如何更新Delphi Datasnap服务器？

Question

I have build a few apps that receive and send data over a Datasnap server. I have multiple Datasnap servers running on my customers servers. The Datasnap server runs as a Windows Service on their machines.

How can I remotely update those servers or what is the best way to do this?

Is it maybe better to make the Datasnap Server run on IIS instead of as a Windows Service?

Can I let the server update itself? Maybe if I make a function that sends the new version of it that it can replace itself?

Answer 1

I can see no way of updating the exes on your customers' machines without a) getting them to do it; b) logging in remotely using something like VNC (though I'd be happy to know of a better way).

This is an approach I would consider:

I would look to have a separate application which is called by the service on a regular basis (daily/weekly) that looks for a new versions of software on your server (or somewhere), downloads it stops the service, replaces the service's exe and restarts the service.

In the new service exe I would have something that calls this application periodically, so you only have to do this once.

This assumes the machines that run your software have internet access.

Don't forget to include a mechanism to update the updater application.