Comparing Linux OS Image Update Models – Drew Moseley, Toradex
Today’s connected Embedded Linux devices increasingly rely on over-the-air updates to deliver security patches and new functionality. These updates can be challenging due to their substantial size. Delivering them can place a burden on mobile network connections. This session will compare several models for providing OS updates to remote devices focusing on their bandwidth reduction characteristics. We will dig into the architecture of each of the model’s approaches to size reduction including details such as storage formats, update generation, and implementation impact on target systems. We will then benchmark them against a common set of input images to quantify the size reduction. Reducing the total amount of data transferred is obviously a cost savings, but it can also increase reliability; less data to transfer means there is less time for things to go wrong, resulting in fewer retries and an overall smoother experience. We will wrap up with a discussion of common OTA update systems focusing on the update model(s) supported by each. Armed with this information, attendees will be better equipped to decide which model, and ultimately which solution is appropriate.
