# Exploring Open Source Dual AB Update Solutions > [! note]- > The content of this page is generated by audio/video transcription and text transformation from the content and links of this source. Source: [https://fosdem.org/2025/schedule/event/fosdem-2025-6299-exploring-open-source-dual-a-b-update-solutions-for-embedded-linux/](https://fosdem.org/2025/schedule/event/fosdem-2025-6299-exploring-open-source-dual-a-b-update-solutions-for-embedded-linux/) <video src="https://video.fosdem.org/2025/h1302/fosdem-2025-6299-exploring-open-source-dual-a-b-update-solutions-for-embedded-linux.av1.webm" controls></video> ## Summary & Highlights: **Introduction** This session at FOSDEM 2025, led by Leon Anavi, focuses on exploring open source dual A/B update solutions for embedded Linux devices. The presentation highlights the importance of regular software updates for maintaining security and extending the lifespan of these devices. It introduces three popular solutions: Mender, RAUC, and SWUpdate, and provides guidance on choosing the best option based on different use cases and industries. **Open Source Update Strategies** The session delves into the significance of dual A/B update schemes, which involve two identical partitions for seamless updates. These schemes ensure that devices can switch between partitions during updates, providing a fallback option in case of failure. Delta updates are also discussed, which minimize data transfer by sending only the changes. The session emphasizes the benefits of using open source solutions over in-house developments. **Mender, RAUC, and SWUpdate** Leon Anavi provides a detailed comparison of Mender, RAUC, and SWUpdate, discussing their strengths and weaknesses. Mender is noted for its robust management server and additional features, while RAUC is praised for its flexibility and support for HTTP streaming. SWUpdate is highlighted for its small footprint and compatibility with various build systems. The session also covers practical integration examples using devices like Raspberry Pi 5 and Olimex I.MX8MP SoM. **Technical and Practical Insights** The presentation offers insights into the technical challenges of implementing update solutions and provides practical demonstrations. It discusses the importance of data partitions, the role of bootloaders, and the potential of combining updates with container technology. Attendees gain a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively implement these solutions to enhance their products. **Conclusion** Leon Anavi concludes by encouraging the adoption of open source update solutions for embedded Linux devices. He emphasizes that these solutions have matured significantly and offer reliable, flexible options for developers. The session highlights the importance of selecting the right solution based on specific project needs and encourages collaboration and contribution to open source projects. ## Importance for an eco-social transformation The session underscores the importance of open source solutions in driving eco-social transformation by enhancing the security and longevity of embedded devices, thus reducing electronic waste. Sustainable practices are promoted through the use of delta updates, which minimize data transfer and energy consumption. For eco-social designers, tools like Mender, RAUC, and SWUpdate offer adaptable solutions for maintaining devices in a sustainable manner. Challenges include ensuring widespread adoption of open source practices and overcoming technical hurdles in integrating these solutions with existing systems. Socially, the session highlights the role of community collaboration in advancing open source technologies, promoting ethical development, and fostering inclusivity in technology access. ## Slides: | | | | --- | --- | | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_001.jpg\|300]] | The first slide introduces the session on exploring open source dual A/B update solutions for embedded Linux, presented by Leon Anavi from Konsulko Group. It sets the context for the presentation at FOSDEM 2025, providing the presenter's contact information. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_002.jpg\|300]] | The second slide outlines the agenda for the session, which includes discussions on embedded Linux update strategies, and detailed examinations of three open source solutions: Mender, RAUC, and SWUpdate. The session aims to conclude with insights and recommendations. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_003.jpg\|300]] | The third slide provides an overview of common embedded Linux update strategies. It highlights A/B updates, which involve dual redundant schemes, delta or adaptive updates that save bandwidth, container-based updates, and the combination of these strategies for effective update management. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_004.jpg\|300]] | The fourth slide explains the A/B update mechanism, which uses two identical root filesystem partitions. It describes the process where a client application checks for updates, installs them on the inactive partition, and uses the bootloader to switch partitions upon reboot, ensuring fallback in case of failure. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_005.jpg\|300]] | The fifth slide describes delta updates, where only the binary differences are sent to the device. This method is efficient in storage and bandwidth usage, similar to a Git model for filesystem trees, and allows for system rollback to previous states. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_006.jpg\|300]] | The sixth slide compares A/B and delta update strategies in terms of storage space, update size, and rollback capabilities. A/B updates require more storage but offer robust fallback options, whereas delta updates are more storage-efficient but lack separate partition backups. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_007.jpg\|300]] | The seventh slide lists popular open source solutions for embedded Linux updates, including Mender, RAUC, SWUpdate, and others like Balena and Snap. It highlights the diversity of available tools, each with unique features and capabilities. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_008.jpg\|300]] | The eighth slide presents a side-by-side comparison using practical implementations on devices like Raspberry Pi 5 and Olimex iMX8MP-SOM. It emphasizes the versatility of the discussed solutions in different hardware environments. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_009.jpg\|300]] | The ninth slide focuses on Mender, detailing its availability as both a free open source and commercial solution. It supports A/B updates and, in its professional plans, delta updates. Mender is compatible with the Yocto Project and Debian-based distributions. