You can install various types of network applications, such as word processing or spreadsheet programs, to make them available to users. When installing applications, keep the following in mind:
- You need the Create right in the directory where you will be installing the application.
- Follow the instructions in the application's documentation for installing the application onto a network.
- Make sure the application is designed for network (multiuser) use, and that you observe any licensing restrictions on the number of users who can access the application.
- To allow users to access network-based applications, map search drives to the directories that contain these applications. To make these search drives permanent, place them in login scripts, which are executed when users log in.
- If the application requires that it be installed at the root of a volume, but you would rather install it in a subdirectory for security reasons, you can map the directory to a fake root. For more information about distributing applications on the network, see ZENworks for Desktops 3.2.
- You can create a Directory Map object that points to an application directory.
Directory Map objects are useful in login scripts. Instead of mapping a drive to a specific directory path, you map a drive to a Directory Map object that points to a directory. For information about Directory Map objects, see Directory Map Objects.
Then, if you change the directory path, you need to change only the Directory Map object's definition.
- Keeping program files separate from data files can simplify application management. Because program files seldom change, for example, you can keep a backup of program files separate from a data file backup so that network backup procedures need focus only on data directories.
Data directories for shared data files also provide for single-point backup and management of shared files.
