Problem Statement
What is live patching in operating systems and how does it support system uptime and maintenance?
Explanation
Live patching is the ability to apply changes (patches) to a running kernel or OS components without rebooting. This is critical for high-availability systems where downtime must be minimised. It typically involves loading new code modules, redirecting function calls, ensuring state consistency, and monitoring for regressions. By enabling hotfixes, security updates or module upgrades without taking the system offline, live patching supports service continuity and maintenance windows. In interview discussion you might mention how OS ensures safe patching (symbol versioning, interrupt quiescence, duplication of code) and risks (memory leaks, inconsistent state).
