RE: Firmware upgrade for MRF event generators and receivers

[Abdalla Ahmad via Tech-talk <tech-talk at aps.anl.gov>]

Hello Michael

Thanks for the feedback. Will try to contact MRF.

Side question, the firmware on MRF website is it for the processor or the FPGA or both? Should I update the processor only or both?

Best Regards,
Abdalla.

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Davidsaver <mdavidsaver at gmail.com> 
Sent: Monday, February 08, 2021 7:32 PM
To: Abdalla Ahmad <Abdalla.Ahmad at sesame.org.jo>
Cc: tech-talk at aps.anl.gov
Subject: Re: Firmware upgrade for MRF event generators and receivers

On 2/8/21 6:37 AM, Abdalla Ahmad via Tech-talk wrote:
> Hello community
> 
> This question is not EPICS specific, but I could use some help. We tried downgrading the firmware for spare EVG and EVR boards which have the MRM firmware 005 I think to firmware E403 and D507 respectively. I followed the procedure in the manuals but when I issue the command "u" to start the update process, the telnet session exits with message "Self-programming triggered". I came back after a while and every time I telnet to the board, it seems the device entered a mode where no command is available (only q and x commands), sometimes when the device reboots, I try to dump the memory I get "Addr 0x8000002e: error -1".
> 
> I tried re-uploading the firmware, power-cycle, and factory settings but nothing works. Any advice how to fix the firmware update process?

Back when I was at BNL I was able to successfully update firmware on several VME boards (I assume that's what you have).  I was always nervous though.

I can only recommend contacting MRF.  If you are lucky, and have access to a JTAG programmer, you might be able to directly re-flash the firmware yourself.