Updating Modicon M251 Logic Controller Firmware

Introduction

Updating the firmware is possible by:

Using an SD card with a compatible script file
Using the Controller Assistant

Performing a firmware update deletes the application program in the device, including the configuration files, the user management, the user rights, the certificates and the Boot Application in non-volatile memory.

NOTICE
	LOSS OF APPLICATION DATA Perform a backup of the application program to the hard disk of the PC before attempting a firmware update. Restore the application program to the device after a successful firmware update. Failure to follow these instructions can result in equipment damage.

If you remove power to the device, or there is a power outage or communication interruption during the transfer of the application, your device may become inoperative. If a communication interruption or a power outage occurs, reattempt the transfer. If there is a power outage or communication interruption during a firmware update, or if an invalid firmware is used, your device will become inoperative. In this case, use a valid firmware and reattempt the firmware update.

NOTICE
	INOPERABLE EQUIPMENT Do not interrupt the transfer of the application program or a firmware change once the transfer has begun. Re-initiate the transfer if the transfer is interrupted for any reason. Do not attempt to place the device into service until the file transfer has completed successfully. Failure to follow these instructions can result in equipment damage.

The serial line ports of your controller are configured for the Machine Expert protocol by default when new or when you update the controller firmware. The Machine Expert protocol is incompatible with that of other protocols such as Modbus Serial Line. Connecting a new controller to, or updating the firmware of a controller connected to, an active Modbus configured serial line can cause the other devices on the serial line to stop communicating. Make sure that the controller is not connected to an active Modbus serial line network before first downloading a valid application having the concerned port or ports properly configured for the intended protocol.

NOTICE
	INTERRUPTION OF SERIAL LINE COMMUNICATIONS Be sure that your application has the serial line ports properly configured for Modbus before physically connecting the controller to an operational Modbus Serial Line network. Failure to follow these instructions can result in equipment damage.

Updating Firmware by SD Card

Follow these steps to update the firmware by an SD card:

Step	Action
1	Extract the .zip file to the root of the SD card. NOTE: The SD card folder \sys\cmd\ contains the download script file.
2	Remove power from the controller.
3	Insert the SD card into the controller.
4	Restore power to the controller. NOTE: The SD LED (green) is flashing during the operation.
5	Wait until the end of the download: If the SD LED (green) is ON, and the ERR LED (red) flashes regularly, the download ended successfully. If the SD LED (green) is OFF, and the ERR and I/O LEDs (red) flash regularly, an error is detected.
6	Remove the SD card from the controller. Result: The controller restarts automatically with new firmware if the download ended successfully.

Updating Firmware by Controller Assistant

To update the firmware, you must open the Controller Assistant. Click Tools > External Tools > Open Controller Assistant.

To execute a complete firmware update of a controller without replacing the Boot application and data, proceed as follows:

Step	Action
1	On the Home dialog box, click the Read from... controller button. Result: The Controller selection dialog box opens.
2	Select the required connection type and controller and click the Reading button. Result: The image is transmitted from the controller to the computer. After this has been accomplished successfully, you are automatically redirected to the Home dialog box.
3	Click the button New / Process... and then Update firmware.... Result: The dialog box for updating the firmware opens.
4	Execute individual steps for updating the firmware in the current image (Changes are only effected in the image on your computer). In the final step, you can decide whether you want to create a backup copy of the image read by the controller. Result: Following the update of the firmware, you are automatically returned to the Home dialog box.
5	On the Home dialog box, click the Write on.... controller button. Result: The Controller selection dialog box opens.
6	Select the required connection type and controller and click the Write button. Result: The image is transmitted from your computer to the controller. After the transmission, you are automatically returned to the Home dialog box.

For more information about the firmware update and creating a new flash disk with firmware, refer to Project Settings - Firmware Update and Non-Volatile Memory Organization.