Software Installer Module

This document explains the features and services available by using the Software Installer control module, which is part of the Sun trademark Control Station software. This module enables you to do the following:

View package files that are available

Upload package files from your computer or the Internet to the Control Station

View details of each package file

Reassign different operating systems to either a single package file (Edit) or to several package files (Reassign OS)

Delete package files

Install package files

You can also use the filter option to narrow the types of package files you want to view and manipulate.

Note - This manual assumes that you understand the basic operation of Sun Control Station software. For an introduction to basic Sun Control Station features like status icons, the Scheduler, and the Task Progress dialog, see the Sun Control Station 2.2 Administrator Manual.

Software Installer

After logging in to the Sun Control Station, when you click Software Installer right arrow Packages, the following window opens.

FIGURE 1 Software Installer Module (Packages) Window

This figure show the Software Installer Module (Packages) Window

Package File

In this manual, the term package file refers to a Red Hat Package Manager (RPM) file for Linux-based servers (such as the Sun Fire trademark V60x server).

Software Installer Functions

The following sections describe the functions that you can perform with the Software Installer module.

Upload

The Upload function enables you to load a package file from either a local repository or the Internet to the Control Station.

Details

The Details function enables you to view specific information about a package file, such as the name, version, release, vendor, file name, summary and description of the package file, and other relevant package file information.

Edit

The Edit function enables you to add and remove supported operating systems for a single package file.

Reassign OS

Similar to the Edit function, The Reassign OS function enables you to add and remove the supported operating systems for multiple package files.

Delete

The Delete function enables you to remove a package file from the list of available package files. Since the package file is located in the local repository on the Control Station, the entry for that package file is removed from the list of available package files and the package file is deleted from the repository.

Install

The Install function enables you to install package files on selected hosts. The package file is copied from the local repository to the managed host and then installed.

Before installing a package file, you can test the installation and the Control Station performs a preliminary test to verify the correct RPM, checks that the package file is not previously installed, and checks for other general errors.

Packages

The Packages option enables you to manage the package files on local repositories. The Available Package List window shows all of the software packages known by the Sun Control Station. The software packages are stored locally on the Control Station.

For an explanation of the functions that are available under this menu item, see Software Installer Functions.

The following example shows the Available Package List options in the packages portion of the Software Installer window.

FIGURE 2 Available Package List Window

This figure show the Available Package List Window

Uploading a Package File

To upload a single package file, do the following:

1. Select Software Installer right arrow Packages.

The Available Package List window appears.

2. Select the package file(s) in the list of available package files that you want to use.

3. Click Upload.

The Upload Package window appears.

FIGURE 3 Upload Package Window

This figure show the Upload Package Window

4. Select RPM from the Type drop-down menu.

5. Click one of the radio buttons and enter the location of the package file.

Enter the path and file name of the package file or click Browse to locate on your computer.

Enter a URL beginning with http://, https:// or ftp:// to download the package file from a location on the Internet.

Note - If the Control Station must pass through a proxy to access the Internet, it uses the proxy settings entered in Station Settings right arrow Settings. If you have not configured these settings, you need to before uploading a package file using a URL. For more information, refer to the Sun Control Station 2.2 Administrator Manual.

6. Click Upload Now.

The Task Progress dialog appears.

7. Click either Done or View Events when the upload is complete.

If you click Done, you are brought to the Edit Package Info window, where you can enter the supported operating systems for the package file you installed.

Viewing Details of a Package File

To view the detailed information about an available package file, do the following:

1. Select Software Installer right arrow Packages.

The Available Package List window appears.

2. Select the package file(s) in the list of available package files that you want to view.

3. Click Details.

The Detailed Package Info window appears.

FIGURE 4 Detailed Package Info Window

This figure show the Detailed Package Info Window

The Detailed Package Info window provides the following information about the package file:

Name

Version number

Release number

Vendor

File name

Summary

Description

Group where the package file exists

Size

Signature

Relocation

Build date

Build host

Source

License type

Supported operating systems

4. Click Done to return to the Available Package List window.

Note - Detailed information is available for each package file that you chose in the Available Package List window.

