View Full Version : VM 256 modem software download fail
chrisjones
09-07-2008, 11:47
Any clues ppl? I know my area is due for 10meg upgrade, worried im missing out. Im on a new 256 modem installed a couple of weeks back. Heres the logs (sorry if its all jumbled):
Wed Jul 09 10:29:50 2008 Wed Jul 09 10:29:50 2008 Information (7) CableModem software upgrade failed Wed Jul 09 10:29:50 2008 Wed Jul 09 10:29:50 2008 Error (4) SW upgrade Failed after download - Incompatible SW file Wed Jul 09 10:29:50 2008 Wed Jul 09 10:29:50 2008 Information (7) SW dload: Invalid image signature! Wed Jul 09 10:29:48 2008 Wed Jul 09 10:29:48 2008 Notice (6) SW Download INIT - Via Config file cmreg-ntlhm250-mid.cm Wed Jul 09 10:29:48 2008 Wed Jul 09 10:29:48 2008 Information (7) CableModem software download started Wed Jul 09 10:29:48 2008 Wed Jul 09 10:29:48 2008 Information (7) Software upgrade has started.
whydoIneedatech
09-07-2008, 12:51
Any clues ppl? I know my area is due for 10meg upgrade, worried im missing out. Im on a new 256 modem installed a couple of weeks back. Heres the logs (sorry if its all jumbled):
Wed Jul 09 10:29:50 2008 Wed Jul 09 10:29:50 2008 Information (7) CableModem software upgrade failed Wed Jul 09 10:29:50 2008 Wed Jul 09 10:29:50 2008 Error (4) SW upgrade Failed after download - Incompatible SW file Wed Jul 09 10:29:50 2008 Wed Jul 09 10:29:50 2008 Information (7) SW dload: Invalid image signature! Wed Jul 09 10:29:48 2008 Wed Jul 09 10:29:48 2008 Notice (6) SW Download INIT - Via Config file cmreg-ntlhm250-mid.cm Wed Jul 09 10:29:48 2008 Wed Jul 09 10:29:48 2008 Information (7) CableModem software download started Wed Jul 09 10:29:48 2008 Wed Jul 09 10:29:48 2008 Information (7) Software upgrade has started.
Be careful of reading modem logs, because what happens when you reboot your modem is that every single update for that modem is received at the same time giving you those worrying logs.
My modem is a Motorola and if I look in my logs I will find some with the Date stamp of 1970 and we did not have broadband then.
chrisjones
09-07-2008, 13:18
Sure, its just ive never seen THIS log before, purely coincidence that my area is due for upgrade?
If your modem wont work with a new 10Mb upgrade, they will give you a new model for free that does support it.
I was using an old Terrion for 6 years, soon as I had 20Mb it was no use, they gave me a new one within a few days
chrisjones
09-07-2008, 13:31
Like I said in my first post its a new 256 model :-S
Same log result with a brand new 256 here.
They say we've been upgraded here, but it's still on 4Mb after reboots.
Posted in their Usenet support group now, expect them to rush to get me an answer.... as soon as they can find someone who knows what's going on.
It's a freebie after all...
The "error" message is a bit misleading I s'pose.
However there has not been a firmware upgrade for the 256 so the firmware on the platform is the same as on the modems as they leave the factory so rest assured you have the latest.
Hope this helps.
Like I said in my first post its a new 256 model :-S
And that is a ???
whydoIneedatech
10-07-2008, 21:59
And that is a ???
AMBIT 256 Virgin Branded
And that is a ???
Take a look (http://www.chetnet.co.uk/articles/index.php?page=index_v2&id=91&c=4) (scroll down a bit)
sstainer
10-07-2008, 23:13
Any clues ppl? I know my area is due for 10meg upgrade, worried im missing out. Im on a new 256 modem installed a couple of weeks back. Heres the logs (sorry if its all jumbled):
Wed Jul 09 10:29:50 2008 Wed Jul 09 10:29:50 2008 Information (7) CableModem software upgrade failed Wed Jul 09 10:29:50 2008 Wed Jul 09 10:29:50 2008 Error (4) SW upgrade Failed after download - Incompatible SW file Wed Jul 09 10:29:50 2008 Wed Jul 09 10:29:50 2008 Information (7) SW dload: Invalid image signature! Wed Jul 09 10:29:48 2008 Wed Jul 09 10:29:48 2008 Notice (6) SW Download INIT - Via Config file cmreg-ntlhm250-mid.cm Wed Jul 09 10:29:48 2008 Wed Jul 09 10:29:48 2008 Information (7) CableModem software download started Wed Jul 09 10:29:48 2008 Wed Jul 09 10:29:48 2008 Information (7) Software upgrade has started.
i have had these messages and lost net access at least 6 times today[if not more] last one was an hour ago seems settled now ? i hope
AMBIT 256 Virgin Branded
Same as the one I have
chrisjones
13-07-2008, 22:32
Same as the one I have
Right........:tiptoe:
chrisjones
14-07-2008, 08:16
Let's stay on-topic :)
My topic thanks ;)
Joking aside, I'm still getting these error logs daily, posted this on the Virgin BB support newsgroup last week............ not that I heard back from anyone.
