for creating and deploying packages.

Figure 1-2 Overview of Symantec Packager phases

The following process outlines how the Symantec Packager phases build upon

one another to let you create custom installation packages:

■ Import product modules into Symantec Packager

If the product that you want to customize provides a product module,

Symantec Packager automatically imports it. This process extracts the

product installation binary files and the product template. The product

template details the feature requirements and conflicts, which makes it

possible to create custom installations of the product.

See “About the Import Products phase” on page 12.

To create a custom installation for an unsupported product, you must use a

custom command.

See “About the Configure Products phase” on page 13.

■ Configure products and commands

In the Configure Products phase, you can select the features that you want

your users to have and set the default installation options for each product.

You also have the option to create custom commands to include in a

package. For example, if you want to include a third-party program or batch

file in a package, create a custom command for that program.

See “About the Configure Products phase” on page 13.

Import

Products

Configure

Products

Configure

Packages

Deploy

Packages

Configure

Commands

12 Introducing Symantec Packager

How Symantec Packager works

■ Configure the installation package

In the Configure Packages phase, you can use the product configurations

and custom commands that you created in the Configure Products phase

and add them to a package. You can further customize the package by

setting package installation options, product installation order, and other

settings.

When you build a package in the Configure Packages phase, Symantec

Packager creates an installation file that incorporates the product,

command, and package options that you specified.

See “About the Configure Packages phase” on page 15.

■ Deploy the package

In the Deploy Packages phase, you can deploy packages to your users

through the Package Deployment Tool, the Web-based Deployment Tool, or

a third-party deployment tool, such as Microsoft Systems Management

Server (SMS). The Deploy Packages tab holds the packages that you create.

See “About the Deploy Packages phase” on page 16.

About the Import Products phase

Symantec releases product module (.pmi) files for products that take advantage

of Symantec Packager functionality, such as Symantec pcAnywhere. Product

module files are comprised of all of the files that are required to recreate a

product installation. These files include a product template (.pdt) file and the

installation binary files for the Symantec product. The product template

contains all of the rules about product feature conflicts and dependencies. It

also tracks the location of the installation binary files on your computer.

When you import a product module, Symantec Packager extracts the product

template from the product module file and displays the product template file on

the Import Products tab. It also copies the product’s installation binary files to

your hard disk.

13Introducing Symantec Packager

How Symantec Packager works

Figure 1-2 shows the process for importing a product module.

Figure 1-3 Import Products process

The product template files are the building blocks that all other phases

reference. They make it possible to customize products and eventually build

installation packages.

After you import a product in Symantec Packager, you customize that product

in the Configure Products phase so that you can include it in an installation

package.

See “Importing products in Symantec Packager” on page 31.

To deploy a Symantec or third-party product that does not provide a product

module (.pmi) file, you must create a custom command that contains the product

installation and include that custom command in a package installation.

See “Configuring custom commands” on page 47.

About the Configure Products phase

When a product is designed to take advantage of Symantec Packager, it gives

you the flexibility to select the features that you want your users to have. It also

lets you preconfigure installations with the settings that best match your

software deployment needs.

If you want to install a product that was not designed to be used with Symantec

Packager, you can still include that product in an installation package by

creating a custom command. You create custom products and custom

commands in the Configure Products phase.

After completing the Configure Products phase, the products and commands

that you customize are available to include in installation packages. You

configure installation packages in the Configure Packages phase.

See “Configuring custom products” on page 35.

See “Configuring custom commands” on page 47.

Product

module (.pmi)

file

Contains

product

installation

binary files

Contains

product

template (.pdt)

file

Import

Products

process

Symantec Packager

copies product

installation binaries

to hard disk

Product template

displays on Import

Products tab

14 Introducing Symantec Packager

How Symantec Packager works

Overview of custom products

During the Configure Products phase, you can customize a product so that it

contains only the features and options that you want to include. To do this, you

create product configuration (.pcg) files.

On the Configure Products tab, you create a new product configuration file that

is based on a product that you imported in the Import Products phase. After you

select the product features and options that you want to include and specify a

file name, Symantec Packager saves this file as a product configuration file. The

product configuration file, which displays on the Configure Products tab,

references its corresponding product template file on the Import Products tab.

When you build the product configuration file, Symantec Packager creates a

Microsoft Software Installer (.msi) file, which is used in an installation package.

Unlike the product configuration file, the product .msi file does not reference

and is not dependent upon any Symantec Packager files.

Figure 1-4 shows the process for creating custom products.

Figure 1-4 Configure Products process for custom products

See “Configuring custom products” on page 35.

Overview of custom commands

During the Configure Products phase, you can create custom commands that let

you further customize your installation packages. To do this, you create

command configuration files. A command configuration file is the same as a

product configuration (.pcg) file except that the command configuration file

does not reference a product template (.pdt) file.

On the Configure Products tab, you create a new custom command and specify

its parameters. Like a product configuration file, Symantec Packager saves this

file with a .pcg extension. The command configuration file, which displays on

the Configure Products tab, lists the command-line arguments for the custom

Product

configuration

(.pcg) file

Lists features

and options

that you

selected

Refers to

product

template (.pdt)

file

Configure

Products build

process

Symantec Packager

displays saved .pcg

file on Configure

Products tab

Symantec Packager

creates .msi file,

which is used in an

installation package

15Introducing Symantec Packager

How Symantec Packager works

command and references the locations of any files that you included in the

custom command.

When you build the command configuration file, Symantec Packager creates a

self-extracting executable (.exe) file, which is used in an installation package.

Unlike the command configuration file, the command .exe file does not

reference and is not dependent upon any Symantec Packager files.

Figure 1-5 shows the process for creating custom commands.

