System for software distribution in a digital computer network

A method of distributing a software update to one or more target machines, comprising the steps of:

• establishing a software distribution server;
• establishing an installation agent at each target machine;
• polling the software distribution server at predefined intervals to determine if any software updates exist;
• if a software update exists, packaging the software update within a software package and transferring the software package to each target machine, wherein the software package includes the software update and installation commands for installing the software update;
• and
• installing the software update at the target machine, wherein the step of installing the software update includes the steps of:
• alerting the installation agent that a software package has arrived;
• and
• executing commands within the installation agent to send an install message to the software package, wherein the install message causes the software package to execute the installation commands.

A system for distributing software, comprising:

• a computer network;
• a plurality of target machines, wherein each target machine includes an installation agent;
• and
• a network management server connected to the plurality of target machines by the computer network, wherein the network management server includes:
• packaging program code for packaging the software within a software package, wherein the software package includes the software and installation commands for installing the software;
• transfer program code for transferring the software package to each target machine;
• wherein the target machine include program code for alerting the installation agent that a software package has arrived;
• wherein the installation agents include messaging program code for sending an install message to the software package in order to cause the software package to execute the installation commands.