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H
HansBrockstedt
Participant
April 4, 2012
Answered

Flash player silent auto update not working

  • April 4, 2012
  • 3 replies
  • 61076 views

I was glad to read the news about the new feature of silent auto updates of the Adobe Flash player, but unfortunately this is not working on my machine. Has anyone had the same problems and was able to solve them?

Some information on my setup:

I had previously installed Flash player version 11.1.102.63, both ActiveX and Plugin version (installed through the .msi files, deployed via Active Directory/GPO - no further configuration, just plain original .msi files).

To test the auto update feature, I decided to install the new 11.2.202.228 version, but only the ActiveX version. I installed this via the .exe installer (install_flash_player_11_active_x_32bit.exe) manually, choosing "Install updates automatically when available (recommended)" in the last step of the installation, as seen here:

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flashplayer/articles/background-updater-windows.html

When I open Control Panel -> Flash Player, under the "Advanced" tab I see:

  • "Install updates automatically" is chosen, but greyed out (no admin rights with this windows user)
  • ActiveX version: 11.2.202.228
  • Plug-In version: 11.1.102.63

The file "mms.cfg" under C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\Flash\ contains:

AutoUpdateDisable=0

SilentAutoUpdateEnable=1

The task "Adobe Flash Player Updater" was created and is scheduled to run every 1 hour. I can see that it is started ("last start time"), the result code is 0x0 which means "no error".

So everything as expected. But the auto update is not working, since the plugin version of flash player never gets updated!

I edited the "mms.cfg" and added:

SilentAutoUpdateVerboseLogging=1

After manually starting the task, there are some lines added to "FlashInstall.log" in the same directory:

2012-4-4+7-20-48.814 [info] 1614

2012-4-4+7-20-48.829 [info] 1615

2012-4-4+7-20-48.829 [info] 1618

2012-4-4+7-20-48.829 [info] 1619 1063

2012-4-4+7-20-48.876 [info] 1614

2012-4-4+7-20-48.876 [info] 1615

2012-4-4+7-20-48.876 [info] 1618

2012-4-4+7-20-48.876 [info] 1608

2012-4-4+7-20-48.876 [info] 1604

2012-4-4+7-21-10.425 [warning] 1403 12029

2012-4-4+7-21-10.425 [warning] 1407 183

2012-4-4+7-21-10.425 [warning] 1408

2012-4-4+7-21-10.456 [info] 1624

2012-4-4+7-21-10.456 [info] 1612

2012-4-4+7-21-10.456 [info] 1621

What does this mean?

Some more information:

  • Windows XP SP3, all windows updates installed, german
  • Avira Professional Security anti-virus software
  • Machine is behind a proxy server, but this is set up in Control Panel -> Internet Options

I suppose this is a problem with our proxy server. Does the auto updater not use the proxy information from the Windows Control Panel settings?

Kind Regards,

Martin

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer

I experienced the same problem as Hans with running the silent update from an internal server. Initially I got the same error log sequence:

2012-5-4+11-58-0.348 [warning] 1403 12175

2012-5-4+11-58-0.348 [warning] 1407 183

2012-5-4+11-58-0.348 [warning] 1408

I figured out that the first line was caused by the fact that I did import the server self-signed certificate into the personal trusted store on the client instead of the Local computer store. So running the mmc with certificates (Local Computer!!) and import the cert has fixed that issue. I now see the line in the server logfile:

GET /pub/flashplayer/update/current/sau/11/xml/version.xml - 443 - xx.xxx.xx.xx Get+Flash+Player+version+xml/1.0 500 0 64 0

so obviously the version.xml is found but it doesn't go further and it doesn't seem to find the z-files. The client log now tells me:

2012-5-4+13-24-37.320 [warning] 1407 12044

2012-5-4+13-24-37.320 [warning] 1408

Any idea what these error codes mean?

-Steve


Hi Steve,

This error is most likely due to the fact that you selected "Require client certificates" on your webserver. Please uncheck this and try again. If you're still seeing errors, please post a new log with the error codes after making this change.

Thanks,

Stephen

3 replies

thommck
thommck
Participant
October 15, 2014

I am trying to get the Windows 7 x64 PCs in my domain to silently update.

