Description: This AppNote details different use cases for launching application installations through the ZENworks 10 Configuration Management bundles. This would help to understand how a ZENworks Configuration Management administrator can configure the Managed devices within the Zone, so that the workstation end users can launch the software/application installations on a need basis. All screen shots used in this AppNote are taken with ZENworks Configuration Management 10.0.1.0 release.

Use Case 1: To copy and launch windows installable files on a ZENworks Configuration Management workstation using the “Copy Files” action.

Steps to be performed:

1. Create a new Directive Bundle
   
   Please refer to the following Novell ZENworks 10 Configuration Management Documentation link, which helps in creating a Directive Bundle:
   http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/ba4plex.html
   

• Add Copy File(s) Action to the bundle
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  

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  Figure 1-A Add Actions window - Copy File(s) Action selection

  
  
  
  
  
  For more details on “Copy File(s)” Action, please refer to the following link:
  http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/action_copyfiles.html
  

• Browse the executable file name and provide the path in “File” text column.
  
  Note: For selecting more than one file at a time, ensure that the “Novell File Upload extension” is installed for your browser, for more details please refer to the following link
  http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/ba4lwvs.html
  
  Note: Host Name of the source device need to be resolved on console and target workstations. Administrator can share the location of executable and can provide the UNC path of shared location.
  

• In “Destination directory” field, provide the path on target workstations (where installable files need to be copied).
  
  Note: Host Name of the source device need to be resolved on workstations. Administrator can share the location of executable and can provide the shared location.
  
  Tip: Configure “Copy Option” such as “Copy If Does Not Exist” to avoid network traffic and redundancy
  
  Example of “Select Files” dialog box is as shown Figure 1-B
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  

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  Figure 1-B Select files dialog box

  
  
  
  
  
  Tip: In case of multiple applications, Administrator can use “Copy Directory” Action and can input the directory path, which contains the installable files. For more details on “Copy Directory” Action, please refer to the following link
  http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/action_copydir.html
  

• Add “Launch Windows Executable” Action to the bundle by giving the executable file name in the “Command” field and the path configured in Step 4 in “Working Directory” field. For more details on “Launch Windows Executable”, please refer to the following link:
  http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/action_launch.html
  
  Tip: Continue on Failure selection will avoid the dependencies between Actions (if more than 1 is configured) as shown in Figure 1-C
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  

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  Figure 1-C Add Actions wizard

  
  
  
  
  

• Assign the Bundle to ZENworks Configuration Management Devices/Users
  
  Note: While associating Bundle to the Devices, Configure the Bundle Shortcut location, using which user can launch the installation.
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  

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  Figure 1-D Assigning Bundle to the Devices and Shortcut Location

  
  
  
  
  
  For more information on assigning Bundle to the devices and users please refer to the following links:
  http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/bav0nan.html
  http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/bav0yiv.html
  

• Configure Distribution and Availability Schedules as per the requirement
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  

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  Figure 1-E Bundle Schedules

  
  
  
  
  
  Tip: For mandatory installations, configure Bundle Distribution, Launch and Availability Schedules so that the installation of application is triggered as per the schedule without any user intervention.
  
  For more details on Bundle Schedules, please refer to the following link:
  http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/ba4nppw.html
  
  After the Bundle is distributed to the ZENworks Configuration Management device, Bundle Shortcut (locations are as per the configuration in Figure 1-D) is available to the user to launch the Installation.
  Example of the Bundle shortcut in ZENworks Application window is as shown in Figure 1-F.
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  

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  Figure 1-F ZENworks Application Window on user workstation

  
  
  
  
  

Use Case 2: To copy and launch windows installable files on a ZENworks Configuration Management workstation using the “Install File(s)” action.

Steps to be performed:

1. Create a new Directive Bundle
   
   Please refer to the following Novell ZENworks 10 Configuration Management Documentation link, which helps in creating a Directive Bundle creation:
   http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/ba4plex.html
   

• Add Install File(s) Action to the bundle
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  

  Click to view.

  
  

  Figure 2-A Add Actions window - Install File(s) Action selection

  
  
  
  
  
  For more details on “Install File(s)” Action, please refer to the following link:
  http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/action_installfiles.html
  

• Browse the executable file name and provide the path in “File” text column.
  
