SW Update

Agema product is based on x86 CPU and contains SSD disk like a regular personal computer or laptop. Agema’s software is installed on this SSD disk. Also, the device configuration is stored on the SSD disk.

Agema is a White Box router solution, based on ONIE. ONIE is Open Network Install Environment - an Open Compute Project open source initiative.

ONIE is a great Linux project and its log is:

_images/onie_logo.png

ONIE’s Highlights:

  • Combines a boot loader with a modern Linux kernel and BusyBox
  • Provides an environment for installing any network OS
  • Helps automate large scale data center switch provisioning
  • Manage your switches like you manage your Linux servers
  • Disruptive, liberating users from a captive, pre-installed network OS

Effectively, when R&D receives the white box device it already has ONIE pre-installed. It means that SSD disk of the device has some disk partitions, installed boot loader (GRUB in our case), Linux kernel and file system.

Specifically, the below partitions exist:

  • GRUB-BOOT
  • ONIE-BOOT
  • DIAG

ADVA Network Operating System (NOS) is installed alongside ONIE system. New partitions are created during NOS initial installation to contain Agema NOS. Note, that the partitions are created only during the initial installation of Agema NOS. During software upgrade disk partitions are just used (mounted, read and written).

Agema NOS disk partitions:

  • NOS Partition A
    • NOS-A-Kernel
    • NOS-A-RootFS
    • NOS-A-Log
  • NOS Partition B
    • NOS-B-Kernel
    • NOS-B-RootFS
    • NOS-B-Log
  • Shared Partitions
    • NOS-Shared-Config
    • NOS-Shared-Ver
    • NOS-Rescue

During Agema NOS software update a bundle file is downloaded to the device disk first. The bundle (for example: 19.1.1.431.bundle) contains all the software components of the new release:

  • Linux kernel
  • File system

The bundle is an executable file. When it is executed, it unpacks itself to the disk and copies Linux kernel and file system to the free partition set (for example, to NOS-B-Kernel and NOS-B-RootFS).

GRUB default boot option is updated and the device is rebooted.

The next boot, the new default GRUB boot menu entry is activated, that boots the newly installed Agema NOS release.