By default, the NAL cache directory is created as a hidden \nalcache directory at the root of the drive, as shown in the following example.
When an application is associated with the user or workstation, Application Launcher creates a directory for the application under the \nalcache directory. The application's directory is named the same as the Application object's eDirectory distinguished name (for example, Simple App.applications.novell) and contains the files that make up the launch cache and install cache. These two caches are described in the following sections:
The files in an application's launch cache contain the information Application Launcher needs to launch, run, and uninstall the application. Application Launcher automatically creates the application's launch cache when the application is distributed to the workstation. If Application Launcher has not yet distributed the application to the workstation, the launch cache contains only the information needed to display the application's icon on the workstation's desktop.
The launch cache files are located directly under the application directory (nalcache\edirectory_tree\app_object directory). The following table describes the launch cache files. Depending on the Application object's settings, some of the files might not be necessary, in which case they are not included in the launch cache.
1 All files except those containing application files, INI settings, shortcut icons, and registry settings are refreshed each time Application Launcher performs a timed or manual refresh. The non-refreshed files remain the same until the version number (Application object > Distribution Options tab > Options page) is changed. This allows Application Launcher to successfully uninstall the application (including the files, INI settings, shortcuts, and registry settings) if necessary.
The install cache contains the application source files needed to install or verify (fix) the application. Application Launcher creates an install cache for an application in the following two situations:
The install cache is created in the nalcache\edirectory_tree\app_object\install directory.
Although the files in the install cache are compressed, they can still require a large amount of disk space on the workstation's local drive, so an application should only be cached if users need to install or verify the application while disconnected from eDirectory.
An application can still run in disconnected mode without being cached to the install cache. To run in disconnected mode, an application needs only to be distributed (installed) on the workstation. Caching an application to the install cache only enables the application to be installed or verified (fixed) while in disconnected mode.