We all know what it’s like when a deadline looms. Filing taxes, writing that report…it’s so much easier to put it off a bit longer than to address it head on.
The same can be said for upgrading the operating system on a fleet of connected devices. But if you are responsible for the OS that your customers depend on, it’s imperative that you not wait until the last minute to upgrade.
Are your machines running on an OS facing the end of support? If you are using Windows embedded 8.1 pro, for example, your support ends next January. And Windows embedded 8.1 industry hits end of support in July 2023.
We get it. It may feel like a long way off, and there are good reasons why you might hesitate. Sometimes it’s simply fear of change. Why tamper with something that isn’t broken? You may also feel comfort in the life cycle that still covers your machines.
But the transition takes time. You should be getting ahead and planning for it now.
No matter what devices you offer — ATMs, digital signs, industrial automation systems, kiosks, medical devices, or point-of-sale machines — we see three fundamental considerations for upgrading your embedded system.
Hardware requirements. First off, you need to carefully review the hardware requirements for the version you are targeting for your upgrade. How much memory and storage are required? Do you need a trusted platform module? What about resolution for your graphics?
License type. Here there are choices to make as well. Did you know that Microsoft has field upgrades? It’s called a field upgrade license and Microsoft confers special upgrade rights in those scenarios.
Deployment. Finally, how will you provide an upgrade in the field?Often it is deployed through external media, where you provide a DVD or more commonly a USB drive to upgrade your devices. Another option is to upgrade remotely, as Bsquare can do for you with our SquareOne® technology for secure device management.
At Bsquare, we get a lot of questions from our customers about upgrades. We recommend Windows 10 IOT Enterprise LTSC 2021. It’s the latest from Microsoft and comes with 10 years of support.
For those of you still happy with your Windows 7 (which already lost support two years ago), Windows 10 is less complicated, with minimal customization, and price tiering could even mean you pay less for your new license.
Upgrading your OS for connected devices is not as daunting as it may seem. We’ve seen the pain points, and we’d love to talk with you.
Contact Us
If you would like to learn more about how we can help you manage your connected devices, contact us and a Bsquare representative will get back to you.