[Box Backup] Client distribution schemes?

[Per Thomsen]

On 3/22/05 6:25 AM, Ben Summers wrote:

>
> On 21 Mar 2005, at 18:57, Per Thomsen wrote:
>
>> I've been looking around for open-source ways to do automatic updates 
>> of software, and haven't had much luck.
>>
>> What I'd like to be able to do is to update the client software 
>> (bbackupd), in an automated fashion, like Windows Update, or OS X 
>> Software Update.
>>
>> Does anyone here know of OSS projects that do this?
>>
>> I would consider writing something like this, but would obviously 
>> like not to re-invent the wheel.
>
>
> I began writing such a thing when I found there was nothing which did 
> quite what I needed.
>
> Maybe stuff like the debian apt-get thing might work if used with a 
> private repository and on a cronjob?
>
> Or just a simple script to download a file, check it's signed by the 
> right key, and untar and run a script within if it is?

If I were only worried about Unices, there are things like yum, apt-get, 
even up2date for that. Windows is my main concern. Most of my clients 
are running on Windows, so being able to have them update by themselves 
is a key requirement.

I don't think the problem is very complex. Unless I'm missing something, 
all you need to do on Windows (after the installation is complete), is 
to update the files. No other magic required, AFAICT (I'm specifically 
thinking of Registry magic). On other platforms, things are pretty 
simple, as Ben says.

I'd make it cross-platform, so the same system can be used on all 
platforms. Possibly Java...

Interest in this? I know it's not really related to Box, but I know I 
could use if to keep my clients up-to-date.

Thanks,
Per

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Per Reedtz Thomsen | Reedtz Consulting, LLC | F: 209 883 4119
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