General Firmware question

[tsbservice]

Hi Folks, I have some obscurity regarding Base and Special FWs.
Namely for older models, let say B224e for example, latest Base FW is from 2016.
After that there is like 20 newer Special FWs.
Do I have to keep machines with latest Special FWs, or may sit on latest Base if NO specific problems?
Also in therms of general security which FW version is better to be installed?
Waiting for your expert advice, KM tech support doesn't sound very clear on this.

[Synthohol]

Re: General Firmware question

Personally if there are no problems with the copier scanning faxing anything like that I leave the firmware alone if there's an issue that the firmware would fix yes I will upgrade it but being that you're not having any problems the special firmwares are strictly designed to fix specific issues not to be used as just general use the oldest adage I know is if it ain't broke don't fix it

[guitar9199]

Re: General Firmware question

Personally if there are no problems with the copier scanning faxing anything like that I leave the firmware alone if there's an issue that the firmware would fix yes I will upgrade it but being that you're not having any problems the special firmwares are strictly designed to fix specific issues not to be used as just general use the oldest adage I know is if it ain't broke don't fix it

Which is NOT to be confused with my late brother's "Rules For Construction"

Rule 1: Cut it large, then kick it into place.
Rule 2: If it ain't broke, you're not trying hard enough.
Rule 3: "Level and Plumb" aren't so much rules...as they are "Guidelines".
Rule 4: If you're always carrying something, the foreman won't find something for you to do.
Rule 5: Let the younger guys do the ladder work.
Rule 6: Let the skinny guys do the crawlspace work.
And finally... Rule 7: If it jams...FORCE it! If it breaks, it needed replacing anyway!


...I miss my little brother.

[bsm2]

Re: General Firmware question

If it ain't broke Don't FIX IT! (Don't Break IT)

[tsbservice]

Re: General Firmware question

Which is NOT to be confused with my late brother's "Rules For Construction"

Rule 1: Cut it large, then kick it into place.
Rule 2: If it ain't broke, you're not trying hard enough.
Rule 3: "Level and Plumb" aren't so much rules...as they are "Guidelines".
Rule 4: If you're always carrying something, the foreman won't find something for you to do.
Rule 5: Let the younger guys do the ladder work.
Rule 6: Let the skinny guys do the crawlspace work.
And finally... Rule 7: If it jams...FORCE it! If it breaks, it needed replacing anyway!


...I miss my little brother.

If it ain't broke Don't FIX IT! (Don't Break IT)

Thanks for your input. Anyway, I failed to see what it gives about my question.

[tech51]

Re: General Firmware question

Personally if there are no problems with the copier scanning faxing anything like that I leave the firmware alone if there's an issue that the firmware would fix yes I will upgrade it but being that you're not having any problems the special firmwares are strictly designed to fix specific issues not to be used as just general use the oldest adage I know is if it ain't broke don't fix it

[tsbservice]

Re: General Firmware question

Thanks for your opinion, though exclamation mark is a bit unnecessary.

1. I read and still think over what Synthohol answered as he is the one of first members here from who I expect and wait for opinion.
2. I always read(if possible) BEFORE take actions especially FW updates.
3. For example: Bizhub C258

Latest Base FW G00-W4

Special Firmwares AFTER latest Base version:
- GC1-W4 38 Fixed issues
- GC2-W4 40 Fixed issues
- GPA-V1 87 features(countermeasures) are included
- GP2-W4 128 features(countermeasures) are included

I truly understand the concept behind "if it works don't fix it", just not convinced enough how I will proceed at the moment.
Any other thoughts on this subject are Welcome and are much appreciated.

[copier tech]

Re: General Firmware question

Hi Folks, I have some obscurity regarding Base and Special FWs.
Namely for older models, let say B224e for example, latest Base FW is from 2016.
After that there is like 20 newer Special FWs.
Do I have to keep machines with latest Special FWs, or may sit on latest Base if NO specific problems?
Also in therms of general security which FW version is better to be installed?
Waiting for your expert advice, KM tech support doesn't sound very clear on this.

