RICOH Firmware Update Tool allows users to install firmware updates themselves.

[dave w]

It works a treat.

But allowing the customer to have the ability to do the FW updates themselves!

Would you trust them?

Im not sure I would trust my customers.

[rthonpm]

Re: RICOH Firmware Update Tool allows users to install firmware updates themselves.

They would have to know to download it first, and then what exactly firmware does. 95% of my customers would look at it, blink their eyes and say 'that's what I pay you for'.

Sent from my BlackBerry using Tapatalk

[luca72]

Re: RICOH Firmware Update Tool allows users to install firmware updates themselves.

It works a treat.

But allowing the customer to have the ability to do the FW updates themselves!

Would you trust them?

Im not sure I would trust my customers.

I would not trust much, many do not even know what it is, I have to give them the example of the smartphone and googleplay, maybe something unexpected happens, and I find myself with a controller to throw away.

[rthonpm]

Re: RICOH Firmware Update Tool allows users to install firmware updates themselves.

Has Ricoh published any bulletins on what models the tool supports? I've tried connecting to the old MP 171 in our office and it doesn't see it, even after updating the SNMP settings to our custom community names.

[dave w]

Re: RICOH Firmware Update Tool allows users to install firmware updates themselves.

Has Ricoh published any bulletins on what models the tool supports? I've tried connecting to the old MP 171 in our office and it doesn't see it, even after updating the SNMP settings to our custom community names.

Im just testing a MP 201 which it has found and is doing the updates, make sure the admin password is correct as this will make you think it cannot be found.

good luck

[copier tech]

Re: RICOH Firmware Update Tool allows users to install firmware updates themselves.

It works a treat.

But allowing the customer to have the ability to do the FW updates themselves!

Would you trust them?

Im not sure I would trust my customers.

With the IMC range best option is to turn on auto update with SP5-886-111

[DRichard]

Re: RICOH Firmware Update Tool allows users to install firmware updates themselves.

With the IMC range best option is to turn on auto update with SP5-886-111

With Ricoh's past record of issuing firmware, then (almost) immediately withdrawing it because of "buggy" issues, we have chosen to NOT use this feature. Why have updated firmware cause problems that just generate otherwise unnecessary service calls? Our techs will update firmware only as it is needed.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: RICOH Firmware Update Tool allows users to install firmware updates themselves.

With Ricoh's past record of issuing firmware, then (almost) immediately withdrawing it because of "buggy" issues, we have chosen to NOT use this feature. Why have updated firmware cause problems that just generate otherwise unnecessary service calls? Our techs will update firmware only as it is needed.

I can understand the logic behind your approach, however, this is a reactive vs. proactive approach. I guess it would depend on how "buggy" the new firmware is.

[copier tech]

Re: RICOH Firmware Update Tool allows users to install firmware updates themselves.

With Ricoh's past record of issuing firmware, then (almost) immediately withdrawing it because of "buggy" issues, we have chosen to NOT use this feature. Why have updated firmware cause problems that just generate otherwise unnecessary service calls? Our techs will update firmware only as it is needed.

[DRichard]

Re: RICOH Firmware Update Tool allows users to install firmware updates themselves.

I can understand the logic behind your approach, however, this is a reactive vs. proactive approach. I guess it would depend on how "buggy" the new firmware is.

When you have a couple of hundred copiers in which the customer's (a government contract with about four hundred units in total on one secured reservation) Streampunch app just stops working...and you don't know why at that point (until Ricoh posts a service bulletin over a week later) you begin to mistrust your manufacturer. They did this about three times in a row WITH THE SAME SERIES OF MACHINES! At least our techs can update firmware after it's been proven stable and can do it as part of their regular service calls as part of their minimum call procedure. It's rarely done as a response to a firmware-generated problem...
bottom line is we don't trust Ricoh to thoroughly test the firmware. We update all new copiers with the latest version of firmware we ourselves deemed stable within our existing fleet. By doing this, we are in control.

[paulg]

Re: RICOH Firmware Update Tool allows users to install firmware updates themselves.

A great idea until something goes wrong and the finger pointing starts.

Well you supplied the tool and little information on how to use. I am not paying for a new control board or whatever you called it.

How did I know our cleaners unplugged the copiers to vacuum clean the office?

