Updating an edge computing device

Abstract

Examples are disclosed that relate to updating system software of a computing device located at a network edge between a local network and a cloud service. One disclosed example provides a method comprising booting into a system disk image at a boot location, receiving and storing an updated system disk image from a server computing device. The method further comprises changing the boot location from a location of the system disk image to a location of the updated system disk image and booting into the updated system disk image.

1 . On a computing device configured as an edge device node in a cluster of computing devices configured to operate as an edge computing device located at a network edge between a local network and a cloud service to perform functions of the cloud service at the network edge, a method for updating system software of the computing device, the method comprising:
 booting into a system disk image at a boot location;   receiving, from a server computing device, an updated system disk image and storing the updated system disk image;   changing the boot location from a location of the system disk image to a location of the updated system disk image;   booting into the updated system disk image;   detecting a potential error, wherein the detecting is performed at the computing device; and   automatically generating an instruction to roll back in response to detecting the potential error;   based on the instruction to roll back, changing the boot location from the location of the updated system disk image to a location of the specified prior version of the system disk image; and   booting into the specified prior version of the system disk image.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing user files on a different physical storage device than a physical storage device storing the system disk image and the updated system disk image. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing client settings on a different physical storage device than a physical storage device storing the system disk image and the updated system disk image. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein booting into the system disk image at the boot location comprises booting a virtual machine into the system disk image. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, before booting into the system disk image at the boot location, installing the system disk image by:
 receiving an initialization disk image, the initialization disk image comprising an operating system partition and an image partition, the image partition comprising the system disk image;   booting into the operating system partition; and   changing the boot location from a location of the operating system partition to the location of the system disk image.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising mounting the initialization disk image as a virtual disk. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instruction to roll back is generated by an executable on the updated system disk image. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instruction to roll back is generated by an executable within an operating system of the computing device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instruction to roll back is generated by an executable on the system disk image. 
     
     
         10 . A computing device configured as an edge device located at a network edge between a local network and a cloud service to perform functions of the cloud service at the network edge, the computing device comprising:
 a processor; and   a storage device storing instructions executable by the processor to
 receive an initialization disk image from a cloud-side update server, the initialization disk image comprising an operating system partition and an image partition, the image partition comprising a system disk image; 
 boot into the operating system partition; 
 change a boot location from a location of the operating system partition to a location of the system disk image; 
 boot into the system disk image; 
 receive an updated system disk image; 
 change the boot location from the location of the system disk image to a location of the updated system disk image; 
 boot into the updated system disk image; 
 detect a potential error, wherein the detecting is performed at the computing device; 
 automatically generating an instruction to roll back in response to detecting the potential error; 
 based on the instruction to roll back, change the boot location from the location of the updated system disk image to a location of the specified prior version of the system disk image; and 
 boot into the specified prior version of the system disk image. 
   
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions executable to boot into the operating system partition comprises instructions executable to boot a virtual machine into the operating system partition, and wherein the instructions executable to change the boot location are executable to change the boot location of the virtual machine. 
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further executable to mount the initialization disk image as a virtual disk. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further executable to generate the instruction to roll back at an executable on the updated system disk image. 
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions are executable to generate the instruction to roll back at an executable within an operating system of the computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions are executable to generate the instruction to roll back at an executable on the system disk image. 
     
     
         16 . A computer-readable storage device comprising:
 instructions executable by a computing device configured as an edge device located at a network edge between a local network and a cloud service to perform functions of the cloud service at the network edge, the instructions comprising instructions executable to   boot into a system disk image at a boot location;   receive, from a server computing device, an updated system disk image and storing the updated system disk image;   change the boot location from a location of the system disk image to a location of the updated system disk image;   boot into the updated system disk image;   detect a potential error, wherein the detecting is performed at the computing device; and   automatically generate a rollback instruction at the computing device in response to detecting the potential error;   based on the instruction to roll back, change the boot location from the location of the updated system disk image to a location of the specified prior version of the system disk image; and   boot into the specified prior version of the system disk image.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions are executable to store user files on a different physical storage device than a physical storage device storing the system disk image and the updated system disk image. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions are executable to store client settings on a different physical storage device than a physical storage device storing the system disk image and the updated system disk image. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the instruction to roll back is received from an executable within an operating system of the computing device. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the instruction to roll back is received from an executable on one or more of the system disk image or the updated system disk image.