Software Distribution
Intuitive. Fast. Efficient.
Software distribution - efficient installation processes for companies
Software distribution makes it easy to install software packages and applications on a company’s technical devices. With a professional software distribution solution, initial installation and configuration, as well as subsequent maintenance, proceed efficiently, conveniently and without complications. Automated processes, for example in the form of a software distribution system, form the basis for this.
Convenience, agility and security - the most important factors in software distribution
Central software distribution not only ensures fast and efficient installation of the required software, but also an intact working environment. A professional software distribution solution does not run manually, but automatically. In this way, a lot of time and stress can be saved. For example, a centralized software distribution system enables software distribution from a single workstation, requiring only the assistance of an IT administrator. At the same time, the comfort and satisfaction of users working with the previously installed software increases.
IT managers are significantly relieved by the implementation of a software distribution solution and can now concentrate more on their core tasks outside of purely routine activities. The automated standard processes also minimize the potential for errors, so that risky security gaps can hardly occur. The key benefits of a professional software distribution solution are therefore agility, convenience and security.
Software distribution - the technical features at a glance
With the help of software distribution, products such as software to be installed can be put into operation on the technical devices of a company. There is software distribution for Windows as well as software distribution for Linux and for all other common operating systems. A good software distribution solution works in a modular fashion, i.e. it can be easily integrated into OS deployment, service management and license management and enables seamless linkage with software packaging processes. In this way, a cross-process mode of operation becomes possible.
Particularly professional solutions enable software distribution that is completely independent of time and place. In this way, clients of your IT network can also be reached that are located outside the company headquarters, for example in the field or in the employees’ home offices.
To ensure that software management also leads to reliably functioning as well as secure results in the long term, regular software updates are required. A software distribution system is used not only for the initial installation and configuration of the software used, but also for controlling a rule-based update behavior. This ensures that all software used within the company is always up to date on every end device and allows maximum freedom with minimum risk of error.
No central software distribution without software packaging
The basis for automated software distribution is software packaging. This service is what makes the standardized installation of the software on the corresponding devices possible in the first place; after all, it puts the applications in the right form. Ideally, software packaging and software distribution form a smooth transition. In this way, software installation can be accelerated and made more reliable. OS deployment and license management are also required for professional software distribution in most cases.
With the software packaging solution IDERI pace, an independent and uncomplicated packaging of applications succeeds. In this way, the foundation is laid for a functioning central and automated software distribution. IDERI pace can be seamlessly integrated into your existing working environment and is characterized by its uncomplicated functionality with advanced features. If you are interested in our software packaging solution IDERI pace as part of your software distribution, please contact our competent team. We are looking forward to your inquiry.
Test environment for software distribution - reduce potential for errors
Implementing a test environment for software distribution can be of great benefit to you. A test environment is an isolated system that is used to test software before it is released.
Usually, a computer network is used for this purpose. Your IT managers have a safe place to experiment with new code and features. This way, the rest of the IT infrastructure is not affected. As a result, neither production systems nor other applications are affected.
The main benefits
With IDERI pace, you remain independent and can replace your software distribution solution at any time if necessary.
Secure software distribution
One of the main advantages of a test environment is that IT managers can run various simulations without restricting the company’s IT infrastructure. The environment enables testing of the software distribution for possible risks and error messages. In this way, the potential for errors can be minimized even before the actual initial installation. For example, possible compatibility problems of a new version with existing environments can be identified before it is installed. The software is thus thoroughly tested before it is released. In addition, a test environment reduces the risk of network disruptions or incidents in the IT infrastructure.
Efficient test environment
However, a test environment does not necessarily have to be isolated or designed as a second environment. The process can be simplified by defining selected employees as test users. New applications can then always be deployed to these users first. If no errors occur during this test run, appropriate applications can be made available to everyone else. In addition to these benefits, a test environment can help increase productivity and efficiency when working on challenging software projects. Developers can better focus on writing code and solving problems.
Early detection of software problems
It is easy to switch between the test environment and the working environment. The isolated environment allows many simulations that are free from external influences. Finally, the test environment allows potential problems with the software to be identified quickly. This allows the responsible people to fix bugs at an early stage. Thus, they do not have to wait until the software is released. This approach helps to reduce the costs associated with troubleshooting. Accordingly, all problems can be identified before release. Using this method, companies can reduce the long-term cost of updating their applications. Since bugs can be anticipated in advance, less time needs to be spent on future fixes or adjustments.
