Update Iomega Drive Firmware

Iomega ix2-200

Brian Drew – February 17, 2012

Why do this? • I use my Iomega ix2-200 a lot. Every once and a while I check for firmware

updates and today noticed one to upgrade the drive firmware. • It read - “This update provides performance improvements for your StorCenter

ix2-200 and ix4-200d. Iomega recommends this update for all units.” • Performance Improvements you say? I like my ix2 but speedy it is not. • It turned out to be one of those long drawn out things. • So I decided to capture it in the hopes of saving someone else the agony. • I’m a Windows user. The Iomega system runs on Unix. I needed to utilities to make

things happen. Here is what I used:

• Terminal Emulation – I use Putty. It’s free and works great. • Script Editor - EditPadLite 7 – free for personal use • File Manager – 7-Zip – free tar ball creator • Secure Copy – WinSCP – free

Get the Firmware

• https://iomega-na-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/24661 • Toward the bottom is a download which you need to get.

• There are full instructions there for a USB based update, but the USB method didn’t work for me. So I had some fun piecing together the following solution.

• *** Use the information in these pages at your own risk. I recommend backing up anything on the Iomega that you may want to keep. Although this went smooth for me, you just never know ***

Get this

Configure ssh Access to your Iomega

• Yes, you heard me right – ssh to your ix2. Turns out it’s Unix based inside there. • Go to the web site of your Iomega and login if you have security set. It’ll look

something like this:

change this part of url to this

Change “home” to “support”

ssh Access to Iomega – part 2

• These options are then revealed.

Click this To get that

Until you uncheck this, if ever, you’ll see this on the Dashboard

ssh Access to Iomega – part 3

• Fire up your terminal emulation app. I use Putty. • These are the only options to set: • After clicking “Open” • You’ll end up at the login as: • Prompt, use “root” • And for password there are 2 scenarios to determine it.

– If you have never set a password on your ix2, password = soho – If you have a password, password = soho<your_password>

• i.e. if your regular password is “happy” then use “sohohappy” for root password

• And you’ll be logged into your Iomega as if it’s a Unix system

Run the Download • Because it is a Unix system.

• Time to run • It must have a USB drive. • When done you’ll have a directory • Inside are more directories • You can delete non-applicable Model #s • But keep the Seagate directory • And that matching your Iomega Model # • Inside the model # directory is a script that needs minor modification.

Edit script • I edited very little actually. As there is no usb_drive mounted, you either

have to get the USB drive piece working and go that route or modify the path in the script

Before

After

In StorCenter, Settings, Disks

Create Archive • My directory and file structure looked like this just prior to zipping up and

copying over. • Emctools -->

• At least with 7-zip, just right-click on the emctools directory and select 7-Zip and Add to Archive. In the window select Archive Format: tar

• That’s it, click OK. Now you have this:

• Now all we need to do is get it to the Iomega and run it.

Our modified script

Removed other .bins as mine is the 1tb model.

Copy Archive to Iomega • In WinSCP

• After clicking “Log In”, you get this side-by-side view

Your “soho” based password

Select SCP – not the default

Your PC Iomega

Just drag and drop the .tar

Copy Archive to Iomega - part 2 • As you are drag and dropping, when you release the mouse on the Iomega

side, you get this prompt:

• Then Copy. It’ll take about 2 seconds.

Click “Transfer settings…..”

Select “Binary” mode

Extract files from the Archive • Go to the Putty session and execute a “ls” to make sure you see it • Then use “tar –xf emctools.tar” to extract all fines from the archive • Then use “./preimage.sh” to run the script

• When finished it says to reboot so reboot. • Too confirm the update took place for both drives open StorCenter • Go to Settings --> Disks

You should now see “CC38”