Flowire Software Upgrade Procedure

This step by step guide to upgrading the software in Flowire through its serial interface only applies to software version PLC-1.2.1. For newer version jump to

Requirements

The following equipment is required to perform the upgrade:

• Windows PC
• TFTP server, for example Tftpd32 or Tftpd64 by Ph. Jounin (http://tftpd32.jounin.net)
• Telnet software, for example PuTTY by Simon Tatham (http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/)
• A network switch
• 2 Ethernet cables
• USB-Serial cable with JTAG connector
• Flowire unit
• Flowire power supply
• Software for the Flowire. Download the software here.

USB-Serial cable

A special USB to Serial cable has to be used for the software upgrade. The cable can be made out of two items:

• An USB to RS232 cable with 3,3V TTL level. For example: http://au.element14.com/ftdi/ttl-232r-3v3/connector-type-a/dp/1329311
• A ribbon cable. Suggested type: http://no.farnell.com/harwin/m50-9011042/receptacle-to-dip-150mm-20way/dp/2289813

With these two items, make an adapter cable which connects the debug connector of the Flowire to the USB port of the PC:

Flowire cable

• On the Flowire, connect to these pins:
  • Pin 7: GND
  • Pin 8: TX (Transmit) – Connect this to Rx on the serial cable
  • Pin 16: RX (Receive) – Connect this to Tx on the serial cable

Flowire pinning

PC setup

• Set the IP address of your computer to 169.254.1.2, subnet mask 255.255.255.0:

Set static IP address 169.254.1.2 on your PC

• Connect the USB-Serial cable to the USB port of the PC
• In the Control Panel, open the Device Manager to see which serial port has been assigned. It will be listed under Ports (COM & LPT) as USB Serial COM port #x, where x represents the COM port number. Double click it and change the port settings from 9600 baud to 115200 baud.

TFTP server setup

• Start the Tftpd program on the PC
• From the main window browse to the folder where the software files are stored. Choose the PC LAN port as the server interface:

TFTP server setup

Physical setup

• Do not connect the power supply to the Flowire unit yet
• Take of the top lid of the Flowire by unscrewing the two screws
• Locate the JTAG and connect the cable, cable pointing away from the PCB
• Connect the PC to the switch using an ethernet cable
• Connect the Flowire to the switch using an ethernet cable

Physical setup

Telnet setup

• Open PuTTY
• Choose Connection Type Serial, change Speed to 115200 and make sure it has the right COM port number:

Telnet setup

Version check

By running this command you can see the current software version:

cat /proc/net/plc/version

Upgrade

• While holding down the space bar (or actually any key), power up the Flowire. You should see data in the command window. Once you see data, release the space bar.
• Enter these commands, one at a time, and press [Enter] after each command:
  • setenv serverip 169.254.1.2
  • setenv ipaddr 169.254.1.10
  • protect off all
  • tftp 0x40100000 u-boot218.bin
  • erase 0x30000000 0x3002FFFF
  • cp.b 0x40100000 0x30000000 0x30000
  • tftp 0x40100000 jffs2-spc
  • erase 0x30040000 0x3013FFFF
  • cp.b 0x40100000 0x30040000 0x100000
  • tftp 0x40100000 linux-spc
  • erase 0x30140000 0x3049FFFF
  • cp.b 0x40100000 0x30140000 0x360000
  • reset

TIP! Mark the text line and copy it (right click > copy, or Ctrl+C). In the PuTTY window right click with the mouse and the text is instantly pasted. Hit [enter]. Copy/paste one line at a time.

• When the Flowire is back online you can login with root.
• By running this command you can see the new software version:
  • cat /proc/net/plc/version
• The procedure is now finished. The Flowire can be disconnected and the next unit can be upgraded.