How To: Determine the Appropriate Firmware to Use with an MXnet 1G System

MXnet 1G is a diverse ecosystem that is periodically evolving to provide customers with the latest features desired in the AVoIP market. Because of the diverse portfolio of products within this ecosystem, some with their own hardware revisions, users may desire guidance on determining the proper firmware files to download and upload onto their products. 

This article is intended to be the "Master List" of available firmware for all products within the MXnet 1G ecosystem, providing a single landing page for customers to access available firmware on, as well as offer guidance on the recommended upgrade process for the entirety of an MXnet 1G system. For ease of navigation and to quickly get to specific steps in the upgrade process, please use the table of contents at the top of the article.

Step One: Upgrading The CBOX

The AC-MXNET-CBOX, AC-MXNET-CBOX-B, or AC-MXNET-CBOX-HA devices are the main controllers to any MXnet 1G ecosystem. It is strongly recommended to upgrade the CBOX first, before upgrading any other devices.

Identifying the model of the CBOX in the system

The AC-MXNET-CBOX utilizes different firmware than the AC-MXNET-CBOX-B/AC-MXNET-CBOX-HA. The AC-MXNET-CBOX-B and AC-MXNET-CBOX-HA models share the same firmware. 

The model of the CBOX can be determined by the following methods:

Checking the current firmware version can be done from the MENTOR Web GUI, which is accessible by entering the IP address of the CBOX into any web browser. Navigate to the SYSTEM UTILITIES page and locate the MXNET SYSTEM UPDATES square. Within this square is the current firmware version the CBOX is running on. 

If the CBOX is running firmware of V2.xx, it is an AC-MXNET-CBOX

If the CBOX is running firmware of V4.xx, it is an AC-MXNET-CBOX-B or AC-MXNET-CBOX-HA.

Downloading the proper firmware for the CBOX

Following the above section, if the CBOX is an AC-MXNET-CBOX, please visit the link here to download the latest firmware.

If the CBOX is an AC-MXNET-CBOX-B or AC-MXNET-CBOX-HA, please visit the link here to download the latest firmware.

Uploading the firmware to the CBOX

After obtaining the correct firmware, the next step is to load the firmware into the CBOX. This is done by accessing the MENTOR web GUI from the IP address of the CBOX.

Once completed, the next step is to upgrade the encoders and decoders in the MXnet 1G system. 

Step Two: Upgrading the Encoders and Decoders

Identifying the Model Name of an Endpoint in the System.

There are various different models of endpoints that have been released for the MXnet 1G product line. While some models do share firmware, most models of endpoints require their own respective firmware files. 

One method of identifying what model of encoder or decoder is currently installed in the system is by observing the production sticker on the bottom of the endpoint. The sticker will report the model name, as well as the hardware revision of the product (Currently only applicable for V2 devices), as indicated in the two images below:

 

Another method to identify the model type of an endpoint is to use the MENTOR web GUI. Access MENTOR by entering the IP address of the CBOX in any web browser. Once logged in, navigate to the CONFIGURE page, then click on the magnifying glass labeled DIAGNOSTICS in the top right corner to pull up advanced information about endpoints. Locate the column labeled MODEL NAME. This column will contain the model name information of all endpoints in the system. 

Locating the Correct Firmware Files for an Endpoint.

Once the model name has been determined for an endpoint, the next step is locating the correct firmware files. To help ease the process, below is a list containing all V1 & V2 Encoder/Decoder models, with a link to the proper firmware page. If you already have the firmware files and wish to learn the proper method to upgrade an endpoint, please skip to the next section. 

V1 Endpoints (Encoders + Decoders):                         

Uploading the Correct Firmware Files to an Endpoint.

1. Uploading firmware to an endpoint is done through the MENTOR interface on a CBOX. Access the MENTOR interface by entering the IP address of your CBOX into any web browser (ensure that the CBOX is connected and communicating on the same network as the PC). 
2. Once the IP address has been entered, the CBOX SYSTEM UTILITES page will populate, as shown below:

3. Within the SYSTEM UTILITES page are two boxes labeled MXNET ENCODERS (TX) UPDATES as well as MXNET DECODERS (RX) UPDATES. The method of updating an encoder or decoder is identical, and there is not a preference for which type of device to update first. 
   
   
4. For the encoder/decoder to be upgraded, choose Browse for Update File and select the appropriate firmware file that matches the model for the device being upgraded. Once the firmware file has been chosen, choose Select Encoders / Select Decoders. The below image shows an example screenshot of decoders (AC-MXNET-1G-DV2-C) being upgraded:

5. The above image shows the list of available decoders to be chosen for an upgrade. If some or all endpoints have a gray button to the left of their names but are online, this indicates that the firmware file uploaded in the previous step does not match the model name of the endpoint(s), and a different firmware file will need to be selected for said endpoint(s). Select any or all applicable endpoints and choose UPDATE NOW to begin the upgrade process.

The update process for the MXnet ecosystem is complete. Repeat the above steps for the rest of the MXnet 1G endpoints in the system if necessary.