Appliances are complex combinations of hardware and software that enterprises put into production environments to meet specific – and often critical – computing needs. Offering high performance and reliability with minimal IT involvement, appliances are the delivery vehicle of choice in several key segments of the technology industry, including security, storage and telecommunications.
APPLIANCE SOFTWARE COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
TECHNOLOGY WHITEPAPER
Appliance Update Management
Technologies and Processes for Maximizing the Effectiveness of an Appliancethroughout its Lifecycle
NEI / 25 Dan Road Canton, MA / 02021-2817 / telephone: 781 332 1000 / fax: 781 770 2000 www.nei.comTechnology Whitepaper 2
Introduction
Appliances are complex combinations of hardware and software that enterprises put into productionenvironments to meet specific - and often critical - computing needs. Offering high performance andreliability with minimal IT involvement, appliances are the delivery vehicle of choice in several key segmentsof the technology industry, including security, storage and telecommunications.
To deliver top performance and maximum business value over time, however, appliances need some 'careand feeding'. Most often, this takes the form of periodic software patches and updates. But due to howappliances are designed, built and deployed, keeping their software up to date presents some uniquechallenges to software vendors and to their enterprise IT customers.
This white paper outlines the main challenges involved in appliance update management and details theapproach NEI has taken in overcoming those challenges.
Overview
The independent software vendor (ISV) and the enterprise IT end user each must overcome certain roadblocks andhurdles when it comes time to update the software on an appliance. Whether the appliance is physical or virtual,the challenges remain and must be addressed to ensure the appliance delivers the expected uptime and businessvalue. The dimensions of the update challenge include the following.
General RequirementsKeeping all software up to date including the primary application, supporting applications, managementsoftware and operating system (OS)Handling all types of updates, including security 'hot' fixes, bug fixes, major upgrades and minor updatesSecurely delivering updates into customers' networksEnabling delivery of the updates to appliances without requiring public internet access
Software Vendor NeedsDeliver high-quality, well-tested updatesMinimize test qualification matrix for updatesDeliver updates in a timely mannerBe able to confirm delivery and installation at the applianceManage dependencies between the OS, supporting applications and primary application.
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Enterprise Customer ExpectationsBe provided with a simplified, single user interface for all updatesSecure and timely delivery of all updatesAutomation options for checking for, downloading and installing updates with alarm notification
The NEI Solution
With over ten years of experience in providing ISVs with high-quality appliances, NEI is acutely aware of thevarious challenges involved in appliance update management. To address these challenges head-on, theTMcompany developed Appliance Certified Edition (ACE ) Element Manager.
ACE Element Manager is a browser-based management agent that resides on a NEI appliance along with theISV's application stack. ACE Element Manager works in the background without interfering with the functionalityof the application. It provides a flexible management interface that offers a range of appliance-centric services,including extensive capabilities for remote and automatic update management.
The other main component in NEI's solution is the Update Server, which contains appliance update deliveryfunctionality. ACE Element Manager works in conjunction with the Update Server to provide ISVs and theirenterprise customers with a comprehensive solution to the appliance update challenge (See Figure 1 below).
Figure 1NEI's Appliance Update Management Process
The end user's appliance regularly 'phones home' to checkif packages are available for updating. The Update Server isOperating System ISV Application ACE Element MangerUpdates Updates Updates aware of the sources for updates, including the OS supplier,the application provider (ISV) and NEI (ACE Element Manager).The Update Server downloads a 'manifest' to the appliances,which are redirected to acquire the appropriate packages.Update Server Once qualified, software updates are made available to theappliance.
Enterprise CustomerISV Application RESET
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Solution Detai... [download for more]
