Barco Series 4 software update release thread

[Elia Orselli]

Barco 1.9.23 is now available Release notes


Included versions

• This version includes the ICMP Software 1.4.4.42, ICP-D software 1.2.1.16 and ICMp-XS 1.4.9

Changes:

• ICMP-X: Improve support of 0.98” DMD
• ICMP-XS: improve KDM handling with CP950

Bug Fixes:

• Fixed an intermittent issue where some laser plate where reported as invalid.
• ICMP-XS: Fixed an issue where some repetitive SNMP calls were crashing the Mediaserver
• ICMP-XS: Fixed an issue where Licensed feature get desactivated when communication with CCB was established (Audio processing and Live IP Streaming License).
• ICMP-XS: Fix an issue where update/reboot could be blocked by service not correctly stopped
• ICMP-XS: Fix an issue where system didn’t shutdown when receiving some SOAP API command during the shutdown process

Limitation:

• ICMP-XS: The image is distorted when calling uncorrected test patterns. This problem affects the following pages: Test Patterns, Color Management / Light Source, and Color Management / Projector Color. To avoid this issue, call a PNG test pattern (e.g., 2K Barco Enabling Bright Outcomes.png) before calling uncorrected test patterns.
• ICMP-X: LUT-SCC 2D correction is not supported on SP2K models

[Steve Guttag]

Barco 1.9.24 has dropped. As with most of the recent ones, this is for ICMP-XS bug fixes:


Version 1.9.24 (Service release)

This version includes the ICMP 1.4.4.42, ICP-D 1.2.1.16 and ICMP-XS 1.4.10

Bug Fixes:

• • ICMP-XS: Fixed an issue where the scheduler was not initialized correctly at start up
• • ICMP-XS: Fixed a pause/resume action issue
• • ICMP-XS : Enabling of all Jnior’s input
• • ICMP-XS: Fixed a KDM issue where the 6h extension was not taken into account

Limitation:

• • ICMP-XS: The image is distorted when calling uncorrected test patterns. This problem affects the following pages: Test Patterns, Color Management / Light Source, and Color Management / Projector Color. o To avoid this issue, call a PNG test pattern (e.g., 2K Barco Enabling Bright Outcomes.png) before calling uncorrected test patterns.
• • ICMP-X: LUT-SCC 2D correction is not supported on SP2K models

[Elia Orselli]

1.9.25 just released.

Included versions

• This version includes the ICMP 1.4.5.0, ICP-D 1.2.1.16 and ICMP-XS 1.4.12

Changes:

• Support old FMCB (R76813245) on SST unit
• ICMP-XS: Possibility to set the gateway on LAN port.
• ICMP-XS: Allow user to Postpone periodic self-test via Webcommunciator
• ICMP-X : Add option to schedule show in local time (TMS support)

Bug Fixes:

• Fix an issue where the periodic self-test warning wasn’t reported
• Fix an issue where CCB clock switch back to 1970 if no communication with ICMP-XS is established
• ICMP-X: Fix a memory leak that could happen after several days of uptime without rebooting
• ICMP-XS: Fix an issue where the scheduled SPL wasn’t reloaded if player have been cleared
• ICMP-XS: Fix an issue where masking on SST unit was inverted (Picture file will need to be redone on SST model after update)
• ICMP-XS: fix several issues on show editor page (3D shows or show with special character aren’t editable, export SPL not working)
• ICMP-XS: Fix an issue where Dolby Atmos CP950 was disabled after a power cycle
• ICMP-XS: Fix an issue where SMPTE Sync wasn’t played correctly (Immersive sound playback with APX)
• ICMP-XS: Improve 3D sync signal during transition (to avoid 3D system going in and out during transition)
• ICMP-XS: fix an issue where uncorrected test pattern and 3D Test pattern were not displayed correctly if no PNG test pattern was called before.
• ICMP-XS: Fix an issue where SNMP MIB can’t be downloaded
• ICMP-XS: Fix an issue where editing an input cues was not working properly
• ICMP-XS: Improve picture page usability
• ICMP-XS: fix an issue where RGB-12bit-Full Screen Black – Uncorrected test pattern wasn’t available

Limitation:

• ICMP-X: LUT-SCC 2D correction is not supported on SP2K models

[Leo Enticknap]

ICMP/ICMP+/ICMP-X version 1.4.5.0 is also available on MyBarco as a standalone download for Series 2 and 3.

