Abstract
This document describes loading a database into a unit using an image file on a memory card or a USB memory stick.
Products
Red Lion Controls CR1000 Human Machine Interface (HMI), CR3000 HMI, Data Acquisition (DA10, DA30), Data Station Plus, FlexEdge™ (DA50D, DA70D), G3 HMI, G3 Kadet HMI, Graphite® Controller, Graphite HMI, Modular Controller (except CSMSTRSE and V2), and ProducTVity Station™
* all with a properly formatted memory card installed *
* loading via a USB memory stick requires a unit with a USB host port *
Use Case
Updating a database within a unit that is already installed at a customer’s site, or configuring multiple units without using Crimson.
Required Software
Crimson® 3.0 or 3.1
Introduction
The image file saved by Crimson will contain everything required for the update, which includes the database, firmware, and boot code. The database, firmware, and boot code will only be upgraded if what is currently running in the unit differs from what is on the memory card.
In order to load from a USB memory stick, the unit must first be programmed to accept Firmware and Configuration Updates via the Memory Stick.
* The image file should not be used for backup purposes, as it will only be loaded if it differs from the database already running. There is an exception for the HMIs (units with built-in displays), the System Menu can be used to force a load from the memory card.
* If another database is sent to the unit via USB, serial, or Ethernet, the image file is modified so it will not load again.
Creating an Image File
1. Open the database that the image file will be based on.
2. Click File - Save Image, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1.
3a. If the image will be placed directly on the memory card, it MUST be named "image.ci3"
3b. If the image will be placed on a USB stick, the name may be anything with a ".ci3" file extension. For Crimson 3.0 based devices or 3.1 devices with an SD card formatted FAT16, the file name should be less than 8 characters long.
4. Click the Save button.
5. When prompted, refer to Figure 2, choose whether or not to support upload. Supporting upload will increase the size of the file, as well as allow the (editable) database to be extracted from the unit with Crimson later.
Figure 2.
Updating via a Memory Card
1. Place the "image.ci3" file saved from the Creating an Image File section in the root directory of the memory card.
2. If the card is not already in the unit, power the unit down.
3. Insert the memory card.
4. Power up the unit and allow time for the image to be loaded.
Updating via a USB Stick
Configure the Database
This database must be loaded into the unit via USB, Serial, Ethernet, or the Memory Card prior to loading an image via the memory stick.
1. Navigate to the Communications section.
2. Click on Memory Stick in the Navigation Pane.
3. On the General tab, enable the memory card.
4. Referring to Figure 3, enable Updates under the Firmware and Configuration Updates via the Memory Stick section.
Figure 3.
5. Configure the Database setting to the name of the file that was (or will be) saved from step #3 in the Creating an Image File section.
6. Set the location of the image file on the USB stick. If left blank, the unit will look for the image file in the root directory of the memory stick.
7. Configure the Restart as desired. The unit must be restarted for the image file to be loaded as the active database in the unit. Selecting Auto will automatically restart the unit when the transfer from the memory stick to the memory card is complete, Manual will require a manual restart of the unit before the image is loaded.
Preparing the Memory Stick and Updating the Unit
1. Complete the steps in the Creating an Image File section.
2. Format the memory stick properly, both Crimson 3.0 and 3.1 support FAT16, while FAT32 is only supported by 3.1. * The memory stick can be formatted by the unit by adding a button which calls FormatDrive('D') to a display page.
3. Save or copy the image file to the memory stick, keeping in mind the settings that are configured in the unit and covered in the Configure the Database section.
4. Place the memory stick into a USB host port of the unit to be programmed/updated.
5. Allow time for the file to be copied.
6. If the unit was not configured for an automatic restart after the transfer, cycle power to the unit. Make sure to wait for the transfer to complete, by monitoring the memory card status indicator on the unit.
Disclaimer
It is the customer's responsibility to review the advice provided herein and its applicability to the system. Red Lion makes no representation about specific knowledge of the customer's system or the specific performance of the system. Red Lion is not responsible for any damage to equipment or connected systems. The use of this document is at your own risk. Red Lion standard product warranty applies.
Red Lion Technical Support
If you have any questions or trouble contact Red Lion Technical Support by clicking here or calling 1-877-432-9908.
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