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CONNECTION PROBLEMS UPDATE: 07 AUGUST 1996
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As I explained in BCPL System News on August 1, about two months ago we
installed MultiTech's flash ROM upgrade version 2.13 in all of our
MultiTech modems.  Then last week we learned of a bug in MultiTech's
flasher utility that can corrupt the new ROM code if the utility is run
over a serial connection faster than 9600 bps. We used 34,400 bps when we
did the upgrades, so there was a possibility that the ROM code in our
MultiTechs was corrupted in the process.

MultiTech provided a procedure for clearing out the corrupted ROM code and
re-flashing with the correct code.  By about 7:00 PM Tuesday, August 6,
that procedure had been applied to all 128 of our MultiTech modems.  As I
finished each modem and brought it back into service, it lit up with an
incoming call and stayed up.  I didn't see a single one fail to negotiate
a connection, nor did I see one drop a connection after just a few
minutes. In addition, the number of phone calls and e-mail messages to the
Help Desk regarding connection problems went from a raging torrent before
the upgrade to a tiny trickle afterwards.
 
It is much too early for a full assessment of the impact on our connection
problems, but the early results are very encouraging.  Please continue to
let the Help Desk know if you are having connection problems.  Your
feedback is our best gauge of the upgrade's success or failure.  If your
PPP connection drops prematurely, please tell us what IP address you had
at the time so we can determine whether you were connected to one of the
upgraded MultiTech modems or to one of the unmodified U.S. Robotics
modems.
 
Speaking of the U.S. Robotics modems, they are next in line for attention
once we are satisfied with the behavior of the rejuvenated MultiTech
modems.
 
Thanks to all of you for your patience through this ordeal.  I hesitate at
this early date to say it is over, but we shall see...
 
If you have any questions about this or anything else pertaining to your
BCPL Internet account, please contact the Help Desk by phone (887-3297) or
by e-mail (oz@mail.bcpl.lib.md.us).