Updating

Introduction

SIINEOS consists of a combined boot and system image and uses RAUC as the underlying technology for installing updates. Unlike desktop or mobile operating systems SIINEOS is always updated as a whole, i.e. an update installs a full operating system image. All SIINEOS-compatible devices provide two slots for such images while only one slot is active at a time (Dual boot). An active slot contains the boot and system image which is currently used for booting and running the system. This allows installing a different version of SIINEOS in the currently inactive slot without touching the active slot. In case a slot with a newly installed version of SIINEOS does not boot successfully after several attempts, the device will revert back to the previously active slot. This makes the update process reliable and prevents bricked devices.

Updating via SMAC

Starting with SIINEOS 2.5.4 the web-based SIINEOS Management Console (SMAC) has a page Updates which allows you uploading and installing an update bundle easily. SMAC can be accessed via http://192.168.123.1/smac (direct USB connection) or http://<IP>/smac (Ethernet/Wifi).

Alternatively updates can be installed using at the command line. In order to perform one of the following installation procedures, connect to the device and log in as user root.

Online update

If the device has access to the Internet, the desired update bundle can be downloaded and installed directly:

cd /
incore-cli download https://download.inhub.de/siineos/updates/siineos-standard-armhf-update-v2.7.7.raucb
rauc install siineos-*raucb

Replace the download link with one that corresponds to the desired SIINEOS edition and version to install. Also make sure the device has access to the Internet e.g. via Ethernet or WLAN so it can contact the SIINEOS download servers.

Warning

Be careful when performing an online update via a broadband/LTE connection since at least 100 MB of data volume is consumed per download. Consider the possibility of an Offline update instead.

Offline update

If the device does not have access to the Internet, the update bundle can be downloaded elsewhere and stored on a USB memory stick. After inserting the USB memory stick into the USB port of the device, run the following commands.

mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
rauc install /mnt/siineos-standard-armhf-update-<VERSION>.raucb

If the mount command prints an error about a device not found, try /dev/sda (i.e. without 1) as the first argument. The first command will make the USB memory stick available at /mnt. The second command performs the actual update installation. If no error is reported, restart the device by entering reboot.

Updating automatically

SIINEOS as is does not have mechanisms for installing a new version automatically. However an auto-update functionality can be implemented on the InCore application level easily since all required components are ready for use. See the UpdateManager documentation for details.