PERFORMING LIVE UPDATES TO FILE SYSTEM VOLUMES

• US 20180089206A1
• Filed: 09/23/2016
• Published: 03/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: TAMURA, Eric B., BROWN, Eric S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,423,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/128 Details of file system snapshots on the file-level, e.g. snapshot creation, administration, deletion use of snapshots for error detection or correction G06F11/14, G06F11/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/162 Delete operations erasing in storage systems G06F3/0652
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running

Abstract

The described embodiments set forth techniques for performing live updates to file system volumes (e.g., operating system (OS) file system volumes) of computing devices through the utilization of snapshots. In particular, the techniques enable a computing device to remain active while a majority of an update process is performed, which eliminates the considerable functional downtime that is normally imposed when implementing conventional update techniques. Moreover, the overall robustness of the update process is enhanced as the techniques described herein reduce the amount of time that is required for the computing device to remain in the above-described specialized update mode.

Claims

1. A method for performing a live update of a file system volume on a computing device, the method comprising, at the computing device:

establishing a first mount of the file system volume in a read-only mode, wherein the first mount is based on a first snapshot of the file system volume;

obtaining an update package for the file system volume;

establishing a second mount of the file system volume in a read-write mode;

applying the update package to the file system volume within the second mount to generate an updated file system volume;

generating a second snapshot of the file system volume based on the updated file system volume; and

establishing a third mount of the updated file system volume in a read-only mode, wherein the third mount is based on the second snapshot.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mount of the file system volume is established when the computing device is booting, and the file system volume comprises components of an operating system (OS) configured to execute on the computing device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the computing device includes a second file system volume that comprises user applications and user data, and the second file system volume is mounted in a read-write mode in conjunction with establishing the first mount of the file system volume and the third mount of the file system volume.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to generating the second snapshot of the file system volume:

analyzing the updated file system volume to confirm that the update package is properly applied to the file system volume.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, subsequent to generating the second snapshot:

deleting the first snapshot.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is rebooted in conjunction with establishing the third mount of the updated file system volume.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, when the computing device is rebooted, the first mount and the second mount are unmounted.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to establishing the first mount of the file system volume in the read-only mode:

generating the first snapshot of the file system volume.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second mount of the file system volume is hidden and cannot be viewed through the first mount of the file system volume.

10. At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by at least one processor included in a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a live update of a file system volume on the computing device, by carrying out steps that include:

establishing a first mount of the file system volume in a read-only mode, wherein the first mount is based on a first snapshot of the file system volume;

obtaining an update package for the file system volume;

establishing a second mount of the file system volume in a read-write mode;

applying the update package to the file system volume within the second mount to generate an updated file system volume;

generating a second snapshot of the file system volume based on the updated file system volume; and

establishing a third mount of the updated file system volume in a read-only mode, wherein the third mount is based on the second snapshot.

11. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the first mount of the file system volume is established when the computing device is booting, and the file system volume comprises components of an operating system (OS) configured to execute on the computing device.

12. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the computing device includes a second file system volume that comprises user applications and user data, and the second file system volume is mounted in a read-write mode in conjunction with establishing the first mount of the file system volume and the third mount of the file system volume.

13. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the computing device is rebooted in conjunction with establishing the third mount of the updated file system volume.

14. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein, when the computing device is rebooted, the first mount and the second mount are unmounted.

15. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the second mount of the file system volume is hidden and cannot be viewed through the first mount of the file system volume.

16. A computing device configured to perform a live update of a file system volume on the computing device, the computing device comprising:

at least one memory;

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one memory, the at least one processor to cause the computing device to;

establish a first mount of the file system volume in a read-only mode, wherein the first mount is based on a first snapshot of the file system volume;

obtain an update package for the file system volume;

establish a second mount of the file system volume in a read-write mode;

apply the update package to the file system volume within the second mount to generate an updated file system volume;

generate a second snapshot of the file system volume based on the updated file system volume; and

establish a third mount of the updated file system volume in a read-only mode, wherein the third mount is based on the second snapshot.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the first mount of the file system volume is established when the computing device is booting, and the file system volume comprises components of an operating system (OS) configured to execute on the computing device.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the computing device includes a second file system volume that comprises user applications and user data, and the second file system volume is mounted in a read-write mode in conjunction with establishing the first mount of the file system volume and the third mount of the file system volume.

19. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor, prior to establishment of the first mount of the file system volume in the read-only mode, is to:

generate the first snapshot of the file system volume.

20. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the second mount of the file system volume is hidden and cannot be viewed through the first mount of the file system volume.