Create and Install Software Bundles (IT Departments)

This article provides instructions for the Atera for IT Departments platform.

You can create and install software bundles on individual devices, folders, or on all or some of your user's devices, for the purposes of quickly and efficiently getting necessary software installed all at once. You can create bundles geared to Windows or Mac OS, an employee's job, department or managerial level, or any kind of bundle that serves your needs. Bundles are installed via Chocolatey for Windows and Homebrew for Mac and can be edited, deleted, and cloned as well. Additionally, software bundle installation can be automated and scheduled.

Create a Software Bundle

The first step is to create a software bundle.

To create:

1. From Admin, on the side panel, click on Software Bundles.

The Software Bundles page appears.

2. Click New Bundle, on the upper right of the page.

3. Select an OS type for your bundle.

The bundle creation screen appears.

4. Give your bundle a name

5. Search for software by typing in a software name (autocomplete will help), then click Add software. Do this as many times as necessary to add all the needed software.

6. When done, click Save.

The software bundle is created.

Install a Software Bundle  

This section explains how to install your software bundle. Bundles can be installed on individual devices, folders, or on all or some of your user's devices.

Install a Software Bundle on An Individual Device

You can install a software bundle on an individual device.

To install:

1. Locate the specific device (either from the Devices page or from the Site's page > Devices tab).

2. Click the Manage dropdown menu, next to the specific device, and select Software Installation.

The Software Installation screen appears.

3. Click the Software Bundle tab.

4. Select your software bundle from the dropdown menu, and click Install.

The bundle installs on the device.

Install a Bundle on Multiple Devices

You can install a bundle on all or some of your users' Windows or Mac OS devices, or on folders.

Note: Bundles are created by OS type, so when installing a bundle on multiple devices, it will install on all devices that match the OS. 

To install from the Devices page: 

1. From the Devices page, select the specific devices on which you'd like to install a bundle. You can also select all devices.

2. Click the (software installation) icon.

The Software Installation screen appears.

3. Click the Software Bundle tab.

4. In the Automation Expiration field, you can select whether to install the software bundle on online devices only or to keep the task in the queue for a set amount of time, till the device goes back online.

5. Select a bundle from the Software Bundle dropdown menu.

6. Click Install.

The software bundle installs on the selected device(s).

To install on an individual user's devices:

1. From the Sites page, click on the specific site.

The site appears.

2. From the Devices tab, click the All tab. 

3. Select the specific device(s), or all devices, by checking the boxes, then clicking the icon.

The Software Installation screen appears.

4. Click the Software Bundle tab.

5. Fill out the form:

• Select the specific devices you'd like to install the bundle on or select all devices.
• Select the Automation Expiration
• Select the software bundle

6. Click Install.

The bundle installs on the selected device(s).

To install on a site folder:

1. From a site's page, click the Devices tab, then the Folders tab.

2.  From the Folders dropdown menu, click the specific folder on which you'd like to install a software bundle.

3. Click to open the Actions dropdown menu and select Software Installation.

Follow the instructions given above (for installation on an individual site's devices) to install the software bundle.

Edit, Clone, or Delete Software Bundles

You can edit, clone, or delete software bundles by going to Admin (on the side panel) > Software Bundles

The Software Bundles page appears.

To edit:  Click the icon next to the bundle you'd like to edit. Make your changes and click Save.

To clone: Click the icon next to the bundle you'd like to clone. The bundle will be cloned and appear in the bundles' list.

To delete: Click the icon next to the bundle you'd like to delete. After confirmation, the bundle will be deleted.