Fleet management of PM8000/PM5500/ION9000 firmware (large number of meters)

[Bernardvdw]

We have a very large fleet of PM8000 / PM5560 and ION9000 meters installed across multiple sites and we’re looking for a quicker way to bulk update firmware.

Right now we’re using ION Setup, but it updates devices sequentially and it’s extremely slow when you’re dealing with hundreds/thousands of meters. This is taking up a lot of technician time.

It’s also becoming a cybersecurity risk for us because when vulnerability notifications come out, our firmware rollout response is delayed purely due to how long it takes to update everything one-by-one.

Is there any Schneider-supported tool or method to do bulk / parallel firmware updates on these meters (faster than ION Setup)?

[Mehran_Mehrnia · Accepted solution]

Hi @Bernardvdw 

As mentioned in similar topic in Exchange Community forum:
How to update firmware for multiple PQMs
ION Setup does not support parallel firmware upgrades. All firmware updates are executed sequentially, even when using the Device Updater wizard. The Device Updater automates batch processing, but still performs upgrades in a FIFO one‑by‑one manner, not concurrently.

Another option could be running multiple parallel ION Setup instances on multiple PCs to accelerate upgrades on TCP‑connected devices.

For PM5500 series, use the Firmware Upgrade Tool (v3.8+), which officially supports up to 10 devices at once, representing the only Schneider-supported parallel update option for this product family.

Best Regards,

-Mehran

L3 Expert Advanced metering

[Charles_Murison · Accepted solution]

Hello @Bernardvdw ,

EcoStruxure™ System Management (ESM), is a licensed software from Schneider electric that can support parallel upgrades of ION meters. I do not support this software directly so I cannot give much details or limitations. For more information on ESM please refer to https://www.se.com/us/en/product-range/60788-ecostruxure-system-management/#overview .

Regards,

Charles