ap9617 firmware update questions

james.bowes_apc · ‎2021-06-28

This was originally posted on APC forums on 9/28/2009

Hi.

I have implemented a newer AP9617 on 1 of the 2 Symmetra 3000 XL units we have. That AP9617 uses AOS version 3.5.5 and is hardware version A10. I am now looking at updating the older AP9617 which is using AOS version 1.1.6 and there are several different versions of firmware. It seems as though there is only 1 method to updating the firmware so I have a couple of questions about the process.

In no particular order, here they are:
# Is the process safe to perform while servers are attached to the UPS?
# How long does the firmware update require?
Any and all suggestions or information is aappreciated.

Thanks in advance.

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

This reply was originally posted by Jonathan on APC forums on 10/1/2009

James,

On your second screenshot I was able to see tha the 3.6.1 was loaded but the SUMX one failed to load, you can verify that by looking at the Status area where it says P+ N+ A-. Please follow the guidelines that I've listed below, I wanted to be on the safe side so we'll load both the AOS and the SUMX. Again the Firmware Executable should've extracted files, I do not know if you saved them if not feel free to re-download it again.

Upload the 3.6.1 AOS
- Open an ftp session using the command prompt and login to your network management card
- Type bin on the command line and press enter.
- Type put and then a space and then drag and drop the file apc_hw02_aos_361.bin and then press enter
- Wait until the prompt goes back to ftp>
- Logout from FTP and then wait for around 2 minutes, once you've reached 2 minutes follow the next step(s)

Upload the 3.5.8 SUMX
- Open an ftp session using the command prompt and login to your network management card
- Type bin on the command line and press enter.
- Type put and then a space and then drag and drop the file apc_hw02_sumx_358.bin and then press enter
- Wait until the prompt goes back to ftp>
- Logout from FTP and then wait for around 2 minutes, once you've reached 2 minutes follow the next step(s)

Once you are done with the steps above, log back into the card using telnet and check the status and if the AOS and SUMX are loaded. Let me know how it turns out.

See Answer In Context

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

This reply was originally posted by Jonathan on APC forums on 9/28/2009

Hello James,

Hope all is well on your end. Your existing network management card can be upgraded to the latest firmware, one thing that you should remember though is to choose the correct firmware to upload on it or else it might end up on loosing communication. If you are using it on a Symmetra UPS you need to make sure that the firmware for the card is compatible for that unit.

Here is a knowledge base article that would guide you on updating the card's firmware -- [How do I upgrade the firmware on an APC Web/SNMP Management Card or Network Management Card?|http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=768&p_created=1010390400&p_...]. On my end, I have not experienced any problem while updating the card's interface or it causing any issues with the network. I would also say that upgrading the firmware of the network management card can take 3 to 5 minutes. Also, keep in mind that since you are using an old firmware on the card you will need to upload the AOS 2.x first and then logout and then upload the latest AOS.

If you need further help, please feel free to contact us thru e-mail, phone, chat or this forum.

james.bowes_apc · ‎2021-06-28

This was originally posted on APC forums on 9/30/2009

Hi.

I was working from home yesterday - flu and all ;/ Anyway the unit is a Smart 3000 XL which I take to mean as single phase. Would that be correct? Oh and I was searching for a 2.x series of firmware for this card and am unable to find it or have overlooked it in the list. Is there one available for download?

Thanks.

--james

Message was edited by: james.bowes

james.bowes_apc · ‎2021-06-28

This was originally posted on APC forums on 9/29/2009

Hi and thanks for the answer.

I had read that but I seem to have overlooked how to determine the 3 phase unit against the LX units that we have. So, 1 step closer. Is it alright to flash the firmware on the card while the UPS is in service? That's only thing holding my progress at this point.

--james

voidstar_apc · ‎2021-06-28

This was originally posted on APC forums on 9/29/2009

Yes, the card is entirely separate from the UPS. Even if you managed to hose the card, the UPS would not be affected.

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

This reply was originally posted by Jonathan on APC forums on 9/29/2009

James,

If you have the model number of your UPS we could help you find the correct firmware. If you can still log back into the card, perhaps you can find something about the application loaded on it. Normally you will see sy at the beginning if it is loaded with a Symmetra firmware.

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

This reply was originally posted by Jonathan on APC forums on 9/30/2009

James,

If it is indeed a network management card (AP9617/18/19) on a Smart-UPS 3000 XL then you can download the latest firmware available for those models and that would be version 3.5.8. Please use this link --> +[APC Software and Firmware Download Page|http://www.apc.com/tools/download/index.cfm]+ and then under Filter by Software/Firmware choose Firmware Upgrades - Network Management Card from the drop down box.

Once you are on the download page please look for SFSUMX358, this is the executable firmware upgrade tool appropriate for your Smart-UPS, I strongly suggest that you verify the UPS where this card is connected to prevent any problem. Uploading an incorrect firmware on the card can cause communication issues between the card and the UPS.

Please use the following knowledge base articles in the event that you face some difficulties upgrading the firmware:
- [How do I upgrade the firmware on an APC Web/SNMP Management Card or Network Management Card?|http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=768]
- [How do I upgrade firmware for APC network enabled products via ftp?|http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=8515]
- [How do I perform a mass upgrade of firmware on APC network enabled products?|http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=8522]

If you need any help please do not hesitate to contact us again.

james.bowes_apc · ‎2021-06-28

This was originally posted on APC forums on 9/30/2009

Hi JonPro:

I have compared the 2 cards. I will list the newer one first:

Hardware Factory
#######################
Model Number: AP9617
Serial Number: BA0829001295
Hardware Revision: A10
Manufacture Date: 07/14/2008

Application Module
#######################
Name: sumx
Version: v3.5.5
Date: 05/24/2007

APC OS
#######################
Name: aos
Version: v3.5.5
Date: 05/24/2007

Now here is the older, original card:

Hardware
#######################
Model Number: AP9617
Serial Number: JA0432014746
Hardware Revision: A10
Manufacture Date: 08/04/2004

Application
#######################
Name: msp
Version: v1.0.0
Date: 02/11/2003

AOS
#######################
Name: aos
Version: v1.1.6
Date: 02/07/2003

Oh and lastly, I had posted the units were Symmetra 3000XL which, maybe I am not understanding here, actually states Smart-UPS 3000 XL. Would that actually be a Symmetra or have I been mistaken about that? Sorry for my apparent confusion about the correct UPS model.

