An update on Unified Update Platform (UUP) for Windows 10

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
    An update on Unified Update Platform (UUP) for Windows 10

    An update on Unified Update Platform (UUP) for Windows 10


    Last Updated: 02 Mar 2017 at 18:01

    Back in November, we announced the next generation of our delivery technologies called the Unified Update Platform (UUP). Windows Insiders are the first to experience UUP with Insider Preview builds. We began releasing new Insider Preview builds using UUP to Mobile devices first starting with Build 14959 in November. Then we began releasing new Insider Preview builds to PCs using UUP starting with Build 14986 in early December. I wanted to give a small update on where we are today with UUP.

    As a recap, one of the biggest benefits UUP brings to our customers is a reduction in download size of build updates on PCs. We’ve converged technologies in our build and publishing systems to enable differential downloads for both PC and Mobile.

    A differential download package contains only the changes that have been made since the last time you updated your device, rather than a full build. Differential download packages rely on re-using files on your current OS to reconstruct the newer OS. This could include copying files as-is that have not changed between builds, or it could involve applying “binary deltas”¯ or “diffs”¯ to old files to generate newer files. Differential download packages are smaller and can take a shorter amount of time to download.

    For a full build, we refer to this as a canonical download package. It is a self-contained update that contains all files for the update, and does not rely on any files on your device. Canonical download packages tend to be larger in size and may take longer to download.

    We are excited to begin releasing PC builds to Windows Insiders using differential download packages! As we discussed in November, as we roll out UUP in our retail release, users can expect their download size to decrease by approximately 35% when going from one major update of Windows to another. For retail users, the first time they get the UUP client code is part of the Creators Update, therefore, they will see the benefit of differential download packages when they go from the Creators Update to the next feature update of Windows.

    Windows Insiders have been running the UUP bits for a while now and are already experiencing the benefits of differential packages as seen in the below.

    NOTE: Given the frequency of Insider flights, Insider build update diffs are considerably smaller (<1GB) than what we expect for retail users to experience when going from feature update to feature update.

    It’s also important to note that Windows Insiders may not get a differential download packages even if we ship them. A baseline build has to be set for differential download packages and if that baseline build is newer than the build Windows Insiders are updating from (in the case where they are not on the latest flight) – they will receive a larger download.

    Thank you for participating in this journey and giving us feedback to help us finalize this generational shift in the way we update Windows devices in the future!

    Thanks,

    Bill


    Source: An update on our Unified Update Platform (UUP) - Windows Experience Blog
    Brink's Avatar Posted By: Brink
    02 Mar 2017


  1. Posts : 15,442
    Windows10
       #1

    This is actually quite a good blog.

    The interesting part (if I interpret it correctly) is not only does it download just files that have changed, it can also just download (in effect) part of a file that has changed (differential uup) and modify file accordingly.

    Also, if I understand it correctly, it can only apply a differential uup if you are on a certain build (or beyond?). If on earlier build it will do a canonical build.

    I must admit I am unclear if that means just files that have changed are downloaded in full (no by difference mods to individual files), or if it means all OS files are downloaded (like the install.esd). I think it means the former ie download is smaller than install.esd but larger than if a diff uup can be applied.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #2

    The problem with this method unless its done correctly is corrupted files on your PC. I'm guessing they are doing some kind of hash comparison of the files on your PC before deciding what needs to be downloaded. That may explain why it takes awhile before the downloads actually begin as it has a lot of hash generation and validation to do first.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 15,442
    Windows10
       #3

    Ztruker said:
    The problem with this method unless its done correctly is corrupted files on your PC. I'm guessing they are doing some kind of hash comparison of the files on your PC before deciding what needs to be downloaded. That may explain why it takes awhile before the downloads actually begin as it has a lot of hash generation and validation to do first.
    It rebuilds files decompressing them from the well protected winsxs folders, not already deconpressed files that are more easily corrupted.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,983
    Windows 10 x86 14383 Insider Pro and Core 10240
       #4

    cereberus said:
    It rebuilds files decompressing them from the well protected winsxs folders, not already deconpressed files that are more easily corrupted.
    That's the theory, except it does not work this way yet.

    We know that component store corruption often defeats DISM servicing, so we may need to revert to clean SOURCE files so that DISM can complete restorehealth servicing.

    All the files required to clean-install the most recent insider version can be found in the windows\softwaredistribution\downloads\6c48ae8725d8c636de23433f710fa13d\ folder, (or a similar same-length string name for a different version).

    Except for those who experience bad Windows Update downloads on occasion - it has happened to most of us at some time or other - UUPtoISO (ą la Kari) could not work otherwise.

    Note that the versions of all the files in their properties post-build-update by this method belong to the new version, and not to the version in the previous winsxs files.

    One thing that Microsoft is keen to avoid is the franken-dll-hell that happened with updates in Windows 7, requiring service packs to sort out the mess, hence the cumulative update model, which will hopefully correct any shortcomings of a delta-based build update by UUP, when it eventually arrives in its complete form.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails An update on Unified Update Platform (UUP) for Windows 10-2017_03_02_13_47_191.png  
    Last edited by Fafhrd; 03 Mar 2017 at 07:14.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 15,442
    Windows10
       #5

    Fafhrd said:
    That's the theory, except it does not work this way yet.

    We know that component store corruption often defeats DISM servicing, so we may need to revert to clean SOURCE files so that DISM can complete restorehealth servicing.

    All the files required to clean-install the most recent insider version can be found in the windows\softwaredistribution\downloads\6c48ae8725d8c636de23433f710fa13d\ folder, (or a similar same-length string name for a different version).

    Except for those who experience bad Windows Update downloads on occasion - it has happened to most of us at some time or other - UUPtoISO (ą la Kari) could not work otherwise.

    Note that the versions of all the files in their properties post-build-update by this method belong to the new version, and not to the version in the previous winsxs files.

    One thing that Microsoft is keen to avoid is the franken-dll-hell that happened with updates in Windows 7, requiring service packs to sort out the mess, hence the cumulative update model, which will hopefully correct any shortcomings of a delta-based build update by UUP, when it eventually arrives in its complete form.
    Are you saying downloads all OS files anyway? If so where is the gain?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,983
    Windows 10 x86 14383 Insider Pro and Core 10240
       #6

    I see no evidence of a, say, reduction to 70% size of the new windows download compared to earlier versions - it's still around 2GB(+/-10%) for x86 and about 2.5GB(+/-10%) for x64 - these are files and folders using LZX compression, so they can be decompressed by a factor of up to 9x. the setup files as found in the Isos produced from these are typically 3.5GB to just over 4 GB for x64.

    So far there is no gain, but it will change, hopefully.
    However, if delta upgrades do start getting sent to us soon, there is no way to clean install, without an additional download of the full setup media, in the case of a screwed up update - so that's a double whammy.

    I'd prefer to get the full compressed download from WU, and the choice to create install media or to upgrade instead of the obligatory upgrade from the update files.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 1,983
    Windows 10 x86 14383 Insider Pro and Core 10240
       #7

    The EN-GB 15048 downloads folder \f898...etc., clocked in at 2.52 GB (2709047367 bytes) - pretty average for a full x64 download.
    An update on Unified Update Platform (UUP) for Windows 10-2017_03_03_18_37_131.png
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 7,254
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #8

    Is UUP enables by default?
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 1,983
    Windows 10 x86 14383 Insider Pro and Core 10240
       #9

    swarfega said:
    Is UUP enables by default?
    Yes, it is default method.
      My Computers


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:47.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums