Using LXFP to Upgrade Telit Firmware

NOTE: This feature is NOT available on mLinux 5.3.x or higher.

You can use the LXFP utility to upgrade your device’s Telit cellular radio firmware. The device has LXFP already installed. The process is virtually the same for each mLinux™ device with the exception of using a different upgrade file (.bin) depending on the type of cellular radio.

For MTCAP-LNA3 users: When using lxfp utility in mLinux to flash Telit LE910-NA1 Dual Firmware module (used in MTCAP-LNA3) with Verizon firmware, verify that you are flashing a .bin file which is LE910-NA1 Dual Firmware SKU aware. If you flash the wrong file (not dual firmware), the module will permanently become a single firmware image LE910-NA1 module. Single firmware files are typically half the file size of the dual firmware (20 MB vs. 40 MB). Telit labels their dual firmware modules as “single SKU” on its hardware.

  1. Connect Ethernet cable between device and PC.
  2. Supply 5V Power to device.
  3. Create a terminal session (via SSH) to the device using WINSCP or similar application. To create a connection to the device on port 22 at its last configured IP address (default 192.168.2.1) Use the last configured username and password (default username: root, default password: root).
  4. Enter the following command to verify the correct version of mLinux :
       cat /etc/mlinux-version
  5. Enter the following command to access cellular module:
       microcom /dev/modem_at0
  6. Enter following command to the existing version of cellular radio firmware:
       AT+GMR
        Hit Ctrl+X to exit.
  7. Obtain the firmware binary file. (Read warning shown above.)
  8. Use your SCP application to transfer the binary file into the MTCAP /tmp folder.
  9. In this first SSH session,
      1. Enter the following commands to verify the current directory contains the transferred binary file:
        cd /tmp
        ls –l
      2. Type the following command in the indicated format but DO NOT hit enter (only change the file name below to match the firmware file you are flashing). Leave this session open to submit this command later:
         sudo lxfp <filename> /dev/ttyUSB0 -d9 -u -t 90

    As an example, for Conduit® MTCDT-LVW2  or MTCAP-LNA3 (dual radio version):

                             sudo lxfp stream_LE910_SV1_1G_SKU-20.00.012-B045.bin /dev/ttyUSB0 -d9 -u -t 90

                              For Conduit MTCDT-LEU1/LAT1:
                             sudo lxfp stream_LE910_SV1_1G_SKU-20.00.012-B045.bin /dev/ttyUSB0 -d7 -u -t 90

  10. Create a second SSH session to the device using the same login information provided in step 3.
  11. In this second session, enter the following command to access the modem:
       sudo microcom /dev/modem_at0
  12. In the first session, hit enter to submit the command you modified earlier in step 10.
  13. In the second SSH session, immediately enter the following command to restart the modem:
       AT#REBOOT
  14. If the timing between steps 13 and 14 is successful, the following output displays in the first SSH Session:root@mtcap:~# lxfp stream_LE910_SV1_1G_SKU-20.00.012-B045.bin /dev/ttyUSB0 -d9 -u -t 90
    INFO: lxfp version: lxfp UC.00.05
    INFO: xfp Device chosen: LE V2 family
    INFO: xfp Connection chosen: USB
    INFO: xfp stream header size: 194 bytes
    INFO: xfp stream sw version: 20.00.012-B045
    INFO: xfp stream product name: LE910_SV1_1G_SKU
    INFO: xfp stream memory type: 6
    INFO: xfp stream version: 5
    INFO: xfp stream speed offset: 331200
    INFO: xfp stream ack boot offset: 71514
    INFO: Forced boot delay 90 ms
    INFO: xfp enterBootMode Power on the device to start flashing…
    INFO:
    INFO: xfp enterBootMode Boot mode OK
    INFO: Flashing started. It may take several minutes, do not switch the modem off.
    INFO: Sending chunk 0, not waiting for ack
    INFO: Sending chunk 1, not waiting for ack
    INFO: Sending chunk 2, not waiting for ack
    INFO: Sending chunk 3, not waiting for ack
    INFO: Elapsed time: 21 seconds
    INFO: xfp Stream uploaded successfully, installed version 20.00.012-B045
  15. If steps 10-14 did not result in an upload success message, repeat steps 10-14 varying the timing of steps 13 and 14 as needed.
  16. If steps 10-14 did result in an upload success message, wait five minutes to ensure the module has enough time to apply the firmware.
  17. After five minutes, enter the following command to reboot the device:
       sudo shutdown now -r
  18. Create a new SSH session to the device using the same login information provided in step 3.
  19. Enter the following command to access cellular module:
       sudo microcom /dev/modem_at0
  20. Issue following command to confirm correct version is now present:
       AT+GMR

Additional notes

  • LNA3 module contains two firmware images which can be loaded for use via AT#FWSWITCH command.
    • To determine the version currently in use Issue following command:
      AT#FWSWITCH?
      If response is:
      #FWSWITCH:  0   (AT&T Firmware is currently Loaded)
      #FWSWITCH:  1   (VZW Firmware is currently Loaded)
    • To change firmware version issue following command and wait for module to reboot:
      AT#FWSWITCH=0   (AT&T Firmware is currently Loaded)
      AT#FWSWITCH=1   (VZW Firmware is currently Loaded)