Overview
The smart update feature is designed to facilitate keeping the software
applications and supporting documents up to date between scheduled releases.
It can be used to update a particular application or an entire software
suite of a client company. By removing the need to create and test patch
installations this feature should encourage more frequent updates of the
software.
System Requirements
The only specific requirement is an active Internet connection, in
general any machine that can run the application software successfully will
have access to the smart update feature.
How It Works
The most important aspect of this feature is that it does not require any
changes whatsoever to the application software or to the current
distribution method. It is a completely separate applet that is added to the
software suite. When launched it searches an FTP site hosted either by the
client company or by Novinsoft, (at extra cost), for updated application
files and updates the user’s machine. Following is an overview of the
process:
- The smart update applet can be launched in a variety of ways, either
automatically by the main menu or by the user via a shortcut. It accepts
command line parameters to direct its search to the appropriate FTP site.
Running the applet does not prevent the user from continuing with normal
work, it is completely separate from the software applications.
- If the applet does not find any updated files on the Internet, it will
exit with no actions being taken.
- Any file that is new or updated is added to the download queue. At the
end of the search, the user will be presented with the total size of the
download and asked whether to proceed with the update at this time or to
postpone it.
- If the user accepts the update, the files will be downloaded to a
temporary directory, a dialog will keep the user appraised of the progress
at all times displaying useful information. Each file is checked against
the source to ensure the download is correctly performed. If any file does
not match the source the update process will abort.
- At the end of a successful download, the user will be asked to close
all applications that are about to be updated before proceeding. The
updated process will then continue, every file about to be updated is
first saved to a temporary location, if any of the file does not update
successfully, the update will abort and the files already updated will be
restored. The application suite is either 100% updated or it will be
restored to its original state.
- Only after checking each updated file against the source one more time
will the update process conclude successfully and the temporary files
deleted.
- The user will be able to resume his work immediately, a reboot is not
required.
Special Case: Locked Down System Configuration
In large corporations or MGAs it is possible that only users with
Administrative privileges are allowed write / modify access to the folder
where the application suite is installed effectively locking the end user
out of the update process. Under normal circumstances the update applet will
not be allowed to overwrite the application files and the updated process
will fail.
Novinsoft has addressed this situation by introducing “impersonation”
support in the update applet. While a detailed discussion of the Microsoft
Windows impersonation functionality is beyond the scope of this document, in
short, even if the user running the applet does not have the necessary
permissions to update the application suite, the applet can temporarily be
assigned the permissions of an Administrator or other user with extended
privileges allowing it to complete its work. Since the end user never has
access to the username and password of the privileged account security is
never compromised. Please contact us to discuss your specific security
arrangements.
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