IDK

Server Automation includes the Intelligent Software Module (ISM) Development Kit (IDK). The IDK consists of command-line tools and libraries for creating, building, and uploading ISMs. An ISM is a set of files and directories that include application bits, installation scripts, and control scripts. You build an ISM in a local file system and then upload the ISM into a Server Automation application policy. After uploading the ISM, you use the HPE Server Automation Client to install the ISM’s application onto managed servers.

Benefits of the IDK

The IDK offers the following benefits:

• Encapsulates best practices for managing software products, enabling standards teams to deliver stable and consistent software builds and manage change in complex data center environments.
• Uploads modules into Server Automation, making them immediately available for installation onto managed servers.
• Separates an application’s installation and control scripts from the bits to be installed. You can update the scripts without having to re-install the application bits.
• Enables dynamic configuration by querying Server Automation for custom attributes.
• Automatically builds native packages (such as RPMs) from binary archives.
• Support on Unix platforms for building from source code with a common specification format.
• Provides command-line tools for developers and administrators who prefer building packages and writing installation scripts in a shell environment.

IDK tools and environment

The IDK includes the following:

• ISMTool - A command-line tool that creates, builds, and uploads ISMs.
• ISMUserTool - A command-line tool that specifies the users allowed to upload ISMs.
• Environment variables - Shell environment variables accessed by the ISMTool.
• Runtime libraries - The Server Automation routines that support the IDK tools.

Supported package types

You can use the IDK to create the following types of packages:

• AIX LPP
• HP-UX Depot
• RPM
• Solaris Package
• Windows MSI
• ZIP (Windows and Unix)