AWS Snowball Edge is no longer available to new customers. New customers should explore [AWS DataSync](https://aws.amazon.com/datasync/) for online transfers, [AWS Data Transfer Terminal](https://aws.amazon.com/data-transfer-terminal/) for secure physical transfers, or AWS Partner solutions. For edge computing, explore [AWS Outposts](https://aws.amazon.com/outposts/). 

# Downloading updates to Snowball Edge devices
<a name="download-updates"></a>

There are two ways that you can download an update for Snowball Edge:
+ You can trigger manual updates at any time using specific Snowball Edge Client commands.
+ You can programmatically determine a time to automatically update the device.

The following procedure outlines the process of manually downloading updates. For information about automatically updating your Snowball Edge device, see `configure-auto-update-strategy` in [Updating a Snowball Edge](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/snowball/latest/developer-guide/using-client-commands.html#update-client-commands).

**Note**  
If your device has no access to the internet, you can download an update file using the [GetSoftwareUpdates](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/snowball/latest/api-reference/API_GetSoftwareUpdates.html) API. Then point to a local file location when you call `download-updates` using the `uri` parameter, as in the following example.  

```
snowballEdge download-updates --uri file:///tmp/local-update
```
For Windows operating systems, format the value of the `uri` parameter as follows:  

```
snowballEdge download-updates --uri file:/C:/path/to/local-update
```

**To check for and download Snowball Edge software updates for standalone devices**

1. Open a terminal window, and ensure that the Snowball Edge device is unlocked using the `describe-device` command. If the device is locked, use the `unlock-device` command to unlock it. For more information, see [Unlocking the Snowball Edge](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/snowball/latest/developer-guide/unlockdevice.html).

1. When the device is unlocked, run the `snowballEdge check-for-updates` command. This command returns the latest available version of the Snowball Edge software, and also the current version installed on the device.

1. If your device software is out of date, run the `snowballEdge download-updates` command.
**Note**  
If your device is not connected to the internet, first download an update file using the [GetSoftwareUpdates](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/snowball/latest/api-reference/API_GetSoftwareUpdates.html) API. Then run the `snowballEdge download-updates` command using the `uri` parameter with a local path to the file that you downloaded, as in the following example.  

   ```
   snowballEdge download-updates --uri file:///tmp/local-update
   ```
For Windows operating systems, format the value of the `uri` parameter as follows:  

   ```
   snowballEdge download-updates --uri file:/C:/path/to/local-update
   ```

1. You can check the status of this download with the `snowballEdge describe-device-software` command. While an update is downloading, you display the status using this command.   
**Example output of `describe-device-software` command**  

   ```
   Install State: Downloading
   ```

**To check for and download Snowball Edge software updates for clusters of devices**

1. Open a terminal window, and ensure that all of the Snowball Edge devices in the cluster are unlocked using the `snowballEdge describe-device` command. If the devices are locked, use the `snowballEdge unlock-cluster` command to unlock it. For more information, see [Unlocking the Snowball Edge](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/snowball/latest/developer-guide/unlockdevice.html).

1. When all of the devices in the cluster are unlocked, for each device in the cluster, run the `check-for-updates` command. This command returns the latest available version of the Snowball Edge software, and also the current version installed on the device.

   ```
   snowballEdge check-for-updates --unlock-code 29-character-unlock-code --manifest-file path/to/manifest/file.bin --endpoint https://ip-address-of-snow-device                    
   ```
**Note**  
The unlock code and manifest file are the same for all devices in the cluster.  
**Example of `check-for-updates` command**  

   ```
   {
   "InstalledVersion" : "118",
   "LatestVersion" : "119"
   }
   ```

   If the value of the `LatestVersion` name is greater than the value of the `InstalledVersion` name, an update is available.

1. For each device in the cluster, use the `download-updates` command to download the update.

   ```
   snowballEdge download-updates --uri file:///tmp/local-update
   ```
**Note**  
For Windows operating systems, format the value of the `uri` parameter as follows:  

   ```
   snowballEdge download-updates --uri file:/C:/path/to/local-update
   ```

1. To check the status of this download for each device in the cluster, use the `describe-device-software` command.

   ```
   snowballEdge describe-device-software --unlock-code 29-character-unlock-code --manifest-file path/to/manifest/file.bin --endpoint https://ip-address-of-snow-device    
   ```  
**Example of output of the `describe-device-software` command**  

   ```
   {
   "InstalledVersion" : "118",
   "InstallingVersion" : "119",
   "InstallState" : "DOWNLOADED",
   "CertificateExpiry" : "Sat Mar 30 16:47:51 UTC 2024"
   }
   ```

   If the value of the `InstallState` name is `DOWNLOADED`, the update is done downloading and available to install.