Package Building
When software is purchased from manufacturers it must usually be configured or customized to meet the needs of the end users receiving it. Using packages allows changes to be made prior to distribution (rather than doing customization after installation) so that software arrives configured and ready for usage. This saves valuable engineering time, as well as network bandwidth because you are only distributing what is necessary.
Composer and Casper Admin
- Packages are the basis of a modular system that allows assembly of end user configurations from their constituent pieces. Composer allows you to make a package from any file that exists in any directory in the Macintosh OS. Casper Admin is used to compile packages into end user configurations, as well as managing OS and processor requirements for packages. All packaging utilities should, at a minimum, provide the following:
Operating System:
- Removal of preinstalled factory software, application of security updates, adding or removing drivers, fonts, and languages
Application:
- Registration of licenses, setting application defaults, removal of unnecessary components, adding plug-ins, creation of individual, standard, or premium configurations based on your licensing needs
Documents:
- Ability to distribute templates, letterhead, corporate identity, HR policies, and instructions
Printers:
- Adding printers, setting defaults, configuration of PPDs and options, as well as removal of local and workgroup printers
Composer Standard Edition
- If you are interested in purchasing our package creation utility as a stand-alone application, Composer SE is available for individual download.
- Specific Features
- Ease of use - packages are created via a point and click interface
- Packages are editable if you need to modify a component
- Processor detection detects if target machines are Intel or PPC processors and installs the appropriate packages
- Creates configurations based on how you differentiate computers (examples: include processor type, model, job function, or country)
- Related Case Studies
- Read about Questex Media Group's experience. PDF
"I really can't imagine how we would have coped with our initial OS migration without the Casper Suite. As an added advantage, we now have a centralized approach to our environment and the ability to delegate to local site staff because of the straight-forward GUI."
