Automatic software updates for computer systems in an enterprise environment
A system and method for automatically updating a software application deployed on a plurality of client computers are disclosed. A server computer may determine a time for the client computers to update the software application and send an update command to each of the client computers at the determined time. In response to the update command, each client computer may download an update for the software application and install the update for the software application.
1. A method for updating a software application on a plurality of client computers, the method comprising:
a first server computer determining a time for each respective client computer of the plurality of client computers to update the software application, wherein the software application on each respective client computer is configured to perform data backup operations, wherein determining the time for each respective client computer to update the software application comprises monitoring the software application on the respective client computer to determine a time when the software application is not performing a data backup operation;
the first server computer sending an update command to each respective client computer at the time determined for the respective client computer;
each respective client computer communicating with a second server computer in response to the update command to determine whether an update is available for the software application on the respective client computer, wherein each one of a first subset of the client computers receives information from the second server computer indicating that an update is available, and wherein each one of a second subset of the client computers receives information from the second server computer indicating that no update is available;
in response to receiving information from the second server computer indicating that an update is available, each respective client computer of the first subset of client computers downloading respective update information and using the respective update information to update the software application on the respective client computer;
each respective client computer of the first subset of client computers sending status information to the first server computer indicating that the software application was updated on the respective client computer; and
in response to receiving information from the second server computer indicating that no update is available, each respective client computer of the second subset of client computers sending status information to the first server computer indicating that no update is available for the software application on the respective client computer.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
creating a policy for updating the software application in response to user input; and
configuring the first server computer with the policy for updating the software application;
wherein the first server computer uses the policy in determining the time for each respective client computer to update the software application.
3. The method of claim 2 ,
wherein said creating the policy comprises receiving user input specifying one or more of:
a time window when the software application can be updated; and/or
a maximum number of concurrent software updates.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the first server computer monitoring resources of the client computers;
wherein said determining the time for the each respective client computer to update the software application further comprises determining the time based on availability of resources of the respective client computer.
5. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein each respective client computer of the first subset of client computers downloads the update information from the second server computer.
6. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein each of the client computers receives the update command from the first server computer substantially simultaneously.
7. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of client computers include a first one or more client computers executing a first operating system and a second one or more client computers executing a second operating system.
8. A system comprising:
a first server computer;
a second server computer; and
a plurality of client computers, wherein each of the client computers is configured to execute a software application, wherein the software application on each client computer is configured to perform data backup operations;
wherein the first server computer is configured to determine a time for each respective client computer of the plurality of client computers to update the software application by monitoring the software application on the respective client computer to determine a time when the software application is not performing a data backup operation;
wherein the first server computer is configured to send an update command to each of the respective client computer at the time determined for the respective client computer;
wherein each respective client computer is configured to communicate with the second server computer in response to the update command to receive information indicating whether an update is available for the software application on the respective client computer, wherein an update is available for each one of a first subset of the client computers, and wherein no update is available for each one of a second subset of the client computers;
wherein, in response to receiving information from the second server computer indicating that an update is available, each respective client computer of the first subset of client computers is configured to download respective update information and use the respective update information to update the software application on the respective client computer;
wherein each respective client computer of the first subset of client computers is configured to send status information to the first server computer indicating that the software application was updated on the respective client computer; and
wherein, in response to receiving information from the second server computer indicating that no update is available, each respective client computer of the second subset of client computers is configured to send status information to the first server computer indicating that no update is available for the software application on the respective client computer.
9. The system of claim 8 ,
wherein the first server computer is configured to store a policy for updating the software application, wherein the policy is created in response to user input;
wherein the first server computer is further configured to use the policy in determining the time for each respective client computer to update the software application.
10. The system of claim 9 ,
wherein the policy specifies one or more of:
a time window when the software application can be updated; and/or
a maximum number of concurrent software updates.
11. A computer-accessible storage medium storing program instructions,
wherein the program instructions are executable by a first server computer to cause the first server computer to determine a time for each respective client computer of a plurality of client computers to update a software application, wherein the software application on each respective client computer is configured to perform data backup operations, wherein the program instructions are executable to cause the first server computer to determine the time for each respective client computer to update the software application by monitoring the software application on the respective client computer to determine a time when the software application is not performing a data backup operation;
wherein the program instructions are executable by the first server computer to cause the first server computer to send an update command to each respective client computer at the time determined for the respective client computer;
wherein the program instructions are executable by each respective client computer to cause the respective client computer to communicate with the second server computer in response to the update command to receive information indicating whether an update is available for the software application on the respective client computer, wherein an update is available for each one of a first subset of the client computers, and wherein no update is available for each one of a second subset of the client computers;
wherein, in response to receiving information from the second server computer indicating that an update is available, the program instructions are executable by each respective client computer of the first subset of client computers to cause the respective client computer to download respective update information and use the respective update information to update the software application on the respective client computer;
wherein the program instructions are executable by each respective client computer of the first subset of client computers to cause the respective client computer to send status information to the first server computer indicating that the software application was updated on the respective client computer; and
wherein, in response to receiving information from the second server computer indicating that no update is available, the program instructions are executable by each respective client computer of the second subset of client computers to cause the respective client computer to send status information to the first server computer indicating that no update is available for the software application on the respective client computer.
12. The computer-accessible storage medium of claim 11 ,
wherein the program instructions are executable by the first server computer to cause the first server computer to store a policy for updating the software application and to use the policy in determining the time for each respective client computer to update the software application.
13. The computer-accessible storage medium of claim 12 ,
wherein the policy specifies one or more of:
a time window when the software application can be updated; and/or
a maximum number of concurrent software updates.