Mesa firmware versions and updating

More
15 Feb 2024 21:32 - 15 Feb 2024 22:09 #293440 by RNZ
I have purchased 2x 7i96s Mesa cards. I have found the PDF documentation to be rather good except for the PCB overlay images which are unreadable when printed out :-(

I would like to know how to

======================================================
(i) determine the firmware version running on the 7i96s -- is there a simple way to do this?
======================================================

On page 38 of the 7i96s manual (www.mesanet.com/pdf/parallel/7i96sman.pdf) I can see the that the FW version is at address "0012 FirmwareVersion" in "MEMORY SPACE 7 LAYOUT". But how to access this version number?

======================================================
(ii) determine the firmware version of the latest FPGA code -- is there a simple way to do this?
======================================================

www.mesanet.com/software/parallel/7i96s.zip


======================================================
(iii) determine location of the latest canonical FPGA files to use for flashing
======================================================


======================================================
(iv) re-flash the FPGA
======================================================

According to "Mesa Configuration Tool V2" (gnipsel.com/linuxcnc/mesact/index.html):

"The Mesa Configuration Tool is designed to create the configuration files needed by LinuxCNC for Mesa Electronics motion control cards."

Additionally, the config tool can "Firmware Flash, Reload, Verify Mesa cards", however the FW page link is broken (gnipsel.com/linuxcnc/mesact/firmware.html).
 
Last edit: 15 Feb 2024 22:09 by RNZ.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
15 Feb 2024 21:47 #293445 by tommylight
i why?
ii why?
iii why?
iv if you do need to:

mesaflash --addr 10.10.10.10 --device=ETHER --readhmid
will show what is already in the FPGA

mesaflash --addr 10.10.10.10 --device=ETHER --write name_of_firmware_file
then
mesaflash --addr 10.10.10.10 --device=ETHER --reload
or power off and on the card.
The first 3 questions, there is no need for any of those, ever, only if you want to make your own copies of the boards, and even then most of the info is included in the downloads on Mesa 7i96S page under support or manuals or...
Also, there should be something on github, try hostmot2 there.
The following user(s) said Thank You: RNZ

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
15 Feb 2024 21:51 - 15 Feb 2024 22:02 #293447 by PCW
I don't see an issue with the pdf drawings (just printed both)

For the LBP16 version: (and a bunch more)

mesaflash --device ethernet --addr [card-address] --verbose

for the individual module versions:

mesaflash --device ethernet --addr [card-address] --readhmid

Parallel because the Anything I/O cards all started as fancy parallel DIO interfaces.

You can download firmware for the 7I96s (or any Mesa FPGA card) from Mesa's webstore
(in the specification tab for the card)
Last edit: 15 Feb 2024 22:02 by PCW.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
15 Feb 2024 22:00 #293450 by tommylight

Is this better?
Attachments:
The following user(s) said Thank You: RNZ

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
15 Feb 2024 22:01 #293451 by RNZ
Try to read the USER LED designators on the attached pic. Or the W_ jumper designators. Perhaps it is my PDF viewer?
Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
15 Feb 2024 22:03 #293452 by RNZ
Hey guys, you are too fast :-) I still trying to format the text with this diabolical editor, and you have already answered my questions !!!

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
15 Feb 2024 22:05 #293453 by RNZ
i why?
ii why?
iii why?
iv if you do need to:

Why would I NOT want to have the latest FW ? I'm confused as to why you would ask "why?".

Thanks for the rest of the reply :-)
The following user(s) said Thank You: tommylight

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
15 Feb 2024 22:05 #293454 by tommylight
See above, right click and choose "save picture as"
It is huge...
You can use Inkscape
sudo apt install inkscape
to open Mesa PDF files and resize/clean/print as they are easily converted to SVG (scalable vector graphics).
The following user(s) said Thank You: RNZ

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
15 Feb 2024 22:12 #293455 by PCW

Hey guys, you are too fast :-) I still trying to format the text with this diabolical editor, and you have already answered my questions !!!
 

The trick is to never edit any fancy formatted posts or you will go crazy and wish to punish whoever wrote the editor...

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
15 Feb 2024 22:18 #293456 by RNZ
Yes, I have those feels right now :-)

To be clear, I have a Raspberry Pi 5 and have been having ethernet stability issues when connecting to my 7i96s card. Thus during debugging I want to make sure I have the latest / most stable software versions installed.

Of course, latest does not equal most stable, so it would be helpful to know whether I am running version 1.0.0 or 1.0.15 if you get my drift.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Moderators: PCWjmelson
Time to create page: 0.578 seconds
Powered by Kunena Forum