Firmware Upgrade Process; Read This Section Before Upgrading Firmware - Agilent Technologies 8163A User Manual

Firmware Upgrade Process

CA U TI O N
Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B, and 8166A/B User's Guide, Fourth Edition
Firmware Upgrade Process
You may need to upgrade firmware because:
• You may need to use new modules that cannot work without the
newest firmware. Your instrument will generate an error message if
you try to insert a module that is not supported by your
instrument's current firmware.
• New revisions of the 816x VXIplug&play Instrument Driver require
the newest firmware revision. The 816x VXIplug&play Instrument
Driver is supplied on the same Support Disk as firmware upgrades.
• To enhance the usability and functionality of your instrument. New
features may be available with new firmware revisions.

READ THIS SECTION BEFORE UPGRADING FIRMWARE

For Agilent all modules with a particular firmware revision to operate
correctly, your Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B, or 8166A/B mainframe
must have the corresponding, or a later, firmware revision installed.
For example, for correct operation of 8165xA Laser Source modules
where firmware revision 4.02 is installed, your 8163A/B, 8164A/B, or
8166A/B mainframe must have firmware revision 4.0x or higher
installed.
Firmware files are provided on the Support CD-ROM supplied with the
instrument, and the latest firmware revisions can also be downloaded
via www.Agilent.com/comms/comp-test
The firmware for A and B versions of our mainframes is not binary
compatible. Make sure you select the appropriate firmware for your
instrument.
In addition, please note that:
• Updating mainframe firmware does not require you to update the
firmware in every hosted module. New revisions of mainframe
firmware are backwards compatible with older module firmware.
You may find it advantageous to update module firmware. To help you
determine which module firmware to update, a readme file is
provided with the firmware file detailing its revision history.
Firmware Upgrades
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