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_010.jpg\|300]] | The tenth slide lists devices supported by Mender, including Raspberry Pi, Rockchip, BeagleBone, NXP, and NVIDIA Tegra. It directs viewers to the GitHub repository for more detailed information on supported devices. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_011.jpg\|300]] | The eleventh slide outlines the steps to install Mender's A/B update on an embedded device, highlighting the importance of performing a commit after a successful update to prevent system rollback on the next reboot. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_012.jpg\|300]] | The twelfth slide explains Mender's two client modes: managed, where the client polls the server for updates, and standalone, suitable for local or network-triggered updates. It includes a command example for installing updates. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_013.jpg\|300]] | The thirteenth slide details Mender's integration with build systems, highlighting the inheritance of Mender classes and specific variables required during the build process. It includes configuration examples for the Olimex iMX8MP-EVB. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_014.jpg\|300]] | The fourteenth slide discusses Mender's data partition, used to store persistent data across updates. It supports various file systems and allows pre-configured image creation with bitbake. The partition size is configurable. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_015.jpg\|300]] | The fifteenth slide highlights Mender's add-ons, including remote terminal access, file transfer capabilities, port forwarding, and configuration management, enhancing device management beyond basic updates. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_016.jpg\|300]] | The sixteenth slide describes Mender's delta updates, available in its commercial plan. It requires a read-only root file system and supports rollback, offering efficient update deployment by creating binary deltas. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_017.jpg\|300]] | The seventeenth slide introduces RAUC, a lightweight client for A/B updates on embedded Linux. It supports multiple update scenarios, HTTP streaming, and adaptive updates, emphasizing security with X.509 cryptography. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_018.jpg\|300]] | The eighteenth slide provides licensing information for RAUC and related projects, including meta-rauc and rauc-hawkbit. It includes links to the GitHub repositories for accessing the source code. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_019.jpg\|300]] | The nineteenth slide outlines the integration steps for RAUC, including bootloader selection, partition creation, and configuration of RAUC slots and system settings, emphasizing flexibility and security. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_020.jpg\|300]] | The twentieth slide discusses RAUC's support for single and redundant data partitions, highlighting the need for dynamic mounting of the correct partition based on the active rootfs slot. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_021.jpg\|300]] | The twenty-first slide highlights RAUC's advanced features, including HTTP streaming for efficient bundle installation and adaptive updates that use target system data for improved update efficiency. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_022.jpg\|300]] | The twenty-second slide introduces the meta-rauc-community, a Yocto/OE layer with integration examples for RAUC on various machines. It encourages contributions via GitHub pull requests. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_023.jpg\|300]] | The twenty-third slide lists devices supported by the meta-rauc-community, including Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone, and various ARM-based platforms, showcasing the community's collaborative efforts. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_024.jpg\|300]] | The twenty-fourth slide describes SWUpdate, an open source framework for atomic updates with a small footprint. It supports signing with RSA keys, incremental updates, and Lua extensions. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_025.jpg\|300]] | The twenty-fifth slide covers SWUpdate's licensing, highlighting its GPLv2 license and support for Yocto/OE and Debian/Ubuntu. It lists supported devices through the meta-swupdate-boards layer. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_026.jpg\|300]] | The twenty-sixth slide compares features of Mender, RAUC, and SWUpdate, noting their support for A/B updates and rollback. It highlights Mender's additional add-ons and SWUpdate's local web interface. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_027.jpg\|300]] | The twenty-seventh slide provides a side-by-side comparison of implementation details, including programming languages, licenses, and management server options, highlighting each solution's unique aspects. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_028.jpg\|300]] | The twenty-eighth slide lists third-party management servers compatible with the discussed update solutions, including Eclipse HawkBit and AWS IoT, providing options for device management. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_029.jpg\|300]] | The twenty-ninth slide introduces libubootenv, a project for accessing U-Boot environment variables from Linux user space. It supports multiple solutions and is available on GitHub under LGPL-2.1. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_030.jpg\|300]] | The thirtieth slide discusses combining update strategies with containers, using the Yocto/OE meta-virtualization layer. It highlights the ease of adding Docker to embedded Linux distributions. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_031.jpg\|300]] | The thirty-first slide concludes the session, emphasizing the maturity and reliability of open source update solutions for embedded Linux. It highlights the importance of choosing the right solution for specific project needs. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Exploring-Open-Source-Dual-AB-Update-Solutions-for/preview_032.jpg\|300]] | The thirty-second slide provides useful links related to the session's content, including resources for the Yocto Project, Mender, RAUC, and SWUpdate, encouraging further exploration and learning. ## Links [Slides](https://fosdem.org/2025/events/attachments/fosdem-2025-6299-exploring-open-source-dual-a-b-update-solutions-for-embedded-linux/slides/237879/leon-anav_pyytRpX.pdf) [Video recording (AV1/WebM)](https://video.fosdem.org/2025/h1302/fosdem-2025-6299-exploring-open-source-dual-a-b-update-solutions-for-embedded-linux.av1.webm) [Video recording (MP4)](https://video.fosdem.org/2025/h1302/fosdem-2025-6299-exploring-open-source-dual-a-b-update-solutions-for-embedded-linux.av1.mp4) [Video recording subtitle file (VTT)](https://video.fosdem.org/2025/h1302/fosdem-2025-6299-exploring-open-source-dual-a-b-update-solutions-for-embedded-linux.av1.vtt)