Trouble flashing cRIO

[gvarndell]

Originally Posted by oddjob

Our team also had a very difficult time reimaging the cRIO. The strategy that worked for us was to set the cRIO into Safe mode, cycle power, reformat using the Image app, exit Safe mode, cycle power, then Image it fully to v19 C++. That worked from the Classmate, on which we installed the complete suite of FRC software. We also have a laptop and it didn't work from that at all, so that needs all the FRC software uninstalled and reinstalled.

You should not have had to try all those things.
By breaking down the individual steps of the process, you alter the timing of steps and you can certainly arrive at an accidental success.
I noted no fewer than 4, and maybe up to 6, reboots of the cRio while trying to image it.
Each time (when direct cable connected) my laptop noted the link loss and went into fairly lengthy recovery.
Ethernet hubs are very cheap and I'd hazard a guess that most teams have a couple of them that they haven't even used in quite a while.
I'm convinced that using a hub or switch between any PC and the cRio will eliminate all the try this (I call it voodoo because you might as well sacrifice a chicken too while you're at it) and try that.

Note - disable Windows Firewall and UAC. Both have the potential to silently interfere with the software installation and Imaging process so it might fail and you aren't sure why.

That is good advice.

EDIT: I do not endorse sacrificing chickens, but I do like KFC original recipe.

[Mr. Lim]

I second gvarndell's advice,

However I'll throw into the mix that the Classmate PC's LAN connector seems to play nice when link is lost and regained during a cRIO reboot. Your own laptop or desktop's mileage may vary. Our team exclusively re-images our cRIO using the Classmate PC via a direct crossover cable.

In another thread, I mentioned that our team has had issues relating to the supplied gaskets and/or debris causing intermittent communications problems with the cRIO.

We installed the cRIO gaskets included in this year's kit, and could no longer reflash our cRIO. We removed them, and we were able to reflash again. It was very bizarre, because our cRIO was otherwise clean inside. I suppose it shows foreign objects can influence communications quite a bit.

Given the nature of last years game and the amount of static electricity that was generated, it might be wise to do a little house cleaning on the inside of the cRIO by dusting them off with some compressed air.

[oddjob]

Originally Posted by gvarndell

I'm convinced that using a hub or switch between any PC and the cRio will eliminate all the try this (I call it voodoo because you might as well sacrifice a chicken too while you're at it) and try that.

I do think you have highlighted a potential problem for those using a direct wired connection. I guess it depends on if the laptop ethernet is dropping connection and then is recovering quickly enough, so it would be a YMMV thing and some laptops would not have a problem, and some would. We've been using the same laptop and connection all along, until the cRIO started rufusing to accept a new Image.

[Bryscus]

Originally Posted by gvarndell

I know this thread began over 2 weeks ago and the OP may no longer be having this particular problem.

However, I've just gone through the re-imaging process several times and I see why so many people have been having trouble with it.

You should not direct connect (crossover cable or not) your PC to the cRio when re-imaging.
Use cable instead of wireless, but use a switch or hub between the cRio and the PC.
The reason is the cRio is rebooted several times during the imaging process.
Each time the cRio reboots, it has the potential to disrupt link status on your PC LAN connection.
The time it takes your PC to recover from the lost link status, and the extent to which that makes your PC unable to communicate with the cRio is more or less -- depending on your machine.

In my case, this morning, my laptop would not successfully image the cRio with a direct cable connection. After putting a switch in between, it worked first time. The switch prevents my wired port from losing link status when the cRio boots and that made all the difference.

gvarndell,

We have not had problems re-flashing the cRio until v20 of the image. Now, no matter what we try it will not re-flash (however, we have not tried the safe mode format yet). We have tried direct connection with multiple computers with both a normal and crossover cable and have also used the supplied N-router as a switch between the programming computer and cRio. Interestingly enough, the FRCLabVIEWUpdate2.1for2010.zip update does not seem to re-install itself and I can't find any place to uninstall it. None of the program files (shortcuts, exes, etc) are updated and if I delete the zipped image of the cRio down in the NI installation folder on the computer, it will not replace the deleted file (again suggesting it is not reinstalling). Also, it won't install the older version - FRCLabVIEWUpdate2.0for2010.zip - either. I can't get the v19 image back.

- Bryce

P.S. Really, NI? You don't allow for REINSTALLATION!? The only solution I can see at this point is to completely uninstall and re-install LabView and then the updates. That's if formatting in safe mode won't work.

[simpsonboy77]

Bryscus,

I too had problems reflashing v20. I kept getting the "check your subnet error". My team had the luxury of having 2 cRios, so I loaded v20 on the 2009 cRio, and it took the first time. If you use wireshark or another network protocol analyzer and only see UDP packets then it will fail. The actual transfer seemed like FTP. After verifying that that one accepted and worked, I did the following the stubborn one.

I turned the cRio off. I then switched it to safe mode. You can't image in safe mode, but you can reformat it. So I reformatted it, and once it completed I powered it down. Switch it back to normal mode, then power it up. I then reimaged it normally. I'm not sure, but it might be worth noting that the time after the reformat I forgot to set a team number, so it was on 0. I don't think it matters but it is exactly what I did. I then reimaged it with the correct team number.

Before you do these steps remember, if the cRio doesn't take the image after the reformat then it will not run your code. If possible have a computer read the console output, sometimes you find a really helpful clue.

[Bryscus]

Originally Posted by simpsonboy77

Bryscus,

I too had problems reflashing v20. I kept getting the "check your subnet error". My team had the luxury of having 2 cRios, so I loaded v20 on the 2009 cRio, and it took the first time. If you use wireshark or another network protocol analyzer and only see UDP packets then it will fail. The actual transfer seemed like FTP. After verifying that that one accepted and worked, I did the following the stubborn one.

I turned the cRio off. I then switched it to safe mode. You can't image in safe mode, but you can reformat it. So I reformatted it, and once it completed I powered it down. Switch it back to normal mode, then power it up. I then reimaged it normally. I'm not sure, but it might be worth noting that the time after the reformat I forgot to set a team number, so it was on 0. I don't think it matters but it is exactly what I did. I then reimaged it with the correct team number.

Before you do these steps remember, if the cRio doesn't take the image after the reformat then it will not run your code. If possible have a computer read the console output, sometimes you find a really helpful clue.

simpsonboy77,

I appreciate your quick response. Are you, by any chance, using CAN this year? Another team member of mine just emailed another post. http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...light=cRio+v20 post #5. It appears that either CAN plugin, 2CAN or BlackJag will cause the cRio to not be able to flash correctly. I will try re-flashing with the reference to the BlackJagPlugin removed and see if that works, and then try your method if it does not. Again, thanks for the help. I'll try to repost with the solution (assuming we end up with one).

- Bryce

P.S. The plugin would make sense because we have not re-flashed since adding the plugin reference.