Updating a firmware package

Updating a firmware package including receiving an update package for the firmware package, the firmware package including currently installed components supporting one of a plurality of software layers, the update package including update components that correspond to the currently installed components; retrieving information describing a state of the currently installed components; comparing the information describing the state of the currently installed components to information describing a state of the corresponding update components; constructing a revised update package that includes only update components having a state more recent than the state of the corresponding currently installed components; and updating the currently installed components with corresponding update components of the revised update package.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically, methods, apparatus, and products for updating a firmware package.

Description of Related Art

Software applications and computer hardware components of computer systems today are supported by firmware. Firmware may be implemented as one or more modules of computer program instructions, typically stored in ROM or Flash memory, that support operation of higher level software applications and computer hardware. From time to time firmware is updated. It is preferable to reduce the time needed to transfer, update the firmware, and reboot a computer system so that the updated firmware may be used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Methods, apparatus, and products for updating a firmware package are described that include receiving, by a firmware updating module comprising a module of automated computing machinery, an update package for the firmware package. The firmware package includes one or more currently installed components. Each of the currently installed components supports one of a number of software layers. The update package includes one or more update components that correspond to the currently installed components of the firmware package. Each of the update components supports one of the plurality of software layers. Updating the firmware package also includes retrieving, by the firmware updating module from the firmware package during operation of the firmware package, information describing a state of the currently installed components; comparing, by the firmware updating module, the information describing the state of the currently installed components to information describing a state of the corresponding update components; constructing, by the firmware updating module, a revised update package that includes only update components having a state more recent than the state of the corresponding currently installed components; and updating, by the firmware updating module, the currently installed components with corresponding update components of the revised update package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary methods, apparatus, and products for updating a firmware package in accordance with the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, beginning withFIG. 1.FIG. 1sets forth a network diagram of a system for updating a firmware package according to embodiments of the present invention. The system ofFIG. 1includes a automated computing machinery comprising an exemplary computer (152) useful in updating a firmware package (102) according to embodiments of the present invention. Firmware as the term is used in this specification refers to module of computer program instructions and data structures that support higher level operation of one or more software applications or components of a computer. The term ‘package’ is used here to describe the composition of firmware as including one or more components. That is, a firmware package consists of a set of components. A component is a module of computer program instructions that carries out one or more particular tasks. Examples of components include operating system firmware, boot loader firmware, system administration interface firmware, computer hardware firmware, network management firmware, management services firmware, web services firmware, and so on as will occur to readers of skill in the art. Each of the components of firmware packages according to embodiments of the present invention support a software layer—one or more system level or user level application modules that employ the components during operation. Examples of software layers include a boot loader layer, an operating system layer, a management services layer, a web services layer, and so on.

The computer (152) ofFIG. 1includes at least one computer processor (156) or ‘CPU’ as well as random access memory (168) (‘RAM’) and Flash memory (134) which is connected through a high speed memory bus (166) and bus adapter (158) to processor (156) and to other components of the computer (152).

Stored in flash memory is a firmware package (102). The firmware package (102) several currently installed components (107-113). The currently installed components (107-108) support software layer (136), the components (109-111) support software layer (138), component (112) supports software layer (140), and component (113) supports software layer (142). The components (107-113) described as ‘currently installed’ are those components presently active in the computer system—modules presently supporting user level and system level applications executing in the computer (152) as well as computer hardware components.

Also stored in Flash memory (134) is a firmware updating module (130), a module of automated computing machinery that updates firmware packages in accordance with the present invention. The firmware updating module (130) updates the firmware package (102) ofFIG. 1by receiving an update package (104) for the firmware package. The update package (104) in the example ofFIG. 1includes several update components (113-120). The update components (114-120) are said to ‘correspond’ to currently installed components of the firmware package (102). Corresponding components are components of the same type. Update components that correspond to currently installed components are either the same component or an updated version of that component. An update component comprising a boot loader component, for example, corresponds to a currently installed boot loader component of the firmware package (102), an update component comprising an operating system component corresponds to a currently installed operating system component of the firmware package (102), and so on. In addition to being of the same type, corresponding components also correspond to on another by supporting the same software layer. In the system ofFIG. 1, for example, update component (114) and currently installed component (107) correspond by type and support the same software layer (136).

