Creating a Software Distribution Package in the BigFix UI

Create a Package in the BigFix UI Software Distribution to define the metadata for a software application — including its title, publisher, version, operating system, and architecture — establishing the container that will hold its installer files and deployment tasks.

Before you begin

You must enable the Software Distribution site. Also, you must have access to at least one BigFix Custom Site and the permission to create Tasks within it. If you are migrating a package from the legacy BigFix Console or WebUI, export it from the legacy tool first and use the Import path in Step 2 below instead. See Limitations and Legacy Compatibility.

About this task

A Package is the foundational entity in BigFix Software Distribution. Before you can upload installer files or create deployment tasks, a Package must exist to hold them. Creating a Package in the BigFix UI automatically creates a corresponding Software entry that groups this Package with any future versions or platform variants of the same application.

Procedure

  1. Navigate to Explore > Software in the BigFix UI left navigation panel.
    Figure 1. BigFix UI Software Explorer page — List of Available Software

    Screenshot of the BigFix UI Software Explorer page displaying a list of available software entries. Columns show Publisher, Software title, number of Packages, number of Files, number of Tasks, and an Edit software icon. The toolbar includes Filter, Column, Density controls, a Delete software button, a Search field, and an Add software button.
    The Software Explorer page opens, showing all Software entries accessible to your account.
  2. Click + Add software in the top-right corner of the page. The Add software page opens.
  3. As step 1, under Create Software, fill the following fields:
    Figure 2. Add Software Wizard — Step 1: Create Software Fields

    The Add Software wizard, Step 1: Create Software. Two required input fields are shown — Software Title and Publisher — with a Next button at the bottom right to advance to the Package step.
    Table 1. Create software — Fields
    Field Description Example
    Software Title (required) The name of the application. NewsPaperCreator
    Publisher (required) The vendor or publisher of the application. PrintingInc
    Click Next →. The Package page opens.
  4. As step 2, under Create package, fill the following details:
    Figure 3. Add Software Wizard — Step 2: Package Site Selection Option

    The Add Software wizard, Step 2: Create Package Details. A BigFix site drop-down lets the user select which Custom Site the package will be published to. The Create Package metadata form showing six input fields: Name of the package (required), Version (required), OS, Architecture (required), Category, and Description. A Next button advances to the Summary page.
    Table 2. Package Metadata Fields
    Field Description Example
    BigFix site Select the name of the BigFix site where this package will be published. ACME_IT_Support
    Name of the package (required) A human-readable display label for this specific package variant. NewsPaperCreator package
    Version (required) The version number of the software. 2.4
    OS The target operating system for this package. Windows
    Architecture (required) The target processor architecture. x64
    Category The functional category of the software. Content Creation
    Description A brief description of the software and its purpose. A modern desktop publishing suite.
    Click Next →. The Summary page opens.
  5. Review your selections on the Summary page. This summary includes Software Details and Package Details.
    Figure 4. Add Software Wizard — Summary Page Before Submission

    The Add Software wizard Summary page, showing a read-only review of the entries made in the previous steps. Software Details (Software Title, Publisher) and Package Details (Name, Version, OS, Architecture, Category, Description, BigFix site) are listed. A Back button allows corrections; a Submit button creates the package.
    To make changes click ← Back else click Submit.
  6. Save the Package to create it in the BigFix Platform.

Results

The Package is created and appears under the new Software entry in the Software Explorer. The Package details view is now open and ready for the next step — uploading installer files. BigFix creates the Package as a non-deployable task in the platform (named SWD_Package_xxxxxxxxxxx) and opens the Software Details page for the new Software entry.
Figure 5. Software Details Page — Package Successfully Created

The BigFix UI Software Details page immediately after a package is created successfully. The page shows the new Software entry with its associated Package listed, along with empty Files and Tasks tabs ready for the next steps in the workflow. A success notification confirms the package was created.

What to do next

Proceed to upload the installer and supporting files for this Package. See Step 2 — Add Files to the Package.