AstaBinaryPatcher控件可以对两个二进制文件进行比较，并且可以创建一个补丁文件，同时可以通过一个小的控制台程序（patcher.exe）使该文件对第一个二进制文件进行修补。一个图形界面接口程序AstaBinaryPatchManager.exe可以创建和维护这些补丁文件。控制台程序（patcher.exe）可以使用这些来修补文件。

AstaBinaryPatcher最大的用处就是在不需要传送大量文件的情况下，能够有效地更新远程已部署的EXE可执行程序。AstaBinaryPatcher集成了许多第三方工具，这些工具可以为任何应用程序提供一个透明的自动更新过程，并且可以检查一个远程服务器上的应用程序是否需要更新，得到一个补丁，并在适当的位置更新应用程序。

虽然使用AstaBinaryPatcher，可以允许远端的可执行文件变为当前的可执行文件，该技术也可针对流式数据库文件。

AstaBinaryPatcher是Zero Administration Initiative的一部分，而Zero Administration Initiative又是该软件中的一部分，此软件还包含了可以对Palm等掌上电脑进行无线更新的ASTA's Hitchhiker's Guide。



ASTA完全可以以零管理的方式应用于瘦客户端应用程序中。为此目的，ASTA自动更新过程允许远程客户端登录到一个ASTA服务器，在服务器上进行版本检查，如果有一个更新的客户端应用程序版本，那么该版本的程序可以被传送到远程客户端，覆盖现有的应用程序，并且重新启动客户端应用程序。在Asta自动更新演示中有实例和屏幕快照描述其过程。该技术也适用于PDA设备，在ASTA服务器上，当客户端得到正确的权限时，一个更新的palm prc或是WinCE程序就可以被传送到手持设备上。对于一个低容量的服务或是一个局域网，在接入上百用户数量时速度是非常快速的。

The AstaBinaryPatcher allows any 2 binary files to be compared and a "patch" file created that can be applied to the first binary file using a small console program (patcher.exe). A GUI program, or the AstaBinaryPatchManager.exe is used to create and maintain the patches. Then the console program (patcher.exe) is used to apply the patches.

The typical use of the AstaBinaryPatcher is to efficiently update remotely deployed EXE's without have to stream down large files. There are 3rd Party tools that integrate with the AstaBinaryPatcher to provide a transparent autoupdate process for any application and allow the application to "check" for an update on a remote server, get a patch and update an application in place.

Although EXE's are normally used with the AstaBinaryPatcher to allow for remote EXE's to be made current, any file, including streamed database files could be used with this technology.

The AstaBinaryPatcher is part of the Zero Administration Initiative that is part of the which also includes ASTA's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Wireless Universe and an updated for the Palm.



ASTA is fully committed to thin client applications with zero administration. To this end, the ASTA AutoUpdate Process allows for remote clients, when logging onto an ASTA server to have a version check performed on the server and if a more recent version of the client application is available, that version can be streamed down to remote clients, replace the existing application and relaunch the application. This process is described with examples and screen shots in the AstaAutoUpdate Tutorial. This same technique is available on PDA devices also, where a updated Palm prc or WinCE EXE is made available on ASTA SkyWire servers and then streamed down to the handheld device when a client is authenticated at the server. For low volume servers or over local lans, this works quite well but as user counts start to rise into the hundreds, it could be quite common for 100 or so users to hit a server at the same time, streaming down a 1MB + EXE to remote clients. Quite a distraction for an ASTA server designed to serve up database queries!