How do I update Flash Player ActiveX & Plugin from an internal server at once?

[Guest]

At work we're using both, Flash Player ActiveX and Plugin, because of the use of different Browsers. We have set up a Background Update from our internal server.

By updating via "FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe", only the ActiveX Extension gets updated and the Plugin doesn't.

But if I do it in that order: Install ActiveX → Update → Install Plugin → Update, both Extensions get updated.

Here's the mms.cfg:

AutoUpdateDisable=0

SilentAutoUpdateEnable=1

SilentAutoUpdateServerDomain=[our server]

SilentAutoUpdateVerboseLogging=1

Is there a possibility to update both Extensions from an internal server at once?

[_maria_]

Hi JakWas,

The behaviour you are seeing is correct for the Background Update service.  If both ActiveX and Plugin are installed, ActiveX will update first followed by the Plugin, usually within an hour.  We do not have installers that install both ActiveX and Plugin simultaneously.

If one hour is too much of a lag for your organization, an alternative to the Background Update service is to deploy Flash Player using Microsoft's System Center Updates Publisher (SCUP).  Again, this won't be a simultaneous update of both ActiveX and Plugin, but it allows you to deploy both back-to-back as opposed to waiting the roughly one hour time-frame inherent in the Background Update service.

Information on SCUP catalog distribution can be found in Chapter 3 of the Adobe Flash Player Administration Guide for Flash Player 14 | Adobe Developer Connection.

--

Maria

[Guest]

Hi m_vargas,

i installed Flash Player 11.8.800.94 to check whether it will update to 14.0.0.176 or not. Again, it only updates ActiveX.

That's the FlashInstall.log:

2014-9-8+6-59-0.998 [info] 1628 [our server]

2014-9-8+6-59-1.60 [info] 1629 [our server]

2014-9-8+6-59-1.60 [info] 1614

2014-9-8+6-59-1.60 [info] 1615

2014-9-8+6-59-1.60 [info] 1618

2014-9-8+6-59-1.60 [info] 1619 1063

2014-9-8+6-59-1.91 [info] 1628 [our server]

2014-9-8+6-59-1.107 [info] 1629 [our server]

2014-9-8+6-59-1.107 [info] 1614

2014-9-8+6-59-1.107 [info] 1615

2014-9-8+6-59-1.107 [info] 1618

2014-9-8+6-59-1.107 [info] 1604

2014-9-8+6-59-1.107 [info] 1608

2014-9-8+6-59-1.185 [info] 1631 /pub/flashplayer/update/current/sau//currentmajor.xml

2014-9-8+6-59-1.731 [warning] 1457

2014-9-8+6-59-1.731 [warning] 1476

2014-9-8+6-59-1.731 [info] 1432

2014-9-8+6-59-1.731 [info] 1612

2014-9-8+6-59-1.731 [info] 1620

We can't try the SCUP method because our company isn't using SCCP.

[_maria_]

Hi Jak,

Normally, the Plugin will update about an hour after the ActiveX, however, I'm seeing some codes in the log file I'd like to investigate further.  Please provide the following:

• Post your currentmajor.xml file using these instructions How to share a document.  Please don't copy and paste the contents, upload the actual file.
• Screenshot of your server directory structure for the Background Updates.  See  How to post a screenshot in the forum
• What is the version number of the FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe file?  The version number is in the 'details' tab when viewing file properties (right-click > Properties > Details)
  • This file will be in C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash on a 32-bit OS machine and in C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash on a 64-bit OS machine.
• Screenshot of the \Macromed\Flash directory.  If 64-bit OS, post screenshots of both 32- and 64-bit locations.

Thank you in advance.

--

Maria

[Guest]

Hi Maria,

1. We can't find any currentmajor.xml, seems like it doesn't exist on the server.

2.

3. The version number of FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe is 14.0.0.176

4. Below you can see the screenshots of both directories.

Best regards

[_maria_ · Accepted solution]

Hi Jak,

The currentmajor.xml file is a fairly new file, from 2 releases ago I believe, but it appear to be missing from the fp_background_update.cab file from last month's release. The FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe for version 14.0.0.176 is looking for this file, and not finding it, which explains why the Plugin is not being updated. We released Flash Player 15.0.0.152 yesterday and I have confirmed that currentmajor.xml file is in the new fp_background_update.cab package.  You can download the new fp_background_update.cab package from the Adobe Flash Player Distribution | Adobe page.  Once you deploy the new package to your server, the currentmajor.xml file should be in the /sau directory, at the same level as /11, /14/ and /15 (new for yesterday's release), and the Plugin should be updated, after the ActiveX updates to the new version.

--

Maria

[Guest]

Hi Maria,

yes that's possible. On the Adobe Flash Player Distribution | Adobe Site, the Background Update Resources .cab file is still the old one. I hope it gets updated soon, I am going to check regulary.

--

Jakub

[_maria_]

Hi Jak,

For some reason we've been having issues with files not updating in some locales after our release on Tuesday.  We've cleared the file cache on our servers again last night.  The files download correctly for me, here in the US, but that may not mean they're downloading correctly for you in the location you're at.  Can you try clearing your browser's cache and download the file again?  Please let me know if this worked for you or not.

Thank you.

--

Maria

[Guest]

Hi Maria,

thanks for the support, the Flash Player is now updating the way it supposed to be.

--

Jakub

[_maria_]

Hi Jakub,

Thank you for confirming that you're now getting the new files.

--

Maria