Mechanisms for performing switch upgrades using remote containers

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• configuring system software of a network device to run inside of a first software container at the network device;
• identifying a remote server for hosting the first software container during an update event;
• exporting, from the network device to the remote server, a state of software processes associated with the first software container, the state being exported for a second software container at the remote server, the second software container being based on the state and the first software container, wherein the second software container comprises an updated version of the first software container;
• generating, at the network device, a third software container configured to tunnel traffic associated with the first software container to the second software container, the third software container comprising a lightweight container having a lower memory footprint than the first software container;
• performing a first switchover operation between the first software container and the third software container, the first switchover operation comprising enabling the third software container to tunnel, from the network device to the second container on the remote server, traffic associated with the first software container;
• generating a fourth software container at the network device based on a snapshot of the second software container on the remote server;
• and
• performing a second switchover operation between the third software container and the fourth software container, the second switchover operation comprising:
• enabling the fourth software container to handle traffic associated with the first software container;
• and
• disabling the third software container on the network device.

A system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more computer-readable storage devices having stored therein instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
• configure system software to run inside of a first software container at the system;
• identify a remote server for hosting the first software container during an update event;
• export, to the remote server, a state of software processes associated with the first software container, the state being exported for a second software container at the remote server, the second software container being based on the state and the first software container, wherein the second software container comprises an updated version of the first software container;
• generate, at the system, a third software container configured to tunnel traffic associated with the first software container to the second software container, the third software container comprising a lightweight container having a lower memory footprint than the first software container;
• perform a first switchover operation between the first software container and the third software container, the first switchover operation comprising enabling the third software container to tunnel, to the second container on the remote server, traffic associated with the first software container;
• generate a fourth software container at the system based on a snapshot of the second software container on the remote server;
• and
• perform a second switchover operation between the third software container and the fourth software container, the second switchover operation comprising:
• enabling the fourth software container to handle traffic associated with the first software container;
• and
• disabling the third software container on the system.