软件包这一术语出现于20世纪60年代。60年代初，IBM公司曾将IBM1400系列上的应用程序库改造成更为灵活易用的软件包形式。 Informatics公司根据用户需求，以包的形式设计并开发了自动流程图生成包AUTOFLOW。1969年，软件开始从计算机系统中分离出来成为独立成分，软件包这个术语开始广泛使用。
软件包由一个基本配置和若干可选部件构成，既可以是源代码形式，也可以是目标码形式。用户手册和指南等文档是软件包的重要组成部分。此外，软件包的维护及技术支持也是非常必要的
软件包是对于一种软件所进行打包的方式。在不同的操作系统中，软件包的类型有很大的区别。
对于Linux、BSD系统
在Linux、BSD系统中，软件包主要以两种形式出现：二进制包以及源代码包。 主要的二进制包格式有：
rpm
deb
Autopackage
源代码包则主要适用于自由软件的安装，用户需要自己编译它们。
对于Windows系统
在Windows中，软件包大多数以安装程序的方式出现，可以将软件安装在制定的目录中，也有直接使用压缩工具打包的，解压缩之后便可运行。
IBM Tivoli Access Manager for Operating Systems 软件包由下列 CD 组成：
IBM Tivoli Access Manager for Operating Systems for AIX, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager for Operating Systems for Solaris, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager for Operating Systems for HP-UX, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager for Operating Systems for Linux on xSeries, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager for Operating Systems for Linux on zSeries(R), Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager for Operating Systems for Linux on pSeries and iSeries, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager for Operating Systems Framework Support, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager for Operating Systems Language Support, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Base for AIX, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Base for Solaris, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Base for HP-UX, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Base for Linux on xSeries, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Base for Linux on zSeries, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Base for Linux for pSeries and iSeries, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Base for Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows
2000, and Windows 2003, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Directory Server for AIX, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Directory Server 1 of 2 for Solaris , Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Directory Server 2 of 2 for Solaris , Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Directory Server for HP-UX , Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Directory Server for Linux on xSeries, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Directory Server for Linux on zSeries, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Directory Server for Linux for pSeries and iSeries,
Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Directory Server for Windows 2000 and Windows
2003, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Web Administration Interfaces for AIX, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Web Administration Interfaces for Solaris, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Web Administration Interfaces for HP-UX, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Web Administration Interfaces for Linux on xSeries, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Web Administration Interfaces for Linux on zSeries, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Web Administration Interfaces for Linux on pSeries
and iSeries, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Web Administration Interfaces for Windows 2000,
Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Web Administration Interfaces for Windows 2003,
Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager WebSphere Fix Pack for AIX, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager WebSphere Fix Pack for Solaris , Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager WebSphere Fix Pack for HP-UX, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager WebSphere Fix Pack for Linux on xSeries, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager WebSphere Fix Pack for Windows 2000, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Language Support for AIX, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Language Support for Solaris, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Language Support for HP-UX, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Language Support for Linux on xSeries, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Language Support for Linux on zSeries, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Language Support for Linux on pSeries and iSeries, Version 5.1
IBM Tivoli Access Manager Language Support for Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 2003, Version 5.1
