NetDistributor Pro¬ updates and installs software across a LocalTalk, EtherTalk, or TokenTalk network quickly and easily. With NetDistributor Pro, you can update existing files, delete obsolete files, or install new files on remote computers immediately or at a pre-scheduled time.
Software updates, created by a network administrator, are contained in a single file called a package. Packages contain the files to be installed and a script of installation instructions.
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You create a script which mimics the actions you would take if you were physically at each Macintosh. This script can be very simple or very complex, using features that support if-then-else conditions. For example, a script might perform the following operations:
Check to see if System 7 is present
If it is, then do the following
Find ╥Draw╙ application
If it exists
Replace it with a new one
Install other files in the same place
If ╥Draw╙ does not exist
Install ╥Draw╙ in new folder called ╥Draw Stuff╙
You can also perform other actions on the remote computers, such as deleting files and restarting.
This demo version of NetDistributor Pro contains all the functionality of the full version with the following exceptions:
Ñ You may only distribute software packages to four machines at any one time.
Ñ Since this demo originated on an electronic service (CompuServe, AppleLink, or ftp site), the software for installing fonts and desk accessories has been excluded to reduce the download time.
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NetDistributor Pro requires software that runs on both the administrator╒s computer and on all computers that will be receiving software updates from the administrator. The administrator software consists of the NetDistributor Pro application (for creating software packages) and the Transporter system extension (for distributing software updates). The client software consists of only Transporter.
Network administrator requirements:
Ñ Macintosh Plus (or greater) with a hard disk.
Ñ 1 MB random access memory (RAM). 2 MB is required if you are using MultiFinder or System 7.0.
Ñ System software 6.0.5 (or later).
Ñ AppleTalk extension (INIT) version 48 (or later) if running System 6.0.x.
Ñ An AppleTalk (LocalTalk, EtherTalk, or TokenTalk) network.
Network administrator installation:
Ñ Place NetDistributor Pro anywhere on your hard disk.
Ñ Place Transporter in the System Folder.
Ñ Restart.
Client requirements:
Ñ Macintosh 512K Enhanced (or greater). A hard disk is recommended but not required.
Ñ System software 6.0.3 (or later).
Ñ AppleTalk extension (INIT) version 48 (or later) if running System 6.0.x.
Client installation:
Ñ Place Transporter in the System Folder.
Ñ Restart.
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This section is a simple tour in which you will create a package, send it to users, and monitor the distribution process. This will demonstrate the entire process NetDistributor Pro uses to install software across the network.
The package you create will install two files in a new folder two levels down from the desktop. In other words, File1 and File2 will be installed in a folder called Level2. The end result of the installation on the client Macintosh is shown below (new folders and files are highlighted).
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At the end of the tour, you will have a chance to create more complex installations that include conditional statements such as ╥Install the files in one place if System 6 is in use and in another place if System7 is in use.╙
The NetDistributor Pro script you will create is shown below.
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Create the package and its script
Ñ Open the NetDistributor Pro application. Choose New from the File menu. Enter a name, such as Test Package. An empty Script window and Files window will be displayed.
Ñ Choose Add File/Folder from the Package menu.
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Ñ Locate two files that you want to install and choose them (highlight each file and click the Choose button). For the purposes of this demonstration, make sure the Place in Script check box is not checked. If you want the files to be compressed, check the Compress check box. Click OK when done.
Ñ Click the Script window to bring it to the front.
Ñ Choose Install from the Script menu. An Install script item will be added to the script window and a new window will be displayed which lets you configure the installation script item.
Ñ The Install popup menu contains all the files that are available for this script item. Select the first file, if it is not already selected.
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Ñ The Where popup menu lets you select the target disk and folder where the file will be installed. Click on the Where popup menu and choose Startup disk. This is the root level of the user╒s disk.
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Ñ Next to the Where popup menu, you can enter the name of a folder (or folders) where the file is to be installed. Since we are installing two levels down, we need to enter the name of both folders. To do this, enter ╥Level 1:Level 2╙ (the colon character is used to separate folder names). The entire path should now look like this - Startup Disk:Level 1:Level 2 (you do not need a colon after the second folder name). This means that the file will be installed in the folder called Level 2.
Ñ Notice that the ╥Create folders that don╒t exist╙ option is selected. This means that if the Level 1 and Level 2 folders don╒t exist, they will be created. You should also select the Home Folder option. This sets the current location (Level 2) as a reference point for subsequent files which need to be installed in the same place. This will be important for the next file.
The script item should now look like this:
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Ñ Close the script item window.
Ñ Repeat this process to setup the second file:
Ñ Choose Install from the Script menu.
Ñ Choose the second file from the Install popup menu.
