Installation of Macintosh system software is pretty flexible. After installing the Mac OS System Software, examine the Read Me file for any additional packages that you intend to install. Check to see if any order dependencies are mentioned (usually there are none). If there are no dependencies, you can usually install packages in any order.
The Apple Installer program will check to see if the system has later versions of software installed already. Generally, it will not let you downgrade, or go backwards, with respect to versions of software already installed as this could cause problems and is not what users would want to happen. Take, for example, a file like the Apple Shared Library Manager (ASLM), which comes with GeoPort, QuickTake, AppleShare 4.x, ARA MultiPort Server, Apple Internet Router, Apple IP Gateway, Open DB Connectivity, and MacSNMP. Not that you would want to install all of these products, but the order you install any set of them is unimportant. In this case, after installing some set of packages, the Installer will have placed the latest version of ASLM in the Extensions folder from whatever package contained the latest version.
Occasionally, the installer script will recognize that software could be downgraded by the installation and you will be presented with a warning stating that you are trying to install software that is older than what's already installed. That warning will allow you to cancel the whole installation or choose the Older or Newer component. We would recommend selecting Newer unless you are trying something out of the ordinary.
NOTE: Any version of ASLM greater than 1.1 is compatible with all software that utilizes the manager. There are no compatibility problems other than those for software written to the 1.0 ASLM API, of which all (that we are aware of) have been revised to the current API.
If you desire more of a roadmap, you should install packages in the order that they were released, as each package will have probably been tested with all packages before its release. To install packages in the order that they were released chronologically, note the modification date on the Installer script file, (not the installer application), by doing a Get Info of the Installer script document. These dates should correspond closely to the release date of the package. Installing in the order of release date should be a safe installation technique.
Article Change History:
01 May 1995 - Added note to article on ASLM 1.1 compatibility.
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