AC800F redundancy and HW-FW versions problem
Hello;
We have two redundant controllers AC800F (HW: 1.06; FW: 6.25), now one of the controllers is faulty and we have another controller as a spare part but in different versions (HW: 1.09; FW: 7.24) and the replacement operation is not working.
How can I tell the first controller that the second one has different versions??.
Control builder F version 7.1 under windows 2000.
Thank you very match.
othmane.douibi@sonatrach.dz
Voted best answer
Hello,
the firmware to download is part of the Engineering tool installation. You would start the Settings program (I think in V7.1 it was still called "Configure").
Here is how it looks in Freelance 2019:

You would enter the IP address of the controller to update in the IP Address 1 field and press the Load button, then wait for the download to finish.
In case of a redundant pair you can specify both IP addresses at the same time and load them at the same time.
Still I'm a little confused about the version info.
The base version of V7.1 was released with HW Index 1.02 and firmware version 7.00 (for PM802F). PM 803F was not released for the Base version of 7.1.
Freelance 7.1SP2 was the first version of 7.1 that supported PM 803F (with HW Index 1.0 and FW 7.05). Which type of CPU do you use in your redundant pair?
The latest release of V7.1 is the V7.1SP3, which supports:

The combination that you mention you are running, HW: 1.06; FW: 6.25, shows a firmware that belongs to a version 6. How come?
the firmware to download is part of the Engineering tool installation. You would start the Settings program (I think in V7.1 it was still called "Configure").
Here is how it looks in Freelance 2019:
You would enter the IP address of the controller to update in the IP Address 1 field and press the Load button, then wait for the download to finish.
In case of a redundant pair you can specify both IP addresses at the same time and load them at the same time.
Still I'm a little confused about the version info.
The base version of V7.1 was released with HW Index 1.02 and firmware version 7.00 (for PM802F). PM 803F was not released for the Base version of 7.1.
Freelance 7.1SP2 was the first version of 7.1 that supported PM 803F (with HW Index 1.0 and FW 7.05). Which type of CPU do you use in your redundant pair?
The latest release of V7.1 is the V7.1SP3, which supports:
The combination that you mention you are running, HW: 1.06; FW: 6.25, shows a firmware that belongs to a version 6. How come?
Answers
Hello!
I guess you cannot stop/don't want to stop the running controller?
Most likely you have to downgrade the FW of the spare controller to match the version of the running controller.
Unfortunately I cannot tell whether it is allowed to run a FW 6.25 on a HW 1.09. I would guess yes, but I must strongly recommend that you contact ABB support to get a confirmation or guidance to another solution.
If allowed, downgrading the FW can be done on a separate network. Don't disturb the running controller!
In newer Freelance versions some combinations of FWs will work together to allow an online upgrade of the FW in a redundant system.
Best regards
Jürgen
I guess you cannot stop/don't want to stop the running controller?
Most likely you have to downgrade the FW of the spare controller to match the version of the running controller.
Unfortunately I cannot tell whether it is allowed to run a FW 6.25 on a HW 1.09. I would guess yes, but I must strongly recommend that you contact ABB support to get a confirmation or guidance to another solution.
If allowed, downgrading the FW can be done on a separate network. Don't disturb the running controller!
In newer Freelance versions some combinations of FWs will work together to allow an online upgrade of the FW in a redundant system.
Best regards
Jürgen
Hello;
This operation (downloading the firmware) is what I can’t understand for now, where can I find the firmware in the CBF?? And where can I find documentation about witch firmware for witch hardware version?.
Another question please;
When I use CBF 7.1 and when I download the firmware to the new controller that means I am downgrading the FW of it to the 6.25 rather than 7.24?? Stopping the controller is not a problem in my situation.
Thank you for your interest.
This operation (downloading the firmware) is what I can’t understand for now, where can I find the firmware in the CBF?? And where can I find documentation about witch firmware for witch hardware version?.
Another question please;
When I use CBF 7.1 and when I download the firmware to the new controller that means I am downgrading the FW of it to the 6.25 rather than 7.24?? Stopping the controller is not a problem in my situation.
Thank you for your interest.
Hallo,
please use the Freelance Configure tool to up- or downgrade the Controller to the Firmware you are using in Project.
The tool can load the Firmware to the controller.
If its done, switch power off second controller. Connect the recundancy link and switch power on for secondary controller.
Redundancy update needs a while (up to a minute, depends on the load)
Bernd
please use the Freelance Configure tool to up- or downgrade the Controller to the Firmware you are using in Project.
The tool can load the Firmware to the controller.
If its done, switch power off second controller. Connect the recundancy link and switch power on for secondary controller.
Redundancy update needs a while (up to a minute, depends on the load)
Bernd
Hello;
Here’s what I did;
I mounted the new controller AC800F (HW: 1.09; FW: 7.24) and connected all the cables, I isolated the tow controllers and the engineering station in one little network (in a new Ethernet switch):
PC with CBF 7.1 : 172.16.1.27
Controller 1 (old but OK) : 172.16.1.14
Controller 2 (new one) : 127.16.1.13
Using (Freelance Configure tool) I tried to download the EPROM but the IP address doesn’t work for me because I discovered (after some ping operations) that the IP in the new controller is 127.16.1.2. So I changed the last number of the address from 13 to 2 and redownloaded the EPROM again, this time the operation is completed without any error.
In the project tree of CBF beside the controller it marked no operation system. So I downloaded the project. After a while, the controller with address 14 worked (running) but not synchronized, and the IP Address of the new controlled still 172.16.1.2 witch is not OK for me.
The coding switch in the first slot E1 is set to 0, the coding switch in E2 is set to F position.
Do I have to use hyperterminal to change the IP address to 172.16.1.13 or the hardware version still persists.
Thanx a lot.



