The partitions A/B and system updates without interruptions, a step to be mandatory in Android 11

With Android Nougat had the partitions A/B, a system that duplicated certain partitions so that the system updates were quicker and without inerrumpciones. Such a system was improved in Android Oreothough this never came to be mandatory: some manufacturers include partitions A/B in their terminals, others do not.

This would change in the next version of Android, according to a commit found in the code of Android, which indicates that this system of partitions, it would be obligatory on Android 11at least to get the necessary certification to include Google services.

Two partitions, better than a

The system partitions A/B is an invention of Google complex insidebut that in truth is relatively simple. Some partitions of the cell is duplicated, so that system updates can be carried out in a second partition in the background while you can continue using the mobile.

That is to say, with a system of partitions traditional, to the time you install a software update, or security patch, the phone reboots and you have to wait until they finish patching the changes in order to use it. The process may take several minutes, during which you can’t use the phone.

With the system partitions A/B, the partition that you are using is kept intact, while the update installed in the background on the second partition. In this way, you can use the cell phone while installation occurs, with the only downside that I could go a little slower. When it finishes, the phone restarts and it just swaps the partition second with the first.

If you have curiosity, you can use an application such as Treble Check

to check if your mobile phone has support for partitions A/B or not. What you will find in the section Updates transparent.

Now, if the commit ends included in the code of Android, you won’t need for the new devices launched with Android 11, and with Google services. This is so because part of the test VTS (Vendor Test Suite), which is required to be able to include Google services on the device, requires that the mobile has support for partitions A/B if it launches with Android 11.

The partitions A/B have the advantage of allowing a update the system without interruptionin addition to a system of emergency to return to the previous state in the event that an update fails. Against it we find that duplicate partitions means there is a greater use of the internal storage of the mobile system.

Via | XDA

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The news

The partitions A/B and system updates without interruptions, a step to be mandatory in Android 11

it was originally published in

Xataka Android

by
Ivan Ramirez

.