Test setup for Update.1 builds

This page discusses the several ways that update.1-series and derived builds can be installed for testing.

Next, a warning: as of build update.1-699, activities are no longer bundled with the core build -- they must be installed separately. This choice was made because OLPC found itself unable to maintain separate builds for each large installation of its laptops - primarily due to lack of skilled labor. In effect, OLPC has created a "core build" without activities that can be easily customized with a customization key to suit the needs of each deployment.

Which laptops are "write-protected" and why does it matter?

XOs come in two flavors: write-protected (also, "secure") and unprotected.

All mass-produced machines (e.g. G1G1 and recent deployments) were created "write-protected".

Developer keys cause the machine to boot in "unprotected" mode and can be used to permanently remove "write protection".

Different instructions need to be followed for "write-protected" vs. "unprotected" machines.

Different instructions are needed depending on whether you are reflashing or updating to the new build.

Depending on the security settings of the laptop, different instructions are needed for installing signed and unsigned builds.

Which builds are signed, and why does it matter?

There are three streams for update.1 builds -- official, [1], update.1. The first two are signed, the last isn't. The workflow is:

• Update.1 builds are created (for example, "update.1-699"), and if they pass testing such that they're an improvement over previous candidates, they may become a signed "candidate" build.
• Candidate builds are represented in the form "candidate-699", and are our latest proposed final build for a release.
• Official builds are builds that have been passed to Quanta for installation on new laptops. Notwithstanding an Unscheduled software release, we expect only one of these builds per release cycle.

I olpc-update'd to an update.1 build; booted, and now I have no activities! How do I get my activities back?

You can download the G1G1_Activity_Pack, unzip it onto a USB key, and reboot.

On write-protected machines, the customization will be automatically installed.

On unprotected machines, you need to hold the x game-pad key as the machine comes on. (See Cheat codes for more details.)

What's the recommended way to

with a Reflash/Customization USB key prepared according to the instructions at Customization key.

Upgrading an machine

"Secure" machines without developer keys will reflash and customize from a properly prepared Customization key without any intervention. "Insecure" machines with a developer key installed require all four game keys to be held at boot to boot a customization key.

Creating your own activity pack

The create-customization-key Python script will create a customization key for G1G1 (or Mexico, or Peru, or "all"). You should first prepare a USB customization key with your desired activities; then, in the root of the USB disk, run:

python ./create-customization-key G1G1

At present, the simplest, most robust instructions for studying build update.1-702 are:

By copy-nand

1. Procure an XO & developer key or a non-secure XO.
2. Prepare a USB key to
   • install build update.1-702 via your favorite mechanism via copy-nand (see [[2]] for files),
   • host the Customization key, and
   • install an activity pack such as [3] (cjb: update this link at will)
3. Use the USB key to perform the installation and customization steps.

By olpc-update

1. Procure an XO & developer key or a non-secure XO.
2. Prepare a USB key to
   • host the Customization key, and
   • install an activity pack such as [4] (cjb: update this link at will)
3. Use olpc-update to update to update.1-702
4. Use the customization key to install an activity pack.