Using Unity Loader

Use Unity Loader to install firmware upgrades for the HART analog I/O modules. Unity Loader is a stand-alone utility that ships with your Control Expert software.

NOTE: Before you can upgrade firmware, you first need to:

  • Enable Firmware upgrade in the Security page for the gateway DTM; then

  • With the gateway DTM selected in the DTM Browser, click the right mouse button and select the Device menu > Additional functions > Transfer to FDR Server command to update the edited configuration in the FDR server.

Installing Unity Loader

Insert the Unity Loader installation CD in the CD-ROM drive of your maintenance PC. Autorun launches the setup automatically. If not, double-click Setup.exe. The Unity Loader Installation Wizard will guide you through the Unity Loader installation.

Physically Connecting to the Module

After an IP address has been assigned to the module, the next step is to connect your maintenance PC to the module. You can either directly connect your PC to the module, or merely connect your PC to the Ethernet network to which your module is connected.

Connecting Unity Loader to the module

To establish a connection between Unity Loader and the module, follow these steps:

Step

Action

1

Open Unity Loader on your PC: Start > Programs > Schneider Electric > Unity Loader. Unity Loader opens and displays the Project tab:

2

In the Connection part of the page, make the following settings:

Media

Select Ethernet

Address

Type in the module IP address.

NOTE: Confirm that you are using the IP address for the HART I/O module, and not the CPU.

3

Click Connect.

Performing the Upgrade

Before beginning a firmware upgrade, confirm that the module is in Stop mode.

The firmware upgrade for a module is contained in a file with an .LDX extension. The single .LDX file contains the necessary module firmware upgrades.

Before upgrading the firmware, Unity Loader confirms that the firmware upgrade file is compatible with your module.

Do not interrupt the firmware download process:

  • Do not allow an interruption to the power or the communications during the firmware upgrade process.

  • Do not shut down the Unity Loader software during the upgrade.

If the firmware download process is interrupted, the new firmware is not installed and the adapter continues to use the old firmware. If an interruption occurs, cycle power to the HART module and restart the process.

Open Unity Loader on your PC and update the firmware for the remote I/O adapter:

Step

Action

1

After Unity Loader has connected to the module, click the Firmware tab.

2

In the PLC area of the Firmware tab, confirm that the Module check-box is de-selected.

3

In the PC area, click the ellipsis ( ...) button to open a dialog where you can navigate to and select the firmware file for your module. The firmware is contained in a Unity Loader file (.ldx extension).

After you select the firmware file and close the dialog, the selected revision of this firmware is displayed in the list on the left, and the current version of the firmware is displayed in the list on the right.

4

When the arrow in the middle of the screen (above) is green, click Transfer .

NOTE: Only click Transfer if the arrow is green. A yellow arrow indicates that the firmware file on your computer is the same version or newer than the file selected for transfer; a red arrow indicates that the firmware on the computer is not compatible with the module.

5

Click yes on the 2 dialogs that appear. A third dialog appears (below), which indicates the transfer status with the blue bars at the bottom of the screen. After the message “Firmware upgraded successfully” is displayed (below), click Close .

6

In the Unity Loader software, click Disconnect and close the window.

The module reboots itself on completion of the firmware upgrade.

Unity Loader includes its own user documentation. Refer to Unity Loader, User Guide for assistance when you perform the firmware upgrade.