[Steve Guttag]

I'm curious about the old FMCB being supported on SST systems (aka MKII)...does this mean that they are not going to be sending the new one, with the daughterboard on the conversion kits? Hmmm. I wonder what the upside/downside is on this plan since they thought they needed the new board.

[Steve Guttag]

Version 1.9.26 has been released (though the documentation still calls it beta, the website calls it a service release). It appears to be another ICMP-XS big fix release with one SP2K-xxC (note they didn't say "S") fix too.


Release notes

Included versions

• This version includes the ICMP 1.4.5.0, ICP-D 1.2.1.16 and ICMP-XS 1.5.0
• For systems equipped with an ICMP-XS, upgrading to this version involves two sequential ICMP-XS update steps
• Refer to InfoT-1725 for the required update procedure

Bug Fixes:

• Fix an issue were some SP2K-xxC units reported a resolution mismatch warning
• ICMP-XS: Fix an intermittent issue where ICMP-XS wasn’t rebooting correctly
• ICMP-XS: Fix an issue that prevented show schedules containing special characters from being created
• ICMP-XS: Improve AES67 PTP support
• ICMP-XS: Improve log compatibility with WebAnalyzer

Limitation:

• ICMP-X: LUT-SCC 2D correction is not supported on SP2K models
• ICMP-XS: LTC (Linear Time Code) is not supported

Note

• The new encryption mechanism is bringing some limitation on the way to handle update, backup and restore
• Upgrade: need to install v1.8 first before to upgrade from v1.7 to v1.9
• Downgrade: need to install v1.8 first before to downgrade from v1.9 to v1.7
• Backup package generated in v1.7 can be restored on v1.8 but not on v1.9
• Backup package generated in v1.8 can be restored on V1.9 but not on v1.7
• Backup package generated in v1.9 can be restored on V1.8 but not on v1.7

[Leo Enticknap]

I wonder if "Improve AES67 PTP support" means that they made it compatible with "Dolbyized" AES67 (i.e. allow manual configuration of the PTP priorities such that a Dolby device can be the clock master), to enable the XS to pass AES67 audio to a CP950, CP950A, Dolby Multichannel Amp, etc.

[Steve Guttag]

Version 1.9.27 (Service release)

This version includes the ICMP 1.4.5.1, ICP-D 1.2.1.16 and ICMP-XS 1.5.1

For systems equipped with an ICMP-XS, upgrading to this version involves two sequential ICMP-XS update steps

Refer to InfoT-1725 for the required update procedure.

Changes:

Bug Fixes:

• • ICMP-X: fix an issue on Live IP Logs retrieval
• • ICMP-XS: Improve overall behavior of "Force 3D" feature
• ICMP-XS: Fix some wrong OID’s mentioned in the SNMP MIB file. • ICMP-XS: Fix an intermittent issue where ingested content wasn’t reported as invalid.
• • ICMP-XS: fix an issue where storage size was not reported correctly.

Limitation:

• • ICMP-X: LUT-SCC 2D correction is not supported on SP2K models
• • ICMP-XS: LTC (Linear Time Code) is not supported
• • ICMP-XS: Force 3D feature: Pause function is temporarily not supported.
• • ICMP-XS: Force 3D feature: Subtitles of a 2D DCP is temporarily not supported.

What is this double update procedure? From InfoT 1725:

In that case the update procedure must be performed as following:

1. In the Web Communicator, navigate to Maintenance > Projector > Software Update.
2. Upload the regular software package (for example, Samba 1.9.26) and start the update.
3. Wait until the update completes successfully.
4. Navigate to Control > Projector > Power and click Switch to Eco.
5. Wait for the projector to enter Eco mode.
6. Refresh the browser page. The Eco mode screen is displayed.
7. Click Wake up.
8. Wait until the projector has fully restarted and the Web Communicator login page is displayed.
9. Log in again and navigate to Maintenance > Projector > Software Update.
10. Upload the forceupgradeicmpxs.fw package and start the update process. The system now performs a second update of the ICMP-XS using the same firmware version.

After the second update completes successfully, the upgrade process is finished and the projector is ready for normal operation.

