Compatibility between EtherCAT Slave V5 firmware and Maintenance Firmware
Yuriy Zavgorodniy
Which EtherCAT Slave v5 firmware is compatible to which Maintenance Firmware?
In order to support the firmware update functionality properly the Maintenance Firmware shall support ths same format of the files system (use case C) as the EtherCAT Slave firmware.
This compatibility statement is important for netX90 and netX 4000 firmware for use case C which both uses a Flash file system: To ensure proper usage of Flash sectors during file write operations, a Flash Translation Layer (FTL) has been integrated in the operating system of the firmware. The Flash file system layout has changed and is not compatible to earlier versions.
Starting with firmware EtherCAT Slave V5.2.0.0 (use case C), the firmware requires a Flash file system in the new format and Maintenance Firmware V1.3.0.0 (or higher).
In case you intent to update the EtherCAT Slave firmware (use case C) from version 5.1 to version 5.2, this requires:
1. to update the Maintenance Firmware to V1.3.0.0 (or higher),
2. to update the EtherCAT Slave firmware to V5.2.0.0 (or higher)
and finally
3. to reformat the file system using a full format request (HIL_FORMAT_REQ). The full format request is a system service in the EtherCAT Slave firmware to V5.2.0.0 (or higher).
Another option using specific "upgrade FW", see How to Upgrade netX90 Use Case C device from ECS v5.1.x to v5.2.x