Control Techniques

Division of Nidec Motor Corporation

7078 Shady Oak Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3505 USA
T: +1 952 995-8000
www.controltechniques.com
This Application Note is specific to the CT products that can host a SM-Ethernet module
This includes the Unidrive SP, Mentor MP, Digitax ST, and Commander SK series drives

Updating the SM-Ethernet Module Firmware

Background - The SM-Ethernet module has a provision to update the firmware via the build-in Web
interface. Newer features (such as EtherNet-IP support) are added to the SM-Ethernet via firmware
update. This app note will highlight the instructions provided in the User Guide and add helpful detail,
where appropriate.

Scope – This Application note assumes that the audience has already connected to, and obtained
web browser access to the SM-Ethernet Module, and is in possession of the “root” account password.
This password is assigned a value of “ut72” on a brand new unit.

This Application note also assumes that the audience has the desired firmware update package in
their possession, and this package is accessible on the PC / Laptop computer that this firmware
update will be performed from. Please contact the author, or CT Technical Support for additional
assistance, if these assumptions cannot be met.

Meeting these assumptions will require:

• SM-Ethernet Module (requiring update) “fitted” to a Unidrive-SP that can be powered up.
• PC / Laptop computer running a supported version of Windows. Win98SE (or greater) is
known to work.
• World Wide Web browser installed and functioning on the PC / Laptop computer. Internet
Explorer version 5.5 SP2 (or greater) is known to work.
• A suitable connection (media) between the computer and the module.

Other Operating Systems with working World Wide Web Browsers may also work, but have not been
tested by this author, and will not be covered in this application note. This application note illustrates
the SM-Ethernet Module configured at the default IP address of 192.168.1.100.
Quick-start Instructions
1. If not yet powered up, apply power to the Unidrive-SP “fitted” with the module to be updated.
2. Connect to the SM-Ethernet module via Web browser, using the SM-Ethernet IP address.
3. Navigate to the “CONFIGURATION” menu option from the opening web page and left-click on
the “Update” option.
4. Left-click on the “Log-in” arrow at “Please Log in to access this page” and log in into the SM-
Ethernet module “root” account.
5. Left-click on the “Update” menu option, from the now visible “Security Overview” web page.
6. Browse to the firmware update package “reflash.pkg”.
7. Left-click on the “UPLOAD” button to begin the firmware update process with the selected file
package.

Do not reset or power down the drive when uploading firmware as this may result in data loss or corruption of system file!

8. Firmware uploads can take a few minutes and the status of the update will be shown on
screen. Once completed, this page will announce the need for a reset to make the changes
active.

7078 Shady Oak Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3505

+1 952 995-8000 www.controltechniques.com
1
Illustrated step-by-step Instructions
If not yet powered up, apply power to the Unidrive-SP “fitted” with the module to be updated. Connect
to the SM-Ethernet module via Web browser, using the SM-Ethernet IP address.

CAUTION! If the SM-Ethernet firmware version is Version 01.00.00, stop. Upgrading directly to version
01.03.02 is known to corrupt the password file, rendering the module un-usable. Please contact the
Author or the North America Service Center under these circumstances.

Navigate to the “CONFIGURATION” menu option from the opening web page and left-click on the
“Update” option. The SM-Ethernet module will inform you at this point that you have not logged in.

Left-click on the “Log-in” arrow at “Please Log in to access this page”

7078 Shady Oak Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3505

+1 952 995-8000 www.controltechniques.com
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Enter “root” into the Username and the root password into the Password field, then left-click on the
“LOG-IN” button to access the SM-Ethernet module “root” account.

Left-click on the “Update” menu option, from the now visible “Security Overview” web page

7078 Shady Oak Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3505

+1 952 995-8000 www.controltechniques.com
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Browse to the firmware update package “reflash.pkg”

Caution before performing the next series of steps!

Do not reset or power down the drive when uploading firmware as

this may result in data loss or corruption of system file!

7078 Shady Oak Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3505

+1 952 995-8000 www.controltechniques.com
4
Left-click on the “UPLOAD” button, to begin the firmware update process with the selected file
package.

Do not reset or power down the drive

Firmware uploads can take a few minutes and the status of the update will be shown on screen. Once
completed, this page will announce the need for a reset to make the changes active. Left click on
“APPLY” to begin this process.

Do not reset or power down the drive

7078 Shady Oak Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3505

+1 952 995-8000 www.controltechniques.com
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Note that this step takes longer than one might expect, be patient. This page is displayed while the
reset is in progress, and not yet complete.

Do not reset or power down the drive

View after the Firmware Update has Completed…

For SM-Ethernet module firmware Version 01.03.00, one can now observe “EtherNet IP” option under
“PROTOCOLS”.

7078 Shady Oak Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3505

+1 952 995-8000 www.controltechniques.com
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Resources: can be found on our website: www.controltechniques.com
For help contact techsupport.cta@mail.nidec.com, or
call Technical Support at 952-995-8000, 24/7/365

7078 Shady Oak Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3505

+1 952 995-8000 www.controltechniques.com
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