Re-using PEAR installer as software setup program

Hi, Before I look into the code or write a whole different package, I'd like to know if it would be possible to re-use the PEAR installer as generic installer. What I would like to do is provide a site structure, a source pointer and run a script (for instance the PEAR installer) that would create the structure. The structure would include symbolic links and require checking permissions on file and folders. As a starter I could use a .tar file with my structure and just run a shell strict to unpack it where I want. However, that wouldn't provide me with any way of checking and repairing any existing structure. So my questions have several folds: 1. Can the current package.xml supports things such as links, symbolic links and file permissions declarations? 2. Can the PEAR installer create symbolic links regardless of the OS? 3. Can the PEAR installer check permissions on files and folders? 4. If not all of them are currently possible, what would it take to make that happen? (and is it even desirable?) If not, then a new package would need to be created... I think what I'm getting at is: Can we use the PEAR installer as a software setup program...? I vaguely read about the "channel". Would this topic better fall under that? My guess is that the PEAR installer has no support for links and permission checking. But that's just a guess... Also, in an automated environment, the installer would need the ability to e-mail an admin. or somewhat log problem that need human assistance. Let me know, -Philippe