Figure 1-5 Configure Products process for custom commands

See “Configuring custom commands” on page 47.

About the Configure Packages phase

During the Configure Packages phase, you select the products and custom

commands that you want to include in an installation package. To do this, you

create package definition (.pkg) files.

If your product supports .msi deployment and you are configuring a single

product installation, package creation is optional. However, a package definition

gives you more options for customizing the installation such as configuring

restart and rollback options and adding custom support information. Symantec

Packager supports deployment of pcAnywhere .msi files only.

On the Configure Packages tab, you create a new package definition file by

selecting from the product configuration files and custom commands that you

customized during the Configure Products phase.

After you select the products and custom commands that you want to include in

the installation package and specify a file name, Symantec Packager saves this

file as a package definition (.pkg) file. The .pkg file, which displays on the

Configure Packages tab, references the .pcg files that it contains.

Product

configuration

(.pcg) file

Lists the

command-line

arguments and

switches

Refers to

optional files

Custom

command build

process

Symantec Packager

displays saved .pcg

file on Configure

Products tab

Symantec Packager

creates .exe file,

which is used in an

installation package

16 Introducing Symantec Packager

How Symantec Packager works

When you build the .pkg file, Symantec Packager creates an .exe, which is stored

in the deployment folder that is specified in Symantec Packager Preferences. It

also displays the .exe on the Deploy Packages tab.

Figure 1-6 shows the process for configuring and building packages.

Figure 1-6 Configure Packages process

See “Configuring installation packages” on page 59.

About the Deploy Packages phase

During the Deploy Packages phase, you select the installation packages that you

want to deploy to your users. To do this, you copy the necessary files from the

Deploy Packages tab for use with deployment tools that you already use. You can

also deploy installation packages directly from the Deploy Packages tab using a

Symantec-supplied deployment tool.

The package .exe files built during the Configure Packages phase appear

automatically on the Deploy Packages tab. The command .exe files that

Symantec Packager creates as part of the Configure Products build process are

not supported for deployment and, therefore, do not appear on the Deploy

Packages tab. (They are for testing purposes only.)

You can use the product .msi files that Symantec Packager creates as part of the

Configure Products build process for testing purposes. Product .msi files are not

supported automatically for deployment (only Symantec pcAnywhere .msi files

are automatically supported for deployment). You can configure Symantec

Packager to list supported product .msi files on the Deploy Packages tab.

See “Listing supported product .msi files on the Deploy Packages tab” on

page 28.

The package .exe files that appear on the Deploy Packages tab do not reference

and are not dependent upon any Symantec Packager files.

See “Deploying installation packages” on page 79.

Package

definition

(.pkg) file

Refers to one or

more .pcg files

Refers to one or

more

configuration

or optional files

Configure

Packages build

process

Symantec Packager

displays saved .pkg

file on Configure

Packages tab

Symantec Packager

creates .exe file,

which displays on

Deploy Packages tab

17Introducing Symantec Packager

Where to find more information

If you need more information about Symantec Packager, you can access the

online Help. In addition, more information about Symantec Packager may be

available on the Symantec Web site.

For product-specific information about how to use Symantec Packager to create

or deploy a custom product installation, see your Symantec product

documentation.

Accessing online Help

The Symantec Packager online Help system has general information and step-

by-step procedures to help you create installation packages.

To access online Help

◆ Do one of the following:

■ In the Symantec Packager main window, on the Help menu, click Help

Topics.

■ In any Symantec Packager window, press F1.

Accessing the Symantec technical support Web site

If you are connected to the Internet, you can visit the Symantec technical

support Web site for additional information about Symantec Packager.

To access the Symantec technical support Web site

◆ In your Internet browser, type the following Web address:

http://www.symantec.com/techsupp

18 Introducing Symantec Packager

Where to find more information

Chapter

2

Installing Symantec

Packager

This chapter includes the following topics:

■ System requirements

■ Installing Symantec Packager

■ Uninstalling Symantec Packager

System requirements

Before you install Symantec Packager, ensure that your computer meets the

system requirements. Review the Readme file on the installation CD for any

known issues.

System requirements for Symantec Packager

Symantec Packager runs only on Microsoft 32-bit operating systems and has the

following system requirements:

■ Supported operating systems:

■ Windows NT Workstation 4.0/Server 4.0 with Service Pack 6a

■ Windows 2000 Professional/Server with Service Pack 2

■ Windows 2003 Server

■ Windows XP Professional

■ Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.x or later

■ Windows Installer 2.0

If Windows Installer 2.0 is not present, Symantec Packager installs it during

installation.

20 Installing Symantec Packager

System requirements

■ Pentium II 300-MHz processor (or faster)

■ 64 MB RAM (128 MB recommended)

■ 60 MB disk space

■ CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive

System requirements for installation packages

Although Symantec Packager runs only on Windows NT/2000/2003 Server/XP,

packages that you create using Symantec Packager can be installed on the

following operating systems:

■ Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 6a

■ Windows 98

■ Windows Millennium Edition (Me)

■ Windows 2000

■ Windows 2003 Server

■ Windows XP Home Edition/Professional Edition

Packages that contain only custom commands might run on additional

operating systems. However, installed packages are supported on Microsoft 32-

bit systems only.

The specific system requirements for packages depend on the package contents

and options. The hardware requirements for installation packages vary

depending on the package contents.

User rights requirements

Symantec Packager requires administrator rights for installation on Windows

NT/2000/2003 Server/XP.

Windows XP restricts users who are assigned to limited user or guest accounts

from installing or uninstalling software, changing system-wide settings, or

adding, editing, or deleting user accounts. For optimal performance, log on as a

user with administrator rights when you run Symantec Packager on Windows

XP.

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