What could be the best way to automatically update ActiveX components remotely?

[RB]

Hi

We have an ActiveX component that is installated on the user machine when he or she access the web page and accept the installation on the security warning screen

The problem is that this ActiveX gets upgraded (new functionality or fixes) very often, and we do not want the user to accept a download every time and therefore register new components (different GUIDS) without deleting the old one. Instead, we want to have this nice "Update" kind of software that runs periodically an advise the user that there are upgrades available

I have checked some installation products but their functionality to address this is not clear, at least at their websites

Can somebody recommend a product or approach on how to do this

Thank you in advance.

[Felix Wang]

Hi,

Thanks for posting.

I have a doubt with this updating approach. From the HTML page, the user is
using the old version of the ActiveX control. As the control is in use, it
is difficult that it download the new control and replace itself, without
rebooting.

Will reboooting be acceptable? In addition, we may also need to consider
about the user privilege issue.

Regards,

Felix Wang
Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
This posting is provided "as is" with no warranties and confers no rights.

[RB]

Hi, thank you for the reply

No, rebooting wouldn't be an option because it is a collaboration tool and the user is entering in a conference, so they usually have few minutes to get the tool upgraded and of course need to have the option to do it later

Thanks.

[Yan-Hong Huang[MSFT]]

Hello,

For this issue, I think we may need to make sure of several things first:

1) When deplying ActiveX control in HTML page through cab file, the GUID
won't be changed generally. The useful part here is the control's version
and inf file. If IE found a newer control is available, it will download it
automatically and replace the older version. GUID is the same.

2) Why does the security warning dialog pop up? It depends on IE security
setting. If you set IE to pop up a dialog when installing a unsigned
ActiveX control, this problem happens. The solution is to sign the ActiveX
control via digital signature.

For details, please refer to MSDN article "Deploying ActiveX Controls on
the Web with the Internet Component Download"
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnaxctrl/html/msdn_deplactx.asp?fram
e=true

3) For those update software, do you mean those like windows update? If so,
please refer to BITS topic in MSDN:
"Write Auto-Updating Apps with .NET and the Background Intelligent Transfer
Service API"
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/03/02/BITS/

"Background Intelligent Transfer Service"
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/bits/bits/bits_start_page.asp?frame=
true

Does that answer your question?

Best regards,
Yanhong Huang
Microsoft Community Support

Get Secure! šC www.microsoft.com/security
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

[RB]

Hi

Actually, the version info could be the right solution

Thank you for your reply.

[Yan-Hong Huang[MSFT]]

You are welcome. :)

Best regards,
Yanhong Huang
Microsoft Community Support

Get Secure! šC www.microsoft.com/security
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.