SOP Loading Firmware onto Device Masters

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Standard Operating Procedure
Subject:
Loading Firmware Onto Device Masters
Author:
Troy Humphrey
Approved by:
S.Livingston 12/22/08

Contents

Objective

The objective of this SOP is to provide the reader a step by step process for loading firmware onto a Device Master RTS 32. It is important that the appropriate firmware is loaded to the Non-volatile memory of the Device Master as it is undesirable to have the firmware loaded to the Device Master from the PC on boot up. If a Device Master's firmware is set up to load it's firmware from the PC on boot up, problems arise. The PC may not boot faster than the Device Master leaving the Device Masters with out firmware when it requests it. This will cause the applications that use the Device Master to be unable to connect to it. It is preferred that the Device Master load it's firmware from it's Non-Volatile memory which is why it is important to standardize on a firmware. Comtrol highly recommends ns-link 5.17 as it has been proven to be very reliable and this will be the firmware used in this SOP.

Scope

The scope of this SOP is limited to Device Master RTS 32 units. It assumes the user is knowledgeable in using PortVision Plus and the menus in Device Manager.

Responsibilities

PSMFC Kennewick staff will be responsible for loading the appropriate firmware and ensuring the Device Masters are set to load from their internal Non-volatile memory.

Procedure

Establish Communication with the Device Master

  1. Make all necessary cabling connections.
  2. Open PortVision and Scan the Network.
  3. Ensure that the MAC address of the Device Master you are about to load the firmware to is listed and ON-LINE.
    • It is preferable that the IP address is set and you have already proven you have loaded the drivers correctly.
  4. Reboot the device.
    • This proves you have good communication with the device.
  5. Click Refresh until the unit comes back on line.

Set the timeout

Setting the timeout to 45 seconds is a safe guard and not mandatory.

  1. Open a telnet session to the IP address of the Device Master you are working with.
    • From a cmd prompt type telnet xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (the ip address of the device master you are working with).
  2. Hit enter for the password.
  3. Type in timeout and hit enter.
  4. If the timeout value is not 45 seconds type timeout 45 and hit enter.
  5. Check to see if it took by typing timeout and hitting enter.

Load the Firmware

  1. Go to Comtrol's ftp page : ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/contribs/devicemaster/binaries/resident_ns-link/v5.17/.
  2. Save to the desktop.
  3. Go to Device Manager, right click on the Device Master you are working with and disable it to ensure that nothing polls the device while you are loading the firmware.
  4. In PortVision click on the Device Master you are working with and select Upload, browse to the file you downloaded to the desktop and select OK.
  5. Answer YES to the 'Do you want to upload firmware to the selected Device(s)?'.
  6. When the firmware is done loading you will receive a pop up box stating 'If status of any device reads "Firmware Uploaded", it is highly recommended no to use that device until it reads "ON-LINE" '. Click OK, you should see 'firmware loaded' under status until the device finishes booting.

Disable the Upload to Device feature

  1. Go to Device Manager, right click on the Device Master you are working with and select Properties then go to the Device Settings tab.
  2. Check the 'Do NOT attempt to load firmware to device' check box.
  3. Select OK and answer YES to the warning.
  4. Answer YES to the 'Do you want to apply this setting to all devices on this host?' .
  5. Enable the Device Master you are working with.
  6. From PortVision reboot the Device Master you are working with.
  7. Click Refresh occasionally, with in one minute the Device Master you are working with should show that is is ONLINE and running Software Version NS-Link 5.17.
  8. Go back to Device Manager and go to the Advisor tab and ensure that the device is working properly.
  9. If you get the following message under the summary tab ignore it. It is the same as 'Device is active and OK'.
    • "Excess packet retransmissions detected(see'Retransmitted' window below). Check for indications of high network traffic."

References


Contact PSMFC at (509) 735-2773

Name Extension
Don Warf 1
Scott Livingston 2
Darren Chase 3
Alan Brower 4
Troy Humphrey 5
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