ReHIPS forum

English Subforum => ReHIPS => Topic started by: XhenEd on June 13, 2016, 06:14:33 AM

Title: Updating an Isolated Program
Post by: XhenEd on June 13, 2016, 06:14:33 AM
I apologize if this has been asked/answered before.
How do I update a program that is in an isolated desktop? An example is a browser that is constantly having updates at least every month.
Title: Re: Updating an Isolated Program
Post by: Umbra on June 13, 2016, 08:04:26 AM
By using Deploy Helper; i don't have rehips under hand so i can't give you the exact procedure but:
"
Quote"ReHIPS provides a special piece of technology, DeployHelper, which allows you to install software directly in the sandbox. You can read more about DeployHelper in the ReHIPS operating instructions."
should be mentioned in the help file.
Title: Re: Updating an Isolated Program
Post by: XhenEd on June 13, 2016, 08:21:56 AM
Quote from: umbrapolaris on June 13, 2016, 08:04:26 AM
By using Deploy Helper; i don't have rehips under hand so i can't give you the exact procedure but:
"
Quote"ReHIPS provides a special piece of technology, DeployHelper, which allows you to install software directly in the sandbox. You can read more about DeployHelper in the ReHIPS operating instructions."
should be mentioned in the help file.
Thanks!
But I think that only applies to portable installers, right?

I guess every user account (real and ReHIPS') will have to update each of the software, regardless whether they are the same. For example, I have Pale Moon installed on the main desktop account. It is also on an isolated account. If I want to update them both, I have to update them separately, right?
Title: Re: Updating an Isolated Program
Post by: aDVll on June 13, 2016, 08:58:57 AM
Quote from: XhenEd on June 13, 2016, 08:21:56 AM
Quote from: umbrapolaris on June 13, 2016, 08:04:26 AM
By using Deploy Helper; i don't have rehips under hand so i can't give you the exact procedure but:
"
Quote"ReHIPS provides a special piece of technology, DeployHelper, which allows you to install software directly in the sandbox. You can read more about DeployHelper in the ReHIPS operating instructions."
should be mentioned in the help file.
Thanks!
But I think that only applies to portable installers, right?

I guess every user account (real and ReHIPS') will have to update each of the software, regardless whether they are the same. For example, I have Pale Moon installed on the main desktop account. It is also on an isolated account. If I want to update them both, I have to update them separately, right?
I just update normally. It will do it once only don't worry.
Title: Re: Updating an Isolated Program
Post by: XhenEd on June 13, 2016, 09:59:51 AM
Thanks!
Title: Re: Updating an Isolated Program
Post by: fixer on June 13, 2016, 08:43:39 PM
DeployHelper is designed to install programs into isolated environment. It creates new isolated environment and installs software into it. So I don't think it can be used to update existing and already installed software.
There are 3 possible cases for isolated software.
1. Software is installed in some shared folder (most likely Program Files). It'll require administrator rights to update as Program Files is a privileged location. So most likely you'd have to update it using your real user (administrator), but it'll be updated for all users at once (real user+ReHIPS users).
2. Software is installed in some private folder (usually Local or Roaming AppData in user home directory). Isolated programs don't have any access to the real user home directory, so for these programs to work in isolation all their necessary files are copied from real user home directory to ReHIPS user home directory and any access to real user home directory is redirected to ReHIPS user home directory. So you actually have 2 copies of program files and you have to update each one individually (if you want to update both copies). So basically it boils down to running update from real user and in isolated environment to update each copy. Or you can delete isolated environment, update program and recreate isolated environment (manually or with Install rules, depends on software).
3. Software is installed directly to isolated environment in some private folder (usually with DeployHelper). Update should be run in the same isolated environment.
Title: Re: Updating an Isolated Program
Post by: XhenEd on June 14, 2016, 02:44:48 AM
Quote from: fixer on June 13, 2016, 08:43:39 PM
DeployHelper is designed to install programs into isolated environment. It creates new isolated environment and installs software into it. So I don't think it can be used to update existing and already installed software.
There are 3 possible cases for isolated software.
1. Software is installed in some shared folder (most likely Program Files). It'll require administrator rights to update as Program Files is a privileged location. So most likely you'd have to update it using your real user (administrator), but it'll be updated for all users at once (real user+ReHIPS users).
2. Software is installed in some private folder (usually Local or Roaming AppData in user home directory). Isolated programs don't have any access to the real user home directory, so for these programs to work in isolation all their necessary files are copied from real user home directory to ReHIPS user home directory and any access to real user home directory is redirected to ReHIPS user home directory. So you actually have 2 copies of program files and you have to update each one individually (if you want to update both copies). So basically it boils down to running update from real user and in isolated environment to update each copy. Or you can delete isolated environment, update program and recreate isolated environment (manually or with Install rules, depends on software).
3. Software is installed directly to isolated environment in some private folder (usually with DeployHelper). Update should be run in the same isolated environment.
Thanks for the clarification, fixer!

I think 1 is the best option because it's just the normal installation, but it updates all respective software.
I think Vivaldi browser falls under option 2 because of its installation location. I'll keep this in mind.
Title: Re: Updating an Isolated Program
Post by: fixer on June 14, 2016, 11:56:55 AM
I agree, 1 is the best option as it's best to keep all executable files in a secure location so they won't be easily overwritable should any security breach occur. And most software really do install files there. But for the sake of completeness I described all possible cases.