Directory of Firmware for Multi-Tech Products

If you have not contacted technical support and are attempting to update your product's firmware, please read the following instructions and complete them in sequence.

Note: The Multi-Tech technical support department recommends that you only update your product's firmware if you have been advised to do so by one of our support technicians.

The procedure you should follow in updating your product is listed below:

1. Determine your product's firmware version.
   This requires you to poll your product either via commands or via its management software. Instructions are provided for many product types.
2. Look up current firmware information for your product.
   The tradename selections, above, allow you to go directly to a product-focused firmware page that display the firmware revision for each model and allow you to download the hex file and flash utility for your system.

What is firmware

Firmware is a special-purpose module of low-level (e.g., hexadecimal, machine code) software that serves two purposes. First, it acts like a BIOS, enabling the device to take stock of its capabilities and to render those capabilities functional. Second, it coordinates the activities of the hardware during normal operation and contains programming constructs used to perform those operations. For example, in a typical modem, the firmware will be a factor in establishing the modem's data rate, command set recognition, and special feature implementation.

Firmware is stored in a special type of memory chip that doesn't lose its storage capabilities when power is removed or lost. This non-volatile memory is classified as "read-only" memory (ROM) because the user, during normal operation, cannot change the information stored there. The basic type of chip is called a PROM, which is programmable by any technician who has a programming console. A basic PROM receives one version of firmware. That code is "burned in" to the PROM and cannot be changed. To update the firmware, the PROM must be physically removed from the device and replaced with a new chip.

Flash Capabilities

Improvements on this technology have rendered EPROM, PEROM, and EEPROM chips, which are variations of the PROM that are erasable using either UV-light (e.g., the origin of the term "flashable") or electrical energy.

Multi-Tech pioneered the technology that allows internal and external modems to be "flash" updated and now holds the U.S. patent for this valuable modem feature.