  Note: For selecting more than one file at a time, ensure that the “Novell File Upload extension” is installed for your browser, for more details please refer to the following link
  http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/ba4lwvs.html
  
  Note: Host Name of the source device need to be resolved on console workstation. Administrator can share the location of executable and can provide the UNC path of shared location.
  

• In “Destination directory” field, provide the path on target workstations (where installable files need to be copied).
  

• Upload executable file to the primary server
  

• Provide the Destination path on workstations
  
  Tip: Configure “Copy Option” such as “Copy If Does Not Exist” to avoid network traffic and redundancy
  
  Tip: In case of multiple applications, Administrator can use “Install Directory” Action and can input the directory path, which contains the installable files. For more details on “Install Directory” Action, please refer to the following link
  http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/action_installdir.html
  

• “Launch Windows Executable” Action to the bundle by giving the executable file name in the “Command” field and the path configured in Step 4 in “Working Directory” field. For more details on “Launch Windows Executable”, please refer to the following link:
  http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/action_launch.html
  
  Tip: Continue on Failure selection will avoid the dependencies between Actions (if more than 1 is configured) as shown in Figure 2-B
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  

  Click to view.

  
  

  Figure 2-B Add Actions wizard

  
  
  
  
  

• Assign the Bundle to ZENworks Configuration Management Devices/Users
  
  Note: While associating Bundle to the Devices, Configure the Bundle Shortcut location, using which user can launch the installation.
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  

  Click to view.

  
  

  Figure 2-C Assigning Bundle to the Devices and Shortcut Location

  
  
  
  
  
  For more information on assigning Bundle to the devices and users please refer to the following links:
  http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/bav0nan.html
  http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/bav0yiv.html
  

• Configure Distribution and Availability Schedules as per the requirement
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  

  Click to view.

  
  

  Figure 2-D Bundle Schedules

  
  
  
  
  
  Tip: For mandatory installations, configure Bundle Distribution, Launch and Availability Schedules so that the installation of application is triggered as per the schedule.
  
  For more details on Bundle Schedules, please refer to the following link:
  http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/ba4nppw.html
  
  After the Bundle is distributed to the ZENworks Configuration Management device, Bundle Shortcut is available to the user to launch the Installation
  

Use Case 3: To launch windows installable files remotely on a ZENworks Configuration Management workstation

Steps to be performed:

1. Create a Directive bundle with “Launch Windows Executable” Action
   
   For more details on “Launch Windows Executable” Action please refer the following link:
   http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/action_launch.html
   
   
   
   

   
   
   

   
   

   Click to view.

   
   

   Figure 3-A Add Actions window - Launch Windows Executable Action selection

   
   
   
   
   

• Provide UNC path of the Installable in “Command” field
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  

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  Figure 3-B UNC path input for “Launch Windows Executable” Action

  
  
  
  
  
  Note: Folder containing the installable file on the source device should be shared.
  
  Example: If “Jre_Inst.exe” is in “installables” folder (which is shared) of Source device 1.1.1.1, then the command should be input as shown in Figure 3-B.
  
  Note: While associating Bundle to the Devices, Configure the Bundle Shortcut location, using which user can launch the installation.
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  

  Click to view.

  
  

  Figure 3-C Assigning Bundle to the Devices and Shortcut Location

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  

  Click to view.

  
  

  Figure 3-D Bundle Schedules

  
  
  
  
  
  Tip: For mandatory installations, configure Bundle Distribution, Launch and Availability Schedules so that the installation of application is triggered as per the schedule.
  

• Assign the created bundle to ZENworks Configuration Management Devices/Users with shortcut location configured
  
  For more information on assigning Bundle to the devices and users please refer to the following links:
  http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/bav0nan.html
  http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/bav0yiv.html
  

• Configure Distribution and Availability Schedules as per the requirement
  

• If any mandatory installs are there, Administrator can configure the following:
  a) Self Extracting (Silent install) executable file path in “Command” field of Figure 3-B
  b) Bundle launch schedule.
  
  For more details on Bundle Schedules, please refer to the following link:
  http://www.novell.com/documentation/zcm10/zcm10_software_distribution/data/ba4nppw.html
  
  After the Bundle is distributed to the ZENworks Configuration Management device, Bundle shortcut is available to the user to launch the installation
  
  Following this approach, administrator can have all the installable files at single point and need not to copy them on each workstation.
  

I would like to thank Lakshmi R for reviewing this AppNote and providing valuable feedback.