Software release distribution across a hierarchical network

A system for managing software distribution across a network, the system comprising:

• at least one memory storing instructions;
• and
• one or more processors coupled to the at least one memory, the one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
• assign a first plurality of node devices to a first set of one or more distribution groups corresponding to a first level of the network;
• assign a second plurality of node devices to a second set of one or more distribution groups corresponding to a second level of the network, where a first distribution group of the first set of distribution groups is configured as a parent group of the second set of distribution groups;
• maintain topology information indicating assignments of node devices to groups within the network;
• and
• send one or more files to the first set of distribution groups for distribution within the first set of distribution groups.

A method for managing software distribution across a network, the method comprising:

• sending, by a first node device, a registration request message to a second node device of a first distribution group of the network, the registration request message indicating a request for the first node device to join the network;
• receiving, by the first node device, a registration response message from the second node device, the registration response message indicating an assignment of the first node device to a second distribution group corresponding to a level of the network that is below a level that includes the first distribution group, the registration response message further indicating node devices included in the first distribution group, node devices included in the second distribution group, or both;
• receiving, by the first node device, authorization from the second node device for the first node device to perform communications with the node devices of the second distribution group to retrieve at least a portion of one or more files;
• and
• sending, by the first node device, a download request message corresponding to the one or more files to the second node device, one or more other node devices of the second distribution group, or a combination thereof.