Chapter 10: Updating Software in the Field

In previous chapters, we discussed various ways to build the software for a Linux device and also how to create system images for various types of mass storage. When you go into production, you just need to copy the system image to the flash memory, and it is ready to be deployed. Now, I want to consider the life of the device beyond the first shipment.

As we move into the era of the Internet of Things, the devices that we create are very likely to be connected together by the internet. At the same time, software is becoming exponentially more complex. More software means more bugs. Connection to the internet means those bugs can be exploited from afar. Consequentially, we have a common requirement to be able to update software in the field. Software updates bring more advantages than fixing bugs, however. They open the door to adding value to existing hardware by improving system performance over time or enabling features.

In this chapter...