Update Iomega Drive Firmware

Iomega ix2-200

Brian Drew February 17, 2012

 Why do this?
I use my Iomega ix2-200 a lot. Every once and a while I check for firmware
updates and today noticed one to upgrade the drive firmware.
It read - This update provides performance improvements for your StorCenter
ix2-200 and ix4-200d. Iomega recommends this update for all units.
Performance Improvements you say? I like my ix2 but speedy it is not.
It turned out to be one of those long drawn out things.
So I decided to capture it in the hopes of saving someone else the agony.
Im a Windows user. The Iomega system runs on Unix. I needed to utilities to make
things happen. Here is what I used:

Terminal Emulation I use Putty. Its free and works great.

Script Editor - EditPadLite 7 free for personal use
File Manager 7-Zip free tar ball creator
Secure Copy WinSCP free
 Get the Firmware

https://iomega-na-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/24661
Toward the bottom is a download which you need to get.

Get this

There are full instructions there for a USB based update, but the USB
method didnt work for me. So I had some fun piecing together the
following solution.

*** Use the information in these pages at your own risk. I recommend
backing up anything on the Iomega that you may want to keep. Although
this went smooth for me, you just never know ***
 Configure ssh Access to your Iomega
Yes, you heard me right ssh to your ix2. Turns out its Unix based inside there.
Go to the web site of your Iomega and login if you have security set. Itll look
something like this:

change this part of url

to this

Change home
to support
 ssh Access to Iomega part 2
These options are then revealed.

Click this
To get that

Until you uncheck this, if ever, youll

see this on the Dashboard
 ssh Access to Iomega part 3

Fire up your terminal emulation app. I use Putty.

These are the only options to set:
After clicking Open
Youll end up at the login as:
Prompt, use root
And for password there are 2 scenarios to determine it.
If you have never set a password on your ix2, password = soho
If you have a password, password = soho<your_password>
i.e. if your regular password is happy then use sohohappy for root
password
And youll be logged into your Iomega as if its a Unix system
 Run the Download
Because it is a Unix system.

Time to run
It must have a USB drive.
When done youll have a directory
Inside are more directories
You can delete non-applicable Model #s
But keep the Seagate directory
And that matching your Iomega Model #
Inside the model # directory is a script that needs minor modification.
 Edit script
I edited very little actually. As there is no usb_drive mounted, you either
have to get the USB drive piece working and go that route or modify the
path in the script

Before In StorCenter, Settings, Disks

After
 Create Archive
My directory and file structure looked like this just prior to zipping up and
copying over.
Emctools --> Removed other .bins as mine
is the 1tb model.

Our modified script

At least with 7-zip, just right-click on the emctools directory and select 7-
Zip and Add to Archive. In the window select Archive Format: tar
Thats it, click OK. Now you have this:

Now all we need to do is get it to the Iomega and run it.

 Copy Archive to Iomega
In WinSCP

Your soho based password

Select SCP not the default

After clicking Log In, you get this side-by-side view

Your PC Iomega

Just drag and

drop the .tar
 Copy Archive to Iomega - part 2
As you are drag and dropping, when you release the mouse on the Iomega
side, you get this prompt:

Click Transfer settings..

Select Binary mode

Then Copy. Itll take about 2 seconds.

 Extract files from the Archive
Go to the Putty session and execute a ls to make sure you see it
Then use tar xf emctools.tar to extract all fines from the archive
Then use ./preimage.sh to run the script

When finished it says to reboot so reboot.

Too confirm the update took place for both drives open StorCenter
Go to Settings --> Disks

You should now see CC38