Deployments and deployment areas
To deploy Spotfire software, the administrator places software packages in a deployment area and assigns the deployment area to particular groups.
If a new deployment is available when a user logs in to a Spotfire client, the software packages are downloaded from the server to the client.
- To set up a new Spotfire system.
- To install a product upgrade or extension.
- To install a custom tool or extension.
A group of software packages (.spk files) can be bundled together into a distribution (.sdn file). A distribution can be copied to create a new deployment area, or downloaded for deployment to another Spotfire Server.
Every user is associated with at least one deployment area; by default, this is the Production area that is created when you install Spotfire Server, but you can designate any area as the default.
Some users have access to more than one deployment area because they belong to several groups that are associated with different deployment areas. In this case, users are prompted to choose a deployment area when they log in to the Spotfire client.
Whether a user has access to a particular feature contained in a distribution depends on the licenses that are assigned to that user's groups. For more information, see Groups and licenses introduction.
Administrators usually create a Test deployment area to use as a staging server; when the new software has been thoroughly tested in their Spotfire environment, the distribution is copied to a production area.
- Creating a new deployment area
Deployment areas contain software packages that you make available to certain groups. You can create a new deployment area for a Spotfire update or extension, for custom tools created in your organization, and so on. - Adding software packages to a deployment area
When Spotfire releases updates, or if your company creates custom tools or other software elements, the administrator adds these to a deployment area so that they can be uploaded to Spotfire Server. Then the server distributes the new software to the appropriate groups, as selected by the administrator. - Copying a distribution to another deployment area
You can copy a distribution from one deployment area to another when you are ready to move it from a test area to a production area, or if you want to create a new deployment based on an existing one. - Exporting a distribution
You can download a local copy of a distribution (.sdn file) for deployment to another Spotfire Server. - Changing the default deployment area
The default deployment area is available to all groups for which no deployment area has been set. During installation, Spotfire Server adds a "Production" deployment area and sets it as the default, but you can change the default area to give users access to new software packages. - Renaming a deployment area
You can rename any deployment area in your system. - Removing packages from a deployment area
You can edit the contents of any of your deployment areas. - Clearing all packages from a deployment area
If you want to create a new deployment in an existing deployment area, you can clear the area of its contents. - Deleting a deployment area
You can delete a deployment area that is no longer needed. The software packages in that area will be removed as well.
- Creating a new deployment area
Deployment areas contain software packages that you make available to certain groups. You can create a new deployment area for a Spotfire update or extension, for custom tools created in your organization, and so on. - Adding software packages to a deployment area
When Spotfire releases updates, or if your company creates custom tools or other software elements, the administrator adds these to a deployment area so that they can be uploaded to Spotfire Server. Then the server distributes the new software to the appropriate groups, as selected by the administrator. - Copying a distribution to another deployment area
You can copy a distribution from one deployment area to another when you are ready to move it from a test area to a production area, or if you want to create a new deployment based on an existing one. - Exporting a distribution
You can download a local copy of a distribution (.sdn file) for deployment to another Spotfire Server. - Changing the default deployment area
The default deployment area is available to all groups for which no deployment area has been set. During installation, Spotfire Server adds a "Production" deployment area and sets it as the default, but you can change the default area to give users access to new software packages. - Renaming a deployment area
You can rename any deployment area in your system. - Removing packages from a deployment area
You can edit the contents of any of your deployment areas. - Clearing all packages from a deployment area
If you want to create a new deployment in an existing deployment area, you can clear the area of its contents. - Deleting a deployment area
You can delete a deployment area that is no longer needed. The software packages in that area will be removed as well.