Distributing Software to Clients Overview

Systems Management Server (SMS) enables you to create packages and programs that you use to distribute software to clients and specify how, when, and where to make programs available to clients.

When distributing software to clients, you:

• Specify software distribution settings for the site.
• Prepare the source directory and any custom scripts or batch files for the software.
• Create a package for the software.
• Create programs (command lines) for the package.
• Send the package data to one or more distribution points.
• Create or select a collection of clients that will run the program.
• Create advertisements for the programs.

In the SMS Administrator console, you use Packages and Advertisements to control how and when SMS distributes software to clients on your network. You use Collections to control where SMS distributes software.

Related Topics

Configuring Software Distribution

Distributing Software to Clients

The Distribute Software Wizard

The Create Package from Definition Wizard

Using Programs in Packages Overview

Packages Overview

Specifying Distribution Points Overview

Advertising Programs Overview

Using Collections to Distribute Software Overview