swdist in short words
SWDIST - software distribution, installation, patch & configuration management
SWDIST is a framework for "software distribution, automated installation, patch and configuration management". SWDIST is designed to support any package based Linux system. The actual implementation is tested for SuSE Linux only. Any contributions to enhance SWDIST are welcome.
- Minimizes costs for roll-outs, updates and configuration management
- Consistant management of install- and configuration sources
- Unlimited combinations of distros, 3rd party software, patches, architectures
- Superior rollback, dependency resolution and patch handling
- Wide range of scalability
- Flexible system design, prepared for future requirements
- Open database support
- Well defined and documented APIs
- Based on established open source tools and open standards
Functional Overview
- Initial installation of targets (workstations and servers)
- Configuration management
- Management of software and patches
- Forced distribution of emergency patches
- Central repository for software related system state of targets
- Support of multiple combinations of distributions, 3rd party SW, patch levels and hardware architecture
- Import of SUSE distributions, including package dependencies and selection lists
- Import of SUSE patches, including dependencies
- Client GUI for workstations to inform users about updates and allow them to postpone optional updates
- Non-interactive client operation for servers
- Scalability and high availability
Client GUI
On client workstations or desktops you can juse a client GUI. With that GUI the user can descide when to start optional updates.
There is also a command line interface (CLI) for all tasks, which are available via this GUI.
Of course on servers GUI based processes are not feasable for the software or system management, so swdist is also designed to be completly functional without the GUI.