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Why do even small updates require a system restart
Hi all.
I've often wondered why so many Windows Updates require a System Restart including often quite small updates.
This is akin to having your Mobile Phone provider shut down the network every time for example they want to add new a new suscriber or make an app available.
I remember back many many years ago a popular IBM mainframe application C.I.C.S was a bit like that -- even a small change meant stopping and restarting that application -- In those days there wasn't an Internet so that really was one of the very few "Online" applications available. Of course this was a nuisance to the users and meant that the I.T dept usually had to do their maintenance at night or other times when users weren't on the system.
However technology and programming techniques have surely moved on from the Dinosaur age. I know that sometimes files are locked by a running application but surely these can by a decent bit of programming be moved to a Cache by the OS, the data areas flushed and the application updated without requiring a restart.
These days of 24 hour multi country / Global operation re-starts are a BIG NO NO or a hideous inconvenience.
I've used many Linux systems and its very RARE indeed -- in fact almost NEVER - especially with a Linux server that you need to reboot / restart after routine maintenance.
I'd say that a production type system NEVER needs a re-boot - unless of course changing MAJOR pieces of hardware like a Motherboard or doing a complete OS or Kernel upgrade.
Normal day to day maintenance / software upgrades certainly don't require a re-start.
OK on a home computer not too much of a big deal but in 21 st century it just seems to me that updates etc should be almost painless and run with minimal user interaction - unless as before like Linux you are changing a MOBO / equivalent or re-installing / upgrading the OS.
I'm referring here to typical systems -- of course not those where people are tinkering about with them -- adding / removing hardware etc etc. but normal "Mom / Pop / small office" type systems.
Cheers
jimbo