kbanks
09-24-2008, 12:49 PM
Just some tips for our Beta testers:
When upgrading, always install the new Portal, then use it to update the firmware in your nodes (assuming it is newer than what you already have).
Certain versions of Portal cannot find certain versions of SNAP. You want them to be in sync anyway, but this "inability to see nodes" is confusing when you are in the middle of upgrading.
The trick is to realize that even if Portal cannot show you your nodes, and even if the Firmware Upgrader (built in to Portal) cannot AUTO_DETECT your directly attached node, you STILL can do the firmware upgrade - you just have to know which serial port to use (which PC serial port the node you want to upgrade is connected to).
So for example, if you have a 2.X node connected to COM1, and you want to upgrade it to 2.Y using a 2.Z Portal, AND nothing seems to be showing up...
...just manually choose COM1 in the dialog box, and then hit the upgrade button anyway.
Another dialog box will pop-up, telling you to reboot your node. Do so, and the firmware download process should begin (green progress bar).
Don't forget that the Firmware upgrade process is always over the second serial port (UART1, not UART0). In particular, this means you cannot upgrade a Synapse Bridge Demonstration board over it's USB interface, even if that is how Portal normally talks to that node.
Also don't forget that the green "power supply" LED on the larger units only means the power is connected, it does not mean the node is turned on.
Also remember that the reset button that you sometimes need to push during the Firmware Upgrade process (when prompted by the GUI) is located next to the DB-9 serial connector.
When upgrading, always install the new Portal, then use it to update the firmware in your nodes (assuming it is newer than what you already have).
Certain versions of Portal cannot find certain versions of SNAP. You want them to be in sync anyway, but this "inability to see nodes" is confusing when you are in the middle of upgrading.
The trick is to realize that even if Portal cannot show you your nodes, and even if the Firmware Upgrader (built in to Portal) cannot AUTO_DETECT your directly attached node, you STILL can do the firmware upgrade - you just have to know which serial port to use (which PC serial port the node you want to upgrade is connected to).
So for example, if you have a 2.X node connected to COM1, and you want to upgrade it to 2.Y using a 2.Z Portal, AND nothing seems to be showing up...
...just manually choose COM1 in the dialog box, and then hit the upgrade button anyway.
Another dialog box will pop-up, telling you to reboot your node. Do so, and the firmware download process should begin (green progress bar).
Don't forget that the Firmware upgrade process is always over the second serial port (UART1, not UART0). In particular, this means you cannot upgrade a Synapse Bridge Demonstration board over it's USB interface, even if that is how Portal normally talks to that node.
Also don't forget that the green "power supply" LED on the larger units only means the power is connected, it does not mean the node is turned on.
Also remember that the reset button that you sometimes need to push during the Firmware Upgrade process (when prompted by the GUI) is located next to the DB-9 serial connector.