Current Firmware Images

Model Firmware Release Date Image Build File Size (Bytes) Filename
SSA7001 download March 16, 2007 15 3,506,200 zImage1_2007_03_16_Build_15.bin
SSA7004 download March 16, 2007 15 3,509,812 zImage4_2007_03_16_Build_15.bin
SSA7008 download March 16, 2007 15 3,515,244 zImage8_2007_03_16_Build_15.bin


See Release Notes for a list of improvements

Determining if your Sensorsoft Alert Unit has the Latest Firmware Image

There are two ways to determine whether your Alert firmware is up to date: using the web interface, or using the Secure Shell console.

Using the web interface:

  1. Login to the Alert unit's web interface with either the admin or ruser user name. The default login passwords for both are begin.

  2. Once logged in, click the About Alert hyperlink at the bottom of the left side menu. In the pop-up window, the third line from the top should be "Image Build XX", where XX is the firmware image build number. If this line is not shown, then you do not have the latest firmware, and need to upgrade.

  3. If the image build number is less than that in the table above, you should upgrade. To see a list of improvements included in the new firmware images, please see the Release Notes
Using the Secure Shell console:

  1. Secure Shell to the Alert unit, and login with the user name root. The default login password is sensorsoft.

  2. Once logged in, at the Secure Shell console, type
    cat /etc/imagebuild

    The firmware image build number will be displayed on the screen.

  3. If the build number displayed is lower than that in the above table, or if you get the error message “No such file or directory”, you should upgrade. To see a list of improvements included in the new firmware images, please see the Release Notes

Upgrade Procedure

This procedure will preserve your Alert unit's personalized settings. The following prerequisites are needed before performing the upgrade procedure:

  • An FTP server where you can place the firmware image file. The Alert unit can only download the firmware image via FTP, and therefore an FTP server must be available before continuing.

  • The Alert unit must have an Ethernet connection to the network. This is necessary for the Alert unit to access the FTP server. If the FTP server is on the Internet, you must specify the gateway IP address in the Alert unit's IP settings (See Sensorsoft Alert Manual).

  • Ensure that the Alert appliance and the ftp computer are both powered by a battery backed UPS during this procedure.

  1. Download the appropriate firmware image file from above, and place it on your FTP server. Verify that the downloaded file is the correct name and size as shown in the above table.

  2. Secure Shell to the Alert unit, and login with the user name root. The default login password is sensorsoft.

  3. From Secure Shell, type

    stopalert
    cd /proc/flash
    ls

  4. Verify that the following file names are printed on the screen. If not, repeat step 3.

    boot_alt
    boot_ori
    config
    script
    script2
    zImage

  5. From Secure Shell, type

    ftp <ftp_server_addr>

    <ftp_server_addr> should be the hostname or IP address of your FTP server.

  6. Login to the FTP server, and then cd to the directory where the firmware image file was placed.

  7. Type the following ftp commands:

    bin
    hash
    get zImageX_YYYY_MM_DD_Build_XX.bin zImage

    where zImageX_YYYY_MM_DD_Build_XX.bin should be replaced by the exact file name of the firmware image. The FTP client will now download the firmware image to the flash. This may take a minute.

  8. After the download is complete, type quit to exit FTP.

  9. Type

    reboot

    The Alert unit will now reboot with the new firmware.

  10. After rebooting, Secure Shell into the Alert unit, and login as root.

  11. Type

    cat /etc/imagebuild

    Verify that the correct firmware build number is displayed.

  12. The upgrade is now complete. You may exit Secure Shell by typing

    exit