ULTRIX Guide to Preparing Software for Distribution on ULTRIX Systems

This document, "Guide to Preparing Software for Distribution on ULTRIX Systems" (Order Number: AA-MG62B-TE, June 1990, for ULTRIX Version 4.0 or higher) from Digital Equipment Corporation, provides applications programmers with instructions on how to package and manage software products for installation and distribution on ULTRIX systems.

Key areas covered include:

1. Overview of Software Distribution: Explains the benefits of using the setld utility for software installation and management (installation security, flexibility, uniformity, media support) and outlines the overall production and reproduction processes for setld-compatible distribution kits.
2. setld Utilities: Details the functionality of core utilities:
   • newinv: Used to generate and update master inventory files for software products.
   • kits: Processes input files to produce subset images, inventories, and control files, forming the basis of distribution media.
3. Files Used by setld: Describes the various file types (.ctrl, .inv, .lk, .dw, .image, .comp, .scp) and their format and contents, which are crucial for setld's operations during subset installation.
4. Subset Control Programs (SCPs): Guides on writing SCPs (executable scripts) that setld uses to perform specific node-specific configurations and management tasks for software subsets.
5. Producing setld-Compatible Kits: Provides a step-by-step guide for creating distribution kits, including:
   • Generating the master directory hierarchy.
   • Building data and output directories.
   • Creating the master inventory (newinv).
   • Creating the key file (defining product and subset attributes).
   • Generating kit images (kits).
   • Building the /etc/kitcap database.
   • Making the final distribution media (tape using gentapes, RA60 disk using genra).
6. Reproducing setld-Compatible Kits: Explains how to copy and prepare existing setld-compatible distribution kits from various media types.
7. setld Options: Details the operations performed by various setld command-line options, such as loading (-l), configuring (-c), deleting (-d), inventory listing (-i), extracting (-x), verifying (-v), and updating (-u) software subsets.
8. Sample make Files: An appendix provides examples of make files used for managing the transfer of product files from source to input directories.

The document aims to equip programmers with the knowledge and tools necessary to create and manage software packages that seamlessly integrate with the ULTRIX operating system's installation framework.