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Android O OS Update
Instruction for Family of
Products Including
TC72, TC77, TC52, TC57, PS20,
TC52HC, MC9300, TC8300,
VC8300, L10A, CC600, C6000,
ET51, ET56, EC30
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1. A/B (Seamless) OS Update implementation on SDM660 devices: ................................................... 3
2. How AB system is different to Non-AB system: ................................................................................ 3
3. Android AB Mode for OS Update ...................................................................................................... 4
4. Recovery Mode for OS Update ......................................................................................................... 4
5. Reset Packages and special recovery packages ................................................................................ 5
6. OS Upgrade and Downgrade............................................................................................................. 5
7. OS Upgrade and Downgrade via EMMs ............................................................................................ 7
8. User Notification for Full OTA package Upgrade or Downgrade ...................................................... 8
9. Recovery Mode ............................................................................................................................... 10
10. Status messages to EMMs .............................................................................................................. 19
11. Possible device interruptions during Full OTA package: ................................................................. 20
12. AB Fallback mechanism................................................................................................................... 20
13. Rescue Party Mode ......................................................................................................................... 20
14. Recovery logs .................................................................................................................................. 20
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Zebra uses AB mechanism for OS Update on SDM660 products running Android O. This is a new OS
Update mechanism which is unavailable on other Zebra products with Android O.
The intent of this document is to advise Zebra customers and service about
1. AB OS Update mechanism
2. How to apply OTA packages on SDM660
3. How AB devices are different to legacy Non-AB systems.
4. Fastboot flashing of AB devices.
1. A/B (Seamless) OS Update implementation on SDM660 devices:
• Full OTA updates can occur while the system is running, without interrupting the user. This
means users can continue to use their devices during an OTA. After the installation of OTA
package is completed, device reboots into the updated image.
• AB device are fault tolerant by providing a backup slot. If device fails to boot-up, then it will fall
back to backup slot (slot with previous used good image/Baseline image) and device remains
usable.
• In AB Update updates can be streamed to A/B devices, removing the need to download the
package before installing it.
2. How AB system is different to Non-AB system:
OS Update Use Case
Non-AB
AB
Notes
Flashing Full OTA Package
Recovery
Mode
Android AB
Mode
AB: Device shall apply Full OTA Package via Android AB
mode when applied via EMM.
User can manually enter recovery mode to apply Full
OTA package too.
Non-AB: Device shall boot into recovery mode to apply
any OTA package
Flashing Diff OTA Package
Recovery
Mode
Recovery
Mode
AB: Device shall boot into recovery mode to apply any
OTA Diff package
Non-AB: Device shall boot into recovery mode to apply
any OTA package
Flashing reset Packages
Recovery
Mode
Recovery
Mode
AB: Device shall boot into recovery mode to apply
Enterprise Reset, Factory Reset package
Non-AB: Device shall boot into recovery mode to apply
Enterprise Reset, Factory Reset package
Device downtime for OS Update
-
+
AB: Full OTA updates can occur while the system is
running, without interrupting the user. At the end,
device reboots into the new installed image.
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Non-AB: Device reboots to recovery mode to install
package. User cannot use device while installing OTA
package.
Fault tolerance
-
+
AB device are fault tolerant by providing a backup slot.
If device fails to boot-up, then it will fall back to backup
slot (slot with Baseline image).
Non-AB: If device fails to bootup, then device is
bricked.
Patch upgrades
Y Y
Patch downgrades
Y Y SDM660 Android O has Version Binding
implementation which will cause data reset on
downgrade.
Hotfix patch support
Y Y
Patch Size
- + AB saves size from having no Rollback images.
Silent Update
X Y AB Full OTA update is silent to user
3. Android AB Mode for OS Update
A full OTA package will be installed via Android AB mode. As part of this,
a. Full OTA package will be applied on the device silently in the background.
b. User can continue using the device while Full OTA package will be applied.
c. Once the Full OTA package is applied, device auto-reboots to boot into new installed image.
d. Customers can also configure the device to wait for EMMs to notify device to reboot via CSP.
