Motorola MC909X Integrator Manual Download

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MC909X Integrator Guide

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Application

folder: files stored in this folder are retained after a cold boot.

SD Card

The SD card can be used to download/upload files to and from the mobile computer. See

Multi Media Card (MMC)

/ Secure Device (SD) Card on page 2-4

for instruction on installing an SD card. To view the contents of the SD

Card, open

Windows Explorer

and select

Storage Card

. You can copy files from the SD Card to the mobile computer

or double-tap the executable file to launch the application.

IPL

Use IPL to download files onto the mobile computer, to download customized flash file system partitions to the
mobile computer and load hex files to the flash memory of the mobile computer.

There are two types of update supported by the mobile computer: partitions and files. The file system used by the
mobile computer is the same as the file system used on a desktop computer. A file is a unit of data that can be
accessed using a file name and a location in the file system. When a file is replaced, only the contents of the
previous file are erased. The operating system must be running for a file to be updated, so the IPL cannot perform
individual file updates as it is a stand-alone program that does not require the operating system to be running.

A typical partition is a group of files, combined into a single “partition” that represents a specific area of storage.
Examples of partitions are the flash file systems such as Platform or Application. (Using the desktop computer
comparison, these partitions are roughly equivalent to a C: or D: hard disk drive.) In addition to the “hard disk”
partitions, some partitions are used for single items such as the operating system, monitor, or splash screen.
(Again using a desktop computer comparison, these partitions are roughly the equivalent of the BIOS or special
hidden system files.) When a partition is updated, all data that was previously in its storage region is erased - i.e. it
is not a merge but rather a replacement operation. Typically, the operating system is not running when partitions
are update, so IPL can perform partition updates.

Partition images for selected partitions can be created by TCM. All partition images suitable for use by IPL are in
hex file format for transfer by TCM from the development computer to the mobile computer.

Upgrade requirements:

•

The hex files to be downloaded (on development computer)

•

A connection from the host computer and the mobile computer (either serial or wireless)

•

TCM (on development computer) to download the files.

Once these requirements are satisfied, the mobile computer can be upgraded by invoking IPL and navigating the
menus. See

Sending the Hex Image Using IPL on page 7-11

for procedures on downloading a hex file to the

mobile computer.

Creating Hex Images

Terminal Configuration Manager (TCM) is an application used to customize flash file system partitions for the
mobile computer. The most common use is to create an application partition hex file that contains the customer's
application. TCM can also be used to load hex files to the flash memory of the mobile computer.

The program resident on the mobile computer that receives the hex file and burns it to the flash memory is called
Initial Program Loader (IPL).