andre_st
asked on
Running applications from a network drive
I asked the same question in a completely different zone, but didnt receive an answer. The programming zone is probably more suitable for this type of question.
My question is this: Is developing a software, which is to be run directly from a network drive, any different than developing a software who runs from the local harddrive? (except the obvious that working from a network drive might possibly make it run much slower)
And the reason I want to know this is because my company distributes alot of different applications which are to be installed locally on computers. But we frequently get the question whether these software can be run directly from a network drive instead. Most of the applications, come with very poor documentation so I thought I might try to experiment a bit with this myself.
What I had in mind was that I could perhaps modify the .msi packets. Making sure that the necessery registry entries for the software are installed on the local computer, and then that the programfolder/files are installed on a network drive.
However, the program I have been experimenting on doesnt seem to work this way. But the curios thing is that I can copy the program folder to a second internal harddrive on the local computer (E:) and run it from there without any problems. So in what lies the technical difference between running the application from a network and a local HDD? I have been trying to use "process monitor" to observe excactly what the difference is, but I cant see any obvious error messages - but perhaps I just dont know what to look for...?
So...is there anything in general that I can do to make software executable from a network drive - by for example modifying the msi-packet?
My question is this: Is developing a software, which is to be run directly from a network drive, any different than developing a software who runs from the local harddrive? (except the obvious that working from a network drive might possibly make it run much slower)
And the reason I want to know this is because my company distributes alot of different applications which are to be installed locally on computers. But we frequently get the question whether these software can be run directly from a network drive instead. Most of the applications, come with very poor documentation so I thought I might try to experiment a bit with this myself.
What I had in mind was that I could perhaps modify the .msi packets. Making sure that the necessery registry entries for the software are installed on the local computer, and then that the programfolder/files are installed on a network drive.
However, the program I have been experimenting on doesnt seem to work this way. But the curios thing is that I can copy the program folder to a second internal harddrive on the local computer (E:) and run it from there without any problems. So in what lies the technical difference between running the application from a network and a local HDD? I have been trying to use "process monitor" to observe excactly what the difference is, but I cant see any obvious error messages - but perhaps I just dont know what to look for...?
So...is there anything in general that I can do to make software executable from a network drive - by for example modifying the msi-packet?
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>> Is developing a software, which is to be run directly from a network drive, any different than developing a software who runs from the local harddrive?
which language? if you are using .Net (any version before VS2008 SP1), you will received a security error that you can fix by changing the security settings.
Other then this aspect, you will need to be cautious not to save anything user-related on the network drive.
which language? if you are using .Net (any version before VS2008 SP1), you will received a security error that you can fix by changing the security settings.
Other then this aspect, you will need to be cautious not to save anything user-related on the network drive.
ASKER
Which language? Well, this is a basic enquiry about programming in general - and if the programming language needs to be written in a specific way if the application is to be run from a network drive. I.E. I am interested in whatever knowledge you may have about the subject.
With your post, you imply that there is some specific considerations to be made, concerning security. But without any further information on how this can be applied to my problem - I am still in the dark here.
Please guys! I need some input!
With your post, you imply that there is some specific considerations to be made, concerning security. But without any further information on how this can be applied to my problem - I am still in the dark here.
Please guys! I need some input!
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ASKER
Thanks for your reply jmcmunn!
Thanks for the warning about running software from the network. I am aware about running applications form TS, and TSWEB. That is a very good solution, but since the applications get executed on the server - it set high demands on the serverpower, and speed of the network. Many of our customers are lacking both.
I have sort of given up on this perticular problem as I haven´t been able to find an obvious pattern - why this works for some applications and not for others. I guess I have to enlist to a programming course to really understand this thing ,-)
This question has been open for quite a while, so I will be closing it now.
Thanks for the warning about running software from the network. I am aware about running applications form TS, and TSWEB. That is a very good solution, but since the applications get executed on the server - it set high demands on the serverpower, and speed of the network. Many of our customers are lacking both.
I have sort of given up on this perticular problem as I haven´t been able to find an obvious pattern - why this works for some applications and not for others. I guess I have to enlist to a programming course to really understand this thing ,-)
This question has been open for quite a while, so I will be closing it now.
ASKER
The I way I installed it was by modifying the msi-packet so that I installed, on the server, only the program files on a shared, network folder. And then I installed only the part of the msi-packet on the local machine, which contained the registry entries. This application only needs access to program files (to my knowledge) , stored in the program folder. It does not require files beeing copied to system folders. By doing it this way, it should be fairly simple to distribute the software in a large computer environment - deploying msi-packets to all the computer clients, only containing the registry entries and shortcuts to the application on the shared network folder.
But basically this installation method is the same as your second option "installing the application from the local machine to a mapped drive"...or am I wrong?
Or perhaps this way of modifying the msi (with one server installation for program files, and one "registry" installation on the local computer) simply isnt possible with network drives/folders?
But as I mentioned, I was able to simply copy the program folder from the shared network folder/drive and copy it to a second HDD on the local machine, and the program seems to be able to run from there... How does one explain that?
I havent tried to type in the UNC path during a "normal" installation of the software. I will try it now though, but that solution would also mean that every client would need to install (or try to) install the program files to the shared folder on the server. So I guess some modification is needed.