Mender: over-the-air updater for embedded Linux 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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
To start using Mender, we recommend that you begin with the Getting
started section in the Mender documentation (https://docs.mender.io/).
.
In order to support rollback, the Mender client depends on integration
with U-Boot and the partition layout. It is therefore most easily
built as part of your Yocto Project image by using the meta layer for
the Yocto Project (https://github.com/mendersoftware/meta-mender).
