chrome extension auto-update from a local server

I have created a chrome extension for the company I work for, and want to post updates to a local server within the office network. I have read http://code.google.com/chrome/extensions/autoupdate.html, but to no avail.

manifest.json

{
  "name": "My Helper",
  "version": "1.0",
  "description": "desc",
  "omnibox": { "keyword" : "bla" },

  "update_url": "\\\\serverName\\Dir\\updates.xml",
  "background_page" : "background.html",
  "browser_action": {
    "default_icon": "icon.png",
    "popup": "popup.html"
  },

  "permissions":
     ["tabs"]
}

updates.xml

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<gupdate xmlns='http://www.google.com/update2/response' protocol='2.0'>
  <app appid='abpjmfcmljpfhjpalecklgnndibgnjmp'>
    <updatecheck codebase='\\serverName\Dir\my_helper.crx' version='1.0' />
  </app>
</gupdate>

Now, after I make some changes, I do the following:

• Update the version in manifest.json to 1.1
• Update the version in updates.xml to 1.1
• Pack the extension, specifying the directory which holds the source files and the pem file.
• Post the new crx file and the new updates.xml开发者_运维知识库 file to \\serverName\Dir\
• Go to another computer on the network, and click update extensions now in the Chrome's extensions window.

-> Nothing happens.

Question is - how to make an extension auto-update from a shared server on the local network?

P.S. I am pretty sure this is not a permissions issue. I have made sure I can access \\serverName\Dir\ from all clients on this network.

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AFAIK Network URL's are not supported. Host a simple HTTP server (there are many out there), and link directly to that instead.

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yep you could put the update on a live but private server with some ridiculous sub-domain or domain name and even further add a random dir name or two if your worried about it going public