The firmware updating module (130) may also retrieve, from the firmware package (102) during operation of the firmware package (102), information (126) describing a state of the currently installed components. A ‘state’ as the term is used here describes the version of a component. Software components are often updated from one version to another, where changes in the underlying computer program instructions are made. A component having a more recent state than a corresponding component is a component of a later version, a more recently changed or updated version of the component.

The firmware module (130) may also compare the information (126) describing the state of the currently installed components to information (106) describing a state of the corresponding update components and construct a revised update package (106). The revised update package (106) is constructed in a way such that the revised update package (106) includes only update components having a state more recent than the state of the corresponding currently installed components. That is, the revised update package (106) includes only components having of a later version than their corresponding currently installed components. In the system ofFIG. 1, for example, the revised update package (106) constructed by the firmware updating module (130) includes only update components (114-118). These update components (114-118) are of a later version, a more recent version, than the corresponding currently installed components (107-111). By contrast, the revised update package (106) does not include update components (119-120). The update components (119-120), are not of the a later version than the corresponding currently installed components (112-113).

The firmware updating module (130) may also update the currently installed components (107-111) with corresponding update components (114-118) of the revised update package (106). In this way, only currently installed components for which an update component is actually present are updated. In systems of the prior art, all currently installed components are typically replaced with the components of a firmware update, regardless of whether an update for the currently installed components actually exists in the firmware update.

Stored in RAM (168) is an user level application module (128), a module of computer program instructions for carrying out user level data processing tasks. Examples of such user level application modules (128) include word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database management applications, web browser applications, media library applications, media playback applications, and so on as will occur to readers of skill in the art. Also stored in RAM (168) is an operating system (154). Operating systems useful updating a firmware package according to embodiments of the present invention include UNIX™, Linux™, Microsoft XP™, AIX™, IBM's i5/OS™, and others as will occur to those of skill in the art.

For further explanation,FIG. 2sets forth a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for updating a firmware package (102) according to embodiments of the present invention. The method ofFIG. 2is carried out by a firmware updating module comprising a module of automated computing machinery similar to the firmware updating module (130) in the Example ofFIG. 1. The method ofFIG. 2includes receiving (202), by the firmware updating module, an update package (104) for the firmware package (102). The firmware updating module may receive an update package (104) in various ways including, for example, through a data communications network from a server pushing an update to the firmware updating module, by direct installation from a higher level software application at the behest of a system administrator, and in other ways as will occur to readers of skill in the art.

In the method ofFIG. 2, the firmware package (102) includes one or more currently installed components (212). Each of the currently installed components (212) supports one of a number of software layers. The update package (104) also includes one or more update components (214) that correspond to the currently installed components (212) of the firmware package (102). Each of the update components (214) also supports one of the software layers.

The method ofFIG. 2also includes retrieving (204), by the firmware updating module from the firmware package (102) during operation of the firmware package (102), information (126) describing a state of the currently installed components (212). Retrieving (204) information (126) describing a state of the currently installed components (212) may be carried out in many ways, including for example, by requesting the information (126) from the firmware package (102) through an application programming interface (API) exposed to the firmware updating module for such a purpose, by retrieving the information from a known storage location designated for such a purpose, or in other ways as will occur to readers of skill in the art.

The method ofFIG. 2also includes comparing (206), by the firmware updating module, the information (126) describing the state of the currently installed components (212) to information (108) describing a state of the corresponding update components (214). Comparing (206) the information (126) describing the state of the currently installed components (212) to information (108) describing a state of the corresponding update components (214) may be carried out by determining, for each update component, whether the update component's state is more recent than the corresponding currently installed component's state.

