AMC Flash Image update

This article describes how to install a new flash image on the AMC-IP board. A dedicated PC tool is used for the image upgrade. There are currently two image files available:

alpha_uimage_12.bin. Includes AMC 10.21
alpha_uimage_16.bin. Includes AMC 10.52

Setup for Flash Image update

Preparations

The image upgrade will erase all current configurations and settings, including the licenses.

Before the image upgrade can be performed, the software on the AMC-IP board must be upgraded to AMC10.52 or higher
Any software licenses will be deleted. If there are licenses on the board, make sure you have a copy of the license key before starting the image upgrade. The license key has to be re-entered after the image upgrade.
Backup customer data by doing a GetAll from AlphaPro

Image update procedure

Connected to AMC-IP and Image File selected. Ready to Start Image Upgrade

Download the PC software "AlphaCom Flash Image Upgrade" from the download page
Unzip the downloaded file
Install the software by double-clicking the unzipped file AlphaImageUpgradeSetup.msi
The software requires that "Microsoft .NET Framework" is installed on the PC. The installation program will check if Microsoft .NET Framework is already installed. If not, you are notified and a link to Microsoft's download site is displayed. Follow this link and install .NET Framework (freeware). Then run the installation file AlphaImageUpgradeSetup.msi again
Download the AMC IP Flash Image file "alpha_uimage_xx.zip" ((xx = version number) from the download page
Unzip the downloaded file
Start the AlphaCom Flash Image Upgrade software. Insert the AlphaCom IP address, and press Connect to Target
Press Select Image File and browse to the alpha_uimage_xx.bin file.
Press Start Image Upgrade. The upgrade process is fully automated, and it will tell you when the process is finished.

Finalizing the AMC-IP board

alpha_uimage_12.bin

When installing alpha_uimage_12.bin all settings, including IP addresses, will be set to factory default values.

alpha_uimage_16.bin

When installing alpha_uimage_16.bin some settings will automatically be restored after the installation. During the upgrade process the configuration file "amc_ip_config.xml" is temporarily stored in NVRAM, and is restored after the upgrade process. This means that the following information is automatically restored after the upgrade:

IP addresses
IP routing
Filter settings
Log configuration (the actual log files are erased)

The following information needs to be reconfigured from AlphaWeb:

License key
Time settings
If logging was enabled, the logging feature needs to be reactivated. Go to System Configuration -> Logging, and press "Apply"
Upgrade to latest AMC software version. The Image Update will load AMC software version 10.52 to the board. (Currently 10.52 is the latest version).

The intercom configuration is restored by doing a SendAll from AlphaPro.

Troubleshouting

Error messages in the "AlphaCom Flash Image Upgrade" software:

Server Status: Could not Start HTTP File Server: The upgrade software is using a web server application during the upgrade proccess. If there is another web server application running on the computer, it must be shut down before the Image Upgrade can be executed. (The command 'netstat -a' on the Windows command line will show which application is using port 80 (i.e. the http port))
Image Load Timeout: A firewall is probably blocking port 80. If the PC is connected directly to the AMC-IP, disable the firewall of the PC.

WARNING! If you have upgraded to the image alpha_uimage_20_B02.bin (image file for Billing feature, not general available), you can not downgrade the AMC software below version 10.52!!! If this is for some reason wanted, please contact STENTOFON technical support.