I am trying downgrade firmware on my Lantronix CoBos device but it fails. Why?

---

Starting in February of 2013 Lantronix shifted from a dwindling MAC address range to a MAC address range where we can continue to service our customers into the distant future. Below is a detailed explanation stating the reason for this change and a list of products that have completed this transition with the "starting" supported version of firmware required for those devices to support the new MAC address identifier. Due to this MAC address transition you will not be able to downgrade to a firmware version lower than the listed "starting" supported firmware version for that product since older firmware cannot support the new MAC address identifier.

Do not attempt to load a firmware version lower than the listed "starting" supported firmware version found below in Table 1-1of  this FAQ or the unit will become inoperative and then require serial recovery from our Device Installer utility.

Warning: Device Installer's F8 Serial Recovery function is a last resort function intended to be used to load firmware through the serial port in an attempt to recover a device server that is no longer functioning. It is not intended to be used for routine firmware loads and does not check the incoming file. If you load the wrong file via serial recovery you may permanently render the device server non-functional.

Loading firmware versions higher than the listed version of firmware is acceptable and the newer versions of firmware will support the older MAC address identifier on our products so you can load newer firmware on product with the older MAC address identifier.

Be very careful when loading any firmware on an embedded product since in most cases it would be nearly impossible to perform serial recovery on such product as there is usually no serial port  access. Typically, embedded product is soldered to a PCB and cannot be removed.

Below is a paraphrased excerpt of a Lantronix statement taken from a Product Change Notification (PCN) that is distributed to resellers and available to customers at the link below. Some PCNs will contain a varied version of this explanation with the same meaning.

    http://www.lantronix.com/search-results/?q=PCN

          Or

     http://www.lantronix.com/support/product-bulletins/

Dear Valued Lantronix <Product X>  Customer,

Lantronix wishes to announce its intent to transition the <Product X> to the <Product Y>. The purpose of this transition is to allow us to move from a dwindling range of Ethernet MAC Addresses to a range where we can continue to service our customers into the distant future. The <Product X> uses Ethernet MAC Addresses in the range of 00-20-4A-XX-XX-XX, while, the <Product Y> will use the 00-80-A3-XX-XX-XX range.

Our plan is to make the <Product Y> available on <Date> and begin transitioning customers to the <Product Y> part starting <Date>. Customers can continue to purchase the <Product X> until <Date>. At which point they can make a last time purchase with scheduled delivery up to <Date>. The <Product X> will be discontinued on <Date>.

Note that in order to support the new Ethernet MAC Address Range the <Product Y> Firmware revision must be <Version> or newer.

For customers that are using our CPK to create custom firmware you will need to recompile your custom firmware so it will support the new MAC identifier. Below is the link to our Lantronix Forum where the information you need to acquire the CPK program to make the change.

http://forums.lantronix.com/showthread.php?t=1243

The table below indicates the current products and "starting" supported firmware versions that have completed the transition to the new MAC address identifier. Any remaining products that require this transition are not scheduled at the time of this FAQ. Those devices are identified at the end of this FAQ.

For more information please contact Lantronix Sales, at sales@lantronix.com or call 800-422-7055. Or contact Lantronix Customer Service at custsupport@lantronix.com or 866-649-0721 for more information about products yet to be transitioned.

Table 1-1

 

Other products in line to transition (dates TBD):

• MatchPort NR
• WiPort NR
• XPress DR+

---

[Originally Published On: 05/09/2016 12:51 PM]