[KenB]

Re: RICOH Firmware Update Tool allows users to install firmware updates themselves.

When you have a couple of hundred copiers in which the customer's (a government contract with about four hundred units in total on one secured reservation) Streampunch app just stops working...and you don't know why at that point (until Ricoh posts a service bulletin over a week later) you begin to mistrust your manufacturer. They did this about three times in a row WITH THE SAME SERIES OF MACHINES! At least our techs can update firmware after it's been proven stable and can do it as part of their regular service calls as part of their minimum call procedure. It's rarely done as a response to a firmware-generated problem...
bottom line is we don't trust Ricoh to thoroughly test the firmware. We update all new copiers with the latest version of firmware we ourselves deemed stable within our existing fleet. By doing this, we are in control.

I have 2 large customers which I administer Streamline (SLNX v3) for.

While we use the device management function (formerly DMNX) to push firmware to the machines, we thoroughly test new versions and wait a while until we know they are safe.

What's nice is that they can all be set on a timer to run at any time of the day or night, and we get reports back as to whether each machine was a success or not.

Very seldom do we get 100% success, but usually about 90% or so.

One of the BIG reasons we have to keep firmware up to speed is to keep up with Streamline, as full integration requires the most current versions.

I can just imagine needing to tell a bunch of service managers that I need 200 machines updated within the next 2-3 weeks. Not happening.

I read and re-read the firmware history for every new release, and even go as far as downloading the package file, and checking the text file each one comes with.

I agree completely…Ricoh needs to do a MUCH better job of checking firmware before releasing it to the wild.

[sandmanmac]

Re: RICOH Firmware Update Tool allows users to install firmware updates themselves.

Has Ricoh published any bulletins on what models the tool supports? I've tried connecting to the old MP 171 in our office and it doesn't see it, even after updating the SNMP settings to our custom community names.

MP171 should be supported according to this list......
RICOH Firmware update tool : Model List | Global | Ricoh

And just to add my 2 cents.....I wasn't even aware of this tool until I saw this thread, and while I have no intention in having customers run it on their own, it's just excellent to have it available to me (a guy without access to the updates otherwise), so I (hopefully) won't have to rely on the generosity of others quite as much as I have in the past

I only found the tool using a google search, and I'm not even sure of the geographic location, but I'm assuming it's a UK thing? I can't seem to find it on either Ricoh Canada, or U.S public sites - unless I'm missing something

One thing that happened as I tested it today on 3 units at my office.....2 out of 3 machines I updated, the progress froze at 99% for a very long time before I decided to risk it, and cancel the process. I actually had to CTL/ ALT/Delete to shut it down, then reboot the copier(s).
Everything seems ok with them, and when I compared the module versions, several were updated, and the status is now current when I retrieve the latest updates, but one machine I had to run the update 3 times in order to get all updates to install, and it still froze at 99% each time.
Anyone experienced this?

Props to Dave W for bringing this tool to my attention!
For anyone that's not familiar with it, I'll save you the effort of searching:
RICOH Firmware Update Tool download page

EDIT: I just connected an MP C401 that I have here and it's not recognized - just like rthonpm stated about his MP171 in his thread that I quoted above.
Any ideas about that?

[DRichard]

Re: RICOH Firmware Update Tool allows users to install firmware updates themselves.

To be clear, I am not questioning the tool(s) used to update firmware. It is the RELIABILITY of the firmware that gets downloaded to the equipment. If you suddenly begin getting service calls from clients because their copiers "quit working", spending time in front of each of those machines, troubleshooting and scratching your head, gets expensive. Recently, Ricoh has had problems issuing firmware updates that should have been better vetted before putting it on their site.

[KenB]

Re: RICOH Firmware Update Tool allows users to install firmware updates themselves.

To be clear, I am not questioning the tool(s) used to update firmware. It is the RELIABILITY of the firmware that gets downloaded to the equipment. If you suddenly begin getting service calls from clients because their copiers "quit working", spending time in front of each of those machines, troubleshooting and scratching your head, gets expensive. Recently, Ricoh has had problems issuing firmware updates that should have been better vetted before putting it on their site.

I think the engineers need to come out of their bubbles and experience what's happening in the REAL world.