CHAPTER 4: MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING
SNAP PAC R-Series Controller User’s Guide
41
Using the MicroSD Card
SNAP PAC controllers with a manufacturing date code of 11/08 (November 2008) and newer
have a microSD card slot in the top of the controller’s case. On a controller with a microSD card
slot, the STAT LED blinks briefly about once every five seconds, indicating that the controller is
checking to see if a card is in place.
IMPORTANT:
Since the first release, card behavior has changed. If you are using firmware older
than R9.0a, follow the instructions in
Using microSD with Older Controller Firmware Technical Note
instead of this document.
To determine firmware version, see
. To download the latest firmware (recommended), go to
and filter by Firmware.
Card Type and Format
Use only cards with the microSD or microSDHC logos (shown above right). Also, be aware that card capacity,
formatting, and filename limits vary depending on your controller, its firmware and loader, and the card type
you are using:
IMPORTANT: Minimum controller firmware version R9.4a and loader version R6.1a are required to use microSDHC
cards. For more information, see
OptoKnowledgeBase article KB83929
.
MicroSD/SDHC Card Uses
Note minimum requirements in the table above. The card can be used for several purposes:
•
To store data or files, which you can access using PAC Control commands or an FTP client. (PAC Manager
cannot be used to access data, because it cannot see the card’s directory.)
•
To quickly commission a replacement controller in the unlikely event that a controller fails.
•
To update firmware on the controller or on a serial communication module on the controller’s rack. The
card provides a convenient way to update firmware on non-networked controllers. It’s also useful if PAC
Manager is not available to update firmware.
•
To temporarily boot the controller from firmware on the microSD card rather than from the firmware in
the controller, for example to test new firmware.
•
To update, run, or test new PAC Control strategies if the controller is not on the network, if PAC Control
isn’t available, or if you want to test a new strategy without erasing the existing one.
Controller firmware
Compatible
cards
Card format
Max card
capacity
Filename limits
Firmware 9.4a or higher
and
loader 6.1a or higher
microSDHC
FAT32
32 GB
Long names OK
microSD
FAT32 or FAT16
2 GB
Long names OK
R9.0a to R9.3e
microSD
FAT16
2 GB
8 dot 3*
Lower than R9.0**
microSD
FAT16
2 GB
8 dot 3*
* All files stored on the microSD card must be named with a maximum of eight characters in the name
plus three characters in the extension (8 dot 3 format), for example: datafile.txt
** The card behaves differently using firmware lower than R9.0. Follow the instructions in
