Broadcasting message to a machine

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mickey
  • Start date Start date
M

Mickey

Hi,
I have windows app that auto updates feature. This auto updates features
involves updates to the Database schema and .net assemblies. The
updates are downloaded timely from internet by the updater service which
runs in background. But if db schema updates arrive then I have to send
a message to the user of the application to restart the app to apply DB
updates. This message should appear as a Message box. Any ideas please
let me know.


Regards
Mickey
 
Hi Mickey,

why send a message to the users machine? I think that's
code that belong to the client. I don't know how your
app is designed, but i would start the autupdater as
a parametrized background thread. As param i would use
the instance of the main app. The main app should
have a public method ShowRestartDialog() which show
the MessageBox. If the background thread recieve
the database update, it will call this Method.

Cheers
Lars Behrmann

_________________
Nothing is impossible. UML is the key for all your problems.
AODL - Make your .net apps OpenOffice ready
http://aodl.sourceforge.net/
 
Hi Lars,
Thanks for your suggestion but I have already considered that into
account. About the application design is concerned, the updater service
runs as a windows service. When it recieves the updates it does updates
a parameter table. The application is a financial application and the
modules in the application do a lot a data manipulation which heavily
burden the database(the data is in 100's of GB's). Morever the database
is Firebird which is available for free. Secondly this app needs to work
in a Network module too where the update service will be installed in
the app server and clients on individual workstation. Hence it will have
performance issues if there is are thread from all the workstations
polling the app server to check for db updates. Hence I wanted the
updater service to broadcast all the users a message which could appear
as MessageBox prompts on their screen. As it can be done using netsend
on LAN. Let me know if you any ways of doing this.

Regards
Mahendra
 
Hi Mickey,

what about a Observer like style via remoting?
If the client starts up it register itself for
recieving updateinfromation at the updateserive.
All clients will be add to the servers client
collection. If the updateservice recieve a
databaseupdate all clients will be informed
via remoting. I think remoting could really be
a solution for your problem, because it suppport
also the HttpChannel, so that you won't run
into trouble with a firewall and could also
communicate over the internet.

Cheers
Lars Behrmann

_________________
Nothing is impossible. UML is the key for all your problems.
AODL - Make your .net apps OpenOffice ready
http://aodl.sourceforge.net/
 
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