Full OTA package consists of following:
1. HLOS images (system, vendor, boot and dtbo)
2. Non-HLOS images (QCOM images)
Full OTA packages are used when we change to a new Baseline image.
4. Recovery Mode for OS Update
Diff OTA package, reset packages and any special packages to update /persist or /odm partitions will be
installed via recovery mode. As part of this,
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a. Device will be automatically reboot to recovery mode.
b. Diff OTA package, reset packages (Enterprise Reset, Factory Reset), special packages to update
/odm or /persist will be applied using recovery mode.
c. Device will reboot back to home screen after installation is completed in recovery mode.
d. Customers can enter recovery mode using following key combinations of “PTT Key + Scan Key +
Power button” or using “adb reboot recovery” command.
Diff OTA package consists of following:
1. HLOS images (system, vendor, boot and dtbo)
2. Non-HLOS images (QCOM images)
Diff OTA packages are used to provide incremental updates to device. The size of diff OTA package is
smaller compared to Full OTA package and time taken to apply them is also very less.
5. Reset Packages and special recovery packages
Zebra devices support reset packages to erase userdata and enterprise partition. These packages will be
applied via recovery mode.
Enterprise Reset → Erase userdata partition and persist enterprise partition
Factory Reset → Erase both userdata and enterprise partition
Special recovery packages → packages used to modify WLAN region code, audio tuning files etc can be
applied via recovery mode.
6. OS Upgrade and Downgrade
Customer can upgrade the device to another Baseline image or to a patch image on a given baseline. In
both cases user data is persisted on all OS Upgrade operation.
Customers can perform OS downgrade to an older baseline or to a patch image belonging to an older
baseline. If customer performs OS downgrade operation, forced auto data reset is performed. Data
persistence is not supported on OS Downgrade.
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On SDM660 O, following is the experience related to OS Update,
1. Customers shall be able to perform OS Upgrade (move to a higher version of OS Image) using
Full OTA package.
2. Customers shall be able to perform OS Upgrade (move to a higher version of OS Image) using
Diff OTA package.
3. Downgrade (move to an older/lower version of OS Image) operation will be disabled by default
on SDM660 O. Any customers who use existing CSPs to perform OS Update shall not be able to
perform OS downgrade.
4. Existing OS update interface shall be able to perform only OS upgrade operation and not OS
Downgrade operation
5. Using a new interface, customers shall be able to perform OS Downgrade operation with Full
OTA / Diff OTA package.
6. The Downgrade interface shall be able to perform only downgrade operation and not OS
Upgrade operation.
7. All OS downgrade operation will result in an Enterprise Reset operation. i.e user data is erased
on OS downgrade operation.
8. Following parameters will be considered for OS downgrade operation
a. OS Google Security patch level (ro.build.version.security_patch)
b. OS patch version (ro.device.patch.version)
c. OS Hotfix version
d. Custom OS version
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7. OS Upgrade and Downgrade via EMMs
OS Update
via EMM
OS Upgrade
OS Downgrade
Intent Action
com.symbol.intent.action.UPDATE_PACKAGE
com.symbol.intent.action.VERIFY_UPDATE_PACKAGE
com.symbol.intent.action.DOWNGRADE_PACKAGE
com.symbol.intent.action.VERIFY_DOWNGRADE_PACKAGE
Allowed OTA
Packages
Full OTA Package, Diff OTA Package, UPL
Full OTA Package, Diff OTA Package, UPL
Data
persistence
YES
NO
Auto data reset shall be performed
Allowed OS
Update use
case
UPGRADE ONLY
Upgrade from Baseline to a higher OS Patch version
Upgrade from Baseline to a higher SPL version
Upgrade from Baseline to a higher Baseline
Upgrade from Baseline to a higher Hotfix version
Upgrade from Patch to a higher Patch version
Upgrade from Patch to a higher SPL version
Upgrade from Patch to a higher Baseline
Upgrade from Patch to a higher Hotfix version
Upgrade from Hotfix to a higher Hotfix version
Upgrade from Hotfix to a higher SPL version
Upgrade from Custom OS to a higher Custom version
Upgrade from Custom OS to a higher Custom OS SPL
