Curious about firmware files...super geeks please reply.

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  • JR2ALTA
    Service Manager

    Site Contributor
    1,000+ Posts
    • Feb 2010
    • 2010

    Curious about firmware files...super geeks please reply.

    One great thing about Sharp is their "One File Firmware". I can load as many models on one thumb drive as it can handle. I can plug it in and pick my file.

    Why can't other manufacturers do this?!
  • blackcat4866
    Master Of The Obvious

    Site Contributor
    10,000+ Posts
    • Jul 2007
    • 22599

    #2
    Re: Curious about firmware files...super geeks please reply.

    Lexmark is like that. (.fls file)

    I don't really have a clue about the writing of firmware, but I'd image that breaking it into multiple pieces would make it easier to edit the individual pieces, with less risk of breaking something else in that same file. =^..^=
    If you'd like a serious answer to your request:
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    blackcat: Master Of The Obvious =^..^=

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    • JR2ALTA
      Service Manager

      Site Contributor
      1,000+ Posts
      • Feb 2010
      • 2010

      #3
      Re: Curious about firmware files...super geeks please reply.

      Originally posted by blackcat4866
      Lexmark is like that. (.fls file)

      I don't really have a clue about the writing of firmware, but I'd image that breaking it into multiple pieces would make it easier to edit the individual pieces, with less risk of breaking something else in that same file. =^..^=
      I know about single fls but I never experimented if you could load more than one on the same thumb drive. Good to know.

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      • tsbservice
        Field tech

        Site Contributor
        5,000+ Posts
        • May 2007
        • 7459

        #4
        Re: Curious about firmware files...super geeks please reply.

        You can have many FW folders for many Konica Minolta machines on one thumb drive and machine will pickup its own.
        A tree is known by its fruit, a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost, he who sows courtesy, reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.
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        • Tricky
          Field Supervisor

          Site Contributor
          2,500+ Posts
          • Apr 2009
          • 2621

          #5
          Re: Curious about firmware files...super geeks please reply.

          Originally posted by tsbservice
          You can have many FW folders for many Konica Minolta machines on one thumb drive and machine will pickup its own.
          Same with the newer Kyocera.
          Copytechnet search tool v0.8 Final

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          • rspicer
            Technician

            Site Contributor
            50+ Posts
            • Oct 2015
            • 97

            #6
            Re: Curious about firmware files...super geeks please reply.

            I only have experience with Toshiba, Sharp and Canon. With the Toshibas and Canons, You can have as many folders as you want on your thumb drive, and as long as the folder is named properly, the machine will load the correct one. The thing that puzzles me, is the Sharp firmware file is very small compared to other manufacturers. Why such a difference in size?

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            • dalewb74
              Service Manager

              Site Contributor
              1,000+ Posts
              • Feb 2018
              • 1015

              #7
              Re: Curious about firmware files...super geeks please reply.

              yes on lexmark devices. i have different folders on my usb drive. inside a model specific folder i have that fls file saved. when i plug my drive in i just navigate to that specific folder and select that fls file to update firmware. works well for me. just make sure the drive is formatted fat32.

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              • JLSam
                Senior Tech

                500+ Posts
                • Jun 2015
                • 598

                #8
                Re: Curious about firmware files...super geeks please reply.

                Originally posted by rspicer
                I only have experience with Toshiba, Sharp and Canon. With the Toshibas and Canons, You can have as many folders as you want on your thumb drive, and as long as the folder is named properly, the machine will load the correct one. The thing that puzzles me, is the Sharp firmware file is very small compared to other manufacturers. Why such a difference in size?
                I kid you not, I asked XEROX this exact question. I asked, "Why is this firmware almost a gig?" "Well you see, our machines can do everything! It can Scan, fax, copy, scan to folders, to e-mail's, that's why it's a large file" responded the Xerox Engineer Support.

                Needless to say, I was flabbergasted. I swear, I didn't know what to say. To this day, I am shocked at that response, and it has become the inside joke of the company I work for.
                The balls, the cojones on this guy, and he seemed genuine too.

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                • slimslob
                  Retired

                  Site Contributor
                  25,000+ Posts
                  • May 2013
                  • 34796

                  #9
                  Re: Curious about firmware files...super geeks please reply.

                  Originally posted by JLSam
                  I kid you not, I asked XEROX this exact question. I asked, "Why is this firmware almost a gig?" "Well you see, our machines can do everything! It can Scan, fax, copy, scan to folders, to e-mail's, that's why it's a large file" responded the Xerox Engineer Support.

                  Needless to say, I was flabbergasted. I swear, I didn't know what to say. To this day, I am shocked at that response, and it has become the inside joke of the company I work for.
                  The balls, the cojones on this guy, and he seemed genuine too.
                  That is simple to explain. The engineers at Brand X do not know how to break their firmware into individual modules for each of those functions.

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                  • Vincent128
                    Trusted Tech

                    Site Contributor
                    250+ Posts
                    • Sep 2015
                    • 331

                    #10
                    Re: Curious about firmware files...super geeks please reply.

                    Generally speaking....

                    The larger firmware like Toshibas contain like the entire Operating System(OS).
                    Toshiba uses a modified Debian Linux based system and they are replacing the entire boot image when you do firmware.

                    The smaller firmware like Lexmark are only replacing the MFP's program portion of the system - the OS is onboard and/or locked.

                    There is the OS and then there is a program running on the OS that equals 'THE MFP'

                    One process replaces the entire OS and THE MFP program and the other only replaces THE MFP program and the core OS is left mostly untouched.

                    Having a locked or un-updated OS makes the firmware easy but also...your OS is never updated so if it's exploited - your boned.

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                    • tsbservice
                      Field tech

                      Site Contributor
                      5,000+ Posts
                      • May 2007
                      • 7459

                      #11
                      Re: Curious about firmware files...super geeks please reply.

                      Originally posted by Vincent128
                      Generally speaking....

                      The larger firmware like Toshibas contain like the entire Operating System(OS).
                      Toshiba uses a modified Debian Linux based system and they are replacing the entire boot image when you do firmware.

                      The smaller firmware like Lexmark are only replacing the MFP's program portion of the system - the OS is onboard and/or locked.

                      There is the OS and then there is a program running on the OS that equals 'THE MFP'

                      One process replaces the entire OS and THE MFP program and the other only replaces THE MFP program and the core OS is left mostly untouched.

                      Having a locked or un-updated OS makes the firmware easy but also...your OS is never updated so if it's exploited - your boned.
                      Sounds perfectly reasonable.
                      I would prefer whole package all day long it tooks like 1-2 minutes on newest bizhubs to take almost 1 GB Firmware.
                      Those are FAST
                      A tree is known by its fruit, a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost, he who sows courtesy, reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.
                      Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.

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                      • tsbservice
                        Field tech

                        Site Contributor
                        5,000+ Posts
                        • May 2007
                        • 7459

                        #12
                        Re: Curious about firmware files...super geeks please reply.

                        Originally posted by JLSam
                        I kid you not, I asked XEROX this exact question. I asked, "Why is this firmware almost a gig?" "Well you see, our machines can do everything! It can Scan, fax, copy, scan to folders, to e-mail's, that's why it's a large file" responded the Xerox Engineer Support.

                        Needless to say, I was flabbergasted. I swear, I didn't know what to say. To this day, I am shocked at that response, and it has become the inside joke of the company I work for.
                        The balls, the cojones on this guy, and he seemed genuine too.
                        He-he my little Brothers can do the same with 30-40MB firmware, wait... what this guy takes
                        A tree is known by its fruit, a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost, he who sows courtesy, reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.
                        Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.

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