PM8000 Firmware upgrade FTP issue

[HAE]

Hi,

I'm currently in the process of updating the PowerLogic PM8000 PQMs and have run into a issue with a few of them that I can't figure out. These meters are currently on firmware rev 001.004.001, RMD 003.002.193 and I'm trying to update the firmware through ION setup via ethernet cable to firmware ver. 2.1.0 so that I can then upgrade them to ver. 3.1.0. I go through the upgrade process to the point of upgrading to 2.1 but I get an error message that says "Unable to access device FTP properly to perform one of the selected upgrades". This occurs even when I try to upgrade one item at a time as well, (PM8000 firmware package, Factory web pages, RD96 remote display firmware, and Factory template).

Is anyone experiencing the same issues or does anyone have any suggestions on how to solve the FTP access issue?

Thank you,

Harry

[Tom_Stevenson · Accepted solution]

Hi Harry - just to confirm a couple of things - are you using the zip file for V2.1.0 firmware?  It is located here: https://www.se.com/ca/en/download/document/PM8000_V002.001.000/

The reason I ask is that there is an interim firmware in there (the V1 to V2 firmware transition requires some additional management) called 001.088.000 which is the first step of this upgrade.  If you use the zip file, this aspect is hidden from the user.  If you are only using the 002.001.000 upx file, it will not be successful.

As a note, FTP is support in V1 firmware, but changes to SFTP (secure) in V2 based firmware - and hence the RMD portion of the upgrade then needs SFTP.

Your starting point for firmware is very old - the only other detail I am wondering about is whether you need to upgrade to 001.004.003 firmware first - @Charles_Murison ?

Tom

[Charles_Murison]

Hello Tom and @HAE ,

Yes given how old the firmware is I would strongly recommend upgrading to V1.4.3 first. Will not find this version online and will need to contact your local Schneider Technical support to get access to this upgrade file. As Tom said without this first step going from V1.88.0 to V2.x.x will very likely fail and meter will be stuck at intermediate stage and unable to upgrade to V2.x.x.

Regards,

Charles

[Robert_Lee · Accepted solution]

The issue here is that ION Setup attempts to determine if it is able to perform any selected file transfer that you've selected when using the ZIP feature prior to starting the actual upgrades. As Tom pointed out this is a bit problematic for very old firmware as originally the firmware supported FTP but now only supports SFTP. So it is likely impractical to test ahead of time in this situation as the existing firmware won't support it and the new firmware won't support FTP either.

My suggestion is to attempt to perform the upgrade without the webpages and RMD to see if you can successfully upgrade to the new firmware.  Once that has been completed, you can either perform the RMD/Webpage updates separately or perform the exact same upgrade again with those selected (as now the firmware will properly support SFTP).

I would strongly suggest you also contact your IT group to make sure the relevant IP ports are open across all the network infrastructure so that SFTP is available to the device (you can test that with a 3rd party SFTP tool like WinSCP).

You should also test to see if the FTP port is not blocked as that may be the reason you are receiving the error dialog as ION Setup is unable to connect to the FTP port (21/20) in order to do any transfer of web pages/RMD firmware.

[HAE]

Hi Tom,

I am using the zip file for the firmware and have been able to update a few meters that are running the old firmware already.

I will try to find the 001.004.003 version.

Thank you,

Harry

[HAE]

Hi,

This problem has been solved. By attempting to update the meters selecting only the first option for the PM8000 V2.1.0 firmware package and selecting the generic template for the type of meter application I was able to install the update. Then I went back and installed the web pages, template, and remote display firmware. From here I was able to proceed to updating the entire meter to V3.1.0 normally.

I also noticed that the files for V1.088 is included in the zip file for V2.1.0.

Thank you everyone for all your help.

Harry

[Jeremy.Sexton]

Good afternoon, I'm at a site where they have ION setup on their PME server but it's version 3.0.18334.01. I was trying to upgrade firmware on PM8000 from 1.000.057 to 3.1. I started with the upgrade to V2 but I had to select the intermediate .upg to 1.088 thinking I would then be able to manually select the file to upgrade to 2.1 after that. The meter is stuck now at 1.088. I can't upgrade ION setup at this time (they are going to do a full PME upgrade soon and we will install the latest version of ION setup at that time. I can't use a flash drive on the server. Is there any way to get the meter back up and running until we can get the PME upgrade in place? Right now the meter won't talk to the remote display. I was hoping to find an earlier firmware to install but it looks like the oldest version on the se.com website is 2.1. Do you have any suggestions?

[Charles_Murison]

Hello @Jeremy.Sexton ,

You can contact technical support for help getting the V1.4.3 firmware.

Regards,

Charles