Specifications
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CHAPTER 7: Using the Dedicated Serial Ports
Once you’ve changed the data rate on your end, press [Enter]. The serial
options menu will be displayed again, at the new Port Card data rate. Use option 7
to permanently save this change to the Port Card’s flash memory (see
Section 7.2.6)
7.2.3 O
PTION
3. R
ECEIVE
N
EW
K
ERNEL OR
M
AIN
P
ROGRAM
(U
PGRADE
F
IRMWARE
)
NOTE
You must be using a computer rather than a terminal to perform this
function.
Occasionally we might release upgrades to the ServSwitch Affinity’s firmware:
either its kernel (the “operating system,” so to speak) or its main program, or both.
If we do, you will be able to get the upgrade from us and download the new
firmware to your Affinity unit(s). To check which versions of the kernel and main
program your Affinity is using, look at “Kernel version” and “Program version” on
the diagnostics screen displayed when you power up the Affinity (see
Section 3.5.1). You should be able to get the most recent available versions of these
on our Web site at www.blackbox.com; if you can’t find them, or if you have
questions about them, contact Black Box Tech Support.
To download a flash-upgrade file from the computer to the Port Card you’re
communicating with on the ServSwitch Affinity, press 3 at the serial options menu.
This message will appear:
Waiting for file.........................
Send your file using a simple ASCII text-file protocol. While the file is being sent,
the card sends ASCII period characters back to the computer, as shown above, to
indicate copy progress. Once the file has been sent, you should see the message:
Receive successful
Downloaded kernel code [or] Downloaded main code
The new program will now be downloaded from the Port Card’s receive memory
into flash memory, and the flash will be reprogrammed. You should see these
messages:
Flash programming.........................
Flash programming successful
Serial options menu