How do I upgrade my Versatile Express system?

Applies to: V2M-P1

Scenario

Generally with new releases of the Versatile Express DVD we provide new FPGA images, Boot Monitor and/or firmware updates that might fix known bugs or simply add new features to the Motherboard functionality. In this Knowledge Article we explain how to perform a System Recovery that upgrades the Versatile Express system to the latest support files.

Answer

The Versatile Express DVD software installation contains a "Recovery" directory with the support files required to update the Versatile Express system to the default configuration. The recovery procedure erases all the files on the microSD card on board, therefore it is strongly recommended to back up the old contents of the card if they need to be preserved.

Follow the next steps:

1. Connect a USB cable from your host computer to the USB-B connector on the rear panel of the Versatile Express system.
2. Connect a serial terminal (38400, 8, n, 1) to the UART0 connector on the rear panel of the Versatile Express system.
3. Connect 12 volt power to the Versatile Express system.
4. At the Cmd> prompt on the serial terminal, issue the command usb_on.
5. The microSD card in the Versatile Express system should be visible on your host computer as a USB external storage device.
6. Format the microSD card (FAT16).
7. Copy the files from the Recovery directory to the card, preserving the directory structure. (The directory level which contains the file "config.txt" should be in the root of the card).
8. Press the red button on the rear of the Versatile Express system and wait for reprogramming to complete.
9. Press the black button on the rear of the Versatile Express system and wait for the motherboard BIOS to be reprogrammed.

There are occasions when it is not needed to perform a full system recovery, for example in case of partial updates between releases of the Versatile Express DVD. These updates are detailed below.

FPGA image update

The FPGA images for the Motherboard Express are .bit files that follow the name convention "io_bxxx.bit" where "xxx" refers to the version number. In the Versatile Express DVD they are located at the following default installation path

C:\Program Files\Versatile_Express_3_0\boards\V2M-P1\boardfiles\MB\HBI0190D 

In order to update the FPGA image(s) on board, follow the next instructions:

1) Drop the new FPGA image(s) onto the USBMSD at the following default path MB\HBI0190D.

2) Edit the "board.txt" file in MB\HBI0190D to point to the new FPGA image(s), for example:

[FPGAS]
MBIOFPGA:  io_b105.bit      ;REQUIRED TO ALLOW UPDATE FROM VECD v1.x
MBIOFPGA1: io_b105.bit      ;MB LEGACY IOFPGA IMAGE FOR SITE 1 BOOT MASTER
MBIOFPGA2: io_b205.bit      ;MB LEGACY IOFPGA IMAGE FOR SITE 2 BOOT MASTER
MBIOFPGA3: io_b111.bit      ;MB A SERIES IOFPGA IMAGE FOR SITE 1 BOOT MASTER
MBIOFPGA4: io_b211.bit      ;MB A SERIES IOFPGA IMAGE FOR SITE 2 BOOT MASTER

3) Save the changes to the "board.txt" file and power cycle the board once for any changes to take effect.

Firmware version update

The firmware files for the Motherboard Express are .ebf files that follow the name convention "mbb_vxxx.ebf" where "xxx" represents the firmware version. In the Versatile Express DVD they are located at the following default installation path

C:\Program Files\Versatile_Express_3_0\boards\V2M-P1\boardfiles\MB\HBI0190D  

In order to update the Motherboard firmware, follow the next instructions:

1) Drop the new firmware file onto the USBMSD at the following default path MB\HBI0190D.

2) Edit the "board.txt" file in MB\HBI0190D to point to the new firmware as follows:

[MCCS]
MBBIOS: mbb_v234.ebf        ;MB BIOS IMAGE


3) Save the changes to the "board.txt" file and power cycle the board once for any changes to take effect.

Boot Monitor version update

The Boot Monitor files for the Motherboard Express are .axf files that follow the name convention "bm_vxxx.axf" where "xxx" represents the Boot Monitor version. In the Versatile Express DVD they are located at the following default installation path

C:\Program Files\Versatile_Express_3_0\software\Boot_Monitor\Boot_Monitor\Build_RVDS

In order to update the Boot Monitor, follow the next instructions:

1) Drop the new Boot Monitor file onto the USBMSD at the following default path \SOFTWARE.

2) Edit the "images.txt" file in SITE1\HBIxxx to point to the new Boot Monitor image as follows:

[IMAGES]
TOTALIMAGES: 4                   ;Number of Images (Max : 32)
NOR0UPDATE: AUTO                 ;Image Update:NONE/AUTO/FORCE
NOR0ADDRESS: BOOT                ;Image Flash Address
NOR0FILE: \SOFTWARE\bm_v404r.axf ;Image File Name



3) Save the changes to the "images.txt" file and power cycle the board for any changes to take effect.

NOTE: The latest Versatile Express DVD is available to download from Silver. Alternatively, it can be requested by contacting directly our Orders department (e-mail to: orders@arm.com)