I update all may machines when each firmware is released this is important as keeping the fw upto date prevents future issue before they arise!

The key to being a good engineer is to carry out a PM (Preventative maintenance) each time to attend a call out.

You can also upgrade to the latest function version, so good features enabled AirPrint being the main one that springs to mind.

[copier tech]

Re: General Firmware question

If it ain't broke Don't FIX IT! (Don't Break IT)

This Is like saying well my car ain't broke so i'm not taking it for a service!

[tech51]

Re: General Firmware question

I update all may machines when each firmware is released this is important as keeping the fw upto date prevents future issue before they arise!

The key to being a good engineer is to carry out a PM (Preventative maintenance) each time to attend a call out.

You can also upgrade to the latest function version, so good features enabled AirPrint being the main one that springs to mind.

[Synthohol]

Re: General Firmware question

This Is like saying well my car ain't broke so i'm not taking it for a service!

Preventive maintain is one thing but since you are talking cars you wouldn't replace the tires if the tread is fine and balanced.

[blackcat4866]

Re: General Firmware question

It only takes once, updating the firmware ... just because, then discovering 3 or 4 days later that every machine you updated no longer transmits faxes any more. There for a while when we only carried one brand, we would run all new firmware releases on the in-house machines for a week to see if any bugs arose. IMHO you are just as likely to introduce a new issue, as to solve an old issue. I like to have a good reason to update firmware, then sure. =^..^=

[copyman]

Re: General Firmware question

[QUOTE=copier tech;793765]This Is like saying well my car ain't broke so i'm not taking it for a service!


Agree, if no issues leave well enough alone! after 40+ yrs in this business I've learned "not" to create more work for myself. Over the years I've tried to do everything by the book but have found most of it to cause more work so hardly ever look at serv manuals. Add the poor translation from Jap to Eng makes things worse. I use to automatically update firmware when I bought an off lease machine to resell, but after updating a perfectly good machine and it made machine inoperable I decided to leave F/W alone until absolutely necessary!

If you are having an issue look up that exact symptom on Kon/Min Knowledge base and / or All Solutions, 2nd check special F/W. If nothing listed for that symptom I go ahead and install latest F/W, even if it already has the latest installed. If someone don't have access to Kon/Min a lot of stuff can be found on google / youtube. Don't think you can get Firmware that easily on the internet but a lot of good info like fixes, codes, etc.

I recently posted another firmware question about something I can never get a straight answer on. Does the "latest" "special" F/W have ALL the prior fixes on it or just for that one issue?

[bsm2]

Re: General Firmware question

[QUOTE=copyman;794095]

This Is like saying well my car ain't broke so i'm not taking it for a service!


Agree, if no issues leave well enough alone! after 40+ yrs in this business I've learned "not" to create more work for myself. Over the years I've tried to do everything by the book but have found most of it to cause more work so hardly ever look at serv manuals. Add the poor translation from Jap to Eng makes things worse. I use to automatically update firmware when I bought an off lease machine to resell, but after updating a perfectly good machine and it made machine inoperable I decided to leave F/W alone until absolutely necessary!

If you are having an issue look up that exact symptom on Kon/Min Knowledge base and / or All Solutions, 2nd check special F/W. If nothing listed for that symptom I go ahead and install latest F/W, even if it already has the latest installed. If someone don't have access to Kon/Min a lot of stuff can be found on google / youtube. Don't think you can get Firmware that easily on the internet but a lot of good info like fixes, codes, etc.

I recently posted another firmware question about something I can never get a straight answer on. Does the "latest" "special" F/W have ALL the prior fixes on it or just for that one issue?

Special F/W is just that it usually ONLY fixes the problem you are having. Once installed you need to take notice if another tech updates F/W with regular update your problem most likely will return.

[tech51]

Re: General Firmware question

I recently posted another firmware question about something I can never get a straight answer on. Does the "latest" "special" F/W have ALL the prior fixes on it or just for that one issue?[/QUOTE]