Loading SLC or SLB firmware from the USB connector on the front panel

Owned by Jane
Last updated: Feb 22, 2020
3 min read

How can I recover if I have corrupt firmware in the flash memory of my SLC?

IMPORTANT - If you are looking for informaton on doing an image copy for firmware version 6.1.0.0 or higher, please click here for information specific to that firmware version.

For this procedure you will need:

SLC-03, SLB884, or SLB882:

  • a USB flash drive large enough to hold the image file you will be using to re-flash the SLC.  I.e. you'll need a 256MB or larger flash drive, depending on the size of the internal flash in your SLC. A 1GB is recommended.
  • a Windows or Linux host with a USB port.
  • all SLC-03s have at least 256MB of flash and are dual bank units
Note, older SLC-02 and SLB884-01 (with PC Card Slots) can use this procedure using a PC Card adapter and a CF Card of sufficient capacity.  The CF card in a PC Card adapter must be inserted into the lower PC Card slot.

Notes:

  1. The SLC must have previously been running v5.5 or higher firmware with at least boot version 1.1.5.L6 to use this procedure to load version 5.5 or 5.5e (or 5.4 on an SLC-02 or SLB884-01) to load .  It must be running boot version 1.1.5.L10 to load the 6.1.0.0 images or newer (this applies to the SLC-03, SLB882, and most SLB884-02) .
  2. If you are recovering an SLC that is not currently running, or if you are loading a different version into the SLC, you must reconfigure the SLC from factory defaults after re-flashing it using the procedure below. 
  3. A single USB flash drive may be used to flash multiple SLCs. 

Procedure:

  • Click here and download the correct image for your SLC-02, SLB884-01, SLC-03 that that is not running boot version 1.1.5L10, but is running at least 1.1.5L6.
  • Click here for SLC-03, SLB884-02, or SLB882 running boot code 1.1.5L10 or higher.
  • Uncompress the file using gunzip on a Linux host or a file archiving application (e.g. 7-Zip) on a Windows PC.
    • Example: the uncompressed image256db.bin-5.5e file should be exactly 256,901,120 bytes in size.
  • Depending on your flash size, rename the file:
    • slcCF128.img for 128MB units
    • slcCF256.img for 256MB single bank units <-- rarely used.  If you have 256MB of flash then you might as well load the dual-bank file
    • slcCF256DB.img for 256MB dual bank units
    • slcCF512DB.img for recent 512MB dual bank units
  • Copy the file onto a USB flash drive.
  • Connect a terminal to the SLC console port.  For information on connecting a terminal see the "Connecting a Terminal" section of the "Physical Installation" section of Chapter 3, "Installation" of the SLC User Guide.  At this writing this section can be found on page 32 of http://www.lantronix.com/pdf/SLC_UG.pdf
  • Apply power to the SLC.
  • Within the first 10 seconds of the first boot message, type x15
  • A Lantronix> prompt will be displayed
  • Type su admin to become the admin user
  • Type admin as the password
  • Insert the programmed CF card in the lower PC Card slot, or insert the flash drive into the USB port.
  • Type imagecopy at the Lantronix> prompt
    • The firmware image on the CF card in the lower PC Card slot or flash drive will be copied into the SLC's flash memory.
    • Copy takes several minutes, watch the progress indicator for % complete information.
  • When the copy is complete type boot at the Lantronix> prompt
    The SLC will reboot running the new firmware.
    The SLC will be at Factory Default settings when it finishes booting.

Example USB session with user input in bold and comments in blue:

ÿ <---------------------------------------- Garbage character at power-up
Boot 1.1.5.L6 (Jan 25 2008 - 17:20:46) <--- First boot message.  Type x15 within 10 seconds
Board: X15-0
CPU: Au1500, id: 0x02, rev: 0x02
DRAM:  128 MB
Flash:  4 MB
ethaddr = 00:80:a3:89:0b:6d
eth1addr = 00:80:a3:89:0b:6e
Bus 0: OK 
  Device 0: Model: SanDisk SDCFJ-256  Firm: HDX 2.27 Ser#: 1171602L02V58092
            Type: Removable Hard Disk
            Capacity: 245.0 MB = 0.2 GB (501760 x 512)
Net:   Au1X00 ethernet
Lantronix
lantronix> su admin
lantronix> imagecopy
SB:   Au1000: 48MHz OHCI workaround enabled
scanning bus for devices... 2 USB Device(s) found
Bus 0: OK
  Device 0: Model: InnoDisk Corp. - iCF4000 512MB Firm: 080414S4 Ser#: 02011022AAA604000079
            Type: Hard Disk
            Capacity: 499.5 MB = 0.4 GB (1023120 x 512)
1 Storage Device(s) found
Interface:  USB
  Device 0: Vendor: Kingston Prod.: DataTraveler 2.0 Rev: 1.00
            Type: Removable Hard Disk
            Capacity: 953.2 MB = 0.9 GB (1952256 x 512)
Partition 1: Filesystem: FAT16 "NO NAME    "

checking for slcCF128.img.... not found
checking for slcCF256.img.... not found
checking for slcCF256DB.img.... found


Available images...
  0 - Cancel image copy
  1 - slcCF256DB.img

Select image file to copy to CF card : 1 <----- Type 1 to start the image copy 

copying 256901120 bytes from  [slcCF256DB.img] to CF card

Copying ...: 100% <----- Progress indicator, counts up from 0%
lantronix> boot

Notes:

  • The x15 command does not echo and you do not need to press Enter.
  • If the lantronix> prompt is not displayed and the SLC boots up normally, reboot and try again.


[Originally Published On: 07/16/2007 03:07 PM]

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