Novell Doc: ZENworks 11 SP3 Software Distribution Reference - Action - Install Directory

6.13 Action - Install Directory

The Action - Install Directory dialog box lets you specify the directory to be installed, specify a destination path, specify whether the directory is hidden or read-only after being installed on the device, and specify a copy option. You can also use this page to install the Novell ZENworks File Upload plug-in, which allows you to browse for directories. You can also specify the specific requirements that a device must meet for the action to be executed on the device

Copying a file or directory copies the file or directory from one location to another without uploading the files into the ZENworks content repository. Copying a file or directory is described as copying without using content. When copying a file or directory, the managed device performs the copy operation and must be able to resolve both the source and destination paths. Also, when copying a file or directory, the file or directory is not cached on the managed device.

Installing a file or directory uploads the file or directory to the ZENworks content repository before it is distributed to assigned devices. Installing a file or directory is described as copying using content. When installing a file or directory, the file or directory is cached on the managed device. If a directory does not have any content, it is not uploaded to the content repository. This causes any successive action depending on this empty directory to fail.

Installing an executable file does not launch or execute the file. To launch or execute the file, you must add a launch executable action (Launch Executable, Launch Java Application, and so forth) to the bundle.

Figure 6-14 Action - Install Directory Dialog Box

You can access this information by using the following methods:

As part of the process of creating a Windows bundle by using the Install Directory bundle category. For more information, see Section 2.4, Creating Windows Bundles.
In ZENworks Control Center, click the Bundles tab, click the underlined link of a bundle in the Name column of the Bundles list, click the Actions tab, click one of the action set tabs (Distribute, Install, Launch, Verify, Uninstall, Terminate, or Preboot), click the Add drop-down list, then select an available action.

The following sections contains additional information:

6.13.1 General

The General page lets you specify the directory to be installed, specify a destination path, specify whether the directory is hidden or read-only after being installed on the device, and specify a copy option. You can also use this page to install the Novell ZENworks File Upload plug-in, which allows you to browse for directories.

Source Directory

Click Browse icon to browse to and select the directory you want to install on the device.

If you have not installed the Novell ZENworks File Upload plug-in on this device, you must do so before you can browse to and upload directories to be installed. For more information, see Novell ZENworks File Upload Plug-in.

By default, the content uploaded to the ZENworks content repository is encrypted and compressed before it is distributed to assigned devices. However, if you do not want the content to be encrypted and compressed, then select the Do not compress or encrypt uploaded content option.

Select the Upload all files within the source directory as a single package option to enable all the files within the specified source directory to be uploaded as a single content. This option is helpful in scenarios where you choose to upload a large number of files. For example, selecting a Microsoft Office application as a source directory.

Upload Files As

Specifies whether the content has been uploaded as a single content or multiple contents to the ZENworks content repository.

If the Upload all files within the source directory as a single package option in the Select Directory dialog box is not selected, then the files are uploaded by packaging in to multiple contents and the value of Upload Files As option is displayed as Multiple Content.

If the Upload all files within the source directory as a single package option in the Select Directory dialog box is selected, then the files are uploaded by packaging in to single content and the value of Upload Files As option is displayed as Single Content.

Packaging

Specifies how the content is packaged before it is distributed to assigned devices.

If the Do not compress or encrypt uploaded content option in the Select Directory dialog box is not selected, the value of Packaging option is initially displayed as Auto as the content is in the process of being encrypted and compressed. After the content has been encrypted and compressed, the value of Packaging option changes to Compressed, Encrypted.

If the Do not compress or encrypt uploaded content option in the Select Directory dialog box is selected, the value of Packaging option is displayed as None because the content is neither compressed nor encrypted.

Destination Directory

Specify the destination directory on the device in which you want to install the directory.

Hidden

Select the Hidden check box to specify that the directory is hidden after installation.

Read-Only

Select the Read-only check box to specify that the directory is read-only after installation.

Copy Option

Select a copy option from the list:

Copy Always: Copies the contents of the directory regardless of whether the files currently exists on the workstation.
Copy If Exists: Copies the contents of the directory only if the files currently exists on the workstation.
Copy If Does Not Exist: Copies the contents of the directory only if the files does not currently exist on the workstation.
Copy If Newer: Copies the contents of the directory only if the modified date and time of the file is newer than the existing file’s date and time, or if the files does not currently exist on the workstation.
Copy If Newer and Exists: Copies the contents of the directory only if it already exists on the workstation and the date and time of the file is newer than the existing file’s date and time.
Copy if Newer Version: Copies the contents of the directory only if the internal version of the file is newer than the existing file’s version (if version information is present).
Request Confirmation: Prompts the user to confirm that the content of the directory should be copied when the directory already exists on the workstation.
Copy If Different: Copies the contents of the directory if the creation date, creation time, or size is different than the existing file’s date, time, or size.

Executable Security Level

On Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 device, the application executable can run in either the “user” space or the “system” space. By default, the Run normal option is selected, which causes the application to run in the “user” space and inherit the same workstation security level as the logged-in user.

If the logged-in user's security level does not provide sufficient rights and file access to run the application, you can configure the application to run in the “system” space or as a dynamic administrator, as described below:

Run as logged in user: The action uses the logged-in user’s credentials. For example, the action has the same rights to the registry and the file system as the logged-in user.
Run as secure system user (Don't allow system to interact with desktop): The application is run under the Local System user and inherits Administrator-level credentials. For example, the application has full rights to the registry and the file system. Because the security level is set to Secure, the application's interface is not displayed to the user and the application is only visible in the Task Manager. This option is useful when running applications that require full access to the workstation but require no user intervention. If you use mapped network drives to specify files and directories, the action fails because system users do not have access to user mapped drives.
Run as dynamic administrator: A dynamic administrator is an administrator account that is created on the fly to perform certain procedures, such as installing applications. Using a dynamic administrator is helpful when installing applications (some MSI applications, for example) that cannot be installed in the system space. When you select this action, the dynamic administrator is created, it performs the required tasks, and then the account is deleted.

You cannot use mapped network drives to specify files and directories because dynamic administrators do not have access to mapped drives.

Select credential for network access: If the file or directory specified in the action are a part of the UNC path or network share that can be accessed only through credentials, then browse through the credential vault to select a credential that has access to the network.

NOTE:ZENworks does not support Windows Distributed File System (DFS) share.

For more information on Credential Vault and adding credential to the Credential Vault, see Using the Credential Vault in the ZENworks 11 SP3 ZENworks Control Center Reference.

NOTE:Performing this action as dynamic administrator on a Windows domain controller fails because Microsoft does not allow the use of local administrator accounts on domain controllers.

6.13.2 Requirements

The Requirements page lets you define specific requirements that a device must meet for the action to be enforced on it. For information about the requirements, see Requirements.