Not gonna (waste a) call (to) BB support, no doubt I'll be told to re-boot in safe mode, download a file and fiddle with my network settings as per 'script'.
Zhadnost
14-07-2008, 12:35
Take a look (http://www.chetnet.co.uk/articles/index.php?page=index_v2&id=91&c=4) (scroll down a bit)
Looking at that link suggests that my CM (ntl:200) cannot support 20MBit. It has been on 20Mbit since the service launched, and lately has been more stable than it used to be when it was on 10MBit. (required less rebooting).
Does your connection drop / modem reset when the software upgrade fails?
Looking at that link suggests that my CM (ntl:200) cannot support 20MBit. It has been on 20Mbit since the service launched, and lately has been more stable than it used to be when it was on 10MBit. (required less rebooting).It doesn't actually mention 20Mbps at all for the ntl:200. Maybe the article is not up to date, but no one worldwide guarantees 20Mbps on the chipset that the ntl:200 uses ;-)
Does your connection drop / modem reset when the software upgrade fails?If it does then that would be a coincidence / caused by some other problem.
As I said the message is misleading and "failure" really means "continue as you were"
lmao
how can it be a coincedence. My connection has dropped 23 times in the last 6 hours. every time it has dropped the event log shows the UNICAST Maintenance occuring at the very second my connection drops.
This has been the same for over 2 months with 2 different PC's connected to my modem in every possible combination.
it's a known fact that an unsuccesful upgrade causes AMBIT modems to reset even though they don't lose their downlstream lock.
chrisjones
15-07-2008, 08:14
It doesn't actually mention 20Mbps at all for the ntl:200. Maybe the article is not up to date, but no one worldwide guarantees 20Mbps on the chipset that the ntl:200 uses ;-)
If it does then that would be a coincidence / caused by some other problem.
As I said the message is misleading and "failure" really means "continue as you were"
How does 'failure' equate to 'continue as you were'?? It clearly means that the software download failed whereas it shouldnt have :dozey:
Zhadnost
15-07-2008, 09:37
When I had the 10MBit service, the modem would stop working almost every day and require a reboot.
This happened for a while when I upgraded to 20Mbit, but doesn't really now. I think the biggest improvement was caused when I traffic shaped the connection from the computer (bottlenecked it to 20MBit down and 95% of the upstream sync rate and set priorities accordingly).
Maybe it's a coinsodence (could have been a software update at the same time).
It's worth knowing that our modem isn't guranteed to work on our service.
How does 'failure' equate to 'continue as you were'?? It clearly means that the software download failed whereas it shouldnt have :dozey:
As mentioned in the post above (http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/34596080-post7.html)
The "error" message is a bit misleading I s'pose.
However there has not been a firmware upgrade for the 256 so the firmware on the platform is the same as on the modems as they leave the factory so rest assured you have the latest.
Hope this helps. So the modem didn't go through the firmware update cycle because it didn't need to / couldn't as there is no newer firmware available for a 256.
If you Google around you'll find out how Docsis / EuroDocsis modems do their firmware updates.
chrisjones
15-07-2008, 15:43
So what your saying is Virgins systems are trying to update firmware for a modem that doesnt need an update?
That doesnt seem to make any sense really.
sstainer
15-07-2008, 15:59
So what your saying is Virgins systems are trying to update firmware for a modem that doesnt need an update?
That doesnt seem to make any sense really.
getting back to your original question is your modem still doing the update event ?
also have you looked in the modem config pages
http://192.168.100.1/CmOpConfig.asp
root root if needed
your looking at
Maximum Downstream Data Rate : 10240000=10mb
So what your saying is Virgins systems are trying to update firmware for a modem that doesnt need an update?
That doesnt seem to make any sense really.
It makes more sense than the UBR keeping logs of which version of firmware was last seen for every IP and selectively sending updates to those that need it.
Anyway, when did the communications industry ever operate on what seems sensible?
;)
So what your saying is Virgins systems are trying to update firmware for a modem that doesnt need an update?
That doesnt seem to make any sense really.No, I am saying the message is misleading. There is no update happening at all. Its been this way on all Ambit modems since 2002 they were introduced.
As I mentioned above use Google to find out how these updates do happen. Basically the modem checks to see if it has the current version, if it does have it, it continues as it is.
chrisjones
16-07-2008, 08:23
Ok I see what your saying... Why is it then that not all 256 modem 'owners' suffer from this issue?
Didnt get it once on my 'old' 250 modem, yet im getting it more than a few times per day with the 256 model.
Ok I see what your saying... Why is it then that not all 256 modem 'owners' suffer from this issue?
Didnt get it once on my 'old' 250 modem, yet im getting it more than a few times per day with the 256 model.
Because _something_ is causing your cable modem to reboot (several times a day), which takes you offline momentarily and the UBR attempts to update the firmware.
