Stable Upgrade
This page is about updating the operating system software on your XO laptop to a "stable" release. It arrived running a stable release, and perhaps other stable releases have been made. A stable release is distinguished from other software "builds" by being signed with a crypto key that ony OLPC has, marking it as a suitable software release for ordinary people using the laptop. (As opposed to more adventurous people, who might want to run improved software not written by OLPC. Anyone is free to do so; this capability is required by the GNU General Public License that governs much of the software. And by OLPC on free/open source software, the company policy on freedom for the users of its software.)
You can upgrade via the built-in networking, or by using a USB storage device such as a flash memory "USB stick".
OLPC software releases are currently identified by numbers; thus "643" or "649" below are the numbers of particular software releases made in late 2007.
Network upgrade (only works well from 653 or later)
- Go into the virtual terminal: Hold down Alt, Ctrl, and
(the 'Mesh' key - third key from the left along the top row). - Login in as 'root'
- Type: olpc-update <version>
- Where <version> is the version number you wish to upgrade to. The stable version released on December 3, 2007 is '650'. The front page of this wiki always has a green box indicating the latest stable version.
- When the download and upgrade are complete and verified; type 'reboot' to start the laptop up in the new version.
- After booting into sugar, check the code version as described below.
To Upgrade from a USB stick (will overwrite all saved data)
Copy any files you would like to keep onto another data storage device (usb key, another laptop, etc...)
First you need to create a USB stick with the latest stable build:
- Make sure that your USB stick is FAT formatted, not FAT 32, and only contains 1 partition.
- Go to the jffs2 download page for stable build, http://download.laptop.org/xo-1/os/official/
- Download two files to your local computer: fs.zip (about 200k), and osXXX.img (about 300M); where XXX is the build number.
- These files will be found in /build_number/jffs2
- Put these two files on the USB stick at the root directory. Remove any other files on the USB stick.
Next, upgrade your laptop:
- Ensure you have both a power adapter and a battery plugged into the laptop (verify that the power adaptor is plugged into the wall outlet ;-) .
- Insert the USB stick into the laptop while it is powered off.
- Hold down all four gamekeys on the right then push the power button.
- Release the gamekeys when directed.
A map of blocks of the internal NAND Flash memory will be displayed. First the memory blocks of the internal memory will be erased (your USB stick might indicate activity, but don't worry) and then will be overwritten with the content of the USB stick. This process takes a few minutes. Finally a message appears stating that the latop will reboot in 10 seconds. It does so. The first boot takes a bit longer than subsequent ones.
Check the version of code your laptop is running:
1. Boot the laptop; and wait until you get the sugar home screen.
2. Hold down Alt, Ctrl, and 
(the 'mesh' key).
3. Check the version by reading the label just above the login, e.g.,
OLPC Build 650
(match that against expected build number).
4. Hold down Alt, Ctrl, and 
(the 'home' key) to get back to Sugar UI.
Advanced Upgrades
To upgrade to a non-stable release, you must have a developer's key (or a machine that was never locked down, such as a G1G1 MP machine). Consult Activation and Developer Keys and Autoreinstallation for more details.
Terminology
- Ship.1 = build 623, on initial mass-production machines in the factory—these machines have been upgraded in the field.
- Ship.2 = build 650, the 2007 mass-production machines, including all G1G1 machines.
- Update.1 = build TBD, now being put together, ETA released sometime in January 2008.