Updating the Firmware

Overview

Clicking the Update firmware... button in the Home dialog starts the firmware update procedure. The firmware update procedure is different for PacDrive LMC controllers and for Modicon controllers. Refer to Updating the Firmware in an Image if you want to modify the firmware in an image without removing the application and other user data from the controller.

A firmware update started via Update firmware ... on the Home dialog not only updates the firmware of a connected controller, but also deletes the application program (EcoStruxure Machine Expert project) and the other data stored on the controller.

A firmware update started via Manage images ... on the Home dialog updates the firmware in the current image. Other data is not modified.

NOTICE
LOSS OF DATA
Back up the data stored on the controller to a location in your file system before attempting to perform a firmware update.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in equipment damage.

Procedure for backing up the data stored on the controller to a location in your file system:

Step

Action

1

Click Manage images ... on the Home dialog.

2

Click Read from ... (controller icon).

3

Select the controller from the list and click Connect.

4

Enter the information for which Controller Assistant prompts (depend on controller).

5

Click Save ... and specify a storage location in your file system.

Step for Selecting the Controller and Firmware

In this step, you specify the controller and the firmware version.

Items in the dialog:

Item

Description

Controller type

Select your controller from the list.

Controller firmware version

Select a firmware version from the list or click the ... button to browse for an external firmware.

In the list, compatible firmware versions are highlighted in the same background color (bright or dark).

...

Click this button to select a firmware from a storage location in your file system. In the process of selecting the firmware from the file system, you can also set the default firmware directory.

Click the button Next to continue.

Step for Selecting Devices (Only for PacDrive LMC Controllers)

In this step, you specify the firmware of Sercos devices (LMC Pro, LMC Eco). The selected firmware version is used to prepare the FDR (Fast Device Replacement) function for the controller.

Items in the dialog:

Item

Description

Use recommended version

If recommended firmware versions are available for all devices, this checkbox is selected. The checkbox is only displayed if the recommended firmware version of each device is available on the local hard disk in the firmware repository.

If the checkbox is selected and if you want to proceed with the firmware update procedure, you can continue with the next step by clicking the Next button. Otherwise, clear the checkbox to modify the settings.

List of devices with the columns:

  • Device family

  • Current version

  • New version with a listbox for each row

The devices in the column Device family are arranged in the form of a Devices tree. Modules are grouped (for example, SLC 100 / 200 Safety Modules, SLC 300 / 400 Safety Modules). Clicking the + to the left of a group expands the group and displays the individual modules contained in the group. The devices in groups are listed with their names and, in parentheses, the IDs that are used for the modules in a variety of logger messages.

The column Current version displays the firmware version. If no firmware version for the device is contained in the image for the device, the corresponding cell displays <Not available>.

The column New version displays the firmware version to which the device is to be updated. Recommended versions are displayed in bold. If no new firmware version is available for a device, the corresponding cell displays <Don’t change current version> . If you do not want to use a recommended new version, but keep the current version, click the dropdown listbox to the right of the entry and select <Don’t change current version>. If you want to use a version other than recommended version, click the dropdown listbox to the right of the entry and select a different version, if available.
Module groups feature a Click for action command in the New version column. It allows you to select actions that apply to all the modules of the selected group. Available actions:

  • Set all devices of this group to recommended version

  • Set all devices of this group to latest version

  • Set all devices of this group to <Don’t change current version>

You can only use one version for a given module type. If you select a version for a module type in a group, this version is also used for modules of the same type contained in a different group.

Click the button Next to continue.

Step for Communication Settings

In this step, you specify the communication settings for the controller.

The items in the dialog depend on the selected controller:

Item

Description

Boot Mode

The available options are Fixed, BOOTP and DHCP. The default value is Fixed.

Network name

Enter the network name of your controller.

IP-Address

Subnet mask

Gateway

For Modicon controllers, the default values are 0.0.0.0.

For PacDrive LMC controllers, the default values are the values contained in the image.

NOTE: For Modicon controllers, if you want to keep the communication settings of the project loaded on the controller, do not modify the default settings in the dialog. If you modify the communication settings, the modified parameter values are written to the post configuration file Machine.cfg which overwrites the parameter values of the EcoStruxure Machine Expert application.

Carefully manage the IP addresses because each device on the network requires a unique address. Having multiple devices with the same IP address can cause unintended operation of your network and associated equipment.

 WARNING
UNINTENDED EQUIPMENT OPERATION
  • Verify that there is only one main controller configured on the network or remote link.
  • Verify that all devices have unique addresses.
  • Obtain your IP address from your system administrator.
  • Confirm that the IP address of the device is unique before placing the system into service.
  • Do not assign the same IP address to any other equipment on the network.
  • Update the IP address after cloning any application that includes Ethernet communications to a unique address.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death, serious injury, or equipment damage.

Click the button Next to continue.

Step for Selecting the Storage Location

In this step, you specify the storage location for the firmware.

Items in the dialog:

Item

Description

Write to...

This button lets you specify a storage location in your file system for the firmware.

Write on controller...

This button lets you write the firmware to the controller.

NOTE: For M258/LMC058 controllers, use a USB memory key device to perform the firmware update, because you cannot directly write to M258/LMC058 controllers. For more information, see the Hardware Guide for your controller.

The dialog for the next step depends on your selection in this step.

Step for Writing to a Removable Storage Device

In this step, you write the firmware to a storage location in your file system.

Items in the dialog:

Item

Description

Disk drive

This button lets you specify a storage location in your file system for the firmware.

List removable drives only

Clear this checkbox if you want to write the firmware to non-removable drives, for example, the internal hard drive of your PC.

Click the button Write to start transferring the firmware.

Step for Writing to the Controller

In this alternative step, you write the firmware to a connected controller.

The tab General is displayed if you have selected a PacDrive LMC controller. Items in the General tab of the dialog:

Item

Description

Toolbar

The toolbar provides functions for enabling audible and visual signals at the controller, updating the list of controllers, removing inactive controllers from the list of controllers, and managing favorites. See Description of the Buttons in the Toolbar for details.

List of controllers

Select the required controller from this list.

Connection Mode

This listbox lets you specify the type of connection for connecting to the controller.

IP Address

This field is adapted to your selection in the listbox Connection Mode. It prompts you for connection-specific data such as a Gateway or NAT address, port number or node name.

Connect

Click this button after you have selected your controller and specified the connection details to start the transfer of the firmware.

For certain controllers, you may be prompted for device user rights management and/or for secured access to the controller.

NOTE: Updating the firmware or writing an image to the controller requires the user right Administrator for engineering tools (refer to Users and Groups). If you have customized controller settings, enter the corresponding credentials.

The tab PacDriveM is displayed if you have selected a Modicon controller. Items in the PacDriveM tab of the dialog:

Item

Description

Buttons Ethernet, COM (RS232) , Modem, Gateway dialog

These buttons and the corresponding options to the right let you select and configure the type of communication and firmware transfer for Modicon controllers.

Click the button Connect to start the transfer.