Choose a Method for Distributing Packages

[allen_h]

This document is part of the NI Package Management Portal.

Choose a Method for Distributing Packages

These are the main methods to distribute and install packages:

• NI Package Manager GUI
• NI Package Manager CLI / API
• SystemLink
• Package Installer

The table below describes the scenarios in which each method is beneficial.  Click on the links in the left column to view step-by-step instructions for each method.

Method	Scenarios
NI Package Manager GUI	End-user on target computer(s) can use the NIPM GUI to easily browse, install, update, and remove their desired packages.
NI Package Manager CLI or API	Automate NIPM tasks Create your own custom package management GUIs Integrate NIPM tasks into your own applications (e.g. update notifications)
SystemLink	Admin can use SystemLink to mass-deploy and push package installations and upgrades to n target computers You gain all the other benefits of SystemLink (systems management, data visualization services, automated test insights, etc). Refer to www.ni.com/systemlink and the Getting Started with SystemLink page.
Package Installer (link TBD)	Install package(s) on a clean target computer, which does not have any NI software (including NIPM) installed beforehand Install package(s) on a target computer that is not connected to internet/intranet/network. You can create Package Installers using LabVIEW NXG 2.0 or later and LabVIEW 2019 or later and NI Package Builder.