Method and apparatus for differential file based update for embedded systems

Abstract

A system is provided including a host processing system and a remote management module coupled to ft. The host processing system is configured to receive an update package. The remote management module is configured to determine one or more modified files from the update package and update its current embedded system by replacing, with the one or more modified files, only those files associated with the current embedded system that correspond to the one or more modified files.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a remote management system via a serial link, an update package including at least one new or modified file that is not identical to any file in current embedded software of the remote management module and at least one duplicate file that matches a file in the current embedded software, wherein the remote management module has a processor and a memory on which the current embedded software is stored;   processing, by a remote management system, metadata of the update package to identify the at least one new or modified file that is not identical to any file in current embedded software of a remote management module; and   updating the current embedded software by replacing the at least one new or modified file but not the at least one duplicate file on the memory of the remote management module.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein replacing the at least one new or modified file but not the at least one duplicate file on the memory of the remote management module includes burning the new or modified file onto a FLASH memory chip. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the remote management system via the serial link, the metadata associated with the update package,   wherein the metadata is received without the entire update package.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 in response to receiving the metadata, identifying, by the remote management module, the at least one new or modified file that is not identical to any file in current embedded software of the remote management module.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the remote management module is coupled to a host processing system and is configured to facilitate management of the host processing system by a remote administrative console. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to update the current embedded software with updated embedded software that includes the at least one new or modified file that is not identical to any file in current embedded software of the remote management module and the at least one duplicate file that matches a file in the current embedded software.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 receiving the update package that includes the at least one new or modified file that is not identical to any file in current embedded software of the remote management module.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one new or modified file comprises a file with modified content, a file with modified inode information, or a file with modified permissions. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein a file in the current embedded software is characterized by a first version identification and at least one new or modified file is characterized by a second version identification. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the remote management module maintains normal operation during the update. 
     
     
         33 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors;   a memory system having current embedded software and programming instructions stored thereon, wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:   identify an update package including at least one new or modified file that is not identical to any file in the current embedded software and at least one duplicate file that matches a file in the current embedded software;   process metadata corresponding to the update package to identify the at least one new or modified file that is not identical to any file in current embedded software of a remote management module; and   update the current embedded software by replacing the at least one new or modified file but not the at least one duplicate file in the current embedded software.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein replacing the at least one new or modified file but not the at least one duplicate file on the memory of the remote management module comprises burning the new or modified file onto a FLASH memory chip. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a serial interface configured to receive the metadata associated with the update package without the entire update package.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the serial interface is further configured to receive the update package that includes the at least one new or modified file that is not identical to any file in current embedded software of the remote management module. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the system to:
 in response to receiving the metadata, identify the at least one new or modified file that is not identical to any file in current embedded software of the remote management module.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the system is coupled to a host processing system and is configured to facilitate management of the host processing system by a remote administrative console. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the host processing system is configured to receive a request to update the current embedded software with updated embedded software that includes the at least one new or modified file that is not identical to any file in current embedded software of the remote management module and the at least one duplicate file that matches a file in the current embedded software. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one new or modified file comprises a file with modified content, a file with modified inode information, or a file with modified permissions. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein a file in the current embedded software is characterized by a first version identification and at least one new or modified file is characterized by a second version identification. 
     
     
         42 . A computer readable storage medium having programming instructions stored thereon, wherein the programming instructions, when executed by one or more processors of a system, cause the system to:
 identify an update package including at least one new or modified file that is not identical to any file in a current embedded software of the system and at least one duplicate file that matches a file in the current embedded software,
 wherein the system includes memory on which the current embedded software is stored; 
   process the metadata of the update package to identify the at least one new or modified file that is not identical to any file in current embedded software of a remote management module; and   update the current embedded software by replacing the at least one new or modified file but not the at least one duplicate file in the current embedded software.