568 Appendix A Command Reference
Class
Description Transfers the current contents (no matter what they are) of the video frame buffer to the
Flash EEPROM (if equipped) used to store the operating system firmware.
EPROM data sent to the generator is normally stored temporarily in video VDRAM. If the
file transfer is successful, a loader code segment will be placed in CMOS SRAM and
jumped to. This code segment will, in turn, transfer the image of the firmware in VDRAM to
flash memory, thereby replacing the entire flash memory contents. Following this, the
generator will reboot and re-initialize using the new firmware.
Important: Improper use of the VTOF command will cause permanent malfunctioning of
the video generator.
The VTOF command should be executed only by the Quantum Data ARCHIVE.EXE utility
as part of a firmware update operation. On stand-alone generators, the ARCHIVE.EXE
utility first copies the new firmware file to the video frame buffer via the serial port. Once
the file has been successfully copied to the buffer, the buffer contents are then used to
update the Flash EEPROM.
Executing the VTOF command when the video frame buffer does not contain a valid
firmware file will cause a permanent malfunctioning of the generator. There is no way to
restore the firmware on stand-alone models via the serial or GPIB ports once this has
occurred. The stand-alone generator must be returned to Quantum Data or a Quantum
Data authorized repair center for reprogramming.
Note: The firmware may be replaced at least 10,000 times. After that, the generator may
require service to replace the flash ROMs.
Important: In the unlikely event the power fails while the loader is transferring data from
VDRAM to flash memory (this process taking approximately 20 seconds to complete), the
generator will appear to be inoperable at the next power-on. To restore operation, the
generator must be removed from the system, opened, connected to a computer having a
special adapter, and reprogrammed from a binary image file using a special executable
program.Is this something the customer can do himself? Or should we advise him to return
the generator to the repair center?
Command syntax VTOF
Other required
commands YMDI, FLSH