DSX Access Systems, Inc.
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 on the link above for the DSX Site
Survey 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 DataBase program select System/Reports/Device
Report. Select the location of interest and click on "Device
Summary" and then Print. If your version of software does not have a
Device Summary option on the Device Report screen you will have to
gather this information from the Workstation program. Select Devices
from Workstation and on the
first device – right click and select “Device Summary”.
Perform a
print screen if possible or document what you see.
3. In Workstation/Devices - On
the first device right click and select “Memory
Layout Summary” perform a print screen or document what you
see. 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.
4. See the appropriate Upgrade instructions above to upgrade WinDSX and WinDSX SQL systems to the latest version. The instructions cover configuration changes and the implementation of the new USB Software Key.
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. New Government CAC cards require 3155 or higher firmware in all controllers.
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, the new Government PIV FIPs 201 Card
compatibility, and Encryption the 1040 Series
controllers should be running
3166 or higher 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 569. Version 569 for the older controllers works well with 3098 for the newer 1040 series controllers. 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 569 and the new controllers should have 3098.
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.