Pathway Connectivity Inc. - FAQ for Upgrading Pathport Nodes

Pathport Manager 3 is required to upgrade ALL nodes using firmware of 3.0.2.x or lower. Pathport Manager 4 should be used to upgrade ALL nodes using firmware of 3.0.4.x. (No 3.0.3.x firmware was ever released.) Once a node is upgraded to 3.0.4.x or higher, Pathport Manager 5 should be used to do node configuration and further firmware upgrades.

2) Should I upgrade?

If your installation is stable, if you are able to route channels as required and your system is DMX glitch-free, then firmware upgrade is unnecessary.

If one of the following features will address expansion needs, then an upgrade may be advantageous:

- support for DMX-over-Ethernet protocols beyond Pathport Protocol, including Strand Shownet, Artnet and streaming ACN

- support for more than a 4-to-1 merge with DMX Manager Plus

- improved performance for installations having more than 12 output nodes or 6 or more DMX Manager Pluses

3) What are the latest firmware versions?

2-port nodes (model 620x, 6225, 6235, 624x): 3.2.0.3

1-port Unos (model 1011, 6101, 6102, 6151, 6152, 6182): 3.2.0.3

DMX Manager Plus (model 6301, 6302): 3.2.0.1

Octo 8-port nodes (model 6401, 6402, 6403, 6404) 3.2.1.0

4) How do I find out what firmware version I’m using?

By far the easiest way is to use Pathport Manager 5. Start PM5. All connected nodes will appear in the upper Device List pane. Select a node, and its parameters will be listed in the lower Device Properties pane. Look in the Current Value column next to Firmware Version for the version number. If the version number is reported as [null], you will require PM3 to upgrade.

If you must use Pathport Manager 3, first add the node to the show if it isn’t already. Then right-click on the node’s name (by default the IP address) and select ‘Properties’from the pop-up window. About halfway down the list, it says ‘Software Version’. The version number is adjacent under ‘Value’. This method will NOT work with Pathport Unos, or any DMX Manager Plus having firmware of 3.0.4.x or higher.

5) What are the latest Pathport Manager software versions?

Pathport Manager 3: Version 3.1.0 RC2 Build 2567

- click Help>About. The version is shown under the word “Manager’

Pathport Manager 5: Version 1. Revision 262, Build date: 2010-03-18

- click Help>About

Pathport Manager 4 is now withdrawn from use.

If you have Pathport Manager 3.5, then you should call 403-243-8110 for support. Upgrading using this software has not been tested and you may have some unique firmware installed on your system.

6) What’s the difference between PM3 and PM5?

Pathport Manager 3 is offered solely for users to upgrade nodes from firmware versions of 3.0.2.3 or lower, including version 2 Pathports, to a current firmware level. PM3 will also recover nodes that have been accidently place into a bootp cycle or in "Force Dynamic IP". PM3 cannot configure Unos, Touring Edition or Octo nodes.

Pathport Manager 5 will configure and upgrade all Pathport nodes with firmware of 3.0.4.x or higher. PM5 provides showfile and patch saving along with a table view of node properties.

7) Enough already, I want to upgrade. How do I upgrade my Pathports?

To upgrade Pathports, your computer’s network card must be in the same network domain and subnet mask as the nodes. If your nodes are currently running a firmware lower than 3.0.4.x, then follow the instructions using Pathport Manager 3.

1. Download Pathport Manager 5 and unzip the file to a location of your choice.

2. Run PM 5 by clicking on the 'run.bat’, if using Windows, 'run.sh' if running Linux, or 'PathportManager.jar' if running under Mac OS 10.5.

- if using Vista, you must have Administrator privileges.
- if the program fails to run, go to www.java.com and check that your version of Java is the most current.

- if on a Mac, your processor must be a 64-bit Intel Duo Core, with Java SE 6 64-bit installed and set as the preferred JVM for applications (using Java Preferences).

3. The nodes should automatically be discovered. If not, click on the Interfaces button to check that your IP address is what you expect and is enable. Once discovered, click on the Firmware Upgrade tab.

4. Select the node you want to upgrade by clicking on it, or choose a group of nodes, from the Device List. The upper pane shows the firmware files available in PM5's firmware subdirectory.

5. Click on Select Firmare and choose from the list, or click on Select Latest to choose the most up-to date firmware from the list.

6. Click on Send Firmware, and watch the progress bar. Any failed attempts will be shown in red, while success is shown in green. If an attempt fails, try it again. If it fails again, check your network connections.

8) HELP! My node is stuck in the boot sequence!

If the screen of your node reports "Bootp... Force Dynamic IP..." try following the upgrade process using PM3.

9) Arrgghh! It’s still not happening!

Call or email support. 403-243-8110 or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

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