Read me first!                                                   August 27, 2014

Contains latest information on the Agilent N4877A

 

Content: 

  1. Installation
  2. Preparing a USB flash drive for use with the N4877A
  3. On-Line Information
  4. Known Problems

 

 

Installation

 

Package Contents

The software package should contain the following files:

License details for open source components that is used in the N4877A hardware and software implementation.

Supported Models

This software update package supports the Agilent N4877A only.

Software Revision

The software revision that is contained in this package is 1.0.0.10.


List of changes:

Software Update Requirements

To install this software update on the Agilent N4877A, a working VISA interface with a configured I/O path to the N4877A is required. Refer to the documentation of the Agilent I/O Libraries Suite for a detailed instruction on how to ensure this.

Furthermore a USB memory key with at least 100MB of free space is required for system recovery in case of a failed update (e.g. caused by a power loss during the update procedure). The USB memory key must be formatted using the FAT32 file system on a primary partition. Do not use a USB key that contains an extended partition, since this will not be recognized by the BIOS of the N4877A and the recovery mechanism that will continue a broken update will not work. USB keys that are formatted as super floppy are not supported.

Refer to your computer's documentation on how to check the type of partitioning and how to change the partition type of the USB memory key.

Software Update Procedure

  1. Run the N4877A_Software_Update.exe software update tool. This tool is self contained an can be started directly out of the zip file. It is not required to unzip the software update package at all.
  2. In the running N4877A_Software_Update.exe, click on the Connect... button. In the connection dialog, select the VISA Resource of the N4877A that shall be updated. The selection dialog will only list connected N4877A instruments!
  3. After successfully connecting to the N4877A, click the Browse... button and select the zip file that contains the software update (N4877A.x.x.x.x.zip, where x.x.x.x is the software version of the update package).
  4. Click the Update button.

The update tool will now unpack the required file automatically, transfer the data to the RAM of the N4877A and then perform the flash memory update. After a successful flash memory update, the N4877A will be rebooted automatically. The update is finished after that reboot has been completely processed. Note that the first reboot after a software update might take longer than normal, because it might be required to reprogram some programmable logic during the first startup.

Recovery Procedure after a failed Software Update

In case of a failed software update, there might be the problem that the flash memory of the N4877A does no longer contain a valid firmware image. In this case the N4877A will not boot after power-on and will remain in an inoperable state.

You will need a USB key as described in the Software Update Requirements for recovering the N4877A!

To recover the N4877A from an interrupted software update, you need to do the following:

  1. Copy the software update zip file (N4877A.x.x.x.x.zip) to the USB flash drive’s root directory.
  2. Extract the content of the software update zip file to the root directory of the USB flash drive. Remember to maintain the folder structure in the zip file when doing this.
  3. Connect the USB flash drive to the N4877A and switch the instrument on. Make sure there is no other USB peripheral connected to the N4877A at this point.
  4. The N4877A will now boot the recovery image from the USB flash drive and continue to update the instrument firmware. This might take up to 15 minutes.

If the recovery did not take place, make sure that the USB flash drive meets the requirements and follow the description below to ensure proper partitioning and formatting of the USB flash drive.

The USB memory must stay connected until the instrument has finished the reboot and the updated instrument firmware is running successfully.

 

If the update is getting interrupted during the erase or write of the flash memory, the instrument will boot the system recovery image from the USB memory key at the next power up. The system recovery update is fully automatic. It is using the already extracted files, but needs the software update package for verification of the extracted files.

Preparing a USB Flash Drive for usage with the N4877A using Windows Vistaฎ or Windows 7ฎ


The following description is intended to help you prepare an USB flash drive if it is not being detected by the N4877A, or if the recovery mechanism of the software update was not able to bring up the instrument after an interrupted software update.

Notes:


  1. Click on the Windows logo and type “cmd”.
  2. At the command prompt type “diskpart” and press enter (allow permissions and continue).
  3. When you are at the diskpart> prompt type “list disk” and press enter.
  4. Insert the USB flash drive into the Windows Vista PC.
  5. Wait until Windows Vista has recognized the USB flash drive.
  6. At the diskpart> prompt type “list disk” and press enter. Check which drive has been added to the list, usually disk 1 depending on how many disk drives are installed.
  7. Type “select disk #” where # is the disk number of the USB flash drive.  

    Continue only if you are sure that the selected drive is the USB flash key that you want to prepare. The following steps will erase all data from the selected drive! 
  8. Type “clean” and press enter.
  9. Type “create partition primary” and press enter. This creates the partition on the flash drive.
  10. Type “active” and press enter.
  11. Type “exit” and press enter. This exits the disk partition utility.
  12. Now the flash drive needs to be formatted. Click on the Windows logo and then click on Computer.
  13. Find the drive letter of the removable disk drive that needs to be formatted.
  14. In the command prompt window type “format ?: /fs:fat32 /q” where ? is the removable drive letter that needs to be formatted. Press enter.
  15. Enter a volume label of your choice and press enter.


If you need to recover the N4877A from an interrupted software update, you need to do the following in addition:

  1. Copy the software update zip file on the USB flash drive’s root directory.
  2. Extract the content of the software update zip file to the root directory of the USB flash drive. Remember to maintain the folder structure in the zip file when doing this.
  3. Connect the USB flash drive to the N4877A and switch the instrument on.
  4. The N4877A will now boot the recovery image from the USB flash drive and continue to update the instrument firmware.


Windowsฎ and Windows Vistaฎ are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

On-Line Information

For latest Data Sheets, Product Notes, Application Information and Support related information please refer to: http://www.agilent.com/find/N4877

Known Problems

For latest known bugs and workarounds please refer to the information to be found in the Support Area: http://www.agilent.com/find/N4877