Hot Fix Distribution process (Service Packs)

MailSite and Express Service Pack Information

This document explains what we have done and why.

MailSite Service Pack Information

We have been approached by a number of customers, requesting that we automate the process of installing all the hot-fixes produced in the life cycle of a particular build of MailSite.

We worked on a script that would install the files with the minimal effort and maximum safety in mind. Then we created a self extracting exe that extracts the files and automatically runs the script to install the hot-fixes. This resulted in a new exe that is posted to the FTP servers and there is also a new link on the downloads page in the Customer Center.

We will be posting new versions of the Service Pack when new hot-fixes have been released and fully QA'ed. The Service Pack is a cumulative update and if you have previously download a Service Pack the new version will have all the most up to date files and the script will only update the files that need to be updated and will not install the same version of the file twice. This self extracting exe by default will extract all the files to this location 'C:\RockliffeUpdates\Updates'.

Below is the information on the process that the script follows.

This document details the design and the process that the script performs

The script has been designed to reduce the administrative burden when installing the MailSite exe's and dll's.

These are the steps that the script will perform when it is run to update the installed files

1. Look in the registry for the install location of MailSite.
2. Look-up the current version of MailSite in the registry.
3. Create a log file in the MailSite install directory where the progress of the update will be written.
4. Gather the names of the updates to be installed. Check that the version of MailSite is the same as the hot-fixes you wish to install.
5. Check to see if Express has been installed on the server. If it has, we will then stop and restart IIS and also all of the MailSite Services.
6. If Express is not installed, just stop the MailSite Services.
7. Move the old files to the \mailsite\backup directory. Change their names to include the version number for easy re-introduction if things are not right after the upgrade.
8. Copy in the new files to the MailSite install directory.
9. Start the MailSite services.
10. Display a message screen that allows you to open the log file. 'End of upgrade process'

MailSite Express Service Pack Information

For the Express Service Pack, it is not possible to create a script that will install all the updates due to the potential changes that could have been made to Express for individual customer needs. We have decided to take the approach of creating a self extracting exe that will have all the Express zip and release notes in one easy file to download so that the customers have all the latest files. Once the files are on your server, you will have to proceed as you normally have with Express Hot Fixes. This will also be placed on our FTP servers and a link from the Customer Center will be available. This self extracting exe by default will extract all the files to this location 'C:\RockliffeUpdates\Express'.