The method ofFIG. 2also includes constructing (208), by the firmware updating module, a revised update package (106) that includes only update components (214) having a state more recent than the state of the corresponding currently installed components (212). Constructing (208) a revised update package (106) that includes only update components (214) having a state more recent than the state of the corresponding currently installed components (212) may be carried out by copying, to a new storage location, only those update components having a more recent state as well as any portion of the update package necessary to effect installation of the update components.

The method ofFIG. 2also includes updating (210), by the firmware updating module, the currently installed components (212) with corresponding update components (216) of the revised update package (106). Updating (210) the currently installed components (212) with corresponding update components (216) of the revised update package (106) may be carried out by replacing the currently installed components (212) with a corresponding update component included in the revised update package (106).

The method ofFIG. 2also includes monitoring (218) progress (222) of updating (210) the currently installed components (212) with corresponding update components (216) of the revised update package (106). Monitoring (218) progress (222) of updating (210) the currently installed components (212) may be carried out in various ways. The firmware updating module may, for example, maintain an identification of the update component presently being installed, track a percentage of the installation of all update components, track the time taken to install each update, and so on.

The method ofFIG. 2also includes reporting (220) the progress (222) to a user level application module (224). Reporting (220) the progress (222) to a user level application module (224) may be carried out by sending data representing the progress (222) to the user level application module (224) automatically without user intervention, periodically upon a predefined period of time, each time installation of an update component is complete, or upon request by a user.

For further explanation,FIG. 3sets forth a flow chart illustrating a further exemplary method for updating a firmware package according to embodiments of the present invention. The method ofFIG. 3is similar to the method ofFIG. 2in that the method ofFIG. 3is carried out by a firmware updating module and the method ofFIG. 3includes receiving (202) an update package (104) for the firmware package (102); retrieving (204) information (126) describing a state of the currently installed components (212); comparing (206) the information (126) to information (108) describing a state of the corresponding update components (214); constructing (208) a revised update package (106) that includes only update components (214) having a state more recent than the state of the corresponding currently installed components (212); and updating (210) the currently installed components (212) with corresponding update components (216) of the revised update package (106).

The method ofFIG. 3differs from the method ofFIG. 2, however, in that in the method ofFIG. 3, retrieving (204) information (126) describing a state of the currently installed components (212) includes retrieving (302) metadata (304) including information describing the currently installed components. The information describing the currently installed components includes a version number (306) of each currently installed component (212). Metadata (304) is data that describes other data. The metadata (304) in the example ofFIG. 3may be any data structure, such as a list, a table, a structured document such as a extensible markup language (XML) document, or the like. A version number indicates the state of a component. Larger version numbers indicate amore recent state, while smaller version numbers indicate an older state. A component having a version number of 2.1 for example, has an older state than a corresponding component having a version number of 3.0.

Also in the method ofFIG. 3, comparing (206) the information (126) describing the state of the currently installed components (212) to information (108) describing a state of the corresponding update components (214) includes comparing (312) version numbers (306) of the currently installed components (212) to version numbers (310) of corresponding update components (214). Like the version numbers of currently installed components (306), the version numbers of the update components (310) may also be defined in metadata (308).

Also in the method ofFIG. 3, constructing (208) a revised update package (106) is carried out by including (314) in the revised update package (106) only update components (216) having a version number (310) greater than the version number (306) of the corresponding currently installed components (212).

For further explanation,FIG. 4sets forth a data flow diagram illustrating an example firmware package (102), update package (104), and revised update package (106) employed in methods of updating a firmware package according to embodiments of the present invention. In example ofFIG. 4, the firmware updating module (130) receives an update package (104) for the firmware package (102). The firmware package (102) in the example ofFIG. 4includes seven currently installed components (401-407), including a intelligent platform management interface (IPMI) component (401), a simple network management protocol (SNMP) component (402), a common information model (CIM) component (403), a web services component (404), two operating system components (405,406), and a bootloader component (407). Each of the components is characterized by a version number. Each of the components supports one of three software layers (418,420,422).

