# 34: Really Big Cabbage

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2014-01-09
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-01-09-34-really-big-cabbage
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/mes-ep34-mp3

## Summary

Elecia White discusses firmware update mechanisms, explaining the risks of bricking devices and the trade-offs between different bootloader architectures. She details strategies for constrained systems, including using external RAM, ping-pong buffers, and security measures like encryption and crypto chips. The conversation covers the 'goat, cabbage, and wolf' puzzle as an analogy for managing update sequences safely. Key technical decisions involve choosing between simple serial updates, complex networked OTA, and secure key management for consumable-based systems.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-01-09-34-really-big-cabbage#t=6) Introduction: Firmware Update Basics and Terminology
- [3:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-01-09-34-really-big-cabbage#t=225) User Experience: The Thermostat Failure Story
- [7:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-01-09-34-really-big-cabbage#t=426) Storage Constraints and Onboard Bootloaders
- [14:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-01-09-34-really-big-cabbage#t=849) The Brick Risk and the Bootloader Update Problem
- [19:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-01-09-34-really-big-cabbage#t=1181) Ping-Pong Buffer and Bootstrap Architectures
- [31:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-01-09-34-really-big-cabbage#t=1862) Running from RAM and External Scratch Space
- [42:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-01-09-34-really-big-cabbage#t=2565) Security, Encryption, and Crypto Chips

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Making Embedded Systems (product)
- O'Reilly (company)
- Nest (product)
- Honeywell (company)
- STM32F152 (chip)
- Piccolo C2000 (chip)

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## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-01-09-34-really-big-cabbage. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.