Loading firmware, device configuration or script via HTTP(S) or TFTP

Along with the option to load firmware or a configuration file into a device using LANconfig or WEBconfig, Telnet and SSH can also be used to directly upload the relevant files from an HTTP(S) or TFTP server. This process can simplify device administration in larger installations with regular firmware update and/or configuration. HTTP(S) and TFTP can also be used to load scripts (e.g. with partial configurations) into devices.

For this, the firmware and configuration files or scripts are stored on an HTTP(S) or TFTP server. A TFTP server is identical to an FTP server in terms of functionality, but uses a different protocol for data transmission. When using an HTTPS server, a certificate used to check the identity of the server can be stored on the device. The files can be retrieved from this server with the following commands:

• LoadConfig
• LoadFirmware
• LoadScript

The server, the directory and the file can be specified in two ways:

• By using the TFTP protocol with parameters -s and -f:
  • -s <Server IP address or server name>
  • -f <File path and file name>
• To use TFTP or HTTP(S), the command can be specified in the usual URL notation (either TFTP or HTTP(S) is entered as the protocol):
  • Command protocol://server/directory/file name
  When accessing a password-protected area on an HTTP(S) server, user name and password are entered accordingly:
  • Command protocol://user name:password@server/directory/file name
  When using HTTPS, a certificate can be specified with which the identity of the server is checked.
  • -c <Certificate name>

The following variables are permitted in the file name (including path):

• %m - LAN MAC address (hexadecimal, lowercase, no separators)
• %s - Serial number
• %n - Device name
• %l - Location (from the configuration file)
• %d - Device type

Examples:

The following Telnet command loads a firmware file named 'LC-1811-5.00.0019.upx' into the device from directory 'LCOS/500' on the server with IP address '192.168.2.200':

• LoadFirmware -s 192.168.2.200 -f LCOS/500/LC-1811-5.00.0019.upx

The following command in a Telnet session loads a script consistent with the MAC address from the server with IP address '192.168.2.200' into the device:

• LoadScript -s 192.168.2.200 -f %m.lcs

The following command in a Telnet session loads into the device a firmware file named 'LC-1811-5.00.0019.upx' from directory 'download' on the HTTPS server with IP address 'www.myserver.com'. The identity of the server is checked with the “sslroot.crt” certificate.

• LoadFirmware -c sslroot.crt https://www.myserver.com/download/LC-1811-5.00.0019.upx

If the parameters -s and/or -f are not specified, the device uses default values set in path /setup/config/TFTP-Client:

• Config address
• Config file name
• Firmware address
• Firmware file name

These default values can be used if the latest configurations and firmware versions are always stored under the same name in the same location. In this case, the simple commands LoadConfig and LoadFirmware can be used to load the relevant files.