A method of distributing a software package comprising a plurality of software components to one or more target machines comprising: receiving a software package for updating one or more target machines; defining at least target machines for download of the software package with a software maintenance system; providing the software package to a software distribution system comprised of a plurality of parts, wherein each part is used by one of a plurality of potential target machines for downloading of a given software package to the respective machine; controlling selected software distribution system parts with the software maintenance system to download the software package to a required one or more target machines.