Add or Remove Supported Operating Systems for a Single Package File

To add or remove supported operating systems for a single package file, do the following:

1. Select Software Installer right arrow Packages.

The Available Package List window appears.

2. Select the package file in the list of available package files that you want to use.

You can only edit one package file at a time.

3. Click Edit.

The Edit Package Info window opens.

FIGURE 5 Edit Package Info Window

This figure show the Edit Package Info Window

4. Configure the options to set the applicable operating systems:

Available OSs to be supported. Enables you to choose from all the potential operating systems you might use and add the specifically supported operating systems.

Supported OSs. Enables you to remove and change the currently supported operating systems within the particular package file.

5. Click Save when the edit is complete.

You are returned to the Available Package List window.

Add or Remove Supported Operating Systems for Multiple Package Files

To add or remove supported operating systems for a multiple package files simultaneously, do the following:

1. Select Software Installer right arrow Packages.

The Available Package List window appears.

2. Select the package file(s) in the list of available package files that you want to use.

You can edit multiple package files at once.

3. Click Reassign OS.

The Edit Package Info window opens.

FIGURE 6 Edit Package Info Window

This figure show the Edit Package Info Window

4. Configure the options to set the applicable operating systems:

Available OSs to be supported. Enables you to choose from all the potential operating systems you might use and add the specifically supported operating systems.

Supported OSs. Enables you to remove and change the currently supported operating systems within the particular package file(s).

5. Click Save when the edit is complete.

Note - If you previously assigned operating systems to package file(s) using Edit, that information is not retained and you must perform this operation again.

Deleting a Package File

To remove a package file from the list of available package files, do the following:

1. Select Software Installer right arrow Packages.

The Available Package List window appears.

2. Select the package file(s) in the list of available package files that you want to delete.

3. Click Delete.

A confirmation dialog appears, asking you to confirm the package deletion.

4. Click Confirm.

The package file(s) is deleted and you are returned to the Available Package List window.

Installing a Package File

To install a package file, do the following:

1. Select Software Installer right arrow Packages.

The Available Package List window appears.

2. Select the package file(s) in the list of available package files that you want to install.

3. Click Install.

The Select Hosts to Install Packages on window appears.

FIGURE 7 Select Hosts to Install Packages on Window

This figure show the Select Hosts to Install Packages on Window

4. Click the package file(s) you want to install.

You can choose the Select all and Deselect all button depending on your needs.

5. Click Test Install to verify and test package file(s) before installing them.

This option will check the installation's viability and when complete, you click either Done or View Events to return to the installation.

Note - If you selected an operating system that was not supported by the selected package file, an error message appears and you need to update the supported operating systems before continuing.

6. Click Install Now.

The Task Progress dialog appears.

7. Click either Done or View Events when the installation completes or stops.

Note - After you have installed a package file, the system updates the list of installed package files immediately.

Filters

You can use the Filter function to limit the number of package files that are displayed at once in the Available Package List window.

To use the Filter function, do the following:

1. Select Software Installer right arrow Packages.

The Available Package List window appears, with the Filter function accessible in the lower portion of the window, similar to the following.

FIGURE 8 Filter Window

This figure show the Filter Window

2. Choose an option in the Column drop-down list.

The following are available as search criteria in the Column drop-down list:

Name

Version number

Release number

Vendor

Package

Summary

3. Choose an option in the Search Type drop-down list.

The following are available as search criteria in the Search Type drop-down list:

Less than

Less than/equal to

Equal to

Not equal to

Greater than/equal to

Greater than

Contains

Doesnt contain

4. Enter an option in the Search Value text box.

You can enter any keywords or terms to help define your search.

5. Click Filter.

The Filter function searches the package files according to your parameters and returns results in a refreshed Available Package List window.

Note - When you click Clear, it refreshes the entire list in the Available Package List window and shows you all available package files. Also, to clear a single filter term, delete the text in the Search Value text box and click Clear.