Support Home


Knowledge Base


Documentation


Contact Support


Unofficial Forum

Uploading New Firmware onto Your Tibbo Device

There are three main ways to upload firmware onto a Tibbo device; we'll describe each below, starting with the easiest one. If the first one doesn't work for you, try the second one; if that fails, try the third one. And if that fails, you can always write support.

Network Upload via DS Manager

This is the simplest way to upload new firmware onto your device, but it may not always work. Read on for details.

  • Download and install the most recent version of the Tibbo Device Server Toolkit.
  • Download the firmware file you wish to upload onto your device. Make sure it is compatible with your device. NOTE: uploading an incorrect firmware file may render your device inaccessible over the network. Once you have the correct firmware file, place it in a folder, unzipped (BIN format).
  • Connect the device you wish to upgrade to the same network segment as your computer. In simple terms, this is the same hub or switch (or directly to the computer via a cross LAN cable).
  • Run DS Manager (Start > All Programs > Tibbo > Tibbo Device Server Toolkit > DS Manager).
  • If this is the first time you're running DS Manager, you may get a firewall warning dialog, similar to the one below. Allow DS Manager through your firewall, or disable the firewall completely.

  • DS Manager will now send a UDP broadcast to try and locate any compatible Tibbo devices on the local network segment. If you see no devices on the list, try clicking Refresh again, just to make sure.

* If you still don't see your device on the list, move on to the next method (Network Upload via TIDE and Device Explorer).

  • If you see some device on the list but you're not sure it's the one you want to upgrade, click the Buzz button and watch the device itself (the actual box - physical object). Its LEDs should blink in time with your click. This step is only needed if you have several devices on your network and you have no other way to tell them apart.
  • Once you see your device and you're positive that's the one you wish to upgrade, click it once to select it.
  • Click Upgrade and navigate to the firmware file you wish to upload onto your device.

  • Click Open. You should now see a progress bar while the firmware upload occurs.

* Once the upload process is done, your device should reboot. Please allow for up to 15 seconds.

  • Once the device has completely booted up, it should be ready for operation. You're done!

Network Upload via TIDE and Device Explorer

If you could not see your device in DS Manager, try this method:

  • We assume you already have your device connected to your local network segment, and that you have the firmware file you wish to upload onto it (both steps were covered in the DS Manager procedure).
  • Download and install TIDE. That is Tibbo IDE, our development environment.
  • Run Device Explorer (Start > All Programs > Tibbo > Tibbo IDE > Device Explorer).
  • If this is the first time you're running Device Explorer, you may get a firewall warning dialog. Allow Device Explorer through your firewall, or disable the firewall completely.
  • Device Explorer will now send a UDP broadcast to try and locate any compatible Tibbo devices on the local network segment. If you see no devices on the list, try clicking Refresh again, just to make sure.
  • If you still don't see your device on the list, move on to the next method (Serial Upload via DS Manager).
  • If you see some device on the list but you're not sure it's the one you want to upgrade, click the Buzz button and watch the device itself (the actual box - physical object). Its LEDs should blink in time with your click. This step is only needed if you have several devices on your network and you have no other way to tell them apart.
  • Once you see your device and you're positive that's the one you wish to upgrade, click it once to select it.

  • Click Upload and select Load Firmware Through the Network.

* Navigate to the firmware file you wish to upload onto your device. * Click Open. You should now two progress bars while the firmware upload occurs (there are two bars because you can upload firmware onto multiple devices, one after the other).

  • Once the upload process is done, you will see this dialog and your device should reboot.

* Once the device has completely booted up, it should be ready for operation. You're done!

Serial Upload via DS Manager

This is the most complex method, and requires you to connect your device to the computer via an RS232 cable. Some Tibbo devices have a single RS232 port with a DB9 connector; that makes life easy. Other devices are not as simple to connect – we make 4-port devices, and also devices which have no DB9 connectors at all (such as our modules or the DS1004/1005). So physically connecting your device to the computer via serial cable requires a different procedure for each device. If you're not sure how to connect your device, write support.

Serial Upload Procedure

Once you've connected the device to your computer:

  • Make sure the device is powered off.
  • Run DS Manager.
  • Click the Serial Access tab.
  • Select the COM port you connected your device to (COM1 in this case).

  • Click Upgrade.
  • Click Browse, select the firmware file you wish to upload onto your device.

  • Click OK.
  • You should now get this dialog box with instructions:

  • Press the MD button (or “the button”, if your device has just one) and power the device up (it was powered off like we said in the beginning, right?).
  • Once the device has powered up, let go of the button.
  • The upload process should now begin.

  • Once upload completes, you will get this dialog:

  • Now reboot the device, and you should be good to go.

© Tibbo Technology Inc. 2001-2009   Contact Us | Account