Lenovo System Update Solution (Deployment Guide) - Manual (Page 75)

Scenario 8 - Working with Thin Installer
Thin Installer always first checks for the database.xml file in the repository folder.
If you have created a repository using Update Retriever, the database.xml file is
created in the same folder. The Database.xml file associates each Machine Type,
Operating System and Language with the Update packages. In the absence of the
database.xml file in the repository, Thin Installer assumes all update packages in
the repository are candidate packages. Candidate packages are packages that may
be applicable to the client system. Refer to Chapter 5, “Working with Update
Retriever,” on page 45 to learn more about Update Retriever.
Deploying the packages using USB or CD
This method is ideal for stand alone installation of update packages by a system
administrator.
1.
Create a repository folder with update packages that need to be installed on the
client machine.
2. Install Thin Installer as a parent folder of the repository folder as created in
step 1.
3. Copy the folder structure to any external media such as a USB key, a CD or a
DVD.
4. Launch the ThinInstaller.exe file and select the update packages that need to be
installed.
Deploying the packages using network share repository
This is a convenient way of managing different types of systems using a central
repository. The client system should have read access to the network shared
repository.
1.
Create the repository folders and download the update packages with Update
Retriever on the network share. Refer to “Step 1 - Installing the programs” on
page 63 on how to use Update Retriever.
2. Install Thin Installer on an individual client system.
3. Push a command script to the client systems to execute the ThinInstaller.exe file
from the network share drive. Refer to “Using Thin Installer” on page 54 in
command line mode for options available.
Deploying the packages using a system management tool
This method is useful when the update packages for systems are already known.
1.
Create a repository folder with system specific update packages that need to be
deployed.
2. Install Thin Installer as a parent folder of the repository folder as created in
step 1.
3. Use the system management tool to build a module out of the above folder
structure and deploy.
Note: The return error code by Thin Installer can be used to track the status of the
update packages on target systems.
Chapter 7. Best practices 69