Verification

The installation history allows you to verify which updates have been applied to the projector.
1. In the Web Communicator, navigate to Maintenance > Projector > Software Update and click More...
2. A pop-up window displays the list of updates that have already been installed on the projector. The forceupgradeicmpxs.fw package must be the most recently installed package and should appear at the top of the list.

[Leo Enticknap]

There have now been four or five releases that contain a crap ton of bug fixes for the ICMP-XS. I know that a significant number of bug fix updates in the first 6-12 months after a major new product goes on mainstream sale is par for the course, but the number of XS bugs that only surfaced once it was in the field seems to me to be unusually high. I haven't installed one yet, and hope that it'll be another few months before I have to.

[Steve Guttag]

I think there are two ways to look at it. They could either limit the number of bug fixes and issue 1-4 MASSIVE bug fix releases each year and let people suffer (or issue them a patch fix) or pump them out regularly until the product hits what will be is "normal." I prefer this style greatly since a found bug will be addressed sooner than how other companies handle things.

I think if you were go back to 2010 and look at the number of software updates issued by EVERYBODY for servers and projectors that this release schedule is par for the course.

It has, generally, been my position that one shouldn't use a product in its first year of release because that really is the final "beta" testing. So, yes, I would prefer not dealing with the ICMP-XS until 2027. But it is tied to some promotions and some features and, quite frankly, what will be shipping in new S4 projectors. The ICMP-X has to be thought of as a short-timer as no new development is going to go into it. It will be like ICPs versus ICP-D. If you have a DSS server, then you need the ICP but for everyone else, it is the ICP-D.

[Leo Enticknap]

With every software/firmware release published, a conflict exists. On one side, there is the desire to have new features and bug fixes, and also the reassurance that if you need to seek technical support from the OEM, you won't be told to update your equipment before they'll even talk to you. As against which, there is the risk that the update procedure will go wrong, that the new version will introduce new bugs, and the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality.

Personally, I'd like to see new releases limited to a maximum of two or three times a year, unless mission critical bugs are discovered. Otherwise, you're just creating extra work for support techs and taking the risk that the update procedure will go wrong more often than is desirable. Added to which, if they are happening very frequently (monthly or even more frequently than that, in the case of some recent Barco Series 4 and Q-Sys updates), the risk exists that end users and techs will simply disengage from the process - too much of a time suck - and the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality will become more deeply entrenched than is healthy.

[Jim Cassedy]

(edited) As mentioned previously, I suspect
that we'll see a stream of updates . . .

Barco is turning into the Firefox of projectors. lol

(if you use the Firefox browser, you know what I'm talking about)

[Leo Enticknap]

I do, but the main difference is that Firefox just updates itself without you having to do anything, and only once in almost two decades of using it has any update ever caused a problem for me (about two years ago, an update broke the NoScript plugin, which was quickly fixed by updating the plugin). Furthermore, if the browser had broken big time, I could have installed and used another browser while figuring out how to get Firefox working again. Barco updates require proactive intervention by a tech, and if the update process goes wrong and/or the new version introduces new bugs, your business is potentially at risk.

[Jim Cassedy]

My comment, of course was meant to be somewhat sarcastic. But to be totally accurate,
Firefox only auto updates if you have 'automatic updates' turned on, so it does require a
little bit of manual intervention. It's funny that you mentioned having only one problem
with a FF update about 2 years ago, because I, too had a problem around the same
time. I don't recall what stopped working or how I fixed it, but it happened on two different
computers, so there must have been some sort of bug-in-the-software somewhere.
I use both FF and Chrome, because my utility company and my bank no longer let you
log in on a Firefox browser. Also, my work is chrome-based. Each one has it's plusses
and minuses. It's like having two cars that perform differently . lol

[Marin Zorica]

I have installed first 11 ICMP-XS at festival venue in mid August and we had more then few issues.....regarding rebooting, freezing commands, not seeing automation cues, stupid behavior when doing masking, test patterns not correctly shown......we did sum all those and send to Barco, and they told us for some they did know, and some didn't......and then after that this 4 releases came out....they just want to forse ICMP-XS and as we can see they trying to fix all. The most anoying thing in XS is when doing masking, and you click pixel + or - picture flashes everytime.....so now if you want and click 10 times to mask corner for 10 pixels, it flashes 10 times.......slow and so annoying........