Manually Updating Cobalt Firmware

Firmware updates were required on Cobalt 20 and Cobalt 10 consoles with version 7.2.0 - if the firmware is not updated on all modules of these consoles, their facepanels will not operate properly.

Additionally, some components may have additional firmware updates available that improve the performance of the components. Please check to be sure that the components of your system are up to date before proceeding with the use of Cobalt Version 8.x. Follow the procedures below to update any component that is not at the appropriate version.

Manually Updating the High Speed I/O Card (Congo Kid)

The information in this post is provided to assist in troubleshooting. Perform work at your own risk. ENSURE ANY POWER FROM DEVICES HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED BEFORE SERVICING ANY EQUIPMENT. If you do not feel comfortable performing the work, please contact us or your local service center. Be aware that ETC and its Affiliates are not responsible for any damage or injury caused by service of our products by anyone other than us or our authorized service providers, and such damage is excluded from the product’s warranty.

This process is only for the High Speed I/O card. Full Speed I/O cards should be updated following the procedure for Updating Full Speed I/O Cards.

With the exception of the Cobalt Programming Wing, the Full Speed I/O card can be identified by the presence of a Phone Remote (RJ11) port. All Cobalt Programming Wings shipped without a Phone Remote port.

Step 1: Exit Cobalt and power off the Congo Kid.

Step 2: Carefully, turn the Congo Kid onto its facepanel to access the bottom of the console.

Step 3: Using a #2 Philips head screwdriver, remove the 7 screws shown below.

Step 4: Carefully, restore the Congo Kid to the normal orientation using great care to not allow the console tray to swing open.

Step 5. Lift the Congo Kid facepanel from the front edge and locate the High Speed I/O Card in the console tray

Note: Congo Kid facepanel not shown for clarity

Step 6: Press and hold the Boot button on the High Speed I/O Card as power is turned back on.

WARNING: HIGH VOLTAGE POTENTIAL – DO NOT TOUCH OTHER COMPONENTS INSIDE OF THE CONSOLE WHILE POWER IS ON

Step 7: Using the external Mouse, Select System Settings from the Welcome Screen.

Step 8: Press [Alt]+[F11] on the external keyboard to launch Process Explorer

Process Explorer may start minimized on the main screen. If so, choose the restore button to view Process Explorer.

Step 9: In Process Explorer, navigate to the File menu and choose Run…

Step 10: Type explorer in the Open: field and click {OK} or press Enter.

Step 11: Using the Windows Explorer window, navigate to C:\etc\nodesbin

Step 12: Right click on the following file name and choose copy

14d5.0113_IO_Kinetis_v1.1.0.9.0.4.S19

Step 13: Using the Windows Explorer window, navigate to the drive labeled BOOTLOADER, right click and choose Paste to copy the firmware to the component.

If you see more than one drive labeled BOOTLOADER, abort this update attempt and restart the console. If you continue to see multiple drives labeled BOOTLOADER, contact ETC Technical Services.

Step 14: Close all open windows including Windows Explorer and Process Explorer. Click {OK} in System Settings and power off the Congo Kid console.

Step 15: Gently close the facepanel and carefully turn the Congo Kid onto its facepanel to access the bottom of the console using great care to not allow the console tray to swing open.

Step 16: Using a #2 Philips head screwdriver, replace the 7 screws removed during Step 3.

Step 17: Carefully, restore the Congo Kid to the normal orientation.

Step 18: This component is now ready for use on the next normal power up.