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Electronic Theatre Controls Inc

Upgrading Software in Express

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Upgrading a console

Note-Icon-new.png NOTE: If upgrading system software in a lighting playback controller (LPC), some of the steps below are slightly different because LPC controls are different. See your LPC QuickGuide for information about these differences.

Express software upgrades are distributed in kits that contain one or more upgrade diskettes and usually an installation document. Follow these kit instructions when provided. When upgrading, make sure the diskette you use is marked for your console.

  1. Installing new console software clears all system memory. Please save your current show!
  2. Turn the console off.
  3. Insert the console software diskette into your console’s diskette drive.
  4. Turn the console back on. The console displays the boot screen and automatically installs the software. This process takes approximately one minute. The console displays the following messages as the installation progresses: Loading, Erasing Flash, Writing Flash. Wait until the Stage display appears.
  5. Press [Setup] to confirm that the new software has been successfully installed. The current software version is displayed in the lower right corner of the display. This version number should match the number on the diskette. If it does not, repeat the procedure.
  6. Press [4] [Enter] [S1], Reset System, [Enter] to complete the upgrade.
  7. Remove the diskette from the disk drive and store.

Upgrading remote interface devices

If your console is connected through ETCNet to one or more remote units, you need to upgrade the system software in those units whenever you upgrade the console software. The reason is that every device operating on an ETC network must be using the same version of software.

If your network contains any of ETCNet2 nodes, you might need to set the network status before downloading the code. The reason is that these nodes can operate using either of two ETC local area protocols, ETCNet or ETCNet2, but Expression-family systems must use ETCNet. Setting the network configuration is covered in one of the following sections.

Remote Unit Upgrade Program display

Verify and upgrade the software operating in remote interface devices in the Remote Unit Upgrade Program display. Enter that display as follows:

  1. Save your current show. Installing a new version of software will not clear system memory, but it is always best to be cautious.
  2. Turn off the console.
  3. Turn on all remote interface devices.
  4. Insert the Remote Unit Upgrade diskette into your console’s diskette drive.
  5. Turn the console back on. The console will display a boot screen with a loading counter. When the count reaches 100%, the Remote Unit Update Program display appears.

Characteristics of the display

The display contains the following three elements: (1) the title line, (2) an inventory of network devices, and (3) the Remote Units list. The title line names the display and identifies the version of code on the diskette you used to bring up the display (the upgrade diskette). The device inventory, located below the title line, identifies all possible ETC network interface devices by type, version number and CRC number. For a device in your network to be compatible with the code on the upgrade diskette, both the version number and the CRC number must match.

Your console will detect remote interface devices operating on your network by listing them in the Remote Units list. From this list, you can make the following determinations.

  • Are any interface devices in your network not showing up in the list?
  • Does every device in your network display a software version that matches the version for that type in the device inventory?
  • Does every device in your list display a CRC number that matches the CRC number for that type in the device inventory?

Devices missing from the Remote Units list

There can be several problems preventing an interface device from showing up on the Remote Units list, most of which are easily correctable. First of all, verify power to a missing device as well as to the hub to which it is connected, if any. Second, verify all network connections along the network route along between the console and the missing device. If your network uses twisted pair wiring, press [S6], Swap Twst Pair, and wait ten seconds. If a missing device is an ETCNet2 node, set the protocol to ETCNet by pressing [S5], Discover Nodes, and wait ten seconds. If all efforts fail, contact ETC Technical Services.

Incorrect version or CRC number

If one or more devices on your Remote Units list does not show the correct version or CRC number, perform a software upgrade for that device. You have three options.

  • Upgrade one unit
    Use the console’s arrow keys to move the cursor to the unit. Press [S3], Update This Unit.
  • Upgrade some units
    Use the console’s arrow keys to move the cursor to a unit you want upgraded. Press [S8], Mark This Unit, to select that unit. If you want to upgrade others at the same time, repeat this marking procedure for each unit. An M will appear in the lines of marked units. When finished marking, press [S2], Update Marked, to upgrade the marked units.
  • Upgrade all units
    Press [S1], Update All Units, to download to all remote units at once.

While code is loading to a remote unit, the percent completion for that unit is shown in the display’s Status column. When the word Pass appears, the upgrade for that unit is complete.

Note-Icon-new.png NOTE: It is normal for software to load faster to an ETCNet2 device than to a Remote Interface Unit or to a Remote Video Interface device.

Finish

  1. Remove the Remote Unit Upgrade disk from the console disk drive.
  2. Turn the console off.
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