version
Upgrade from Custom OS to a higher Custom Baseline
DOWNGRADE ONLY
Downgrade from Baseline to a lower/older Baseline
Downgrade from Baseline to a OS Patch version on lower/older
Baseline
Downgrade from Patch to a lower/older Patch version
Downgrade from Patch to a lower/older SPL version
Downgrade from Patch to a lower/older Baseline
Downgrade from Patch to a lower/older Hotfix version
Downgrade from Hotfix to a lower/older Hotfix version
Downgrade from Hotfix to a lower/older SPL version
Downgrade from Custom OS to a lower/older Custom patch
version
Downgrade from Custom OS to a lower/older Custom OS SPL
version
Downgrade from Custom OS Baseline to a lower/older Custom
OS Baseline version
Downgrade from Custom OS Baseline to a Custom OS Patch
version on a lower/older Custom OS Baseline version
Kindly refer to MX tech docs present on Zebra tech docs portal for more details on supported CSP
interfaces for OS Upgrade and Downgrade.
http://zebra-stage.github.io/mx/
Recovery UI also has been modified for OS Upgrade and Downgrade. Separate OS Upgrade and
Downgrade options have been enabled in recovery UI to perform OS Update operation.
Kindly visit below sections in this document for detailed explanation on recovery mode.
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8. User Notification for Full OTA package Upgrade or Downgrade
SPR 36526 was fixed in 01-18-02.00-OG-U00-STD/01-18-02.00-ON-U00-STD OS version. With this fix, we
now bring user notification when a Full OTA package is being installed. Earlier OS versions had
implemented a silent OS update and thus user was unaware of the background OS Update process.
Few of the features of this user notification:
1. This is applicable only for Full OTA package and is not applicable for Diff OTA package.
2. On start of Full OTA package installation, an Icon (android system icon) will be displayed on he
Status Bar.
3. On pulling down the notification drawer, a notification will be displayed informing that OS
Update is in progress and device will Reboot automatically on completing the same.
4. User will have no control over this notification. i.e User CANNOT
a. Pause/Snooze the OS Update request
b. Cancel OS Update request
c. Prevent Reboot of device
5. Notification can be cleared by User. Once notification is removed, no new notification shall be
displayed again.
6. If EMMs have selected “Suppress Reboot” option while installing a Full OTA package, then
device will not auto-reboot. User Notification too indicates the same and waits for EMMs to
reboot the device.
7. The notification will also display system interrupts blocking OS Update process. E.g Low Battery,
Media Eject etc.
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A Full OTA package installation has started: Installation of Full OTA package completed:
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A Full OTA package installation has failed to apply:
Notification for Resuming a suspended installation:
9. Recovery Mode
From recovery UI customers can install full OTA packages, Diff OTA packages and reset packages.
SDM660-O Recovery UI will have following different options to apply different packages from different
ways.
a. Reboot system now
b. Apply upgrade from adb
c. Apply upgrade from SD card
d. Apply upgrade from USB drive
e. Apply downgrade from adb
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f. Apply downgrade from SD card
g. Apply downgrade from USB drive
h. View recovery logs
i. Power off
j. Ship mode
Different UI options and their functionalities are explained below in detail
• Reboot system now
When this UI option is selected by user, device will boot to OS.
• Apply upgrade from adb
Upgrade packages via adb will be applied when we select this option. User can only perform OS
Upgrade operation and not downgrade operation using this option.
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User will be provided two different options one option is for Full OTA package. User should
select this option to apply Full-OTA upgrade package or reset packages.
Once selecting Full OTA package option user should enter the package name via adb sideload
interface.
Second option is to apply Diff OTA package. User should select this option to apply OTA-diff
upgrade packages.
Once selecting Diff OTA package option user should enter the package name via adb side load
interface.