I have followed the latest guidance in the admin guide (v15) and set up an IIS 7 web server with HTTPS enabled using a self signed cert. I've imported the cert to the local computers (currently on flash 14)

The directory structure seems fine and I can browse to

https://updates.domain.local/pub/flashplayer/update/current/sau/15/xml/version.xml

without any errors from a client


My MMS file is as follows

AutoUpdateDisable=0

SilentAutoUpdateEnable=1

SilentAutoUpdateServerDomain=dragon.turpin-bg.local

SilentAutoUpdateVerboseLogging=1

The log shows the following warnings

2014-10-15+14-22-2.771 [info] 1628 updates.domain.local

2014-10-15+14-22-2.771 [info] 1629updates.domain.local

2014-10-15+14-22-2.771 [info] 1614

2014-10-15+14-22-2.771 [info] 1615

2014-10-15+14-22-2.771 [info] 1618

2014-10-15+14-22-2.771 [info] 1619 1063

2014-10-15+14-22-2.786 [info] 1628 updates.domain.local

2014-10-15+14-22-2.786 [info] 1629 updates.domain.local

2014-10-15+14-22-2.786 [info] 1614

2014-10-15+14-22-2.786 [info] 1615

2014-10-15+14-22-2.786 [info] 1618

2014-10-15+14-22-2.786 [info] 1608

2014-10-15+14-22-2.786 [info] 1604

2014-10-15+14-22-2.786 [info] 1631 /pub/flashplayer/update/current/sau//currentmajor.xml

2014-10-15+14-22-2.833 [warning] 1470 12175

2014-10-15+14-22-2.833 [warning] 1474 183

2014-10-15+14-22-2.833 [warning] 1475

2014-10-15+14-22-2.849 [info] 1432

2014-10-15+14-22-2.849 [info] 1612

2014-10-15+14-22-2.849 [info] 1620

Can you tell me where I am going wrong?

Why is there no public documentation on what these error codes are? It would save a lot of frustration if a complete list was available.

A
Anonymous
July 16, 2015

I have the exact same problem...the exact error codes

any one knows if a list with the error codes exist ?

manfreds3893458
manfreds3893458
Participant
April 4, 2017

[warning] 1407 12044

[warning] 1408

Any idea what these error codes mean?

I had the same issue in IIS.

SSL settings set to "ignore" instead "accept" solved the Problem.

A
Anonymous
April 24, 2012

I can confirm that the Flash Player Updater attempts to connect to the internet directly after doing some testing with netstat and wireshark.

I have logged a feature requests for a proxy option to be created for the mms.cfg file. The feature request is #3173300 on bugbase.adobe.com


The second issue I ran into was the Flash Player Updater doesn't support the ability to use a SSL self-signed certificate when using the SilentAutoUpdateServerDomain option and I have submitted feature request for this aswel #3173327 on bugbase.adobe.com

chris.campbell
chris.campbell
Legend
April 25, 2012

For those admins that would like to use the silent auto update service, but are behind a proxy server, you now have the capability to do background updates from an internal server using the SilentAutoUpdateServerDomain property.  Please see the section "Background updates from an internal server" in the Flash Player 11.2 Administration Guide for complete information.

H
HansBrockstedtAuthor
Participant
April 26, 2012

Chris, I tried this new capability, unfortunately without much success.

Since I never changed the user or account settings of the task or the service, this should not be the cause. The task is started with the user "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM", the service is run by "Local system account" (the default setting - this is a german system, so I don't know if this is the correct translation.)

I created the folder structure on our internal server and downloaded the files as described in the PDF file.

On the client, I installed our self-signed SSL certificate into the Windows certificate store. Microsoft Internet Explorer opens the URL to the downloaded XML file I placed on our internal server without warnings. The mms.cfg on the client contains the necessary options to get the updates from our internal server (see below).

But still, when I manually start the task to check for updates, the service starts, writes a few messages to the log file (see below), and stops, all in merely 1 second.

