Software updates using the Trimble web server

Trimble 4D Control Server includes a feature for the automatic information on, and software-supported download of, the newest updates for this software. All Trimble files needed to successfully run the software are delivered with the first installation of the product. Thereafter, you may set up the software in a way that it continuously searches the Trimble web server for updates. If newer software versions are found there, a notification appears.

Use the software update feature to check for updates, to eventually download and distribute updates, and to start the installation of software updates. Since an automatic software update might interrupt a running system, user interaction is necessary.

Where do the updates come from?

Trimble provides a web server, which will contain the newest available updates to Trimble Infrastructure Solution software. The update feature can monitor a specified folder at the web server. Its URL is www.trimble.com/software_updates/Infra_Software_Patches/. There you will find subfolders for the Trimble software products.

Which files are delivered for each software update?

One must differentiate between new versions and software patches.

• New versions, which typically include new or enhanced functionality (version numbering is x.x, for example versions 1.3, 1.4, ...).

  Note - New versions are not available for download from the Trimble web server.

• Patches to existing versions, which are distributed if bugs should be detected and mended in the software (versioning is x.x.xx, for example 1.3.1).

Trimble makes software updates available for manual or automatic download via its web server. All update versions will run respecting the operating system (for which operating systems are supported by the software, refer to the software installation instructions).

Rules for versioning:

• Patches always refer to the version included in their names: For example: the update version 1.4.35 includes all improvements available for version 1.4. However, if your current version is version 1.3, first install version 1.4 before you can use the update version 1.4.35. In other words, only update versions 1.3.xx are valid for version 1.3.
• Patch numbers will be increased continuously. For example: Version 1.4.35 will be followed by version 1.4.36, if a patch is available.

For each version, two files will be distributed:

• <Product>- Update-<Version>-ReadMe.rtf
• <Product>-Update-<Version>.zip, which contains the update files.

Where are the Trimble software update files located in you system?

The update files for Trimble software must reside in the \Updates sub-folder to the product installation folder at each computer participating in the distributed system.

How to download updates to the software?

Trimble 4D Control Server offers two methods to download updates to the software:

1. The main and recommended method is the software-supported download of update files:
   • The software checks daily or, additionally, on demand whether new updates are available and issues a notification.
   • If updates are available, you must make sure the Controller and DBServer services of all computers participating in the Trimble 4D Control Server system are running before starting the software update download. This is a necessary because the update is automatically distributed to the other Controllers and the DBServer after the download. Alternatively, you have to copy the update ZIP file to each computer of the distributed system before restarting the services with Trimble Service Administrator. Otherwise, it might happen that incompatible versions are running simultaneously with unpredictable results.
   • Start the download using the status bar. It gives access to information on the new software version and allows on to start the download.
   • One Controller of the Trimble 4D Control Server system that has access to the internet downloads an update and puts it into the default folder. It distributes the update to all connected Controller and DBServer computers and notifies the operator with a change of the software-update related status icon.
2. In rare cases, for example, if a computer participating in the distributed system is not connected to the internet, the update files cannot be distributed automatically. You will be responsible for the availability of update files in the correct folders on all participating computers.

How to start the installation of software updates?

After the update files have been downloaded and distributed to all computers participating in the distributed system, the installation process proceeds in the following way:

• Shut down all Trimble 4D Control Server services that are part of the distributed system. Trimble also recommends using the Trimble Service Administrator dialog for temporarily deselecting the automatic restart option for these services.
• Start the update installation by starting at least one Trimble 4D Control Server service using Start or Restart commands of the Trimble Service Administrator.

  Note - If the Trimble Service Administrator automatically restarts one of the Trimble 4D Control Server applications and services of a computer participating in the distributed system, the software update process will not be started on that computer.

• If this happens, the Trimble Service Administrator software checks for new updates in the <installation folder>\Updates folders. If a new update is found, the update process is started automatically only if all Trimble 4D Control Server applications or services are shut down, otherwise a warning message appears.
• The update process then copies the files included in the update ZIP archive into the target folders. The process may include an update of the Trimble 4D Control Server databases which will launch in a separate window. Note that the update process may be finished very quickly, so that the window may be opening and closing very fast.
• Repeat the steps above on every computer that is part of the distributed system.

Status bar: Visualization of software update states

The status bar of the Trimble 4D Control Server UI always indicates the current status of the software version run by the Controller (that is on the computer) the UI has connected to. Keep in mind that the UI does not necessarily have to connect to a Controller running on the same computer as the UI.

Besides visualizing the current update status, the status bar offers shortcut menu commands for changing the automatic update mode as described above. Additionally, it offers commands for checking the Trimble web server for new data, to check for updates immediately, and to start the download process after one has read the new version information.

Note - Trimble fully respects privacy rules. When the computer running Trimble 4D Control Server connects to the Trimble web server, no private or other data is sent to Trimble.

Setting up the software-supported update download feature

Use the Trimble 4D Control Server system properties to enable or disable the download and distribution of updates, and to specify the source folder for download files. Additionally, the status bar offers shortcut menu commands for changing the automatic update mode as described above.