Updating the XO
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Overview of upgrading options
XO laptops can be manually updated while connected to the Internet, or offline with portable media.
The release notes for the previous stable release, 8.2.1, include instructions specific to upgrading to that release.
Online
The XO can be updated with an active internet connection using the olpc-update command.
Offline
The XO can be updated offline from a USB drive for either a simple offline upgrade with olpc-update or the full clean-install procedure. Try these pictorial instructions for beginners!
Revert
You can revert back to the previous version if an update goes wrong if you use the olpc-update method, using the Circle booting procedure on the Cheat codes page. Advanced users will also be able to explicitly opt out in advance of all updates.
Wireless Broadcast
For bulk updates or cloning of an XO image, XOs, with firmware versions of at least Q2E24, may employ a wireless method, Nandblaster.
School server
In school situations, the teacher or administrator would be able to control the update process, perhaps so that updates don't happen until the end of a semester (This functionality is implemented, but the school server tools to actually administer groups of laptops aren't yet ready in early 2008, check School server for more).
Firmware
The OS image includes firmware and so if you upgrade your XO you will also update its firmware if the OS image's firmware is newer. If you'd like to upgrade the firmware separately, see Upgrading firmware.
Opting out of automatic upgrades
For instructions on opting out of the automatic upgrades to your XO's build/firmware, please see the Update streams page.