Ñ Instead of choosing Startup Disk:Level 1:Level 2 as the target location, set the Where popup menu to Home Folder. This means the file will be installed in the same folder as the first file. You don╒t have to enter the folder path again.
Ñ Close the script item window.
Ñ Choose Installation Message from the Package menu and enter a description which will appear on the client Macintosh after the package is installed.
Send the package
After the installation script has been prepared, the package is ready to be distributed and installed.
Ñ Choose Send from the Package menu. The Send dialog will be displayed.
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Ñ Locate the zone in which the users reside and click the triangle next to the zone to display the users.
Ñ Choose the target user (or users).
Ñ Click Send. The selected users will now begin receiving the installation package.
Monitor the distribution
The Distribution Manifest monitors the activity of all package installations. To view the status of the package you have just sent, select Distribution Manifest from the Distribution menu.
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There are four phases during installation:
Ñ Scheduled to send
Ñ Preparing to send
Ñ Sending
Ñ Installing
Ñ Complete
If there is an error, it will be reported in the status column, for example: ╥Not installed because the disk is full.╙ When the status of the package is complete, check the client Macintosh to make sure the intended result was achieved.
Creating scripts with if-then-else branches
Now that you╒ve installed a file successfully, you╒re ready to take advantage of NetDistributor Pro╒s unique branching ability. You will modify your test package to install the files only if System 7 is running.
To prepare for this part of the example, delete the Level1 folder you just installed on the client Macintosh. You can create a package that performs this operation, if you feel like experimenting, but deleting files is not discussed in this guide.
Ñ Display the script window for the package you created previously.
Ñ Choose Check Configuration from the Script menu. A new Check Configuration script item will be added to the script and a script item window will be displayed.
Ñ The System version check box is already selected. Set the comparison criterion to be greater than or equal to System 7 and close the window.
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You will notice that there are now two branches under the script item called If has configuration and If doesn╒t have configuration.
Ñ Click and drag the first Install script item on top of the If has configuration branch. When the branch is highlighted, drop the script item.
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Ñ Click and drag the second Install script item on top of the If has configuration branch.
Ñ Send the package, wait for the Distribution Manifest to show the distribution as complete, and check the result on the client Macintosh.
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NetDistributor Pro has a number of other functions which are discussed in much greater detail in the full NetDistributor Pro Administrator╒s Guide which you receive when you purchase NetDistributor Pro. However, here is a short list of other issues which you might wish to know about.
Ñ Security
You can assign a password to client computers running the Transporter system extension. Then, when a software distribution is initiated, you will be required to enter the client╒s password. This will prevent unauthorized administrators from distributing software packages.
Ñ ╥Pull╙ updating
The packages you create with NetDistributor Pro are completely self-contained. This means you can place them on a server or any other media and have users double-click them to install the software in the package. Users do not need Transporter or NetDistributor Pro to use the package from a server or floppy disk. This is useful if you want to make some software available to your user community in an easy-to-use format.
Ñ Replacing, Deleting and Restarting
If you want to try other script instructions, choose them from the Script menu and they will be placed in the script window. Double-click a script item to configure it.
Ñ Moving items in a script
Click and drag the item to a new location. To nest an instruction inside an if-then-else branch (such as ╥If found╙ or ╥If has configuration╙), just drag it on top of the branch.
Ñ Removing a script item
Highlight a script item and press the delete key or choose Remove Item from the Edit menu. To remove a file from the package, select Files in Package from the Package menu, highlight the desired file, and press the delete key. You can only remove files that are not used in the script.
Ñ Smart folders
If you choose to install a file in the Extensions folder (or any of the System 7 special folders) and the target machine is running System 6, NetDistributor Pro will install the file in the System Folder itself and will not create a folder called Extensions (or Control Panels, etc).
Ñ Font and desk accessory installation
NetDistributor Pro uses its own plug-in technology to handle this type of installation and can install fonts and desk accessories directly into the system file. Complete information is included in the NetDistributor Pro Plug-in Guide which comes with the full version.
Ñ Background operation
NetDistributor Pro does not need to be running while package distribution is in progress. In fact, once you have scheduled a distribution (for either immediate distribution or in the future), you can quit from NetDistributor Pro. If you need to check the status of the distribution, simply open NetDistributor Pro again and view the Distribution Manifest.
Ñ Virus checkers
There are easy ways to install software on remote machines that use virus checkers. Contact Trik for more information.
If you have any question concerning this demo, contact Trik or your local dealer.
In the United States and Canada, you can contact Trik at:
Phone: 800/466-TRIK or 617/933-8810
Fax: 617/933-8648
AppleLink: TRIK
Internet: support@trik.wilder.com
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⌐ 1992 Trik, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this guide may be reproduced in any form or distributed in any form without written consent from Trik.
Trik, NetDistributor, and Transporter are trademarks of Trik, Inc.