More efficiency and safety
Overall, establishing a test environment has several benefits for your business. It can increase efficiency and productivity when working on complex projects and help identify potential problems early in the development process. It can also help improve the security of their applications and reduce the risk of bugs or other issues getting into production systems.By taking advantage of these benefits, you can ensure that you are getting a high-quality software distribution product. It is also up-to-date and performs as required.
Questions we often
get asked
Here you will find our answers
No: For each package, you can decide which “language” you want to script with: NetInstall-eScript or PowerShell.
IDERI pace is seamlessly integrated into a wide range of solutions and is therefore completely platform-independent. These can include solutions such as Microsoft SCCM/ECM, Microsoft Intune, Ivanti EPM, Aagon ACMP, Matrix 42 Empirum, Tanium Tanium, VMware Workspace One and many more.
- IDERI pace:
- The IDERI pacKaging center (pace) is our dialogue-oriented packaging interface for easy and fast packaging of software packages without much previous knowledge, similar to Ivanti DSM. The descriptive names of the commands help you always find the one you need. With drag & drop, scripts are easy to create.
- IDERI installer:
- The IDERI installer is the component that must be installed on client PCs and is responsible for executing and interpreting the IDERI pace scripts. In doing so, he also includes user parts in the respective scripts that must be executed for each user.
IDERI pace is suitable for administrators who work with a software distribution solution that has no scripting language or a complicated scripting language. These can be solutions such as Microsoft SCCM, Ivanti EPM, Matrix 42 Empirum and many more.
Most software distribution solutions on the market do not include packaging support. They can only do “something.” In the simplest case, this something is an MSI file. However, as soon as more extensive steps are required and you need cmd, vbs or, for example, ps1 scripts, you are left alone; the manufacturers do not provide any packaging support. A software distributor needs most of the working time for packaging. This is exactly where PackagingSuite comes in. It fills exactly this gap — regardless of which software distribution solution you use.
The PackagingSuite consists primarily of the following four modules:
- PACE
- Move
- Installer
- MATE
The PackagingCenter helps anyone who uses a software distribution solution without an integrated scripting language.
PACE has two main purposes.
The main focus is on packaging. This involves assisting the administrator with packaging, i.e. scripting routines that are later executed on the client and thus bring about the desired installation state on the device.
The second main focus is package management. This includes managing the storage structure, providing templates, automating steps that would otherwise be carried out manually to integrate a package into the respective software distribution environment.
For example, deploying a package to Intune requires just a single mouse click. The creation of the Intunewin file, the upload, and the recognition rule are all set completely automatically.
Using the installer enables the maximum range of functions. In addition to running the scripts, he takes care of logging, reboot controls, interaction with software distribution (e.g. the SCCM agent), control of user-specific installations/configurations, etc.
IDERI mate stands for MSI And Transform Editor.
Many manufacturers deliver their software using an MSI installation file. This always leads to the same installation result. If you need adjustments to the desired target state, you must create a so-called transform. This is exactly where IDERI mate helps you — as always, completely dialogue-controlled and intuitive.
IDERI move is a tool that helps you migrate from IVANTI DSM to any other platform, such as MS Intune, Matrix Empirum, VMware Workspace One, and more. Here, IDERI move enables existing DSM scripts to be executed in another software distribution solution. On the one hand, the whole process is carried out with almost no need for changes and, on the other hand, without loss of functionality.
Customers who migrate away from a DSM environment can use IDERI move to transfer their existing DSM packages into a new interface. This allows existing eScript packages to be migrated from an existing DSM environment to any new software distribution solution. On average, around 90% of the packages are reused directly in your new target system without changes.
The IDERI PackagingSuite is supported by all Windows operating systems starting with Windows 7.
It requires .NET Framework 4.6.2 or higher, which is usually already provided by the operating system itself.
Of course, the duration of packaging depends on the size and complexity of the application being distributed.
All associated work steps, such as determining the storage location and creating the body directory structure, compressing the file set (Intune), defining the recognition rules — all of these steps are carried out completely automatically.
That means you really only have to worry about packaging, and a powerful dialog-oriented scripting language will help you even with this.
Someone who already has previous experience in IT administration should be able to use it within minutes.