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• Apply upgrade from SD card
Upgrade packages via External SD card will be applied when we select this option. User can only
perform OS Upgrade operation and not downgrade operation using this option.
Using this option, customers can perform OS Upgrade using Full OTA packages, Diff OTA
packages and install Reset Packages from SD card.
• Apply upgrade from USB drive
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Upgrade packages via USB drive will be applied when we select this option. User can only
perform OS Upgrade operation and not downgrade operation using this option.
Using this option, customers can perform OS Upgrade using Full OTA packages, Diff OTA
packages and install Reset Packages from USB drive.
• Apply downgrade from adb
Downgrade packages via adb will be applied when we select this option. User can only perform
OS Downgrade operation and not upgrade operation using this option.
User will be provided two different options one option is for Full downgrade OTA package. User
should select this option to apply Full-OTA downgrade package or reset packages.
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Once selecting Full OTA package option user should enter the package name via adb side load
interface.
Second option is for Diff OTA package. User should select this option to apply OTA-diff
downgrade packages.
Once selecting Diff OTA package option user should enter the package name via adb sideload
interface.
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• Apply downgrade from SD card
Downgrade packages via External SD card will be applied when we select this option. User can
only perform OS Downgrade operation and not upgrade operation using this option.
Using this option, customers can perform OS downgrade using Full OTA packages, Diff OTA
packages and install Reset Packages from SD card.
• Apply downgrade from USB drive
Downgrade packages via USB drive will be applied when we select this option. Using this option,
customers can perform OS Upgrade using Full OTA packages, Diff OTA packages and install Reset
Packages from USB drive.
User can only perform OS Downgrade operation and not upgrade operation using this option.
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• View recovery logs
By selecting this option user can view recovery logs.
Recovery logs will be available in /tmp/recovery.log.
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By selecting Back we can return to main menu.
• Power off.
By selecting this option user can power off device.
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• Ship mode.
10. Status messages to EMMs
OS Update status is sent as an intent. Data Analytics captures the same and stores it in OEMInfo content
provider. EMMs can read OEMInfo content provider to fetch the exact status of OS Update operation.
Device does not display any kind of UI notification when an OS Update is in progress/applied/failed.
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11. Possible device interruptions during Full OTA package:
While a Full OTA Package is installed via AB mode in background, user of the deice will be able to use the
device. Thus, device might be put to various states which can interrupt the ongoing OS Update. Device
states which can interrupt the OS Update are,
1. Low Battery condition. If Battery falls below 30% capacity, ongoing OS Update will be
interrupted and resumed only after connecting to a battery source.
2. Device can be shutdown, enter critical battery state, media ejected (external SDCard), or low
Storage in userdata partition (<200MB). In all the above scenarios, ongoing OS Update will be
cancelled.
3. If device is rebooted in middle of a OS Update operation, the ongoing job will be suspended. On
reboot of device, OS Update job will be resumed and completed.
None of these device conditions will impact while applying OTA diff package as device will reboot to
recovery mode for applying it.
12. AB Fallback mechanism
In Android AB system if an OTA fails to apply (for example, because of a bad flash), the user will not be
affected. The user will continue to run the old OS (existing OS image), and the customer can re-attempt
the update.
If an OTA update is applied but fails to boot, the device will reboot back (fallback) into the old/existing
OS image and device remains usable. This allows our customer to re-attempt the update.
13. Rescue Party Mode
Sometimes devices can end up in reboot loops, which cause customers to file support tickets or
warranty inquiries. This process is frustrating for customers and expensive.
SDM660 O includes a feature that sends out a "rescue party" when it notices core system components
stuck in crash loops. Rescue Party then escalates through a series of actions to recover the device. As a
last resort, Rescue Party reboots the device into recovery mode and prompts the user to perform a
factory reset.
14. Recovery logs
User can pull last recovery logs from /data/tmp/public/recovery via adb command.
adb pull /data/tmp/public/recovery
Last 10 Recovery logs are saved under this folder for debug purposes.
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