Ricoh Firmware Update Discussion

[Trommel]

Hi there,

I'm wondering how you guys proceed in general when it comes to updating the firmware of a ricoh machine that is out in the field.
The reason I came up with this thread is because I always ask myself if there might be a better approach as I do it, because right now it's really time consuming.

- Question 1: Do you always update the firmware or just when there's a problem that can be fixed or a new function that will be added (e.g. smb)?

- Question 2: How do you prepare the files beforehand? Right now I download all the zip files from ricoh, name them accordingly, unzip and go through them and check if there's a newer firmware available. Then I check the text file that comes with it to see if there's a dependency noted, so that I do not oversee to update another firmware which is needed if I update it. Then I put it on the sd card in the romdata folder, name the folder e.g. Dxxx. With the newer machines there's a package, but I still check because a) I've heard sometimes there are older versions integrated, b) it does not contain all of the firmware as far as I know and c) because I still want to check each firmware if there's any dependency.

- Question 3: In what order do you update the firmware? Ricoh told me to do the system, then Networksupport and then Engine first and then all the other ones, each seperatly. Recently I've spend hours doing this on a 3003 machine because of the restart times of that machine and this doesn't even include the time preparing the files.

Thanks and happy updating!

Best regards,
Trommel

[Zeldaman]

[dalewb74]

Re: Ricoh Firmware Update Discussion

jut throwing this out there. im sure yall know about the package all firmware issue? just a heads up if you didn't, though they say if it is on the site now that it works as it should. so if you have some older stuff i would trash it.

[mincopier]

Re: Ricoh Firmware Update Discussion

I have always updated as needed. Sometimes we run across a "mandatory" update and we try to get those the best we can.

If a machine has a package file I will run it then do the normal SD firmware update. I have had several case where the package file did not have all of the updated firmware. When doing the normal SD update I usually just highlight them all and the machine picks the order, has not failed me yet.

As for storage we have a company Dropbox account that all of our techs have access to. The firmware is already downloaded, prepared and in most cases is generally newer than what the machine has on it currently.

[FrohnB]

Re: Ricoh Firmware Update Discussion

I have a folder on my desktop that has every model we service. In each of those "model folders" is the updated list of firmware in a "romdata" folder (I check for new updates every morning to keep all models current), or the most current package firmware or both. Same with SOP OS f/w and apps.

I usually just format an SD card, and drag-n-drop my already up-to-date romdata folder (with all modules contained) on to the card. I have NEVER used the Product Code folder i.e. SD card --> romdata --> Prod. Code --> f/w modules. I just do SD --> romdata --> f/w files. Usually Sys/copy First, THEN Engine, THEN all others (have done in the past where I've just selected all of them and let the machine decide order, didn't have an issue). I've heard people say they do Accessories f/w separate, but I've never had a problem loading them in with the other files and executing at the same time.


We use ARMS here at our store, so before we go on calls we check that, and if it says that certain f/w is out of date, we will load those up and take them.

[slimslob]

Re: Ricoh Firmware Update Discussion

I have had several case where the package file did not have all of the updated firmware. When doing the normal SD update I usually just highlight them all and the machine picks the order, has not failed me yet.

When Package firmware first came out it only included those modules that had been updated after the previous package. If you had a machine that had not been kept current with updates, you could be in trouble if a module in a package required that another module needed to be up to have been updated with a previous package. It also did not include firmware for peripheral options like finishers.

[anothertech]

Re: Ricoh Firmware Update Discussion

We use ARMS here at our store, so before we go on calls we check that, and if it says that certain f/w is out of date, we will load those up and take them.

Why not just use the UPDATE feature of ARMS?

[Oze]

Re: Ricoh Firmware Update Discussion

We update firmware at run up and then later if there is an issue.
Here in Australia we recently had a problem where after updating IMC machines at run up they were falling over in the field with Functional restarts.
Turns out it was the latest firmware and the fix was to roll back 2 versions.
So the answer is no...we tend to only update the firmware when there is an issue because sometimes even the manufacturer gets it wrong.
If it aint broke don't fix it..!!!

[anothertech]

Re: Ricoh Firmware Update Discussion

I tend to update the machines as I go along, if I'm too busy then I'll skip it, but for the most part I update them. I notice that the guys that don't update them are frequently fighting problems that have already been solved with firmware.

We are using ARMS, and that makes it so much easier that you might as well do it.

The new machines going out are doing automatic updates with Automatic Remote Firmware Update.

Any machine using @remote can be easily brought up to the latest Package firmware.

To help with the MPC3003 taking a long time to update, disabling java really shortens boot times.

[FrohnB]

Re: Ricoh Firmware Update Discussion

Why not just use the UPDATE feature of ARMS?