If you have no previous experience in the IT sector, we will be happy to assist you with introduction/training — feel free to contact us.
The PackagingSuite provides a powerful range of functions. Practically everything you need for successful software distribution is already available. And should a function be required, ideally only one contact with our support team is necessary to discuss and initiate a possible implementation.
The PackagingCenter (pace) offers an easy-to-use interface. There is an associated dialog for each command in the scripting language. This means that you don't have to learn a complex language, but simply drag and drop desired functions from a selection of commands into the script to insert the required information into the dialog boxes.
All work steps beyond packaging, such as registering the package in software distribution (SCCM, Intune, etc.), are automated and are initiated and executed with a mouse click.
As a result, almost 100% of the other manual tasks are carried out automatically.
Yes, you can use PackagingSuite without a locally installed installer. However, the range of functions is reduced here.
In general, there are two sources of error, one is a manufacturer error and the other is an operating error, for example a packaging error. Regardless of the source of error, each module writes detailed log files and every work step is logged. This effectively helps you with any troubleshooting that may be necessary and thus enables better support from us as a manufacturer.
Yes, commands can be flagged in pace. With the two scripting languages Powershell and NetInstall, a user-machine part separation is possible.
Yes, most software distribution solutions on the market require two separate scripts.
Here, one installs an application on a computer and the second takes care of the configuration and user settings, which results in additional work as these two scripts have to be interdependent. That means double package creation, double allocation, double administration, double effort.
The PackagingSuite only requires one script, each command in this script can be flagged with a mouse click, and the flag of the command decides whether it should be executed once per PC or user.
We currently support the Ivanti DSM and Microsoft Powershell eScript.
If you are planning a migration and your scripting language is not listed, feel free to contact us for a joint appointment.
- Dialog-based packaging
- No script know-how required
- Existing knowledge can be reused during DSM migration
- As a result of the fact that we can integrate ourselves into any distribution solution, you can change your software distribution solution at any time. You don't have a “vendor lock-in”
- Seamless integration possible, meaning you can get started at any time and you don't have to change what you already have
The answer depends on several factors and cannot be answered in general.
In order to give you a specific price, we need information, such as the number of clients, language, desired modules, etc.
Feel free to contact us and ask for a range on.
We have been working in the software distribution sector since 1996, during which time we have carried out many customer projects and got to know customers.
In all this time, we have listened to customer requests and tried to implement them in the best possible way. We are now taking exactly this approach when it comes to software development.
We welcome every incoming feature request. This ensures that we are always close to customer requirements.
We are planning two releases per year.
If there are any bugs, we will try to provide a fix within hours.
We know that our product runs on thousands of clients and therefore time is money.
Our software is designed so that it is possible to work both centrally via network sharing with colleagues and locally on your own computer.
No, no extra database is required.
Support requests are received via our ticket system and are usually processed directly within a few hours. Depending on how much it takes to solve the problem, you will also receive a suggested solution from us on the same day.
The special thing about pace is that anyone who sees a PACE script can say what it is doing after seconds. Even people who see a script for the first time.
Windows is very powerful and even on the surface simple things often have a lot of options and configurations in detail. The special thing about pace is the simplified view of a script. A command that should create a link on the desktop, for example, is called createLink. At first, I may still need information about what the link should be called and where it should be created.
For example, when you see a CreateLink Notepad DESKTOP, you can think without much thought that a link to the Notepad should be created here on the desktop. At first glance, this information is enough. I am only interested in detail which exe should be executed, which parameters, if any, should be passed, and how the working directory should be configured. All common scripting languages cannot hide this detailed information, because in the end, every parameter must be set or you must know what default values are. As pace has a simplified view in which only essential information is displayed. If you want to adjust something, simply double click on the corresponding command and a dialog opens. All options are clearly presented with edit fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, etc. You hardly ever have to type, 90% is controlled by the mouse. It couldn't be easier or more intuitive.
The PackagingSuite is available in German, English and French.
By the way, if another language is desired/required, it can be translated accordingly with the help of the customer. We only provide a file with the texts in German/English. If the file with the appropriate information is delivered to us in the desired/required language, we can add this.
Yes, a package can be installed or uninstalled directly from the Pace console. This means that, for testing purposes, an installation/uninstallation can be carried out immediately in fractions of a second with the push of a button. There is no need for lengthy importing, distributing, and waiting for the client to start.
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