Software Release Notes - 4.5 Patch 2 (v4.5.264)

Introduction

These software release notes describe Release 4.5 Patch 2 of the Chameleon Firmware. This patch includes numerous new features, enhancements, and bug fixes. See below for details.

DOWNLOAD LINK

Chameleon.4.5.264.$cc (2.86 MB)
NIM2L.4.5.264.$cc (3.98 MB)

Note: These files are included in the Design Pad and/or Schema Viewer v4.5.2xx installation. They can be found in \Program Files\Fairmount Automation\<PROGRAM NAME> folder (where <PROGRAM NAME> is 'Design Pad G4' or 'Schema Viewer G4').

Release Date

April 24, 2012

Download Contents

These files contains the firmware v4.5.264 for Chameleon hardware.

Firmware for all modules except NIM-2: Chameleon.4.5.264.$cc
Firmware for NIM-2: NIM2L.4.5.264.$cc

File Signatures

INSTALLATION

Special Considerations

1. IMPORTANT NOTE: Because this patch changes the NIM-2 operating system there are additional actions that must be performed when compared to a standard firmware update. As such, the process to update the first firmware upgrade from a version prior to 4.5.264 on the NIM2 can take up to 10 minutes. The status LED can be steady or flashing green, amber and/or RED during that time. The board must not be removed from the node or power cycled during that time. Failure to follow this guideline will likely result in a nonfunctional board. This additional time for the firmware update is only needed for NIM-2 modules.
2. IMPORTANT NOTE: The NIM2 firmware in this release cannot be downgraded in the field to versions prior to v4.5.264. If after upgrading the user wants to return to a version prior to v4.5.264, the NIM2 must be returned to the factory. In general, please contact Fairmount Automation technical support if there is a desire to downgrade a product firmware to a version previous to that it shipped with. Also, it is recommended that you contact Fairmount Automation technical support if upgrading a NIM-2 from a version prior to v4.5.x.
3. The NIM-2 firmware files NIM2.4.5.xxx.$cc and NIM2_Release-kernel.4.5.xxx.bin are obsolete and replaced by NIM2L.4.5.xxx.$cc.
4. Power should not be removed during the firmware update process or the device may need to be returned to the factory.
5. As always, customers should ensure the updated software meets their requirements in a test environment prior to deploying in a production environment.

Installing the Firmware

IMPORTANT: When updating nodes that contain NIM-2 modules, the NIM-2s should be updated first and then the non-NIM-2 modules next. This will ensure that the NIM-2s maintain the needed network settings to perform the update over Ethernet.

Updating NIM-2 Modules:

1. Ensure the NIM-2(s) are configured (IP address loaded, etc.) to be on the same network as the computer that is performing the update.
2. Start Design Pad or Schema Viewer v4.5.230 or higher.
3. Select 'Use Ethernet' from the Communications Menu.

To Update a Single NIM-2 from Design Pad G4 or Schema Viewer G4 v4.5.264:
        a. Open the Workspace and HWI associated with the NIM-2 to update.
        b. Choose 'Firmware Update' from the Communications Menu
        c. When prompted, select the NIM2L.4.5.264.$cc file
        d. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the download

To Update Multiple NIM-2s from Design Pad G4 or Schema Viewer G4 v4.5.264:
        a. Open the Workspace associated with the NIM-2 to update.
        b. Right-click on the word 'Workspace' in the Workspace window and select Update Firmware (All Ethernet Hardware) from the Communications sub-menu.
        c. Press the 'Browse' button and select the NIM2L.4.5.264.$cc file
        d. Select the NIM-2s to update in the 'Select Ethernet Hardware' window.
        e. Press the 'Upload' button to start the update process.

Non-NIM-2 Modules:

1. Remove any NIM-2 active boards from the node
2. Start Design Pad or Schema Viewer
3. Choose 'Firmware Update' from the Communications Menu
4. Align the IR wand to the right-most module
5. Select the Chameleon.4.5.264.$cc file when requested
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the download
7. Restore any NIM-2 active boards back into the node

NEW FEATURES, ENHANCEMENTS, AND CHANGES

New Features

• The NIM-2 operating system was changed to improve stability and provide a sustainable path for future enhancements. Among other things, this change resolved an issue of occasional device reboots under certain conditions. (NIMIIL Project, SWGEN-16)

• The ability to have a limited custom Binary message definition has been added to the Ethernet channel. See the Design Pad Programming Manual for more information. (NIMIIL-288, NIMIIL-275)

Enhancements

• The Chameleon backplane position algorithm has been improved to force a particular module to remain in its initial discovered position in the node and not shift. The previous implementation opened the possibility for the module to incorrectly shift positions when certain error conditions were encountered. This change will improve the stability of a running node when faults are introduced to the system. (SWCHA-612)

• Improved the FairNET network response time and tuned network parameters. This fix resolves the issue of occasional dropped or missed packets and the subsequent call of a brief network reception error. (SWFACGII-75)

