Vista SP1 Hot new feature - Hotpatching

[Josh]

Windows Vista SP1 enables support for hotpatching, a reboot-reduction servicing technology designed to maximize uptime. It works by allowing Windows components to be updated (or "patched") while they are still in use by a running process. Hotpatch-enabled update packages are installed via the same methods as traditional update packages, and will not trigger a system reboot.

Other changes:

    * Improves patch deployment by retrying failed updates in cases where multiple updates are pending and the failure of one update causes other updates to fail as well.
    * Enables reliable OS installation by optimizing OS installers so that they are run only when required during patch installation. Fewer installers operating results in fewer points of potential failure during installation, which leads to more robust and reliable installation.
    * Improves overall install time for updates by optimizing the query for installed OS updates.
    * Improves robustness during the patch installation by being resilient to transient errors such as sharing violations or access violations.
    * Improves robustness of transient failures during the disk cleanup of old OS files after install.
    * Improves the uninstallation experience for OS updates by improving the uninstallation routines in custom OS installation code.
    * Improves reliability of OS updates by making them more resilient to unexpected interruptions, such as power failure

Source

[Ralf Maximus]

Windows Vista SP1 enables support for hotpatching, a reboot-reduction servicing technology designed to maximize uptime. It works by allowing Windows components to be updated (or "patched") while they are still in use by a running process.

What could possibly go wrong?

:-)

[f0dder]

humm, hotpatching has been available for windows for quite a while, although I guess it's only been used for the server versions. Try taking a look at recent-ish visual studio compiler command line options (can't remember when it was added, this is vs2008)

C:\dev>cl /? | grep -i patch
Microsoft (R) 32-bit C/C++ Optimizing Compiler Version 15.00.21022.08 for 80x86
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

/hotpatch ensure function padding for hotpatchable images

[Ralf Maximus]

I was just thinking this is the wrong time to start piling on new whiz-bang features.  There's a lot riding on SP1, and every little thing they add increases the odds of something going wrong.

If SP1 isn't dead solid perfect, the "Vista Sucks!" crowd will go even more berserk.

[f0dder]

It isn't exactly new functionality though

[Ralf Maximus]

"New functionality" for Vista though.  Vista != Server 2003.

Admit it: you just like the word "hotfix".  It sounds kind of pr0ny.  :-)

[Lashiec]

Is this something similar to how Linux applies its updates without needing a reboot?

[f0dder]

to how Linux applies its updates without needing a reboot?

-Lashiec (December 11, 2007, 08:51 AM)

Nah, linux just doesn't keep in-use files exclusively locked. After doing an "update" on linux, you'd still have to re-start services, otherwise you have new on-file and old in-memory versions of the software.

The hotpatch technology patches in-memory images without having to restart anything.

[Ralf Maximus]

The hotpatch technology patches in-memory images without having to restart anything.

An achivement on par with changing the fanbelt on your car without switching it off.

Ok, I'll stop now...

[Lashiec]

Oh, then it's pretty impressive