E4406A -- failed firmware update

[n8ur]

Hi --

I was attempting to update my E4406A from an earlier firmware version and the process failed.  I think it was due to the firewall on the Windows XP virtual machine I was using.  After the update, the system goes through the entire boot process and brings up the X windows background then stops with:

Exec: load error: 8.  Process killed.
/users/arcturus/.xinitrc: 68 killed
Hostname is VSA
Firmware Exit, cycle power

The OS seems to be OK because it gets as far as the arcturus login before exiting.

I got my hands on an actual, physical WinXP machine and tried the manual update process per the instructions using a hub between the two devices.  I can't complete that because the SEA command returns only:

Path Number              Device Path
P0                             FLASH

So there is no LAN path to boot to.

The "boot information" screen shows primary boot path as "255.0" and alternate boot path as "SESCSI .6.0".  The IO information screen shows the LAN device is present.  The machine address info shows what seems to be a valid MAC address, which is what I used for the manual update attempt.  The memory command shows 4 64MB units, total 256MB.  The Warnings screen shows no errors other than that fastboot is enabled.

In the BOOT INFORMATION screen the top 3 options (Autoboot, Autosearch, Autostart) are all turned off.  Could the "Autosearch" setting be related to finding a network boot host?

Is there something I need to do to get the firmware updater and the E4406A to talk to each other?  Or is it possible to get to a shell that would allow me to configure the network via ifconfig or /etc/network?

I'm stumped; any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
John

[nexus]

I've done a lot of firmware updates on E444X PSA analyzers, which I believe run the same HP UNIX os. I also remember that when I first started, I had a hell of a time getting a LAN boot path to show up.

This is all due to firewalls and blocked ports. You will have to experiment with adding exceptions to ports and disabling TCP/UDP blocking in windows firewall until you can get the instrument to boot from LAN.

First, I would try using a crossover cable between the PC running the update and the instrument. Some switches can block layers of the traffic needed to allow the instrument to boot from LAN.

The next thing to do is to make sure your host PC is disconnected from the internet. Then go ahead and disable windows firewall on all networks (private, public, etc).

In windows firewall exceptions, add the IP address of your instrument to the exceptions.
Also, in the Agilent update program install folder (in your "Program Files") folder, there is an application called "bootpdnt". Add exceptions to this application in windows firewall as well. The run the update program again, restart the instrument and see if it recognizes your PC as a boot device while the update program is running and at the appropriate step.

[n8ur]

Thanks for that info, nexus!  I'll try a direct crossover cable (I've been using a switch that's isolated from the house network).  I'll also check the firewall rules.

But... I wonder if the E4406A even has the IP address still configured after the broken update?  So I'm not sure firewall rules at the IP level are doing anything.  However, if the bootpdnt program is being blocked from listening/talking, that could certainly explain it.

Thanks!

[nexus]

No problem. I believe there is a way to see or set the IP when the OS is unbootable.

I've attached 2 documents I saved which were for the PSA series analyzers but will probably also apply to the VSA as it runs a similar CPU/OS. These have instructions on firmware recovery and update procedures.

Hopefully you are able to reinstall the fw and get it up and running again!

[nexus]

bootpdnt program is being blocked from listening/talking, that could certainly explain it

Also, make sure you set bootpdnt to run as administrator. there is also another application in the same folder called "tftpdnt" which i also set to run with administrator as well.

[n8ur]

Following up... I think it was a firewall setting.  I didn't actually change anything (on purpose), but after going into the windows firewall settings and ticking/unticking the exception boxes for the two programs, the PC was able to find the analyzer. 

The update went successfully, but (as I was afraid might happen) I apparently lost the synthesizer coefficients so it says it's using defaults.  Since I wasn't able to talk to the instrument, I wasn't able to back up the files before doing the reload. 

That would be OK, except that there's a -50 dBm spur at about +300 kHz that wasn't there before.  I haven't had the courage yet to look into what is required to do that calibration.  Time to do some research.

Thanks again!
John

[nexus]

Glad you were able to reload the OS and get it running!

It probably needed a cal due to age; hopefully someone has info on how to do a manual calibration on this unit, or perhaps your local cal lab might give you a break on the price for a standard cal.

[n8ur]

After looking at the service guide, I think we can find all the test equipment needed to do a cal, but it looks like there is PC software required to run the calibration, so I need to find that.  Never a dull moment...

[Tony_G]

If you do find the software, please post a link because I looked for it some time ago and was unsuccessful - It seemed to be something that Keysight had made available and then pulled back from GA.

I have a couple of E4406As and would like to run them through a cal without taking them into a "proper" cal lab.

TonyG

[picburner]

The software you are looking for is called N7812A.
With foresight I had made a copy when it was still freely downloadable from Agilent website long ago. I can't post it here because the size exceeds 19MB.
I can send it via wetranfer if you want a copy. Send me the request in PM with your email.

[KE5FX]

The software you are looking for is called N7812A.
With foresight I had made a copy when it was still freely downloadable from Agilent website long ago. I can't post it here because the size exceeds 19MB.
I can send it via wetranfer if you want a copy. Send me the request in PM with your email.

You might consider sending it to Didier at ko4bb.com.  Sounds like it'd be very helpful to many E4406A owners.

[giovannirat]

You can find this software (and other's) on web archive too.

https://web.archive.org/web/20220710044530/https://cal.software.keysight.com/

[picburner]

You might consider sending it to Didier at ko4bb.com.  Sounds like it'd be very helpful to many E4406A owners.

This is what I normally do with hard to find manuals and various instrument eprom dumps.
In this case it is software and for this reason I did not immediately put it on the ko4bb website.
However if I place it there, it would not be immediately available because it needs approval, for those who want it quickly there is the system proposed in the previous message.

While I was writing a new message arrived which solves the problem.

[KE5FX]

It still seems to be posted at https://cal.software.keysight.com, but there is a note on the page saying it requires a license key.  Not clear if that applies to all of the applications or just the core TME environment.

[nexus]

Were you ever able to run the N7800 software for your unit? Afaik it is license key restricted, even though you need a physical cal lab to use it properly. There are a lot of useful adjustments, however, that would could do even without cal gear if we could run N7800 apps for various instruments.

[Tony_G]

It still seems to be posted at https://cal.software.keysight.com, but there is a note on the page saying it requires a license key.  Not clear if that applies to all of the applications or just the core TME environment.

That jogged the memory - I could get the software but when I contacted Keysight about acquiring a license key they told me that it was no longer for sale - Seemed a bit strange at the time as it was still listed on their website - I didn't bother going any further with it.

TonyG

[KE5FX]

So what is the modern equivalent to SoftICE, anyway?  Ghidra?  IDA Pro?     My formerly-'1337 h4x0r skillz are about 25 years out of date.