[lug] ksplice - rebootless updates ?

[Jonathan Corbet]

On Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:14:39 -0700
Maxwell Spangler <maxlists at maxwellspangler.com> wrote:

> But if there is a reasonable way to do this in Linux, usually someone
> figures it out and then shares the technique in the open and multiple
> methods / applications / services implement it.
> 
> So how can ksplice have proprietary magic on an open system?

There's nothing particularly proprietary or magic about it:

	http://lwn.net/Articles/340477/

It's not been merged into the mainline because people get pretty
nervous about performing open-kernel surgery on a running system in
this way.

What Ksplice is selling is not the technology, it's the effort that
goes into preparing every patch for application in this way.  It's a
non-trivial job, sometimes requiring the addition of shadow structures
and such.  It's the kind of service you should be willing to pay for if
you really think you need it.

jon