Documentation forPatch Manager

Publish custom software packages

The Patch Manager Publishing Wizard allows you to publish software packages to the WSUS server. Using the wizard, you can publish:

  • Entire packages (including all metadata and installers)
  • Metadata-only packages used to determine if a package is installed or required on target computers
  • Revision-only packages that update an existing package metadata and not the installation file

Below is an example of the Patch Manager Publishing Wizard dialog box.

The following table describes the options in the wizard.

Option Description
WSUS Server WSUS Server that stores the published packages.
Verify WSUS version compatibility and required signing certificate is distributed

Checks the versions and certificates in the publishing environment to ensure the publishing process is successful. WSUS requires all publishing environment components to run the same operating system, WSUS version, and publishing certificate to prevent API Mismatch errors.

Re-sign existing selected packages

Re-signs the selected packages with the current publishing certificate. Use this option when republishing packages that were previously signed by an earlier publishing certificate.
Delete package if it exists (select this if binaries have changed)

Installs new binary files in the selected packages. This option allows you to reuse an existing package definition.
Re-download packages that have already been downloaded Downloads the binary content for all packages, even if the content is already on the Patch Manager server. Use this option to ensure the content you publish to the WSUS server is the same as the content available from the vendor update publishing site.

Publish the packages to a WSUS server

After you publish the software packages, you can download and install the packages on your managed systems.

  1. Log in to Patch Manager as an administrator.
  2. In the navigation pane, expand Administration and Reporting > Software Publishing.
  3. Select the container that contains one or more packages you want to publish. For example, SolarWinds, Inc. Packages.
  4. Verify that the custom package has:
    • An FQDN file name with less than 260 characters
    • A directory name with less than 248 characters

    See this KB article for details.

  5. In the Actions pane, click Publish Packages.

  6. Complete the Patch Manager Publishing Wizard.

    1. Select the WSUS Server drop-down menu and select the WSUS server that will publish the packages.

      The wizard cannot publish packages to replica servers.

    2. Select an option as your initial selection method.
      • Select Publish selected packages to the WSUS server to start with only the packages you selected before launching the wizard.
      • Select Publish all packages to the WSUS Server to start with all available and selected packages. You can clear or modify these selections in the following step.
    3. Review the available packages and select the check box next to each package you want to publish. Clear the check box next to each package you do not want to publish.
    4. In the Content column for each selected package, select the Full, Metadata Only, or Revision Only version for publishing.

    5. Above the package selection pane, select any additional options, and click Next.

      The selected package is downloaded to the WSUS server.

  7. If you do not need to download any additional content, go to step 6.

    If you need to download any additional content, use the Package Download Assistant to download and import the content for packages that do not include the download links.

    After the Wizard completes the download, select each package you want to publish, and click Next.

    See Complete the Package Download Assistant Wizard.

  8. Review the publishing results, and then click Finish.

Complete the Package Download Assistant Wizard

Some software vendors (such as Oracle and Adobe) require you to accept a License Agreement before you can download and distribute a software package to your managed computers. When this occurs, the Patch Manager Publishing Wizard opens the Package Download Assistant Wizard and directs you to the vendor website. Here, you can accept the License Agreement, download the software package, and complete the options in the Patch Manager Publishing Wizard.

  1. In the Package Download Assistant window, select a package.
  2. Double-click the link below the package list.

  3. In the vendor download page, review the License Agreement. If you agree, accept the License Agreement.

  4. Download the file or archive for your selected package.

  5. In the Package Download Assistant window, complete any additional steps listed in the Package download description and instructions section.

    For example, extract the contents of the vendor's archive.

  6. Click Import Source.

  7. Navigate to the folder that contains the downloaded file and click Open.

    The wizard pre-populates the Select the download file package dialog box with the required file name. You do not need to select or specify a file during this step, except for the folder.

  8. Repeat step 2 through step 6 for any other packages listed in the wizard.
  9. Click OK.

  10. Complete the Patch Manager Publishing Wizard.