Upgrading old firmware on Neuron M103

ntd

Hi all,
I need to use an old Neuron M103, so I downloaded the latest Neuron image (neuron64-base-os_12.20251103.1.img), burned it and booted.
After logging in with ssh, I did an apt update && apt dist-upgrade and the following message appear:

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                       Firmware upgrade available

Current firmware in your PLC (5.5) should be replaced by
the newly installed one (7.18~bookworm).

Bootloader needs to be updated.

For more information see the built-in help or our KB:
   /opt/unipi/tools/fwspi
   https://kb.unipi.technology/en:sw:04-unipi-firmware#firmware

Reboot the PLC unit after the update.

WARNING: Do not disconnect the power supply during the update,
         as it may lead to a permanent board damage.

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Trying to follow the instructions, I did an upgrade:

root $ /opt/unipi/tools/fwspi -u 1 -Uv
# The following did not work: that device did not exist
# sudo /opt/unipi/tools/fwserial -p /run/unipi-plc/by-sys/rs485-1/tty -u 15 -Uv

But now, turning back to the update section after a reboot, I get:

root $ /opt/unipi/tools/fwspi -u 1
WARNING! Bootloader only mode. UPDATE FIRMWARE!
Bootloader: 6.0 (for 0-1 B-1000)
Baseboard: 255-15 Unipi hw
root $ /opt/unipi/tools/fwspi -av
fwspi: Version 2.18.0

What am I supposed to do?

ntd

It seems I've been able to update the second unit successfully:

root $ /opt/unipi/tools/fwspi -u 2
Firmware:   7.18 (for 1-1 E-8Di8Ro)
Bootloader: 7.18
Baseboard:   1-1 E-8Di8Ro

Trying to "reset the configuration" (whatever that means) on the first unit shows scary messages without useful results:

root $ /opt/unipi/tools/fwspi -u 1 -PRv
fwspi: Version 2.18.0
WARNING! Bootloader only mode. UPDATE FIRMWARE!
Bootloader: 6.0 (for 0-1 B-1000)
Baseboard: 255-15 Unipi hw
Loading image: /opt/unipi/firmware/00-1.img
Sending 31 pages.
0000 E E E E E Cannot write page 0

root $ /opt/unipi/tools/fwspi -u 1
WARNING! Bootloader only mode. UPDATE FIRMWARE!
Bootloader: 6.0 (for 0-1 B-1000)
Baseboard: 255-15 Unipi hw

ntd

Any chance to get any feedback? I really need to use that PLC in the near future.

cleve

@ntd said in Upgrading old firmware on Neuron M103:

Any chance to get any feedback? I really need to use that PLC in the near future.

Hello,
this looks like damage of the MCU itself, the only way to fix it is sending the device for service repair.

ntd

@cleve Many thanks for the feedback, I'll contact the service repair directly.

Related to that: I have another Neuron M103 of the same age hanging around (2019 circa), but now I don't want to risk updating the firmware. Is there any drawback on using that PLC with latest neuron image while keeping the old firmware?

cleve

Hello @ntd,
there should be no stability issues with the old firmware, some features might be absent and there may be some bugs, but if you test it and it works fine, it should be okay.