ATS - do I have to unplug the unloaded power cord to do a FW up grade

[DCIM_Support]

When I start a firmware upgrade it is warning me that I must disconnect the unloaded power cord on a AP7750A ATS or it may cause failure or damage the ATS.

(CID:123998813)

[DCIM_Support]

Dear Mike,

Please follow the instructions provided in the below K-base document for upgrading your ATS firmware version. 

http://www.schneider-electric.co.in/en/faqs/FA156178/

Regards,

Bala

(CID:123998820)

[DCIM_Support]

Thank you.  ☹️

That's pretty tough to accomplish during business hours and when your 2000 miles away.

(CID:123998835)

[DCIM_Support]

Which versions are you trying to upgrade between and what is the load (amps) on the ATS? Is the power generally stable at the location, maybe fed by a UPS?

We might be able to confirm the risk to you with doing it remotely (unable to remove secondary source) with this information and you can decide if you'd like to still perform the upgrade while understanding the risk.

(CID:123998843)

[DCIM_Support]

Angela, I have about 224 of these in 5 states. I just installed the Struxureware on the 21st. I’ve done my discoveries and added all the equipment. UPS upgrades went fine.

On the ATS’s I have ap7750, and AP7750A versions, the AP7750s took the firmware upgrades with out giving me the warning and I haven’t had any issues.

The AP7750A models are the ones warning me. I realize that the 7750 have a replaceable management card and the 7750A are integrated and that may be the whole difference.

They (both models) are at Application v2.6.1 now. The AP7750A are the only model that showed up when I ran the check today (aprox 94 of them), so I’m not sure I want to take the risk.

All of the ATS are hooked to UPS and Shore power with the UPS power as the proffered source. Amps very between 2 and 4, the bigger branches have more switches.

Power is generally stable.

I’m new at this so are there flash versions and application versions?

The update window shows the “Current Version” on the 7750A as 3.71/3.7.4. I’m sure that means current and update to. But when I just look at all ATS in the device window they say they are at Application Version 2.6.1.

Any help you can give me would be appreciated.

Thank you,

M7E.

(CID:123998889)

[DCIM_Support]

Hi Mike,

Sure, I can help you. So, AP7750 are older. They do have removable management cards but you can only replace it with the same thing that only supports 2.6.1 application. That is the latest for that model so no upgrade there. They also are a different architecture and design than the successor, AP7750A. Not to make things more confusing but we have AP44XX series ATS replacing AP7750A and other SKUs in its family at the end of this month. So, AP4450 may be a model you get some day soon that replaces AP7750A. That also has a different firmware on our Network Management Card 2 (NMC2) platform and this requirement to remove the secondary source is not required.

Anyway for what you have - each ATS - AP7750 or AP7750A has two main firmware versions on it - an AOS (APC Operating System) and an App (Application).  This also applies to any of our other products that use the APC Network Management Card (NMC) technology. They all have an AOS and then the application module name/file changes depending on your device - ATS, UPS, Rack PDU, etc. In StruxureWare, the apply firmware updates window shows you both versions. In device view, you'll only see application version I think.

I have an AP7750A and the latest version is AOS 3.9.2/app 3.9.2. This risk is low with these remote upgrades depending on your upgrade path because not all upgrades include an ATS controller update. I was asking about this so I know your upgrade path. If the ATS controller is not upgraded, it would just be an NMC upgrade itself which can be done with low risk. If there is an ATS controller upgrade completed, the concern is that when you're applying the upgrade, the ATS can start switching back and forth and ultimately botch the firmware upgrade and brick it.

We have the procedure published that Bala sent just to provide the safest way for everyone to do the upgrade with the least amount of criteria to meet. That is why if we can look at your case, we can at least make an educated choice to move forward (or not).

The more recent ATS upgrades have only been NMC for the most part. The easiest thing will be if you can double click on one of your ATS units to log in and go to Unit->About ATS and see what the controller version is. Mine is 3.0.7 and it has all the latest so if yours is not 3.0.7, then we should not proceed as a controller upgrade will occur and you should truly follow the procedure we shared. I have a feeling though one of the two upgrades you need does include a controller update because I can only find 3.0.5 mentioned in these other upgrades. See my ATS here for reference on what I suggest we check on yours:

If the load is lower on these ATSs, the risk is also slim to run into problems but I would still recommend doing the recommended procedure.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

P.S. here are the release notes for the latest version http://www.apc.com/salestools/JKUR-78YSZ3/JKUR-78YSZ3_R4_EN.pdf  and then the one before that http://www.apc.com/salestools/archived/JKUR-78YSZ3/JKUR-78YSZ3_R3_EN.pdf (you're two revisions old since you said you have 3.7.1./3.7.4 which is 'g2ats' app 3.7.1/AOS 3.7.4.

(CID:123998942)

[DCIM_Support]

Thank you, you were spot on. Checked 10 and all were 3.0.5.

M7E.

(CID:123998955)

[DCIM_Support]

Hi Mike - OK, so to confirm, we should probably not proceed without unplugging the secondary source as to not damage the ATS when it upgrades to ATS controller 3.0.7. ☹️ 

(CID:123998957)

[DCIM_Support]

Agreed, I'll probably leave them as they are until I have any issues.

M7E.

(CID:123998959)

[DCIM_Support]

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