The Agon firmware update utility is able to flash MOS / VDP firmware from files on the SD card on any Agon, without using any cables.
This utility needs at least MOS version 1.03. If you are still running an older MOS version, please see this legacy utility version.
Flashing VDP firmware from a file on the SD card, requires a programmed VDP that has OTA (Over-the-air) functionality built in. This is available in Console8 VDP 2.0.0+ and Quark VDP 1.4RC3+ firmware versions. Once a compatible VDP is present in the system, new VDP versions can be flashed using the flash utility.
- Make sure to create a mos directory on the microSD card, if it's not already present.
- Place the flash.bin in the mos directory
- Place the firmware files in the root directory of the microSD card:
Usage: FLASH [all | [mos <filename>] [vdp <filename>] | batch] <-f>| Option | Function |
|---|---|
| all | flash all firmware, using the default filenames 'MOS.bin' for MOS firmware, 'firmware.bin' for VDP firmware |
| mos | flash mos firmware, with optional filename |
| vdp | flash vdp firmware, with optional filename |
| batch | used to batch-flash an Agon system using the command in autoexec.txt. In order to facilitate headless flashing, the utility beeps during the flashing sequence (1 for startup, 2 for completing VDP firmware, 3 for completing the MOS firmware) and waits at completion forever |
| -f | skips asking the user to verify firmware CRC codes and is set by default using the batch command |
This workflow outlines the update process, depending on your specific current MOS/VDP version:
Any MOS / VDP version can be flashed.
Because literally ANY version can be flashed, please be mindful going back to older versions. The Pleistocene may not have a wall-outlet to charge your time travel device. Take an extra battery pack with you and study the upgrade workflow to get back.
Having subjected my own gear to this utility many hundreds of times, I feel it is safe for general use in upgrading the MOS firmware to a new version. The responsibility for any issues during and/or after the firmware upgrade, lies with the user of this utility.
Did you also update your VDP firmware, after updating the MOS? Weird things may happen if both are far apart.
And even then; stuff breaks, things happen. Yeah, wonderful, but what if after whatever happened, you have bricked your AgonLight? Take a deep breath, and have a look at this utility to perform a baremetal recovery.
