Firmware updates

Safe by design

Firmware updates are currently handled internally by Giraffe Support - although delegation of these to customers is on the road map.

The Edge Controller utilises a 'dual boot partition' configuration, whereby any firmware updates are installed to an 'inactive' boot partition before being rebooted into. This allows an automatic fallback to the 'healthy' boot partition to happen should any issues arise during the installation of the new firmware.

By virtue of this system, Giraffe can update without impact in most cases, and any updates can be installed knowing that there is an inherent safety net to prevent bricked devices and therefore remove the need for on-site intervention.

Installation

Giraffe Support currently manages the installation of different firmware versions. These are usually updated to support either bugfixes, efficiency improvements, security updates or product/feature improvements.

For the most part, Giraffe Support will Edge Controllers without approval from customers, as all new versions are tested thoroughly on physical and virtual hardware prior to being released to customers.

During a firmware update, an Edge Controller will go offline for a short while to perform a reboot. The download/installation is done without interruption.

During this reboot, the system/cameras will show as offline. It is on the roadmap to add shutdown reasons to the Edge Controller, and display these in the application. (Internal reference: https://gitlab.com/rugged-networks/onvp/meta/-/issues/93)

Firmware updates are done during the business day when camera uptime is less crucial as sites are more likely to be staffed.

Firmware versions

While there is no publicly visible change log for different firmwares, the current firmware of a system can be seen of the Systems overview page (Settings -> Systems)