Adder Support Wiki | ALIF: Upgrading the Firmware on a Transmitter or Receiver

The following instructions are for upgrading endpoints (TX's & RX's) directly, for upgrading via the AIM please read Upgrading Endpoints using the AIM Manager. Please read the Accessing an Endpoint TX or RX Directly page if you are not sure how to configure your host computer. This is only available on an endpoint that is not under AIM control. To release an endpoint from AIM Control you will need to factory reset it.

Download Firmware

You should always download the latest version of firmware from our main website at http://www.adder.com. This is to ensure that you benefit from the latest features and fixes. If your transmitter or receiver is running less than 3.7 or 4.4 then please read the Longevity release information.

Models: ALIF1000T/R, ALIF1002T/R, ALIF2000R, ALIF2002T, ALIF2020T/R, ALIF2112T, ALIF100T & ALIF101T

Main and Backup Firmware

The firmware is typically released with two upgrade files per model, a main and backup firmware, both of which should be applied to the endpoint. Unless told otherwise, the main firmware should be upgraded first and then the backup. The backup firmware exists as a recovery mode, in the unlikely event that there is a problem when uploading the main firmware. An endpoint can be manually placed in backup mode by turning dipswitch 1 (one) on the rear of the product ON. It can also automatically go into backup mode if the bootloader detects that the main firmware is corrupt.

In backup mode, you will notice that all of the LED's on the front of the product will continually blink simultaneously. This is a cut-down operational mode, in that you can access its web interface to upgrade it, however, there will be no video, USB or audio activity. Either turning dipswitch 1 (one) OFF or reloading the main firmware in the unlikely event that the firmware is corrupt will allow it to start normally after a reboot.

Boot Firmware

It is not necessary to upgrade the boot firmware unless explicitly told to do so. The boot firmware is not typically supplied with the firmware updates, with the exception of versions 3.7 and 4.4 where is it built into the update.

The endpoints have three pieces of firmware installed.main, backup and boot. The boot firmware (also known as a boot loader) is used to initialise the unit and determine whether to start from the main or backup firmware.

Firmware Version File Format:

Model	Firmware Main	Firmware Backup
ALIF1000R	upgrade_main_adder.bin.rx.x.x.xxxxx	upgrade_backup_adder.bin.rx.x.x.xxxxx
ALIF1000T	upgrade_main_adder.bin.tx.x.x.xxxxx	upgrade_backup_adder.bin.tx.x.x.xxxxx
ALIF1002R	upgrade_dvix2_main_adder.bin.rxs.x.x.xxxxx	upgrade_dvix2_backup_adder.bin.rxs.x.x.xxxxx
ALIF1002T	upgrade_dvix2_main_adder.bin.txs.x.x.xxxxx	upgrade_dvix2_backup_adder.bin.txs.x.x.xxxxx
ALIF100T-DP/DVI	upgrade_dvix2_main_adder.bin.txd.x.x.xxxxx	upgrade_dvix2_backup_adder.bin.txd.x.x.xxxxx
ALIF100T-VGA	upgrade_dvix2_main_adder.bin.txf.x.x.xxxxx	upgrade_dvix2_backup_adder.bin.txf.x.x.xxxxx
ALIF101T-DVI	upgrade_dvix2_main_adder.bin.txg.x.x.xxxxx	upgrade_dvix2_backup_adder.bin.txg.x.x.xxxxx
ALIF101T-HDMI	upgrade_dvix2_main_adder.bin.txh.x.x.xxxxx	upgrade_dvix2_backup_adder.bin.txh.x.x.xxxxx
ALIF101T-DP	upgrade_dvix2_main_adder.bin.txi.x.x.xxxxx	upgrade_dvix2_backup_adder.bin.txi.x.x.xxxxx
ALIF1102R	upgrade_dvix3_main_adder.bin.rxs.x.x.xxxxx	N/A^*
ALIF1102T	upgrade_dvix3_main_adder.bin.txs.x.x.xxxxx	N/A^*
ALIF1104T	upgrade_dvix3_main_adder.bin.txh.x.x.xxxxx	N/A^*
ALIF2000R	upgrade_dvix2_main_adder.bin.rx.x.x.xxxxx	upgrade_dvix2_backup_adder.bin.rx.x.x.xxxxx
ALIF2000T	upgrade_dvix2_main_adder.bin.tx.x.x.xxxxx	upgrade_dvix2_backup_adder.bin.tx.x.x.xxxxx
ALIF2002T	upgrade_dvix2_main_adder.bin.txb.x.x.xxxxx	upgrade_dvix2_backup_adder.bin.txb.x.x.xxxxx
ALIF2020R	upgrade_dvix2_main_adder.bin.rxt.x.x.xxxxx	upgrade_dvix2_backup_adder.bin.rxt.x.x.xxxxx
ALIF2020T	upgrade_dvix2_main_adder.bin.txt.x.x.xxxxx	upgrade_dvix2_backup_adder.bin.txt.x.x.xxxxx
ALIF2112T	upgrade_dvix2_main_adder.bin.txv.x.x.xxxxx	upgrade_dvix2_backup_adder.bin.txv.x.x.xxxxx
ALIF2102R/ALIF2122R	upgrade_dvix3_main_adder.bin.rxa.x.x.xxxxx	N/A^*
ALIF2102T/ALIF2122T	upgrade_dvix3_main_adder.bin.txa.x.x.xxxxx	N/A^*
ALIF2124T	upgrade_dvix3_main_adder.bin.txb.x.x.xxxxx	N/A^*
ALIF2102T/R & ALIF2122T/R (Direct)	ALIF2100_Vx.xx.tar	N/A^*
ALIF3000R	upgrade_dvix8_main_adder.bin.rx.x.x.xxxxx	N/A^*
ALIF4021R/ALIF4001R (via AIM)	upgrade_dvix4_main_adder.bin.rx.x.x.xxxxx	N/A^*
ALIF4021T/ALIF4001T (via AIM)	upgrade_dvix4_main_adder.bin.tx.x.x.xxxxx	N/A^*
ALIF4021T/R & ALIF4001T/R (Direct)	ALIF4021_Vx.xx.tar	N/A^*

