Pismo Self Mounting Installer/Executable

Pismo Self Mounting Installer (SMX) is a technology that facilitates distribution of large multi-file applications and install packages as a single executable file. Unlike existing self extraction technologies, SMX allows the contents of the executable package to be used without requiring extraction to a temporary folder in the users file system.

Self mounting packages are created using ptiso to create a Compact File Set with a special executable stub incorporating Pismo File Mount technology. Ptiso and the needed self mounting stub files are included in Pismo File Mount Audit Package.

The stub files included in PFMAP require that PFMAP is installed in order to function. Stub files are available for use in commercial applications that work independently of PFMAP. Refer to Pismo File Mount Licensing for information regarding licensing and support in commercial applications.

Features

• Compression
• File splitting/spanning
• Password based strong encryption
• Digital signing for software distribution

Compression indexing, choice of ZIP or LZMA compression algorithms, and configurable compression frame size, allow optimization of performance and package size.

SMX packages can be signed using the same Authenticode certificates and signing tools used for Windows executables and CAB files.

The Pismo File Mount Audit Package is distributed as a self mounting installer. Users that have installed PFMAP have already seen SMX in action, but probably did not notice it.

Benefits over existing technologies

• Improved user experience. User does not have to wait for extraction before installer or application starts.
• No extra extraction related UI or dialogs. All users see is the packaged application or installer.
• On-the-fly package authenticy checks eliminate verification pass through package.
• Faster install times due to eliminated extraction time and authenticy check.
• Better compression in many cases.
• Reduced hard drive space required during installation processing.
• No temp folder cleanup required after exit.
• No performance penalty for including optional files in package. Files that are not used by the application or installer are never read from the package.
• SMX packages can be converted to an ISO file and burned to CD/DVD media.

Documentation

The needed stub files are installed to the Pismo File Mount Audit Package program folder, typically c:\Program Files\Pismo File Mount Audit Package . Ptiso is installed to the Windows folder and can be run from the command prompt. Syntax help for ptiso is provided at the command prompt.

More documentation on SMX will be available in the future. Users are encouraged to send inquries to Pismo Technic Inc. support with questions and feedback regarding SMX.