Setting Up FlexApp Packaging Automation

Download the FlexApp Packaging Automation framework from the FlexApp Packaging Automation page.

Note: FPA requires a set of internal credentials, such as prou_services, to secure the API. These are specified during installation and consumed during package creation. They are not used to access any resources and are not linked to Active Directory.

Preparing the Primary Packaging Manager

To prepare the Primary Packaging Manager, complete the following steps:

  1. From an elevated Command Prompt, install the Primary Packaging Manager:
  2. Copy 
    fpa-installer.exe install primary /PrimaryUsername "fpa_services" /PrimaryPassword "<pass>" /AcceptEULA
  3. If you want, add

  4. Copy 
    "C:\Program Files (x86) \Liquidware Labs\FlexApp Packaging Automation"

  5. to your PATH environment variable and open a new cmd.exe. Otherwise cd there now.

Preparing the Packaging Capture Agents

Liquidware recommends that required frameworks and runtimes be natively installed on end user and Packaging Capture Agent VMs for reduced package overhead. This will happen automatically. In addition, the Capture Agent OS will be optimized for the same reason.

To prepare the Packaging Capture Agents, complete the following steps:

  1. Create a new VM for use as a Packaging Capture Agent machine.

  2. Note: An alternative method for creating Packaging Capture Agents is to clone your existing, already-optimized FlexApp Packaging Console VM and then uninstall the FPC software, reboot and that clone is ready to become an FPA Packaging Capture Agent.

  3. From an elevated Command Prompt, install the Packaging Capture Agent:
  4. Copy 
    fpa-installer.exe install agent /AgentUsername "fpa_services" /AgentPassword "<pass>" /PrimaryAddress <https://primary:9075> /PrimaryUsername "fpa_services" /PrimaryPassword "<password>" /AcceptEULA
  5. Ensure you have a “clean state” snapshot taken after installing the Packaging Capture Agent to which you can revert, if needed.

  6. Note: The optional /PrimaryAddress arguments will auto-register this new agent with your Primary Packaging Manager, saving you the step of running Add Agent using Primary-Client.exe later. Agents added in this manner are registered using their FQDN rather than IP address.

  7. Verify your Agent using the primary-client.exe List Agent command.

(Optional) Installing the Remote Packaging CLI

To install the Remote Packaging CLI, complete the following steps:

  1. If you want to run commands from another machine instead of needing to run them from the Primary Packaging Manager, you can install the Remote Packaging CLI on another workstation:
  2. Copy 
    fpa-installer.exe install /AcceptEULA
  3. (Optional) Add the following to your PATH environment variable: 
  4. Copy 
    "C:\Program Files (x86)\Liquidware Labs\FlexApp Packaging Automation"