17.4 Updating Users’ GroupWise Clients

After a post office is updated to version 8, users who have accounts in that post office can start using the GroupWise 8 clients. Starting with GroupWise 7, uses cannot run the GroupWise client software from the software distribution directory, but the software is still installed to users’ workstations from software distribution directories. Users might access a software distribution directory and run the installations themselves, or you might configure automatic updates for them.

When you used the GroupWise Installation program as described in Section 17.1, Installing the GroupWise 8 Software, you had the opportunity to update one software distribution directory. To fully implement GroupWise 8 throughout your GroupWise system, you must update all of your software distribution directories.

IMPORTANT:Before you update a software distribution directory, make sure all post offices that use the software distribution directory have been updated. The GroupWise 8 client cannot access a post office that still uses an earlier version of GroupWise. Users who update to the GroupWise 8 client before their post office has been updated are locked out of the post office.

To update a GroupWise software distribution directory to GroupWise 8:

  1. Make sure you have Read, Write, Create, Erase, Modify, and File Scan rights (or equivalent rights) in an existing GroupWise 8 software distribution directory and in the software distribution directory you are updating to version 8.

    or

    If you still have access to the GroupWise 8 DVD or downloaded GroupWise 8 software image, you can use it instead of an existing GroupWise 8 software distribution directory.

  2. In ConsoleOne, click Tools > GroupWise System Operations > Software Directory Management.

    Software Distribution Directory Management dialog box

  3. Select the software distribution directory you want to update, then click Update to display the Update Software Distribution Directory dialog box.

    Update Software Distribution Directory dialog box

  4. Click Update by Copying From.

  5. Click Software Distribution Directory, then select the GroupWise 8 software distribution directory.

    or

    If the GroupWise 8 software distribution directory is not listed, click Path, then enter the path to the directory. You can use this option to update the software directly from the GroupWise 8 DVD or downloaded GroupWise 8 software image.

    Update Software Distribution Directory dialog box

    The Force Auto-Update Check by GroupWise Components option is deselected by default.

  6. Select Force Auto-Update Check by GroupWise Components to cause the GroupWise client to check for a new version; if a new version is found, the client then prompts users to update the next time they start the client.

    IMPORTANT:If the software distribution directory is already updated to version 8 and you are now trying to force users to update to the GroupWise 8 client, you should select only the Force Auto-Update Check by GroupWise Components option. You do not need to modify the other fields in this case.

  7. Click OK to copy the files or force the client update.

    IMPORTANT:When you select Force Auto-Update Check by GroupWise Components, a flag is set in each post office database. This flag instructs the GroupWise client to check for updated software. GroupWise clients running in client/server mode do not access the post office database directly; instead, the Post Office Agent accesses the post office database for them. For the Post Office Agent to read the new auto-update setting, you need to restart the Post Office Agent. Only after the POA restarts will GroupWise clients running in client/server mode check for updated software.