Core LivePatch
Not to be confused with Kernel Livepatching and kpatch, (see: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Kernel_live_patching, https://www.redhat.com/fr/blog/introducing-kpatch-dynamic-kernel-patching)
Definition
Core LivePatch (abbreviated to CLP) allows you to update critical Vincent OS part via patches without rebooting your computer.
An automated systemd service runs on the background to manage the update and apply all patches. It runs all days at 12H00 (24h format).
You can disable this service by running the following command:
systemctl disable core-livepatch-update.timer
Features
Core LivePatch can do the following tasks:
- Applying critical patches: Update key system files, such as configuration files in
/etc, to address urgent issues. - Revert a previous version of a specific package: Roll back a specific package version to resolve critical issues (e.g. Revert a previous version for the following issue: nvidia-black-screen-after-an-update.md).
All patches are distributed in a .clp format, designed specifically for Vincent OS.
If necessary, you can rollback a Core LivePatch update if some file / package break your system.
Comparison with other live patching solutions
This is a list of live partching solutions and their key differences:
| Feature | Core LivePatch | kpatch | Canonical Livepatch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kernel Patch | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Patch system configuration files | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Revert patch | ✅ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ |
| Supported OS | Vincent OS | RHEL / CentOS | Ubuntu |
| Portability | ⚠️ PowerShell only | ❌ | ❌ |
| Does not require a reboot | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Source code of Core LivePatch can be found in the Vincent OS GitHub repository.