The update package (204) includes seven update components (408-141) corresponding to the currently installed components (401-407). The update components include an IPMI component (408), an SNMP component (409), a CIM component (410), a web services component (411), two operating system components (412,413), and a bootloader component (414). The update components (408-414) support the same software layers (418,420,422) as corresponding currently installed components (401-407).

The firmware updating module (130) retrieves information describing a state of the currently installed components (401-407)—in this example, the version numbers of the components (401-407). The firmware updating module (130) then compares version numbers of the currently installed components (401-407) to version numbers of the update components (408-414) and constructs a revised update package (106) that includes only update components (408,410,412) having more recent version numbers than the version numbers of the currently installed components (401-407). In this example, the IPMI update component (408) has a greater version number, 1.12, than the corresponding currently installed IPMI component (401) which has a version number of 1.1. The CIM update component (410) has a greater version number, 2.7, than the version number, 2.6, of the corresponding currently installed CIM component (403). The operating system update component (412) has a greater version number, 5.2.6, than the version number, 5.2.5, of the corresponding currently installed operating system component (405). All other update package components (409,411,413, and414) have version numbers equal to the version numbers of correspond currently installed components (402,404,406, and407).

After constructing the revised update package (106), the firmware updating module (130) updates the currently installed components (401,403, and405) with corresponding update components (408,410, and412) of the revised update package (106). In this way, only currently installed components for which an updated version is present are updated.

The method ofFIG. 2above includes, among other method steps, updating (210), by the firmware updating module, the currently installed components (212) with corresponding update components (216) of the revised update package (106). Such updating (210) may be carried out various ways. For further explanation, therefore,FIG. 5sets forth a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for updating (210) currently installed components of a firmware package with corresponding update components of a revised update package in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

The method ofFIG. 5is carried out for each software layer supported by an update component of the revised update package. The method ofFIG. 5includes halting (504) operation of the software layer, replacing (506), with all update components supporting the software layer, corresponding currently installed components, and restarting (512) operation of the software layer. In this way, only one software layer must halt operation during an update of the firmware components supporting the software layer. Other software layers may continue to operate uninterrupted.

Although the method ofFIG. 5includes halting (504) and restarting (512) operation of a software layer, readers of skill in the art will immediately recognize that updating (210) the currently installed components (212) with corresponding update components (216) of the revised update package (106) may alternatively include halting and restarting operation of the components being updated rather than an entire software layer. Furthermore, because of operational dependencies between components in various software layers, software layers other than the software layer supported by the update component may be halted and restarted during the update (210) of the currently installed component. A software layer that includes an IPMI or SNMP component with operational dependencies on an operating system software layer may be halted and restarted during update of a component of the operating system software layer.

In the method ofFIG. 5replacing (506), with all the update components supporting the software layer, corresponding currently installed components includes retrieving (602) storage location of each corresponding currently installed component maintained by the firmware package. The firmware package may maintain a list, table, or other data structure that includes for each currently installed component: a pointers to the memory location at which the currently installed components is stored and an offset indicating a size of the component. With this information, the firmware updating module may erase the storage location identified by the pointer and offset and copy the update component to the same storage location.

Alternatively, firmware updating module may replacing (506), with all the update components supporting the software layer, corresponding currently installed components by retrieving (512) a storage location of each corresponding currently installed component generated by the firmware updating module upon a previous update of the firmware package. That is, the firmware updating module may be configured to generate and later update a data structure with storage locations of components installed by the firmware updating module. Such storage locations may be defined by a pointer to the memory location at which the component was previously stored and an offset defining a memory size of the component.

In view of the explanations set forth above, readers will recognize that the benefits of updating a firmware package according to embodiments of the present invention include:A reduced amount of time updating firmware by removing unnecessary updates of firmware components;An increased operability of a system supported by the firmware by enabling only one service at a time to be halted during the update; andAn increased amount of data provided during an update to indicate progress of the update.