Disclosed are exemplary embodiments for updating a networked machine
having at least a dormant state and an active state. In various
embodiments, when the machine it is a dormant state, it listens to a
network for candidate updates, that is, updates that may be applicable to
the machine. In some embodiments, determining the candidate update is an
applicable update for the machine may be based at least in part on a
variety of reasons, including testing if it has already been applied,
does not actually update some aspect of the machine, conflicts with an
existing configuration of the machine, conflicts with a policy of the
machine, etc. The machine may cache some or all of the candidate updates
or applicable updates, where a variety of rationales or policies may be
used to control update retention. When the machine enters an active
state, such as a power on or non-sleep mode, or other active state, the
machine may validate integrity of an applicable update if not done while
the machine was dormant, and optionally choose to install it.