Installing Policy and Distribution Services on Linux or Solaris Servers

This section provides you with instructions to assist you in installing Novell^® ZENworks^® for Servers Policy and Distribution Services on Linux* or Solaris* servers. The installation script will install the Linux or Solaris version of the software on a single Linux or Solaris server. It will also create Distributor and/or Subscriber objects in Novell eDirectory^TM. The Linux or Solaris server where you install Policy and Distribution Services can function as a Distributor, a Subscriber, or both.

The Distributor Agent will gather and send Distributions, which can consist of policies, new and updated software, individual executables, databases, documents, text files, and so on, to Subscribers on other servers.
The Subscriber Agent will receive and extract Distributions, then the accompanying Policy/Package Agent will enforce the policies, install the software, update the files, and so on.

If your network includes NetWare^® and Windows* servers, as well as Linux or Solaris servers, it is easiest to install Policy and Distribution Services to one of those platforms first, as described in Installing Policy and Distribution Services on NetWare and Windows Servers, because the Policy/Distribution database must be created on NetWare or Windows. This database stores log messages detailing the successes and failures of distribution processing for reporting purposes. (If necessary, you can install the Policy and Distribution Services software on the Linux or Solaris server first and then create the database afterwards on the NetWare or Windows server.)

To install Policy and Distribution Services on a Linux or Solaris server, complete the following tasks: