Does your embedded storage run NOR/NAND or something like SDHC Memory Cards?If your systems are running SDHC you can easily create clones with a laptop& the DD utility.
A couple of them do, but it doesn't matter in this case. The main issue with compiling is that it can effectively knock the system offline for hours which isn't acceptable. Any process that involves shutting the machine off or booting into a separate OS image has the same problem.
It's just a question of minimizing downtime.
