Asynchronous software update

A server is equipped with a distributor/updater (110) to accept periodic check-in by client computers (132) to determine if the client computer's software needs to be updated. The distributor/updater is designed to provide each client computer, determined to require update, with a task list listing a number of tasks (154) to be asynchronously performed (156) at a later point or later points in time by the client computer to update the client computer's software. The tasks may include asynchronous subsequent requests of the server or third party servers for software parts. The tasks also include installation tasks to be performed upon obtaining the required software parts. The client computer is also equipped with a complementary distributor/updater (134) to perform the periodic check-in (152) and to schedule the update tasks accordingly. In one embodiment the server's distributor/updater is also designed to be able to regulate its own workload, optionally asking clients to retry later.