I will also post this message to the request Tyrone opened on https://bugbase.adobe.com/index.cfm?event=bug&id=3173327

mms.cfg:

AutoUpdateDisable=0

SilentAutoUpdateEnable=1

SilentAutoUpdateServerDomain=mars.brockstedt.local

AVHardwareDisable = 1

SilentAutoUpdateVerboseLogging=1

FlashInstall.log:

2012-4-26+8-40-34.737 [info] 1628 mars.brockstedt.local

2012-4-26+8-40-34.737 [info] 1629 mars.brockstedt.local

2012-4-26+8-40-34.737 [info] 1614

2012-4-26+8-40-34.737 [info] 1615

2012-4-26+8-40-34.737 [info] 1618

2012-4-26+8-40-34.737 [info] 1619 1063

2012-4-26+8-40-34.787 [info] 1628 mars.brockstedt.local

2012-4-26+8-40-34.787 [info] 1629 mars.brockstedt.local

2012-4-26+8-40-34.787 [info] 1614

2012-4-26+8-40-34.787 [info] 1615

2012-4-26+8-40-34.787 [info] 1618

2012-4-26+8-40-34.787 [info] 1608

2012-4-26+8-40-34.787 [info] 1604

2012-4-26+8-40-35.87 [warning] 1403 12175

2012-4-26+8-40-35.87 [warning] 1407 183

2012-4-26+8-40-35.97 [warning] 1408

2012-4-26+8-40-35.107 [info] 1624

2012-4-26+8-40-35.107 [info] 1612

2012-4-26+8-40-35.107 [info] 1620

spence2326
spence2326
Participating Frequently
April 18, 2012

I'm in the same boat, though my log looks a little different:

2012-4-18+14-26-5.844 [info] 1613

2012-4-18+14-26-5.869 [info] 1615

2012-4-18+14-26-5.871 [info] 1618

2012-4-18+14-26-5.873 [info] 1619 1063

2012-4-18+14-26-5.882 [info] 1613

2012-4-18+14-26-5.882 [info] 1615

2012-4-18+14-26-5.882 [info] 1618

2012-4-18+14-26-5.884 [info] 1608

2012-4-18+14-26-5.884 [info] 1604

2012-4-18+14-26-8.412 [info] 1626

2012-4-18+14-26-8.510 [info] 1612

2012-4-18+14-26-8.511 [info] 1621

2012-4-18+14-26-8.511 [info] 1620

(begin repeat 1 hour later)

2012-4-18+15-26-0.146 [info] 1613

2012-4-18+15-26-0.148 [info] 1615

2012-4-18+15-26-0.149 [info] 1618

2012-4-18+15-26-0.151 [info] 1619 1063

2012-4-18+15-26-0.160 [info] 1613

2012-4-18+15-26-0.160 [info] 1615

2012-4-18+15-26-0.160 [info] 1618

2012-4-18+15-26-0.162 [info] 1608

2012-4-18+15-26-0.162 [info] 1604

2012-4-18+15-26-1.329 [info] 1626

2012-4-18+15-26-1.329 [info] 1612

2012-4-18+15-26-1.330 [info] 1621

2012-4-18+15-26-1.330 [info] 1620

Would really like an answer from Adobe as to whether the background auto-updater will use system proxy settings.

chris.campbell
chris.campbell
Legend
April 18, 2012

The silent update service uses the SYSTEM user account when running, so this might be causing issues with your proxy service.  We're currently considering adding the ability to host these updates on corporate networks and allowing administrators to redirect the updater to an internal server.

Another possibility, though unsupported and untested, would be to try to change the user account used by the service to a user that has proper proxy authentication.

I'd like to recommend opening a new bug/feature report on proxy support for the silent auto updater over at bugbase.adobe.com.  Please post back with the bug number so that others interested in this can cast their vote and add comments.

Chris

spence2326
spence2326
Participating Frequently
April 18, 2012

Thanks for the response, Chris.

Just FYI: I tried your suggestion of running the Adobe Flash Player Update Service as a user account that is authorized on our proxy, but I still got the same results in FlashInstall.log:

2012-4-18+19-26-0.444 [info] 1613

2012-4-18+19-26-0.507 [info] 1615

2012-4-18+19-26-0.507 [info] 1618

2012-4-18+19-26-0.507 [info] 1619 1063

2012-4-18+19-26-1.443 [info] 1613

2012-4-18+19-26-1.443 [info] 1615

2012-4-18+19-26-1.443 [info] 1618

2012-4-18+19-26-1.458 [info] 1608

2012-4-18+19-26-1.458 [info] 1604

2012-4-18+19-26-2.597 [info] 1626

2012-4-18+19-26-2.613 [info] 1612

2012-4-18+19-26-2.613 [info] 1621

2012-4-18+19-26-2.613 [info] 1620

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