Software update via mobile agent based programming

ABSTRACT

We describe a system that permits maintaining the software installed on several heterogeneous computers distributed over a network by taking advantage of the mobile agent paradigm. The applications are installed and updated only on the central server. When a new release of an application is installed on the server, agents are scattered along the network to update the application on the clients.To build a prototype system we use X-KLAIM, a programming language specifically designed to program distributed systems composed of several components interacting through multiple tuple spaces and mobile code.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.7 Distribution, Maintenance, and Enhancement

Additional Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.1 PROCESSOR ARCHITECTURES
      C.1.3 Other Architecture Styles
          Subjects: Cellular architecture (e.g., mobile)

  D. Software
  D.1 PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES
      D.1.3 Concurrent Programming
          Subjects: Distributed programming

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.6 MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
      K.6.3 Software Management
          Subjects: Software maintenance

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Management, Theory

Keywords:
distributed software update, mobile agents, mobile code