Abstract: A system for controlling the distribution of software in a customized configuration to a plurality of computers in a network environment, comprising console means for creating distribution control information which is both associated with the software and related to said customized configuration, server means responsive to the console means for storing the software and the distribution control information; agent means resident on each computer for downloading the software in accordance with the distribution control information and a token authorization signal from a token server means, and token server means for controlling the number of users simultaneously distributing the software, the token server means responsive to a token request signal from the agent means to provide a token authorization signal to the agent means authorizing the agent means to download the software onto the corresponding computer.

Abstract: A system for distributing software in a customized configuration, to pre-selected computers in a network environment, includes a workstation running a console, a workstation running an agent, and a file server. The workstation running the console creates distribution control information which dictates how the software is distributed and to what agent based workstations under a given set of conditions. The distribution control information is stored on the file server where it is subsequently downloaded from by the agent based workstation which meets the conditions for a particular configuration of the software.