BitRock :: Products :: Network Service

The BitRock Network Service is a hosted offering. You can access reports and manage updates and notifications through a web based application the Publisher Management Console (PMC). A lightweight Network Service Agent is bundled with your software so you can deliver those updates and notifications and collect client metrics in the process.

The Publisher Management Console (PMC) is the web-based console through which you manage the services offered to your customers. With it, you can define and deliver messages and update notifications to the Network Service Agents running on end-user systems. The PMC allows you to define a variety of filters so that only certain classes of end-users receive relevant messages and notifications.

The PMC is also the reporting engine for all data captured by the Network Service Agents. Reports are generated by default based on software version, operating system, and geographical location. All data collected via the Network Service Agent can be exported from the system for more advanced data modeling. The PMC also allows you to drill down in detail on specific installations to give support staff an accurate picture of an end-user's environment.

The Network Service Agent is a standalone, self-contained application that ships with your software and is installed on the system, as part of the application installation process. Users can opt out of the Network Service at installation time, or the Agent can be disabled or deleted at any time. For server-based software it typically runs in the background and polls the remote BitRock-hosted Network Service at configurable, predefined intervals to retrieve notifications and updates created in the Publisher Management Console. For desktop applications it is typically run on demand by the end-user or at program startup. As part of that process, it transmits data regarding the end user's system back to the Network Service Server. By default, the Agent can collect system metrics such as number of CPUs and amount of system memory. It can also easily be extended to capture application-specific metrics and other system properties, so you can gain further insight into how your application software is being used. The Agent can run virtually any sort of data capture you configure, including:

Queries against your application's database.
System level commands.
Application-specific tools.

All communications between the server and the agents is secured via SSL, using certificate validation for additional security. On the server side, the BitRock Network Service can be integrated into pre-existing licensing and authentication mechanisms to ensure updates are only delivered to eligible end-users. Checks can be performed on-demand with each request or the required data can be imported periodically.

For server applications, BitRock provides a Network Service Plugin to display and manage notifications and update messages to the end-user from within your application user interface. BitRock provides libraries for easy integration with PHP and Ruby applications, with more languages on the way. The plug-in can be configured to only display information to certain types of customers (e.g. basic, pro, enterprise). How messages and notifications are displayed is also configurable. For desktop applications, BitRock provides a standalone update wizard that can be run graphically or from the command line.