Software PKG, Update PKG, MPKGs?

[pteeter]

Just curious, are people deploying MetaPackages for software + updates?

For example Office 2008.

I’ve got individual packages for the base installer, the first update, and then the 12.0.1 update.

I’ve also created a MetaPackage that contains these packages, and will continue to revise it as new updates get released.

Is there a good deployment argument for or against this with InstaDMG?

[pteeter]

Agreed and verified today.

So long as one keeps the order correct – software, then updates – MPKGs just add more steps to the process.

Good to know it is an option.

Thanks Josh.

[dmgraham]

[QUOTE][u]Quote by: macshome[/u][p]I suppose you could do it that way so that there are less packages to keep track of, but really it doesn’t matter much since we are applying them in an automated way.[/p][/QUOTE]

It sure would make it easier since Apple updates are often distributed this way. For instance, I tried to drop in the iTunes 7.6.2 update from Apple but it didn’t work. Any pointers?

[Patrick Fergus]

iTunes installed via instaDMG works for me–what errors are you getting?

[dmgraham]

[QUOTE][u]Quote by: Patrick+Fergus[/u][p]iTunes installed via instaDMG works for me–what errors are you getting?[/p][/QUOTE]

Recent QuickTime, Front Row, and iTunes updates via SU download multiple packages in a format I’m not used to.

For instance, iTunes comes in a folder with a iTunes.dist alias whose original is in a Packages folder along with three pkg files.

iTunes/
iTunes/iTunes.dist
iTunes/Packages/
iTunes/Packages/AppleMobileDeviceSupport.pkg
iTunes/Packages/iTunesAccess.pkg
iTunes/Packages/iTuensX-7.6.2.dist
iTunes/Packages/iTunes.pkg

Looks like InstaDMG ignored the .dist file, and I’m not really sure if it’s an essential file or not, so I wasn’t clear about just installing the remaining packages separately. Interestingly enough, if you download iTunes 7.6.2 from the Apple site it comes in as an mpkg, which should work, right? It’s a lot easier to download new updates by running SU form the last OS build so I can update my InstaDMG config.

[Patrick Fergus]

Although I use a dry run through SU to figure out what pkgs I need, I use the standalone downloadable installers for the various Apple software updates.

Are you using the packages from SU (“Install and Keep Package”)?

– Patrick

[dmgraham]

[QUOTE][u]Quote by: Patrick+Fergus[/u][p][i]Although I use a dry run through SU to figure out what pkgs I need, I use the standalone downloadable installers for the various Apple software updates.[/i][/p][/QUOTE]

The SU versions of the software are always the most current. For instance, if you download the current Server Admin Tools 10.5 from Apple’s downloads page it contains buggy and outdated automator actions for the System Image Utility. I wasted three hours of my time trying to find out why something was working only to discover that the updated actions are currently only available via SU

[QUOTE][p][i]Are you using the packages from SU (“Install and Keep Package”)?[/i][/p][/QUOTE]

Yep; well actually download only. It seemed to me the simplest method of making my image current so I don’t have to individually download each package, and because I can ensure that I’m getting the most current and applicable version of the updates based on [i]my[/i] image.

[knowmad]

ive been using the packages from SU (earlier I called it AU, sorry for the confusion) and have run into no trouble at all.
I just remove the *.dist file and use the .pkg files. So far mpkg and pkg files have run flawlessly for me (with the small exception that I had to modify the ilifebrowser install not to kill my prefpanes)
experiment a little, the system (so far) has been far more forgiving than I ever though it could be.
(PS I represent the novice in all this, I am certain the more experienced experts have better information and guidance)

[Patrick Fergus]

[i]The SU versions of the software are always the most current. For instance, if you download the current Server Admin Tools 10.5 from Apple’s downloads page it contains buggy and outdated automator actions for the System Image Utility. I wasted three hours of my time trying to find out why something was working only to discover that the updated actions are currently only available via SU[/i]

It’s likely a mistake on Apple’s part if any of their software updates are [i]not[/i] available via standalone download. However, any installed piece of software (for example, a physical disc of iLife ’08) might possibly have updates, and running Software Update after an installation is a good idea. If the update is only available via SU, then it will have to be obtained from there. If there is a standalone download that [i]is[/i] the most current, I’d use that per Apple’s KBase (italics mine):

—-

[url]http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25799[/url]

Can I install a smaller-sized Software Update on a computer that did not download it?
For best results, use Software Update preferences to update each computer individually, since not all computers may be able to use the smaller-sized update. [i]If you just want to download an update once, you probably want to use a “Combo” update installer version, available from Apple Downloads.[/i]

—-

Granted this is referring to delta vs. combo updates. However, if you can obtain the same updates from Apple when Apple intentionally authored the package to work on any possible computer it might be installed on, you’ll cover any possible problems that might arise from moving your build to another kind of machine.

– Patrick

[dmgraham]

[QUOTE][u]Quote by: Patrick+Fergus[/u][p] if you can obtain the same updates from Apple when Apple intentionally authored the package to work on any possible computer it might be installed on, you’ll cover any possible problems that might arise from moving your build to another kind of machine.[/p][/QUOTE]

That makes perfect sense. I’ll hope that I don’t run into any more standalone installer issues like the Admin Tools update, which I’ve reported already BTW.

Thanks!

[Author]

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