Software update methodology

摘要

Software update information is communicated to a network appliance either across a network or from a local memory device. The software update information includes kernel data, application data, or indicator data. The network appliance includes a first storage device, a second storage device, an operating memory, a central processing unit (CPU), and a network adapter. First and second storage devices are persistent storage devices. In a first example, both kernel data and application data are updated in the network appliance in response to receiving the software update information. In a second example, only the kernel data is updated in the network appliance in response to receiving the software update information. In a third example, only the application data is updated in the network appliance in response to receiving the software update information. Indicator data included in the software update information determines the data to be updated in the network appliance.

主权项

1. A method of performing a software update, comprising:
(a) loading a first application data from a first storage device onto an operating memory, wherein the operating memory stores a first kernel update flag value, and a first application update flag value; (b) loading a first kernel data from a second storage device onto the operating memory; (c) receiving software update information onto a device, wherein the software update information includes a second kernel data, a second kernel update flag value, and a second application update flag value, and wherein the device includes the first storage device, the second storage device, the operating memory, and a processor; (d) storing the software update information on the first storage device; (e) replacing the first kernel update flag value stored on the operating memory with the second kernel update flag value included in the software update information; (f) replacing the first application update flag value stored on the operating memory with the second application update flag value included in the software update information; (g) initiating a first reboot; (h) erasing the second storage device when the kernel update flag value stored in the operating memory is a first value; (i) not erasing the second storage device when the kernel update flag value stored in the operating memory is a second value; (j) copying the second kernel data included in the software update information from the first device to the second device when the kernel update flag value stored on the operating memory is the first value; (k) setting the kernel update flag to the second value; (l) initiating a second reboot; (m) loading the second kernel data stored on the second device onto the operating memory; and (n) loading the first application data stored on the first device onto the operating memory, wherein steps (a) through (n) are performed at least in part by the processor.