^{*The product does not need a backup firmware version and it allows you to revert back to the previous version of the firmware.}

Preparation

The following instructions assume that you are connecting via the system port on its link-local 169.254.1.x network range. This is typically a 1Gb only port, therefore the host computer that you are using to access the endpoint most also support a 1Gb network connection.

On the Receiver:

Connect the PC/Mac to the network port on the RX.
Login to the RX web interface on the System Port (default IP 169.254.1.32)
Go to the “Firmware Update” Menu.
Click on Choose File.
Locate and Select the upgrade_dvix2_main_adder.bin.rxx.x.x.xxxxx from the appropriate model folder. This is the Main firmware image.
Click Upgrade Now
You should see a progress bar on the screen showing you the progress of the upgrade. This will take 2-3 minutes or so, during the upgrade you will see the lights on the front all come on and off.
When it is complete, you will be able to refresh the web browser and see the Web interface again.
Go to the Firmware Update Menu.
Click on Choose File.
Locate and Select the upgrade_dvix2_backup_adder.bin.rxx.x.x.xxxxx from the appropriate model folder. This is the Backup firmware image.
Click Upgrade Now
This is much quicker than upgrading the main firmware and will take 1-2 minutes.
When it is complete, you will be able to refresh the web browser and see the Web interface again.
On the Web interface click on About.
Check that the Main and Backup System versions show that they are now x.x.xxxxx.

On the Transmitter:

Connect the PC/Mac to the network port on the TX.
Login to the TX web interface on the System Port (default IP 169.254.1.33)
Go to the Firmware Update Menu.
Click on Choose File.
Locate and Select the upgrade_dvix2_main_adder.bin.txx.x.x.xxxxx from the appropriate model folder. This is the Main firmware image.
Click Upgrade Now
You should see a progress bar on the screen showing you the progress of the upgrade. This will take 2-3 minutes or so, during the upgrade you will see the lights on the front all come on and off.
When it is complete, you will be able to refresh the web browser and see the Web interface again.
Go to the Firmware Update Menu.
Click on Choose File.
Locate and Select the upgrade_dvix2_backup_adder.bin.txx.x.x.xxxxx from the appropriate model folder. This is the Backup firmware image.
Click Upgrade Now
This is much quicker than upgrading the main firmware and will take 1-2 minutes.
When it is complete, you will be able to refresh the web browser and see the Web interface again.
On the Web interface click on About.
Check that the Main and Backup System versions show that they are now x.x.xxxxx.

Models: ALIF3000

The ALIF3000 can only be upgraded via the AIM Manager.

Models: ALIF1102, ALIF1104, ALIF2102, ALIF2122, ALIF4001 & ALIF4021

There are three ways of upgrading the firmware on the ALIF1102, ALIF1104, ALIF2102, ALIF2122, ALIF400 and ALIF4021 transmitters and receivers. The method depends on your access to the units, whether it is over a network or through the web interface.

The firmware upgrade package for each endpoint model typically contains three upgrade files, Two files are used when upgrading via the AIM Manager, and the other file listed below can be used to upgrade both the receiver and transmitter directly.

ALIF1102 & ALIF1104: 'ALIF1100_Vx.xx.tar''
ALIF2102 & ALIF2122: 'ALIF2100_Vx.xx.tar''
ALIF4001 & ALIF4021: 'ALIF4021_Vx.xx.tar''

Upgrade using the OSD and USB memory stick

A transmitter can only be upgraded via a receiver if upgrading using the method.

Copy the appropriate Upgrade file to the root folder of the USB Memory stick
Connect the USB Memory stick to the RX Note: Do not connect the USB Memory stick to USB port 1 (high-speed), it will not be recognised.
Use hotkey (CTRL+ALT+C as default) to open OSD and navigate to the System page
In the Upgrade section, select “From USB”, and then select the version from the drop-down menu
Click upgrade, and reboot the unit when prompted

To upgrade the TX – go to Transmitters tab , click on the settings icon ,and repeat steps 4 and 5

Upgrade using the OSD and URL

For this method, the RX and TX must be connected to a network with a host running a web server. The transmitter can either be upgraded via the RX or directly on its own web interface.

Copy the appropriate Upgrade file to your webserver.
Use hotkey (CTRL+ALT+C as default) to open OSD and navigate to the System page
In the Upgrade section, select “From URL”, and then select the version from the drop-down menu
Enter the URL including the file name of the upgrade file. For example http://<IPADDRESS>/MODEL_VX.XX.tar, for example http://192.168.1.1/ALIF2100_V1.23
Click upgrade, and reboot the unit when prompted