DSS Service Deployment Alternatives

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DSS Service Deployment Alternatives

Depending on the requirements and needs, Decentralized Software Services (DSS) provides several alternative methods of deploying services. In most cases, creating a deployment package covers the needs but in some cases, using the Windows Installer or even XCopy may be better suited. In all case, please refer to the End User License for distribution rights.

Deploy Packages

The DSS Deploy Tool (DssDeploy.exe) utility, which is provided as part of DSS, can be used to create and unpack self-extracting archives for deploying service implementations across nodes and for distributing services to other parties. Deploy packages are tailored for service deployment and contain everything needed for services to be executed on another node or machine and can contain binaries, source code, and documentation. This enables deploy packages to be used for internal deployment of service implementations, for example to an autonomous robot, as well as for distributing and sharing service implementations with other parties. For example, by making deploy packages available for download over the Web.

DSS Deploy Tool (DssDeploy.exe) operates by creating a self-extracting executable, deploy package, containing a specified set of files that can be unpacked on the target node. Deploy packages can be created in one of two ways:

  1. As a self-contained set of files that can be extracted and run without an existing DSS installation on the target machine. This package contains the DSS runtime and other components necessary to run independently of any other DSS runtime files.
  2. As a package targeting an existing DSS installation. This package only contains the components necessary for running the included services but not the DSS runtime. By installing a package the services become available to run as part of the DSS installation together with any other services present within that installation. 

The two types of deploy packages cover different scenarios as covered in Deploying DSS Services.

XCopy Command

The DOS XCopy command is a simple way to copy a service or entire runtime from one location to another. However, for all but the simplest cases, it is recommended that you deploy your services using a DSS Deploy Package rather than using XCopy. To see the command-line syntax and options for the XCopy command, type XCopy /? in a command-prompt window.

Third-Party Installation Tools

In addition to DSS Deploy Tool (DssDeploy.exe) which is included in DSS, installation tools that support Windows Installer may be available from third-party vendors; these tools may support additional Windows Installer features that are not provided by DSS.

See Also 

Microsoft Robotics Studio Developer Center: Licensing

 

 

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