Olpc-update: Difference between revisions

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This method of updating from one OS build to another is experimental. It works by transferring only the differences across the internet link from an updates server.
This method of updating from one OS build to another is experimental. It works by transferring only the differences across the internet link from an updates server.


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Q: What update targets are available?
Q: What update targets are available?

A: recent OS builds, including Debian buils.


# rsync rsync://updates.laptop.org | sort
# rsync rsync://updates.laptop.org | sort
Line 43: Line 43:
# rsync FLAGS rsync://updates.laptop.org/build-NNN/manifest
# rsync FLAGS rsync://updates.laptop.org/build-NNN/manifest
# rsync FLAGS rsync://udpates.laptop.org/build-NNN/root/
# rsync FLAGS rsync://udpates.laptop.org/build-NNN/root/

*''manifest'' is missing in build-612, probably replaced by ''contents'', yet to be confirmed,
*''updates.laptop.org'' generates an AUTH request, so an ident server on the system running rsync may be helpful, Debian package ''oidentd'' is sufficient,


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Revision as of 06:19, 4 October 2007

This method of updating from one OS build to another is experimental. It works by transferring only the differences across the internet link from an updates server.

As an example of the data efficiency gain,

  • an autoreinstallation from OS build 602 to 603 would normally take about 279Mb of download data, whereas olpc-update takes 16Mb of download data,
  • an autoreinstallation from OS build 603 to 608 would normally take 262Mb of download data, whereas olpc-update takes 6.5Mb of download data,

The time efficiency gain is less easy to characterise. It depends on the speed of the internet link, and whether the autoreinstallation image needs to be downloaded. An olpc-update from 602 to 603 cost under 17 minutes.

The current updates server is updates.laptop.org.


Usage:

  • Ensure the laptop is able to access the internet,
  • Be root at a command prompt,
  • Type olpc-update NNN where NNN is the build number.

Q: What update targets are available?

A: recent OS builds, including Debian buils.

# rsync rsync://updates.laptop.org | sort

Q: What is the latest version of the updater?

A: for build 602 and 603, a later development version of the updater is at:

# wget http://dev.laptop.org/~mstone/olpccontents-latest.rpm
# wget http://dev.laptop.org/~mstone/rainbow-latest.rpm
# rpm --upgrade --force olpccontents-latest.rpm rainbow-latest.rpm

Q: How can I re-use the bits for multiple laptops?

A: This feature is not yet available, but in the meanwhile you can make your own updates server based on the updates available. You will need to change the olpc-update script. For ideas:

# rsync FLAGS rsync://updates.laptop.org/build-NNN/manifest
# rsync FLAGS rsync://udpates.laptop.org/build-NNN/root/
  • manifest is missing in build-612, probably replaced by contents, yet to be confirmed,
  • updates.laptop.org generates an AUTH request, so an ident server on the system running rsync may be helpful, Debian package oidentd is sufficient,

Q: Where is the source?

A: The source repo is http://dev.laptop.org/git/users/mstone/security

The branch you want is currently called updater, though this will likely change in the future. There are five important files in the repository. They are:

rainbow/sbin/olpc-update
rainbow/sbin/olpc-update-rsync
rainbow/rainbow/update.py
rainbow/rainbow/launch/targets/update.py
rainbow/rainbow/launch/stages/update.py

See also