AWS IoT Software Package Catalog with FreeRTOS OTA update job

Question

Hello,

I have recently noticed a somewhat new feature in the AWS IoT Core console: Software Package Catalog. After reading about it, I was greatly interested in using it. My understanding is that it is not currently possible to deploy versions using FreeRTOS OTA update jobs.  Can I hope to see this feature integrated with Software Package Catalog in a future release? Or should I manually sign firmwares, create streams and generate job documents in order to deploy versions? Or am I simply missing some information?

Thank you for your help!!

Etienne

Accepted Answer

Hi Etienne. [CreateOTAUpdate](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/iot/latest/apireference/API_CreateOTAUpdate.html) doesn't yet support the [destinationPackageVersions](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/iot/latest/apireference/API_CreateJob.html#iot-CreateJob-request-destinationPackageVersions) parameter that's in [CreateJob](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/iot/latest/apireference/API_CreateJob.html). And therefore you can't yet use `CreateOTAUpdate` to deploy package versions.

You could indeed consider to call `StartSignerJob`, `CreateStream` and `CreateJob` individually to compose a job with an OTA-compatible job document. Similar to what I described here: https://repost.aws/questions/QUp0y4sHlfRe-uMooegUs7vA/how-to-configure-retries-on-ota-jobs-on-the-iot-core#AN5T7M-nUdQoqsIk06E-TXOA.

I suspect though that the benefits probably don't justify the work. A smaller and easier win might be to call [CreatePackageVersion](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/iot/latest/apireference/API_CreatePackageVersion.html) every time you upload a new firmware version to S3. And modify your device firmware to report the currently running firmware version in the new `$package` [reserved named shadow](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/iot/latest/developerguide/preparing-to-use-software-package-catalog.html#reserved-named-shadow). Then you would benefit from the [package version metrics in the console](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/iot/latest/developerguide/preparing-fleet-indexing.html#metrics-displayed-in-console). That way software packages would at least help you visualize the versions deployed in your fleet.

Answer

Hi Greg.

Thank you so much for your help. Updating the $package shadow directly from devices is a great solution. I have all the information I needed.

AWS IoT Software Package Catalog with FreeRTOS OTA update job

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