Software Package Builder 5.0 User's Guide

Software Distributor
SD-UX provides a powerful set of tools for centralized HP-UX software management. SD-UX
commands are included with the HP-UX operating system and allow you to package software
into the SD-UX format, as well as create, distribute, and manage software from software depots.
SD-UX provides utilities to support numerous software package management tasks. Of these,
the swpackage command creates a software package by combining the files the user wants to
deliver (which may include control scripts) and a product specification file (PSF). The software
package is then placed in a software depot where it can be distributed to customers and installed
using the swinstall command.
The SD-UX packaging operations are based on the attribute values set in the PSF. The PSF is a
master file that is created for a given software package to define the structure and describe all
the characteristics and file mappings. The PSF contains attribute information for all the software
elements contained in the package and must adhere to a strict, hierarchical structure and set of
packaging policy rules.
Software Package Builder
SPB fits into this process by assisting with the creation and validation of a PSF that the swpackage
command uses to create the software package. The structure of a software package and its software
elements are largely abstract and the packaging policy rules that the software package must
adhere to can also be very complex. SPB helps simplify the process of creating a software package
by providing a visual method for creating the PSF, its software elements, attributes, and structure,
as well as automatically validating the PSF against packaging policy rules. SPB provides a default
set of packaging policies that validate your PSF, however, you can also customize your own
packaging policies.
Software Package Builder and HP-UX Software Distributor 9