When it is time to install new software on all hosts in
a network, you can use provisioning to speed the process of upgrading
each remote host. This procedure uses the add button.
The Niagara Network Job Builder (for
a one-time job) or the Niagara Network Prototype View (for a prototype job) is already open.
- If you are using a remote PC, connect to the Supervisor station.
- In the Niagara Network Job Prototype view, click the
(add) button to add the Install Software step to the job.The system opens the Install Software window in which you select the software modules or .dist files to
install.
- Click the triangle to expand an artifact to display available
module version numbers. Select the version(s) and click OK.
Note: In
Niagara 4.8 and later, in the
Install Software window there is added support for filtering the list of available artifacts for installation (by version or module name), and for making multiple selections of artifacts for installation in a single provisioning step. The Install Software Step will install all modules selected from the
Install Software window.
-
To filter available artifacts, click in the text box next to the
(Filter icon) and start typing the artifact name (as shown) or version. The list of available artifacts will automatically be filtered to match the search string.
-
To make multiple selections, press the Ctrl key while you click on multiple artifacts.

Once added, the Install Software step appears
in the
Job Steps List.
To satisfy dependencies,
if the software has dependencies on one or more modules that are not
yet installed on a particular host, and the modules are in the Supervisor’s software registry, the step automatically
includes the modules in the processing for host (station).
Note: It is your (provisioning user’s) responsibility to ensure
that platform dependencies of the software are met by the hosts running
the target stations. For example, it is permissible to have a job
with an Install Software step that includes stations running on different
platform types. However, if a step installs a distribution file specific
to one type of controller, note that the dependency check may fail
on a different type of device, with no software being installed on
that host.
A slightly different step (InstallStep) is created when
you copy/drag a backup .dist file into the Job Steps List. A backup .dist is not a versioned install (nor is it a FileCopyStep).
To run the provisioning job more efficiently, the system combines
Install Software steps with other software install steps, copy file
steps, and upgrade out-of-date-software steps.