Updating IOS Clients

Document Version 1.2
IOS Version 1.0

Contents:

1. Overview
2. Security Note
3. The Update Scripts
4. Step 1: Upload the Client
5. Step 2: Setting the Version
6. How it Works
7. Troubleshooting
      7.1 No Pop-up Update Occurs
      7.2 Pop-up Keeps Happening

1. Overview

Newer versions of the REBOL/Link client can be distributed to users through the IOS file sharing mechanism.

Here is the process in a nutshell:

• A new copy of REBOL/Link is uploaded to the IOS server.
• Users are informed via a pop-up message.
• Users can then download the new version.
• The new version will automatically install and restart.

REBOL/Link clients that run on systems other than Microsoft Windows can also be updated. The correct client will be selected automatically.

2. Security Note

The update process must be performed from the system administrator account or by a user who has full admin privileges (as set by the user-admin application in the admin arena). This is required to prevent unauthorized modification of the REBOL/Link client software.

3. The Update Scripts

The update scripts are found in your Admin arena in a folder called "Update". You will see these scripts:

Install Set-version Up-exe Update

These scripts will be described below.

Note: To see the Admin arena, you must log in as the Admin user. (In addition, once you have logged in as admin you will need to post a message to conference or some other application to force the client to synchronize the admin files on your local client.)

4. Step 1: Upload the Client

The first step is to upload the new REBOL/Link client software.

Only Upload Your Official Client

You should only upload a REBOL/Link that has been provided specifically for you from REBOL Technologies. Do not upload any other program, as it may not contain the correct encryption keys. (For instance, do not upload the REBOL/Link client from the evaluation or developer servers as they do not contain the necessary security keys to operate your IOS system.

Here's how to upload a new client:

• Click on the Up-exe icon found in the Admin/Update folder.
• You will be prompted for the version number of the new client. As a default, you will see the version number of the client that you are running. If you are running from the new version, then the number will be correct. Note that the last two numbers in the version indicate the target platform (e.g. Windows is 3.1). You will need to edit this number if you upload a client other than the one you are running, such as uploading a Linux version from Windows.
• The upload filename will be automatically be created and shown to you. Click yes.
• You will be prompted for the location of the new REBOL/Link program file.

If all goes well, the upload will occur immediately. Your users can now download the new version. To inform them that it is available, proceed to the next step.

5. Step 2: Setting the Version

Once the new REBOL/Link client has been uploaded, you can inform users that they can update to it. To do so, you will need to change the official client version number that is automatically distributed by your system. Here's how:

• Click on the Set-version icon.
• Provide the version number for the software that you just uploaded (less the last two numbers). For instance, if you uploaded 1.2.0.3.1, then set the version number to 1.2.0.

When you click Enter, the new version will be broadcast to all users, and they will receive a pop-up request telling them that a new version is available. If they click "Yes" the new version will be downloaded and installed.

6. How it Works

When the REBOL/Link desktop notices that the version number has been set to a number greater than what it is currently running, it pops-up a message to tell the user.

If the user clicks "Yes" to update, the new program is downloaded and saved to a file called rebx in the same directory as the REBOL/Link program.

REBOL/Link is then restarted with a flag that indicates that the new rebx version of the program should be run.

The rebx program copies itself back to REBOL/Link and restarts again as the new REBOL/Link.

7. Troubleshooting

7.1 No Pop-up Update Occurs

If you follow the steps above, but users do not see the pop-up update request, it could be that the auto-update script has not been installed. To install it, click once on the Install icon in the Update folder. This will upload the script called "Update" to all client systems.

7.2 Pop-up Keeps Happening

If users complain that they try to update, but keep getting the same pop-up message each time they restart, the problem is usually that they have REBOL/Link or one of its applications still running. Make sure that only the REBOL/Link desktop is running, not any other REBOL/Link processes. Verify that by opening your operating system's process manager (CTRL-ALT-DEL on Windows or ps on Linux) and look for processes called REBOL/Link.

If necessary, open the directory where REBOL/Link is installed and look for a file called rebx (.exe). The file should have a recent date and time. If REBOL/Link is not running, you can run rebx directly and it will copy itself to REBOL/Link and restart.