Here’s what I did;
I mounted the new controller AC800F (HW: 1.09; FW: 7.24) and connected all the cables, I isolated the tow controllers and the engineering station in one little network (in a new Ethernet switch):
PC with CBF 7.1 : 172.16.1.27
Controller 1 (old but OK) : 172.16.1.14
Controller 2 (new one) : 127.16.1.13
Using (Freelance Configure tool) I tried to download the EPROM but the IP address doesn’t work for me because I discovered (after some ping operations) that the IP in the new controller is 127.16.1.2. So I changed the last number of the address from 13 to 2 and redownloaded the EPROM again, this time the operation is completed without any error.
In the project tree of CBF beside the controller it marked no operation system. So I downloaded the project. After a while, the controller with address 14 worked (running) but not synchronized, and the IP Address of the new controlled still 172.16.1.2 witch is not OK for me.
The coding switch in the first slot E1 is set to 0, the coding switch in E2 is set to F position.
Do I have to use hyperterminal to change the IP address to 172.16.1.13 or the hardware version still persists.
Thanx a lot.




Any help please!!?
If you want the new Controller to have IP address 172.16.1.13 then you have to set the coding switch for the Ethernet module in Slot E1 to 13.
If you set it to 0, then the IP address can only be set via the diagnostic port and a terminal program.
I guess you already set the IP address of the second controller in the Network Configuration in the Engineering tool (Project / Network...) to 13?
If yes, then everything is ok and the controller pair should become synch.
Please note that the IP address setting in Freelance Engineering (Project / Network...) is to allow connections to the controllers. It is not for configuring the IP addresses of the controllers.
If you set it to 0, then the IP address can only be set via the diagnostic port and a terminal program.
I guess you already set the IP address of the second controller in the Network Configuration in the Engineering tool (Project / Network...) to 13?
If yes, then everything is ok and the controller pair should become synch.
Please note that the IP address setting in Freelance Engineering (Project / Network...) is to allow connections to the controllers. It is not for configuring the IP addresses of the controllers.
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