--james

james.bowes_apc · ‎2021-06-28

This was originally posted on APC forums on 9/30/2009

I now have the firmware extracted (apc_hw02_aos361_sumx358) and ready to go. At this point I am just a little concerned about doing it on the live UPS. I know it was mentioned earlier that the process is completely safe but just 1 more reassurance would be great...

--james

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

This reply was originally posted by Jonathan on APC forums on 9/30/2009

James,

Before you upload that firmware on your network management card, I strongly suggest that you physically check if the UPS that you have is a Smart-UPS or a Symmetra. This is really important before doing an upgrade to avoid any problem such as Communication Lost with the UPS. If this happens and then the software (PowerChute Network Shutdown) was configured to send a shutdown signal in can turn off/gracefully shutdown a computer.

voidstar_apc · ‎2021-06-28

This was originally posted on APC forums on 10/1/2009

>
At this point I am just a little concerned about doing it on the live UPS. I know it was mentioned earlier that the process is completely safe but just 1 more reassurance would be great...
>

Don't worry, it's completely safe 🙂 While the UPS accepts commands and reports its status to the card, the two are separate and the UPS is not affected at all by an NMC firmware upgrade.

It's pretty foolproof too: even if you put the wrong application on the card, it won't work but the UPS will be unaffected and you can later load the correct application on the card.

james.bowes_apc · ‎2021-06-28

This was originally posted on APC forums on 10/1/2009

Well, it appears to have had an error during the flashing process. The result log is attached.

When I go to the web interface I receive this message:

Error: The application was not able to load.
You are attempting to access an APC device.
There was a problem loading the application. Please login to the device via telnet for more details.

Logging via telnet shows me this:

American Power Conversion
(c) Copyright 2008 All Rights Reserved
----------------------------------------
Name : Unknown
Contact : Unknown
Location : Unknown
Up Time : 0 Days 0 Hours 12 Minutes

------- Control Console ----------------

1- Device Manager
2- Network
3- System
4- Logout

- Main Menu, - Refresh

I am not sure what to do here. Any ideas? Oh and I cannot reset or power the UPS as it is in production. Yikes!

--james

Message was edited by: james.bowes

Message was edited by: james.bowes

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

This reply was originally posted by Jonathan on APC forums on 10/1/2009

James,

I would like you to login into the network management card using the TelNet method and once you're in send me a screenshot. I would like to check first what AOS was loaded. Also, the executable would extract a lot of files and one of them was the upgrd util, launch this application and follow the prompt to upgrade the firmware of the card again, tell me how it works.

james.bowes_apc · ‎2021-06-28

This was originally posted on APC forums on 9/30/2009

Hi.

Yes I have been very careful in assembling the accuracy of the information of the UPS models - both are the type Smart-UPS 3000 XL. At the moment, I have not installed any shutdown software (PowerChute) on any of the servers. My thought is to get the cards up to the same levels and then install the controller software to the servers. Is that the sensible thing to do?

Thanks in advance.

--james

Message was edited by: james.bowes

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

This reply was originally posted by Jonathan on APC forums on 9/30/2009

James,

If you have verified that the UPSes that would utilize these cards are Smart-UPS 3000XL then you can use the SFSUMX358 firmware without any problem. After upgrading the firmware of those cards, navigate thru the menus and make sure all data are present no errors reported and then install the PowerChute Network Shutdown software. Based from my experience even if the software is installed and I updated the firmware of the card it didn't give me any problem.

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

This reply was originally posted by Jonathan on APC forums on 10/1/2009

James,

That was cool! Your UPS is indeed a Smart-UPS and I would like to commend you for successfully upgrading your NMCs firmware.

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

This reply was originally posted by Jonathan on APC forums on 10/1/2009

James,

On your second screenshot I was able to see tha the 3.6.1 was loaded but the SUMX one failed to load, you can verify that by looking at the Status area where it says P+ N+ A-. Please follow the guidelines that I've listed below, I wanted to be on the safe side so we'll load both the AOS and the SUMX. Again the Firmware Executable should've extracted files, I do not know if you saved them if not feel free to re-download it again.

Upload the 3.6.1 AOS
- Open an ftp session using the command prompt and login to your network management card
- Type bin on the command line and press enter.
- Type put and then a space and then drag and drop the file apc_hw02_aos_361.bin and then press enter
- Wait until the prompt goes back to ftp>
- Logout from FTP and then wait for around 2 minutes, once you've reached 2 minutes follow the next step(s)

Upload the 3.5.8 SUMX
- Open an ftp session using the command prompt and login to your network management card
- Type bin on the command line and press enter.
- Type put and then a space and then drag and drop the file apc_hw02_sumx_358.bin and then press enter
- Wait until the prompt goes back to ftp>
- Logout from FTP and then wait for around 2 minutes, once you've reached 2 minutes follow the next step(s)

Once you are done with the steps above, log back into the card using telnet and check the status and if the AOS and SUMX are loaded. Let me know how it turns out.