Chapter 6

Advanced Techniques for Creating Packages

The full capabilities of System V packaging as implemented in the Solaris operating environment provide a powerful tool for the installation of software products. As a package designer, you can take advantage of these capabilities. Packages that are not part of the Solaris operating environment (unbundled packages) may use the class mechanism to customize server/client installations. Relocatable packages can be designed to accommodate the desires of the administrator. A complex product can be delivered as a set of composite packages that automatically resolve package dependencies. Upgrading and patching may be customized by the package designer. Patched packages can be delivered in the same way as unpatched packages, and the backout archives can also be included in the product.

This is a list of the overview information in this chapter.

• Specifying the Base Directory

• Accommodating Relocation

• Supporting Relocation in a Heterogeneous Environment

• Making Packages Remotely Installable

• Patching Packages

• Upgrading Packages

• Creating Class Archive Packages