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This document explains how to upload firmware to CommandFusion hardware, using the CommandFusion System Commander software.
There are 2 communication methods available for uploading firmware to CommandFusion devices, via Ethernet and via a Serial port.
For the purposes of this documentation, we will assume you are uploading via Ethernet, using the CF LAN Bridge. But uploading via Serial Port is much the same.
When using Ethernet to upload firmware to devices, you will need to first connect a LAN Bridge to the same network your PC is running on, and the network much have a DHCP Server to assign an IP Address to the LAN Bridge automatically on first startup.
Once the LAN Bridge is powered up, watch the “IP Address” LED on it's information panel - as soon as it goes solid, this means it has obtained an IP Address and you can continue.
This process can take some time, depending on your network configuration. Allow at least 1 minute for the device to obtain an IP Address.
The first step is to open up CF System Commander software on your PC.
Then select “Network > Settings” and ensure Ethernet and UDP are selected and press OK.
Now go online by pressing the “Offline” status button, which will toggle the status to Online. Make sure any windows firewall exception is allowed at this stage.
Once System Commander is in Online Mode, press the “Scan Devices” button.
You will see the tree on the left fill with any CFLink devices that are found on the network, attached to your LAN Bridge.
If a device does not have valid firmware loaded (It's power LED is flashing) then it will not show up on this list initially. It will however report itself every 20 seconds and be added to the device tree with a red indicator image next to it.
Devices with invalid firmware will report into the log and appear with a red indicator in the tree.
Now select Network
on the toolbar, then Check for Latest Firmware
Click Check for Latest Firmware Online
The window will then show you what hardware has an updated version of hardware available online. To download all available firmware, click the Download Missing Firmware
button.
You can also right click on a device in the list and choose to download only that firmware if required.
Once System Commander has finished downloading the firmware, it will notify you, click OK
to continue.
The Device ID to upload to should be automatically selected if you have previously scanned for devices.
If it does not show up because the device you are wanting to update currently does not have a valid firmware file, then please wait for the device to announce itself again over the network.
This can take up to a minute or so, so please wait. Once it has announced itself, the ID should automatically be filled in, and you can go ahead and select “Start Uploading”.
The log area will tell you what is happening. But here is a quick rundown of the process: