Patent ID: 8473938

Claim:
A processor-implemented method for updating software deployed on a plurality of computers in an enterprise computer network wherein each computer has a software update agent installed to enable the computer to receive software patch updates, comprising the steps of: a selected computer determining a required software component and software patch updates based upon a location set in a configuration file; the computer determining a version of the software update agent and updating the software update agent if required; the computer selecting a server from which required software patch updates are to be downloaded; the computer scanning a plurality of software components on the computer and comparing the software components with software patch updates available on the selected server to determine required software patch updates; the computer downloading the required software patches from the selected server; the computer installing the required software patches on the computer; and the computer executing at least one command-line switch which identifies the location of the configuration file and wherein all subsequent software component and software patch update settings are provided from the configuration file, wherein the configuration file is located in a same folder as a patch update processor executable file in which case the command-line switches override settings in the configuration file.