Setting Up Automated Upgrading Of Client Applications

The Application Server includes an automated upgrade feature that allows the System Administrator to quickly distribute a new version of MetaCommunications software to all users of that software. When automated upgrading has been set up, a user who tries to connect to the Application Server using an older version of a client application will be prompted to update the client software. If the user agrees to the software update, a newer version of the program is downloaded from the Application Server; this newer version replaces and starts in the place of the older version.

Setting up automated upgrading of client applications

1. Create a “Clients” folder on the Windows Server running the MetaCommunications Application Server. This folder should be created within the folder in which your MetaCommunications Application Server is located.

EX: C:\Program Files\MetaCommunications\Application Server\Clients

1. Set this folder to be a shared folder accessible to both Macintosh and Windows computers.
2. Unpack the Mac OS X desktop client application(s) from their distribution packages. The Mac OS X desktop client applications should be downloaded to and unpacked on a computer running Mac OS X.
3. Copy the unpacked OS X desktop client applications into the shared Clients folder. Mac OS X desktop client applications should be copied to the Clients folder from the Mac OS X computer from which they were initially downloaded.
4. Copy the Virtual Ticket or Digital Storage Manager Desktop Client Installer for Windows to the shared Clients folder.
5. Rename the unpacked Mac OS X desktop client application files and Virtual Ticket or Digital Storage Manager Installer for Windows file according to the following convention: <program name code><platform><version>.

EX: VT-W-7.5.1960 (File name for Virtual Ticket Desktop Client Installer for Windows)

EX: DSM-W-2.5.2108 (File name for Digital Storage Manager Desktop Client Installer for Windows)

EX: VT-X-7.5.1960 (File name for Virtual Ticket desktop client application for Mac OS X)

EX: DSM-X-2109 (File name for Digital Storage Manager desktop client application for Mac OS X)

Note: Be sure to remove the .exe extension from the Windows client program names.

At this point you have set up automated upgrading. The next time a user attempts to log in with their desktop client, the client will check the shared Clients folder to see if a version of the application (Mac OS X) or Installer (Windows) exists that is different than the one currently being used to log in. If a different version exists, the user will be asked whether or not s/he wants to upgrade to the version available in the shared Clients folder.

Common Problems with Automated Upgrading

There are several common preventable errors that users frequently encounter when attempting to use automated upgrading. Please review the following list for more information:

• Automated upgrading will not work unless the file names are correct.
• A file with an incorrect <program name code> and/or <platform> in the file name will not be available to the client application users as an upgrade.
• A program with a correct <program name code> and <platform> but an incorrect <version> in the file name will cause the Application Server to prompt users to upgrade each time they attempt to log in.
• A Windows client program with the .exe extension contained in the file name will cause the Application Server to prompt users to upgrade each time they attempt to log in.
• Do not attempt to automatically upgrade a desktop client for Windows if the currently installed desktop client was not installed via the desktop client installer. Doing so may have unpredictable results.

Note: The Application Server will not automatically download MetaCommunications software updates as they become available. When a new software version is released, the administrator should download it, follow the upgrade instructions in the release notes (which may require upgrading the Application Server), unpack and copy the client programs to the Clients folder, and rename the client programs as described above.