Try thinking of it as the _something_ as the "egg" and the 'failed' update is the "chicken"!
sstainer
16-07-2008, 08:57
Because _something_ is causing your cable modem to reboot (several times a day), which takes you offline momentarily and the UBR attempts to update the firmware.
Try thinking of it as the _something_ as the "egg" and the 'failed' update is the "chicken"!
i had this from thursday to saturday last week several reboots of the 256 modem was told it was down to a FEC error on my ubr
Hi everyone
An update on this from my side.
Had an engineer out yesterday. He had absolutely no clue about CMTS and DOCSIS upgrades and why these would be making my modem restart.
FYI. UNICAST Maintenance does = connection loss (albeit momentarily)
His solution, root around out front, reset the connection to the house, replace the modem.
I really didn't think it would work as it didn't seem to be getting to the root for the problem.
However! As oppossed to the 50/100/ or 200+ attempted updates I was getting before, I've only had under 10 in the last 24 hours = far better connection. (Hoping its not just coincedence!)
---------- Post added at 09:44 ---------- Previous post was at 09:41 ----------
FYI. If your looking in your modem event log. The log time is always one hour prior to the event (well it is in my case)
For instance, this morning.
Wed Jul 16 08:28:36 2008 Wed Jul 16 08:28:36 2008 Information (7) CableModem software upgrade failed
This actually happened at 09:28:36 GMT
Raistlin
16-07-2008, 09:48
Given that we're running 1 hour ahead of GMT at the moment (British Summer Time = GMT +1) if your watch was showing 09:28:36 then it would actually have been 08:28:36 GMT so I suspect that the logs are actually just showing GMT with no allowance being made for BST.
I could be wrong though :D
Because _something_ is causing your cable modem to reboot (several times a day), which takes you offline momentarily and the UBR attempts to update the firmware.
Try thinking of it as the _something_ as the "egg" and the 'failed' update is the "chicken"!
Very good analogy!
Hi everyone
An update on this from my side.
Had an engineer out yesterday. He had absolutely no clue about CMTS and DOCSIS upgrades and why these would be making my modem restart. As you have described below, it looks like you have an underlying physical connectivity problem that is making your modem restart.
When your modem restarts it checks the firmware level. Just to be clear it isn't CMTS that is trying to upgrade your modem - see the "chicken and egg" explanation from ceedee
FYI. UNICAST Maintenance does = connection loss (albeit momentarily)
His solution, root around out front, reset the connection to the house, replace the modem.
I really didn't think it would work as it didn't seem to be getting to the root for the problem.
However! As oppossed to the 50/100/ or 200+ attempted updates I was getting before, I've only had under 10 in the last 24 hours = far better connection. (Hoping its not just coincedence!)Did he also check power levels? It might be worth posting them (probably in a seperate thread).
Interesting Article if you like this kind of thing http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk86/tk89/technologies_tech_note09186a0080094bb1.shtml
FYI. UNICAST Maintenance does = connection loss (albeit momentarily)
Extending that logic, it would suggest that an engineer managed to decrease the frequency of your UBR's attempts to update your modem by rooting around the front of your house and replacing the modem.
Which I hope you'll accept is pretty unlikely!
We know that:
reboot = connection loss (albeit momentarily) = UNICAST Maintenance (attempt to update firmware)
so applying Occam's Razor, _something_ is causing your modem to reboot and the frequency has been reduced by the engineer.
ymmv
---------- Post added at 10:51 ---------- Previous post was at 10:44 ----------
Very good analogy!
Thank you.
I frequently find that identifying faults is easier if you look at the symptoms upside down!
;)
Hope it's useful to the posters with problems...
Hi All
Interesting. I think i'm beginning to understand now. So the UNICAST maintenance is occuring after my modem restarts which is caused by another unrelated issue which is why this message always appears when my connection drops?
It isn't the CMTS trying to update my modem? Rather, it's my reset modem asking the CMTS if there is anything available for it...
Interesting about the power level issues. I was under the impression that anything between -15 and +15 is fine. In fact, I've run the modem at about 7 different power levels ranging from +14 to +0.4 which I have currently. The most stable so far has been the +0.4 but I'm not entirely sure it's related.
Only 4 connection drops so far today, although 3 of those within the last 3 hours. Usually I would have been up to over 30 by now.
I've heard a few people mention old cable splitters (tv/bb) being an issue, but I've tried the connection straight through to the modem and its the same issue.
Interesting about the power level issues. I was under the impression that anything between -15 and +15 is fine. In fact, I've run the modem at about 7 different power levels ranging from +14 to +0.4 which I have currently. The most stable so far has been the +0.4 but I'm not entirely sure it's related.
I assume that you are referring to downstream power levels but I suspect that you either have an upstream power issue or a Signal to Noise problem.
The preferred levels do vary slightly by QAM setting. There is a good article on this at http://tinyurl.com/6dzqr I'll take a guess that your upstream power level is 56 or higher.
However your downstream should be more stable than that, what timescale are the 7 levels taken at?
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