Apple Mac OS X Server (version 10.2.3 or later) - Manual (Page 547)

Network Install 547
About Packages
If you plan to use Network Install to install application software or other files, you’ll need to
group the applications or files into a special file called a package.
A package is a collection of compressed files and related information used to install software
onto a computer. The contents of a package are contained within a single file, which has the
extension “.pkg”. The following table shows the components of a package file.
Typical Package Contents
To view the contents of a package, hold down the Control key as you click the package in a
Finder window and choose Show Package Contents from the menu that appears.
To make it easier to install multiple packages, you can create a single metapackage that
contains them.
You use PackageMaker, available on the Mac OS X Server Administration Tools CD, to create
application software packages to use with Network Install.
Creating Packages
To include additional applications or other files in an installer image, use PackageMaker to
create a package or metapackage containing the application or files. PackageMaker is on the
Mac OS X Server Administration Tools CD that comes with Mac OS X Server, in the folder
/NetBoot, Network Install/Image Manipulation
File Description
product.pax.gz The files to be installed, compressed with gzip and archived with
pax. (See man pages for more information about gzip and pax.)
product.bom Bill of Materials: a record of where files are to be installed. This is
used in the verification and uninstall processes.
product.info Contains information to be displayed during installation.
product.sizes Text file; contains the number of files in the package.
product.tiff Contains custom icon for the package.
product.status Created during the installation, this file will either say “installed”
or “compressed.”
product.location Shows location where the package will be installed.
software_version (Optional) Contains the version of the package to be installed.
LL0395.Book Page 547 Wednesday, November 20, 2002 11:44 AM