Prod353

Prod353

Prod353 is a valuable hardware testing and firmware reflashing tool. Depending on the settings, Prod353 can be used to completely test the hardware of a camera system; from the system memory and video/FPGA memory, to the sensor, to the optional 10359 and 10369 'daughter' boards. It can also be configured to reflash the existing camera firmware, or flash a new updated firmware image onto the camera to increase its functionality and stability. Prod353 can be downloaded by following the link below:

http://elphel.cvs.sourceforge.net/viewvc/elphel/prod353/station/

Before attempting to install Prod353, be sure to read the INSTALL text file for instructions on what is required on your PC before Prod 353 can be installed.

Once Prod353 has been successfully installed, open it up using the Mozilla Firefox web browser. There are several options that need to be set before you click the 'Start' button. Please do not connect any cameras to the network until these settings have been properly configured. In the upper left hand corner of the screen, under the heading 'session settings', there are several lines of options. These are described below:

Setting up Prod353

1. Ports

The first line, 'ports', does not apply to users that are reflashing a single camera directly from their PC. The 'ports' setting only needs to be changed if you have a switch or router connected to your PC, and plan to test/reflash several cameras at once using several of the switch/router ports. If you do need to reflash several cameras hooked up to your router, then type in the number of cameras into the box next to 'ports'. During the reflashing/testing process, after the start button has been pressed, the prod353 software will assign the label 'port 1' to the first camera that is plugged in, and 'port 2' to the next camera that is plugged in, etc... It assigns these labels regardless of the physical port number on the router.

2. Start MAC, Board Revision, 10369 Start ID, and 10396 Board Revision

Directly below the 'ports' option are two lines for the 10353 'start MAC' address, and 10353 'board revision' number. When the 10369 test is selected, there are also two more lines below that, the '10369 start ID' number and '10369 board revision' number. These lines can all be ignored. They are only used at the factory for initial programming of the boards, and have no effect on the process after that.

3. Net-Boot by Button

To the right you will find the 'net-boot by button' check box. This box must be checked for the reflashing process to work properly. Checking this box sets Prod353 to allow the user to place their cameras in net-boot mode manually. If it is not checked, Prod353 may go into an endless loop (as it attempts to initialize an automated POE switch).

4. Clean Cameras, and POE Switch

Directly beneath the 'net-boot by button' check box is the 'clean cameras/POE switch' check box. This check box must remain un-checked. This option is something that is only needed in the initial factory programming stage.

5. Reflash Cameras

To the right you will find the 'reflash cameras' check box. Place a checkmark in this box if you want to flash the camera with a new firmware image. If the box is left un-checked, the firmware on the camera will remain unchanged.

6. Test Sensor

Directly below this, you will find the 'test sensor' check box. If this box is checked, one of two types of sensor test will be run. If it is not checked, then the two sensor test options will be disabled, and will not be run. The two types of sensor tests are listed below the 'test sensor' check box. These are the standard 'test sensor board' option for cameras with a single sensor attached, and the 'test 10359 board' option, which is only needed for custom camera applications using the 10359 Sensor Multi-plexor board

TO BE CONTINUED