GE Series 90-30 PLC - CPU Firmware Upgrade (Update)

5-6 Series 90-30 PLC Installation and Hardware Manual – August 2002 GFK-0356Q
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Table 5-1. CPU Firmware and PROM Configurations
CPU
Firmware
(standard)
EPROM
(for user memory)
EEPROM
(for user memory)
Flash
(for user memory)
CPU311 EPROM Optional Optional N/A
CPU313 EPROM Optional Optional N/A
CPU323 EPROM Optional Optional N/A
CPU331 EPROM Optional Optional N/A
CPU340 EPROM N/A N/A Optional
CPU341 EPROM *Optional * Optional *Optional
CPU350 Flash N/A N/A Standard
CPU351 Flash N/A N/A Standard
CPU352 Flash N/A N/A Standard
CPU360 Flash N/A N/A Standard
CPU363 Flash N/A N/A Standard
CPU364 Flash N/A N/A Standard
CPU374 Flash N/A N/A Standard
* Early versions of the CPU341 support optional EPROM and optional
EEPROM only. Starting with hardware version IC693CPU341-J and Firmware
version 4.61, only optional Flash is supported.
CPU Firmware
The CPU firmware contains the basic operating instructions for the PLC. Firmware is developed
by a GE Fanuc product engineering group. It is stored in either EPROM or Flash memory,
depending on the particular CPU.
CPU Firmware Upgrade (Update)
From time to time, new firmware is released. A new firmware version may contain support for
new features or improvements to existing features. Once a new version of CPU firmware is
released, all new CPU modules will be sold with that version. The Technical Support section of
the GE Fanuc Web site lists CPU revision histories, matching version numbers to associated
features. See Chapter 13 for information on the GE Fanuc Web site. Users who could benefit from
a new firmware release may choose to upgrade their CPU by installing new firmware. Upgrades
come in two formats, depending on the type of CPU to be upgraded. The ”CPU Firmware and
PROM Configuration” table in this chapter shows which type of firmware storage device each CPU
has. The two types are:
■ EPROM - For CPUs with firmware stored in EPROM, the upgrade is done by replacing the
CPU’s EPROM chips(s). The upgrade kit contains new EPROM chip(s), update labels, and
installation instructions. To upgrade the EPROM in an embedded CPU system, the module in
slot 1 must be unplugged to gain access to the PROM socket on the baseplate. In the case of a
modular CPU, the CPU must be unplugged and disassembled.
■ Flash - For CPUs with firmware stored in Flash, the upgrade is done by copying a new
firmware file to the CPU’s Flash memory. An upgrade kit may be purchased from GE Fanuc.
The upgrade kit contains the necessary files, update labels, and instructions. This method does
not require disassembling the module. The file downloading is done either through the port on