We have set up a lot of our copiers for this. Took a while to figure out all the subtle nuances (certain SP's/ customer network crap), and still on some machines it never seems to update, but for those copiers that are 50 - 80 miles away it's a nice feature when it works.

[luca72]

Re: Ricoh Firmware Update Discussion

Hi there,

I'm wondering how you guys proceed in general when it comes to updating the firmware of a ricoh machine that is out in the field.
The reason I came up with this thread is because I always ask myself if there might be a better approach as I do it, because right now it's really time consuming.

- Question 1: Do you always update the firmware or just when there's a problem that can be fixed or a new function that will be added (e.g. smb)?

- Question 2: How do you prepare the files beforehand? Right now I download all the zip files from ricoh, name them accordingly, unzip and go through them and check if there's a newer firmware available. Then I check the text file that comes with it to see if there's a dependency noted, so that I do not oversee to update another firmware which is needed if I update it. Then I put it on the sd card in the romdata folder, name the folder e.g. Dxxx. With the newer machines there's a package, but I still check because a) I've heard sometimes there are older versions integrated, b) it does not contain all of the firmware as far as I know and c) because I still want to check each firmware if there's any dependency.

- Question 3: In what order do you update the firmware? Ricoh told me to do the system, then Networksupport and then Engine first and then all the other ones, each seperatly. Recently I've spend hours doing this on a 3003 machine because of the restart times of that machine and this doesn't even include the time preparing the files.

Thanks and happy updating!

Best regards,
Trommel

here there are different schools of thought.
I first look in the technical bulletins on the portal ricoh italia, if there are particular things, suggestions or contraindications (it can happen that a fw module of a version does not agree with another version of another module)
I also happened to have to disconnect the fax card because the boot didn't start from the SD card.
after I start with the system, then engine, and then everything else, ATTENTION, I would suggest you not to touch anything during the procedure, ex. open the rdf or various door ...
did this reboot and i do sp801 all except engine, and format the hd ..(this for new mf o rigenerated first of client installation) make a address book backup
the slowness at startup, which you say is most likely due to the java environment that needs to be loaded, you can turn it off from sp 5730> 0, you'll see a difference compared to before as a turbo car

[anothertech]

Re: Ricoh Firmware Update Discussion

We have set up a lot of our copiers for this. Took a while to figure out all the subtle nuances (certain SP's/ customer network crap), and still on some machines it never seems to update, but for those copiers that are 50 - 80 miles away it's a nice feature when it works.

On the machines that don't seem to update with ARMS, update them with the SD card method the next time you are there, then going forward use ARMS to keep them up to date. It seems like the system and/or engine needs to be up to a certain level before it works well.

ARMS has been a great tool, not only for firmware, but to look at the recent jam and error codes, as well as the consumable parts status. I check those before I go on the call and load up with the parts I may need. It really helps with the first call completion rate.

One more thing that makes firmware updating fast and efficient is a fast laptop computer. Trying to build the update files on a slow computer is frustrating, so techs don't do it. A fast laptop with a solid state drive makes all the difference.

[Trommel]

Re: Ricoh Firmware Update Discussion

Hi there,

picking this up again...

Had to update an 4055ASP and did the firmware update through the service menu. This updates the package firmware. It took a while but eventually finished.

Back at the office I made myself an table to verify, with the column "Firmware in Technical Website", "Firmware in Package" and "Firmware on Device after Package Install".

Now I'm even more confused. Sometimes the firmware from the website is newer, sometimes the package is newer (e.g. System/Copy is 1.20 in Web, and 1.22 in Package).

Some modules are not updated in the package at all (ok I knew that beforehand that stuff like SPDF isn't included...), I can't even find all of them in the SMC list to know which firmware I have. There's stuff in the package I can't find on the technical site...

...and then I still remember I actually have to check the update notes in each firmware that tell me which dependencies there are... ?

Who could afford spending a whole work day just to sort out firmware updates?? Why does this have to be so complicated or am I just making it complicated?

Thanks.

Best regards,

Trommel

[Mark Bbb]

Re: Ricoh Firmware Update Discussion

Hi there,

picking this up again...

Had to update an 4055ASP and did the firmware update through the service menu. This updates the package firmware. It took a while but eventually finished.

Thanks.

Best regards,

Trommel

I just do an update without thinking. Thinking only starts when a problem occurs

[Gift]

Re: Ricoh Firmware Update Discussion

One of my techs does a check for new firmware every week and download new files to our local file server. All tech notebooks are getting syncronized with that data once the guys comes around.

If the MFPs are new on the market we usually take care to keep them up to date at every service visit but later we doesn't bother every minor "0.1 version steps" if no specific/important issues are expected to be solved. If the version gap grows larger we are performing updates.