Patent ID: 8266260

Claim:
A software update server, comprising: a network interface; a memory; and a processor communicatively coupled with the network interface and the memory, wherein under control of the processor an effective network bandwidth is determined based at least in part on information received via the network interface, a maximum number of threads in each of at least one set of parallel threads over which a software update package stored in the memory will be distributed via the network interface is determined based at least in part on the effective network bandwidth, a distribution time required to distribute the software update package to a group of network nodes to be updated over sets of the parallel threads is determined based at least in part on a size of the software update package, a preconfigured amount of bandwidth allocated per thread, a number of network nodes to be updated and the maximum number of threads in a set, and a start time for distribution of the software update package to the group of network nodes over the sets of the parallel threads is determined based at least in part on a difference between a scheduled installation time and the required distribution time, and wherein the software update package is distributed via the network interface in accordance with the start time.