Update Firmware Dialog

The Update Firmware dialog is used to load the most current version of In-Sight firmware onto In-Sight vision systems. For more information on supported firmware version, see Firmware Versions.

Update the Firmware

1. Connect the In-Sight vision system to the network as instructed in the hardware installation documentation.
2. Launch In-Sight Explorer.

3. Optionally, backup each vision system before proceeding with the Firmware Update.

   Note: The firmware update process will erase all job and settings files from In-Sight non-volatile flash memory. Although In-Sight Explorer creates a temporary copy of all jobs and settings prior to the firmware update, it is recommended to manually back up these files prior to starting the firmware update process. For more information, see Backup Dialog.

4. Verify the following:

   • All target vision systems are Offline.
   • No other users are logged on to the target vision systems.

   • A new job is loaded on each vision system.

     Tip: Force Update can be used to place the target vision systems Offline and disconnect other users from the target vision systems during the firmware update process.

5. From the System menu, click Update Firmware.

   Note: Alternatively, you can open the Firmware Update dialog from In-Sight Network. When opened from In-Sight Network, this dialog only displays the selected In-Sight device(s) or device(s) in the selected Group.

   

6. Select the In-Sight vision system(s) to be updated by checking the vision system's checkbox.

   Note:

   • The New Version column shows the firmware version to be installed to the vision system. Depending on the vision system's Model type, the firmware version to be installed will be different. The vision system can only be updated to the last supported firmware version. For example, an In-Sight 1000 series vision system can only be updated to version 4.x.x, the last supported firmware version. On the other hand, an In-Sight 8405 vision system can be updated to the current version. For a complete list of models and supported firmware versions, see Firmware Versions.
   • Multiple vision systems can be updated at the same time even if the New Versions column shows different firmware versions.
   Tip:

   • The search box can be used to filter vision systems dynamically, based on the information in the Name, Model and Version columns. The vision systems will not be filtered based on the status.
   • To select multiple, non-consecutive vision systems, hold down the CTRL key and highlight the tools, and then check one of the highlighted checkboxes.
   • To select multiple, consecutive tools, hold down the SHIFT key and highlight the first vision system, and then the last tool in the list, and then check one of the highlighted checkboxes.

7. If you have multiple versions of In-Sight Explorer software installed to the PC, you can upgrade or downgrade the firmware to a different version by using the drop-down in the New Version column. For example, if you have In-Sight Explorer 5.4.0 and 5.6.0 installed to the PC, you can upgrade or downgrade an In-Sight 2000 series vision sensor's firmware to 5.6.0 or 5.4.0; or you can upgrade or downgrade an In-Sight 1000 series vision system's firmware to 4.10.5 or 4.10.4.

   

8. Optionally, check the Force Update checkbox. When checked, In-Sight Explorer forces to update the firmware by placing the vision system Offline, disconnecting other user from the vision system or ignoring any backup errors. By default, this checkbox is unchecked and the firmware update is aborted if the vision system is Online, logged on by other user or a backup error occurs.

   Note:

   • Save jobs before updating firmware. When the Force Update checkbox is checked, any unsaved job will be lost during the firmware update process.
   • If the vision system is forced to go Offline, the vision system will be placed Online again once the firmware update is completed.
   • If the user is forced to be disconnected from the vision system, the user will be connected to the vision system again once the firmware update is completed.
9. Optionally, check the Disable backup and restore checkbox. When checked, the firmware will be updated without backing up and restoring files. By default, this checkbox is unchecked, and the backup and restore operations will be performed. If a backup error occurs, the firmware update is aborted.
10. Click Next.

11. Verify that each vision system listed in the dialog is to receive new firmware.

    

12. Click Update Firmware.

13. Once all vision systems have been updated and rebooted, click OK to close the Firmware Update dialog, or click Go Back to continue updating other vision system's firmware. If firmware update is failed, click Go Back and check the Force Update and/or Disable Backup and Restore checkboxes and update the firmware again.

    Note:

    • If "Faulted" is prepended to the Model type (e.g. "Faulted 8405"), it indicates that the vision system has failed to complete the firmware update process and is in an unusable state. You must connect the vision system to a DHCP server and update the firmware again to recover from this state.
    • If firmware update fails, backup files are retained in the Backup Directory specified in the Options dialog.

Troubleshooting

Error Messages

If an error occurs during the firmware update process, power-cycle the vision system and restart the firmware update.

Lack of Available Flash Memory

If a job containing a large number of functions is loaded on an In-Sight vision system when a firmware update is attempted, the update may be interrupted due to lack of available flash memory. If this occurs:

1. Ensure that the vision system is Offline.
2. Load a new job (from the File Menu, click New Job).
3. Try the firmware upgrade again.

If the jobs on an In-Sight vision system consume a large portion of available flash memory, the firmware update may be interrupted due to lack of available flash memory. If this occurs:

1. Delete the job files from the vision system.

2. Try the firmware upgrade again.

   Note: The amount of available flash memory for In-Sight 70xx - 74xx series vision systems was increased from 256MB on In-Sight 4.7.0 firmware to 512MB on In-Sight 4.7.1 and later firmware. Therefore, if an In-Sight 70xx - 74xx series vision system undergoes a firmware downgrade from 4.7.1 or later to 4.7.0, and there was more than 256MB of data, one or more files may fail to be properly copied and pasted during the restore. If the proc.set file is not properly restored, copy the proc.set file from the backup directory of the PC, remove unnecessary files on the vision system and paste the proc.set into the directory.