Patent ID: 6950878

Claim:
A method for performing an in-service software upgrade to a first computing machine in a network comprising steps of: (a) providing a source node hosting an upgrade software package; (b) causing an upgrade command to be executed; (c) establishing, as a result of the upgrade command, a network session between the first computing machine and the source node; (d) receiving the upgrade software at the first computing machine; (e) copying and distributing, within the first computing machine, the upgrade software to designated first components slated for upgrade; (f) designating one or more second components in the first computing machine as backups for each first component to be upgraded; (g) backing up services and software running on each first component to be upgraded to a designated second component while upgrade proceeds for the associated first component; (h) causing a switchover at the upgraded first component to the new software; and (i) repeating steps (g) and (h) until all the components slated for upgrade are upgraded.