Why Upgrade your vb Firmware or Operating System?
Firmware
What is the Firmware? The firmware is the program that controls how the vb Instrument functions, similar to computer programs such as Microsoft Word or Photoshop.
Why upgrade? As Commtest instruments continue product development new firmware releases will be made available to customers*. Each new firmware may contain some or all of the following: New features, improved features, performance increases, stability improvements, language translation and bug fixes.
* Development has been discontinued for the "vb Classic" range of products, this includes: vb1000, vb2000, vb3000, MMS3000 and MMS6000 / Profiler
Customers are encouraged to keep their instrument upgraded to the latest firmware available for their language.
Which Firmware? It is best practice to match the firmware to the version of Ascent installed (vbX Manager for vb Balancer instruments). Each Ascent release will contain the latest firmware available for each instrument type. NOTE: Ascent can communicate with instruments with firmware older than the Ascent release, but not with newer firmware.
How to upgrade? Please refer to the Ascent user guide "Upgrading an instrument using Proflash"
Operating System
What is the operating system? vb Instruments contain a computer module that contains a CPU and operating system, similar to your PC's CPU and Microsoft Windows.
Why upgrade? Periodically the manufacture of the computer module, used in the vb Instrument, will release a new operating system. The new operating system will be required with some firmware releases, Commtest will advise customers of such requirements on our website and in the release notes for each applicable release.
How to upgrade? Please refer to the release notes with each applicable release.
FAQ ID: 18015 Last Reviewed: 15 January 2010