• Enhanced the Ethernet port handling in the software which improved some reconnect issues on systems where multiple protocols were used. (SWCHA-610)

• The diagnostic reporting capability was enhanced to provide device state information and/or crash dump data immediately proceeding critical device events or failures. This new capability will improve our ability to diagnose and rapidly fix issues if they occur. (SWCHA-613)

• Improved the FLASH write time in the algorithm that runs in response to a power loss. (SWFACGII-68)

Changes

• In certain scenarios it is possible for the Backplane Signaling Operator to not properly transition the associated line. This was resolved. (SWCHA-576)

• Various issues with reprogramming modules in nodes which contain a NIM-2 module and the program not properly being transferred to swapped in module were discovered. Known issues have been resolved. Also, note, the addition of backplane terminators may resolve some of these issues. See Chameleon Installation Guide for more information. (SWCHA-590)

• When a PROFIBUS master was configured for Word-width I/O modules the interpreted size of the message from a SLAVE was incorrectly limited to half the proper number of words (for example: 32 Words was limited to 32 Bytes). This issue was resolved. (SWCHA-611)

• It was found that when the embedded software encountered a specific recoverable microprocessor hardware fault that it may hang waiting for the normal condition to occur (and reboot). This situation has been improved to detect the fault, recover, and report the error to the user. (SWCHA-629)

• Fixed various issues with software mutex locks that could result in device reboot. (SWFACGII-76, SWFACGII-74, SWCHA-635, SWCHA-579, NIMIIL-302, SWFACGII-78, SWCHA-615)

• In cases where the Snapshot Data Recorder operator was used in the program, and the trigger pin was removed, a crash in the device may occur when the schema is executed. This has been resolved and the device will no longer crash. (SWCHA-634)

NIM-2 Changes

• Erasing a schema that includes a configured SNMP receiver operator may cause the device to crash. This issue has been resolved. (NIMIIL-227)

• Strip Chart recorder on the NIM-2 was always being reset regardless if the Receive and Reset or just Receive command was set. Fixed issue so Receive only command does not reset the buffer. (NIMIIL-229)

• FANDA Multicast rate is now the compute loop rate, previously it was the compute loop + approximately 10ms. (NIMIIL-232)

• Improved the clarity of messages the internal diagnostic messaging log in the NIM-2. (NIMIIL-258)

• Increased the maximum size of the circular diagnostic log buffer. (NIMIIL-259)

• Improved the descriptiveness of diagnostic messages associated with the Thread Monitor. (NIMIIL-273)

• Previous NIM-2 diagnostic logs identified any ASM-1 modules in the node as unrecognized type. The ASM-1 module has been added as a recognized type in the log. (NIMIIL-292)

• In certain situations the NIM-2 module was not displaying an error code when it detected a bad schema. This has been resolved and the error code is now shown on the Status LED and query hardware log. (NIMIIL-314)

• Improved the NIM-2 fault tolerance to error conditions involving invalid node positions. (SWCHA-502)

• The NIM-2, when located in a SLAVE position in a node, was receiving characters over the IR port but not processing them. If the NIM-2 should need to transition to a MASTER position (i.e. the old MASTER removed from the node) the NIM-2 may process these previously received characters. The NIM-2 now ignores all IR traffic when in a slave position. (SWCHA-540)

• Some lights (such as emergency flashing siren lights) emit high levels of IR-content when activated. When the NIM-2 was exposed to such content the IR receive buffer would flood and lead to a reboot. Additional software filtering was added to the channel and the issue has been resolved. (SWCHA-592)

• Improved the invalid schema program detection algorithm to include additional hot-swap recovery scenarios. (SWCHA-593, NIMIIL-260)

• Previously, if a NIM-2 in a node master position experienced an internal fault that required a reboot, it would send the reboot message to all members of the node. This behavior has been changed so only the NIM-2 reboots. (SWCHA-594)

• There existed the rare possibility for memory corruption in the SNMP networking stack. These were removed. (SWCHA-632)

• If an EtherNET/IP Operator is installed in a program, and its Enable pin is not connected, the target device may crash on schema execution. (NIMIIL-298)

• Previous EtherNET/IP communication library required an Assembly connection before any Objects could be updated. This has been improved to not require an Assembly for Objects to function. (SWCHA-268)

• EtherNET/IP Object Attribute permissions as defined in the XML definition file were not being honored. This issue has been resolved and the defined permissions are now enforced. (SWCHA-587)

• Increased EtherNET/IP maximum connection counts as follows: Maximum Sockets increase from 30 to 96, Maximum Sessions increased from 20 to 45, Maximum Servers Per Client increased from 34 to 40. (SWCHA-588)

• v4.5.230 introduced an issue where EtherNET/IP Object receive values may alternate between the correct value and 0. This was fixed. (SWCHA-591)

• In some cases when an explicit EtherNET/IP connection is made some undefined data may be returned. This issue was resolved. (SWCHA-607)