Live firmware update switchover

A device, comprising:

• a memory configured to store instructions;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the instructions to cause the device to be configured to:
• receive a live firmware update (LFU) command from an external host;
• download an image of a new version of firmware responsive to the LFU command;
• during a first time period, initialize only variables contained in the new version that are not contained in an old version of firmware;
• and
• during a second time period, update one or more of an interrupt vector table, a function pointer, and/or a stack pointer responsive to the new version,
• wherein the second time period begins responsive to completing initialization of the variables.

A device, comprising:

• a processor;
• a first flash memory coupled to the processor, the first flash memory including a first application storage portion configured to store a first version of firmware;
• and
• a second flash memory coupled to the processor, the second flash memory including a second application storage portion;
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• receive a live firmware update (LFU) command from an external host;
• download an image of a second version of firmware responsive to the LFU command, wherein the second version is newer than the first version;
• during a first time period, initialize only variables contained in the second version that are not contained in the first version;
• during a second time period, update one or more of an interrupt vector table, a function pointer, and/or a stack pointer responsive to the second version;
• and
• program the second application storage portion with the second version of firmware, responsive to the first application storage portion storing the first version of firmware;
• wherein the second time period begins responsive to completing initialization of the variables.