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Shadow Copying of Applications

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4.88/5 (43 votes)
16 Oct 2008CPOL 111K   1.3K   128   30
Shadow copied applications aren't locked by the loader, so they can be updated/substituted at runtime.

Introduction

Running an application shadow copied can be useful for purposes like auto-updating. On normal execution, the assembly gets locked by the loader and can't be substituted while it's executed. On shadow copying, all assemblies referenced are copied to a cache path, and loaded/executed from this location - so the assemblies aren't locked, and can be changed.

Background

This technique is well known in ASP.NET, but on the application side, there's little information (even on MSDN). Therefore, I'd like to share my findings.

Using the Code

For executing an assembly from the cache path, we have to use a loader/bootstrapper. This little program creates a domain from which the application gets loaded. That means, when we want to start the application, we have to start the loader that loads the application for us.

The code for the application and all the referenced assemblies need no change.

The code for the loader is:

C#
using System;
using System.IO;

namespace Loader
{
    static class Program
    {
        [LoaderOptimization(LoaderOptimization.MultiDomainHost)]
        [STAThread]
        static void Main()
        {
            /* Enable shadow copying */

            // Get the startup path. Both assemblies (Loader and
            // MyApplication) reside in the same directory:
            string startupPath = Path.GetDirectoryName(
				System.Reflection.Assembly
				.GetExecutingAssembly().Location);

            // cache path = directory where the assemblies get
            // (shadow) copied:
            string cachePath = Path.Combine(
                startupPath,
                "__cache");
            string configFile = Path.Combine(
                startupPath,
                "MyApplication.exe.config");
            string assembly = Path.Combine(
                startupPath,
                "MyApplication.exe");

            // Create the setup for the new domain:
            AppDomainSetup setup = new AppDomainSetup();
            setup.ApplicationName = "MyApplication";
            setup.ShadowCopyFiles = "true"; // note: it isn't a bool
            setup.CachePath = cachePath;
            setup.ConfigurationFile = configFile;

            // Create the application domain. The evidence of this
            // running assembly is used for the new domain:
            AppDomain domain = AppDomain.CreateDomain(
                "MyApplication",
                AppDomain.CurrentDomain.Evidence,
                setup);

            // Start MyApplication by executing the assembly:
            domain.ExecuteAssembly(assembly);

            // After the MyApplication has finished clean up:
            AppDomain.Unload(domain);
            Directory.Delete(cachePath, true);
        }
    }
}

Points of Interest

This simple program gives us the possibility to easily create auto updates (that replace the application's assembly).

History

  • 07 October 2008 - Initial release
  • 14 October 2008 - Article updated

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
Software Developer (Senior) Foidl Günther
Austria Austria
Engineer in combustion engine development.
Programming languages: C#, FORTRAN 95, Matlab

FIS-overall worldcup winner in Speedski (Downhill) 2008/09 and 2009/10.

Comments and Discussions

 
QuestionDoes it work with mixed dlls of C# and C++? Pin
Chandra Mohan BS27-Oct-15 22:38
Chandra Mohan BS27-Oct-15 22:38 
Questionwould application take the quick reference of new change after shadow copy ? Pin
RameshJangir27-Nov-14 2:25
RameshJangir27-Nov-14 2:25 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Simon Raffl20-May-13 7:22
Simon Raffl20-May-13 7:22 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Rahul Rajat Singh26-Nov-12 20:13
professionalRahul Rajat Singh26-Nov-12 20:13 
QuestionRequires Admin Permissions Pin
Jeff Bowman18-Jun-12 13:29
professionalJeff Bowman18-Jun-12 13:29 
AnswerRe: Requires Admin Permissions Pin
Southmountain24-May-19 9:07
Southmountain24-May-19 9:07 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Manoj Kumar Choubey26-Feb-12 21:33
professionalManoj Kumar Choubey26-Feb-12 21:33 
Nice
QuestionUser priviliges? Pin
TobiasP15-Oct-08 3:08
TobiasP15-Oct-08 3:08 
AnswerRe: User priviliges? Pin
Günther M. FOIDL15-Oct-08 3:48
Günther M. FOIDL15-Oct-08 3:48 
GeneralRe: User priviliges? Pin
Ed.Poore16-Oct-08 11:44
Ed.Poore16-Oct-08 11:44 
GeneralRe: User priviliges? Pin
Günther M. FOIDL16-Oct-08 12:07
Günther M. FOIDL16-Oct-08 12:07 
GeneralRe: User priviliges? Pin
Ed.Poore16-Oct-08 12:14
Ed.Poore16-Oct-08 12:14 
GeneralEnvironment.CurrentDirectory is wrong... Pin
Danilo Corallo10-Oct-08 2:01
Danilo Corallo10-Oct-08 2:01 
GeneralRe: Environment.CurrentDirectory is wrong... Pin
Günther M. FOIDL10-Oct-08 2:24
Günther M. FOIDL10-Oct-08 2:24 
GeneralRe: Environment.CurrentDirectory is wrong... Pin
Danilo Corallo10-Oct-08 2:33
Danilo Corallo10-Oct-08 2:33 
GeneralRe: Environment.CurrentDirectory is wrong... Pin
Günther M. FOIDL10-Oct-08 3:06
Günther M. FOIDL10-Oct-08 3:06 
GeneralRe: Environment.CurrentDirectory is wrong... Pin
Claudio Nicora13-Oct-08 20:38
Claudio Nicora13-Oct-08 20:38 
AnswerRe: Environment.CurrentDirectory is wrong... Pin
Günther M. FOIDL13-Oct-08 21:43
Günther M. FOIDL13-Oct-08 21:43 
GeneralRe: Environment.CurrentDirectory is wrong... Pin
Claudio Nicora14-Oct-08 3:21
Claudio Nicora14-Oct-08 3:21 
GeneralRe: Environment.CurrentDirectory is wrong... [modified] Pin
Günther M. FOIDL14-Oct-08 6:37
Günther M. FOIDL14-Oct-08 6:37 
GeneralRe: Environment.CurrentDirectory is wrong... Pin
Skylinc14-Oct-08 18:52
Skylinc14-Oct-08 18:52 
GeneralRe: Environment.CurrentDirectory is wrong... Pin
Günther M. FOIDL14-Oct-08 21:18
Günther M. FOIDL14-Oct-08 21:18 
GeneralOn deleting... Pin
pikipoki9-Oct-08 4:24
pikipoki9-Oct-08 4:24 
GeneralRe: On deleting... Pin
Günther M. FOIDL9-Oct-08 4:44
Günther M. FOIDL9-Oct-08 4:44 
GeneralRe: On deleting... Pin
dejanstanic9-Oct-08 8:08
dejanstanic9-Oct-08 8:08 

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