Mender: over-the-air updater for embedded Linux devices
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Mender is an open source over-the-air (OTA) software updater for embedded Linux devices. Mender comprises a client running at the embedded device, as well as a server that manages deployments across many devices.
Mender is an open source over-the-air (OTA) software updater for embedded Linux
devices. Mender comprises a client running at the embedded device, as well as
a server that manages deployments across many devices.
This repository contains the Mender Conversion Tool, which is used to convert pre-built disk images (Debian, Ubuntu, Raspbian, etc) to a Mender compatible
image by restructuring partition table and injecting the necessary files.
Embedded product teams often end up creating homegrown updaters at the last
minute due to the need to fix bugs in field-deployed devices. However, the most
important requirement for an embedded update process is *robustness*, for example
loss of power at any time should not brick a device. This creates a challenge
given the time constraints to develop and maintain a homegrown updater.
Mender aims to address this challenge with a *robust* and *easy to use* updater
for embedded Linux devices, which is open source and available to anyone.
## Getting started
Robustness is ensured with *atomic* image-based deployments using a dual A/B
rootfs partition layout. This makes it always possible to roll back to a working state, even
when losing power at any time during the update process.
Ease of use is addressed with an intuitive UI, [comprehensive documentation](https://docs.mender.io/), a
[meta layer for the Yocto Project](https://github.com/mendersoftware/meta-mender) for *easy integration into existing environments*,
and high quality software (see the test coverage badge).
This repository contains the Mender client updater, which can be run in standalone mode
(manually triggered through its command line interface) or managed mode (connected to the Mender server).
Mender not only provides the client-side updater, but also the backend and UI
for managing deployments as open source. The Mender server is
designed as a microservices architecture and comprises several repositories.
## Generic conversion tool
A tool for taking an existing embedded image (Debian, Ubuntu, Raspbian, etc) and converting it to a Mender image by restructuring partition table and adding necessary files.
Since we are unlikely to be able to patch U-Boot this way, this depends on U-Boot/UEFI functionality.
To start using Mender, we recommend that you begin with the Getting started
section in [the Mender documentation](https://docs.mender.io/).
Mirza Krak
6 years ago
GitHub