Technical Tip

VLS Firmware 3.21.00 Upgrade

Overview
These instructions provide detail on how to firmware upgrade a VESDA Laser Scanner (VLS)
detector for firmware 3.21.00 or later. This process is only required when advised by Xtralis or its
partners.

Before you get started

Before commencing any work, we recommend saving a copy of the configuration file (*.vcfg), event
log (*.vevt) and graph data (*.vgph).

Also ensure the system is fault free, in particular address any communications faults as they may
interupt the firmware upgrade process. Xtralis recommends link the VESDAnet terminals to close
the loop and create a stand alone detector.

The followings are required to firmware upgrade a VLS detector:

1. Ensure that you are using Windows personal computer with the latest version of VSC (Beta
version 3.05.50 Build 4629 or later) available on our website.
2. A VESDA sliding windows High Level Interface (VHX-0200) is required and can be obtained
from your local VESDA distributor.
If your pc does not have an RS232 communications port, we recommend using “Easy Sync” (with
FTDI chip) RS232 to USB” convertors.

Firmware upgrade feature enabled

Before upgrading a VLS detector using the VSC software, you must have
the firmware upgrade feature enabled.

To get firmware upgrade access, open VSC, click on “Help” and “About
VSC” as shown in image to the left.
If you do not have firmware upgrade listed, click on the “OK” button, then
click “Help” and “Register”. Please take a screen shot of this screen and
email it to techsupport.anz@xtralis.com
so we can generate the License code to allow firmware upgrading. 

Once you receive the licence code, enter the number into the appropirate
field and select the “Activate” button. Restart VSC and make sure the
firmware upgrade feature is enabled.

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Firmware upgrade VLS detector
The steps below describe how to perform the firmware upgrade on a VLS.

1. Ensure the VESDAnet is trouble free.

2. Copy the supplied firmware file (*.vfrm) into the appropriate directory.
 Windows 32 bits - "C:\Program Files\Xtralis\Common\Firmware"
 Windows 64 bits - "C:\Program Files (x86)\Xtralis\Common\Firmware"
3. Connect to the VLS detector via "VESDAnet" option in VSC
4. Select the VLS on the device tree and click on Device tab, then select the "Upgrade Firmware"
option.
5. Login as DST (Distributor)
6. Select the firmware from the list and click on Upgrade Firmware
7. Wait until the firmware to complete.
8. Once complete, power cycle the detector.
9. Check the configuration settings and ensure the detector operates as expected.

Trouble Shooting
If the VLS is reporting as a VLP, that means the VLS firmware upgrade process has failed. In
loader mode the VLS identifies itself as VLP. It is only after a successful firmware upgrade has
completed and that the VLS is back to application mode, that the VLS will identify itself correctly.

If you are upgrading the VLS to firmware version 3.21.00, you may find that this firmware version
is missing from the firmware upgrade selection list. This is because this particular version is only
targeting VLS only, where there was no distinction in previous versions.

In order to rectify the above situations, please follow the steps below:

1. Ensure the VESDAnet is trouble free. If necessory, put the VLS to a standalone by connecting
the bridging VESDAnet cables.
2. Follow the steps “Firmware Upgrade VLS Detector” from above to step 5.
3. In step 5, select VLS firmware version 3.17.00 and continue the remaining steps to complete
the firmware upgrade.
4. If the target firmware version is 3.21.00, you need to perfrom the firmware upgrade again.
However, this time you should able to select 3.21.00 from the firmware upgrade selection list.
Complete all steps in “Firmware Upgrade VLS Detector”.

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