Firmware File Description
The programming file has the extension .CFA (CAEN Firmware Archive). It is an archiving file format that ag-
gregates all the programming files of the same firmware kind which are compa ble with the same digi zer
family.
The CFA naming conven on follows this general scheme:
• x724_rev_X.Y_W.Z.CFA for the waveform recording firmware
• x724_DPP-PHA_rev_X.Y_128.Z.CFA for the DPP-PHA firmware
• x724_DPP-DAW_rev_X.Y_137.Z.CFA for the DPP-DAW firmware
where x724 are all the supported boards (the 724 family includes DT5724, N6724, V1724, VX1724), X.Y is
the major/minor revision number of the mainboard FPGA, and W.Z is the major/minor revision number of
the channel FPGA.
The major revision number of the channel FPGA is a fixed number specific for each DPP and digi zer family,
and it can be equal or grater than 128 (for example, 724 series have 128 for PHA and 137 for DAW). The
waveform recording firmware major revision number is not fixed and it is less than 128.
Note
: DPP special firmware is a pay firmware requiring a license to be purchased. If not licensed, the
firmware can be loaded but it will run fully func onal with a me limita on per power cycle (30 minutes).
Details on the license ordering procedure are included in the CAENUpgrader guide
.
Troubleshooting
In case of upgrade failure (e.g. STD FLASH page is corrupted), the user can try to reboot the board: a er
a power cycle, the system programs the board automa cally from the alterna ve FLASH page (e.g. BKP
FLASH page), if this is not corrupted as well. The user can so perform a further upgrade a empt on the
STD page to restore the firmware copy.
Note
: old versions of the digi zer motherboard have a slightly different FLASH management. Use CAENUp-
grader 1.6.0 or later to get the BoardInfoFile (using the ”Get Informa on” func on) and check that the
FLASH_TYPE=0. Alterna vely, use a so ware u lity like CAENComm Demo to read at register address
0xF050 and check that bit[7]=0.
In this case, at power-on, the micro-controller loads exactly the firmware copy from the STD page of the
FLASH .
When a failure occurs during the upgrade of the STD page of the FLASH, which compromises the commu-
nica on with the N6724 , the user can perform the following recovering procedure as first a empt:
- force the board to reboot loading the copy of the firmware stored on the BKP page of the FLASH.
For this purpose, make sure to connect by USB link and use the Reboot func on in CAENUpgrader
so ware by checking “Bkp” op on .
- use CAENUpgrader to read the firmware revision (in this case the one of the BKP copy). If this suc-
ceeds, it is so possible to communicate again with the board;
- use CAENUpgrader to load the proper firmware file on the STD page, then power-cycle in order the
board to get opera ve again.
If neither of the procedures here described succeeds, it is recommended to send the board back to CAEN
in repair (see Chap.
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