Torizon Over-The-Air (OTA)

Secure and Reliable Over-The-Air Updates

Modern embedded systems need a reliable and secure way to deliver software updates remotely.

The Over-The-Air (OTA) Update Service built into Torizon provides this, reducing your time-to-market and the risk inherent in implementing or integrating this feature by yourself. It supports all levels of software, from the bootloader to the application. Torizon’s software container approach makes updating applications even easier.

In this Toradex Labs Project, we’ll give you insight into our current research and access to our proofs-of-concept. We appreciate any feedback you’d like to share with us. Based on your input, we may make major changes before releasing the Torizon Over-The-Air update service.

Goals

Power-cut tolerance / Atomic updates

High security

Cloud-based and on-premise update server options

All software layers updatable (bootloader, OS, applications)

Rollbacks

Device management

Based on open technologies

Technologies under the hood

OSTree

Git-like tool for files
Transactional upgrades and rollback
Can update single files
Static deltas
Reduced connection bandwidth

Aktualizr

Device-side Update Client
Uptane-compliant
Secures all updates end-to-end
Communicates with server
Manages update process
Guarantees OTA integrity and confidentiality

Uptane

Open and secure software update system design
Defacto standard for software updates in cars
Audited for Security

TorizonCore

Torizon is built as a modular system. It can be easily adjusted to your needs without the learning curve of the Yocto Project, and every part is updatable to keep your system secure. TorizonCore is a lightweight base system, that contains the Linux Kernel and basic services such as an Over-The-Air client and an optional container runtime. TorizonCore is open source.

Built with OpenEmbedded / Yocto
Optional docker container runtime
Open Source
Supports both mainline and downstream kernels
Based on Linux microPlatform
OSTree with Aktualizr OTA client

Application containers

Software containers are popular in the field of cloud computing. A container contains the applications and required software packages while sharing the kernel with the rest of the system. This allows for simpler application deployment and updates while increasing security.

Simpler Over-The-Air updates
Increased security
Small resource footprint, compared to virtual machines
Access to hardware accleration

Current Status

The Torizon OTA Update Service is still at its inception. Toradex Labs makes it possible for you to gain insight on how we plan to release this project once it has matured. We encourage you to test it and provide your feedback - but please note that the OTA architecture is prone to changes in this early phase.