DSX Access Systems, Inc.

 

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Updates and Upgrades

There are several issues to be aware of when adding to and/or upgrading existing systems. Items such as Controller Memory and Firmware versions and Software revisions need to be reviewed. Some systems start small and grow very large and have a vast range of integration and custom applications. This is a real advantage of the WinDSX system and its simple scalability. Please use the information below to ensure that your upgrade or add-on occurs smoothly.

  1. If you are going to add on to an existing system and have questions about expansion and compatibility – Please call DSX Technical Support for consultation. The call doesn’t cost you anything and could save you great expense and time.

  2. If possible call from the Job Site. There are several things that need to be reviewed in the software. If you cannot call from the site you must get the information from the system before you call. Click here for the DSX Site Survey form and Software Upgrade form to assist in gathering the pertinent information about the system.

  • In the DataBase program look at Help/About WinDSX/ and document the software version.

  • In the Workstation program select Devices. On the first device – right click and select “Device Summary”. Perform a print screen if possible or document what you see. On the first device again – right click and select “Memory Layout Summary” and again perform a print screen or document what you see.

  1. This information tells us what the current memory requirements are for the existing controllers. With this information the amount of memory required to accommodate the addition of new controllers can be calculated. The memory calculation can be done by DSX Technical Support. There is also a Calcmem program provided on the WinDSX software CD.

  2. The following Upgrade instructions cover upgrading WinDSX and WinDSX SQL systems to the latest version. The instructions cover configuration changes and the implementation of the new USB Software Key.

WinDSX Upgrade Instructions

WinDSX SQL Upgrade Instructions

3.7/4.7 Upgrade

Software Version 3.7/4.7 and higher has new features that allow Time Zone Linking (Threat Level Management), Fast Downloads, and the new Government PIV FIPs 201 Card compatibility. This new linking logic will only work if all of the controllers in the location are of 1040 Series, 1022, or "Revised" 1032 controllers with the 1030PR5 retrofit processor. All controllers in the location will require V3129 or higher. This feature cannot be used if any of the controllers are of the old style 1030 Series or 1021. The 3.7/4.7 versions also require new updated versions of PC Master and Soft I/O.

 

Controller Memory and Flash/Firmware

Firmware/Flash Versions

When adding new controllers to Existing systems there are several things to consider:

  1. The Master Controller should have the highest version of firmware in the system. The newer firmware is backward compatible. Older firmware is unaware of newer firmware. For systems that are growing largely in size by the number of doors and cardholders, and systems where there are a lot of card changes (adds and deletes) daily, it is advisable to upgrade the firmware in all existing controllers to be current and match the new controllers.

  2. For optimum performance and to get all the new features such as Time Zone Linking (Threat Level Management), Fast Downloads, and the new Government PIV FIPs 201 Card compatibility, the 1040 Series controllers should be running 3160 and older controllers such as the 1032 should be retrofitted with 1030PR5 processors and 1021 controllers should be replaced with 1022 controllers.

  3. In a system where there are 1032 and/or 1021 controllers with 1030 processors using EPROMS the existing controllers must have Version 542 or higher. Optimally the existing controllers should have 568 or 569. Version 568 for the older controllers works well with 3097 for the newer 1040 series controllers. In these versions device types are handled the traditional way. Version 569 is best suited to work with 3098 and both make use of "Stacked Device Types". So in a mixed system containing older 1032 and 1021 controllers using EPROMS the existing panels should have 568 or 569 and the new controllers should have 3097 or 3098 respectively.

  4. To flash new controllers where they are mixed with 1030 series controllers in existing systems require a New Controller to be the Master. Check your software CD or call Technical Support for the latest flash program and the latest versions for the Controllers and DSX-LAN Modules. New 1040 and 1022 Controllers require a minimum of V3072 if they are to be added to existing systems as the Master Controller where 1030 and 1021 series controllers are used as slaves.

  5. Controllers with Versions below 3080 may experience "bad card reads" especially after upgrading to a higher version. If this is the case and U7 on the processor board is identified as a 74HC04 - a replacement processor is required. This issue can also be confirmed by bringing the reader to the controller where it no longer gives "bad card reads". If after the upgrade your reader stops working all together and you are not getting at least "bad card reads" the problem is most likely to be the implementation of Stacked Device Types.

  • 1040 Series and 1022 Controllers – 512K of RAM/Flash ROM.

  • 1030 Series Controllers – 64K of RAM standard expandable to 192K with 4 - 32K memory chips. 1030PR5 replacement processors will upgrade "Revised" 1030 series controllers to 512K of RAM with Flash ROM. Revised Controllers are those 1030 I/O boards that have the row of 7 diagnostic LEDs above the bottom row of terminal blocks.

  • 1021 Controller – 64K of RAM expandable to 96K with a single 32K memory chip. Further expandable to 192K with a 1021MX memory expansion module and 4 - 32K memory chips.