Serial Connect Laptop to G5 PDU for Firmware Upgrade
 

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Requirements
3. Procedure
4. Troubleshooting
5. Related Articles

Introduction

This article explains the procedure to connect a laptop to a G5 PDU to communicate through the serial interface utilizing the Panduit catalog item MA017 dongle required for successful connectivity

Purpose

To provide a method to perform tasks from your PC/Laptop Command Line including but not limited to the below:

• Reset the PDU
• Display PDU and network properties

• Configure the PDU and network settings
• Upgrade Firmware
• Switch outlets on/off
• View user information

Requirements

• Latest G5 firmware, saved to your PC/Laptop downloadable from the Panduit.com Download Center available here                                        https://www.panduit.com/en/support/download-center/power-distribution-units.html )
• MA017 cable adapter (contact the Panduit Customer Service team if not already supplied with your order cs@panduit.com )
• Patch Cable like that used for console connect

Instructions for upgrading each of the above devices are available in the product user guides available on the downloads page as linked above.  
 

Procedure

1. Connect the G5 PDU Yost Serial Data Cable Assembly MA017 into the PDU In/Serial
2. 
3. Connect an Ethernet cable into an adapter to allow connection to serially connect to the PC/Laptop
4. Identify the serial COM port within your Device Manager and configure the terminal emulator client using below:
5.          • Bits per Second: 11520
                • Data bits: 8
                • Parity: None
                • Stop bits: 1
                • Flow control: None
6.  
7. Connect the MA017 to the serial port on your PC/Laptop
   1. This could be a DB9 port, a USB dongle or other method
   2. 
8. Open a Serial connection and log into the PDU
9. The firmware *.fw file to be copied to the root directory for the  command to succeed 
           SUCCESS system will enter upgrade mode after reboot
   System Reboot now, Are you sure? (Y/N):Y
   NOTE 1: There must be a valid file named Panduit.fw existing in root directory.
   NOTE 2: If in daisy chain configuration, main PDUs will upgrade all daisy chain firmware. See troubleshooting

Troubleshooting

Identifying com port on a Windows 11 device

Serial Cable Pin-outs
Optionally if you prefer to make your own RJ45-to-DB9 Serial cable, the connections are wired as shown:

When multiple PDU's are daisy chained, firmware updates on PDU #1 will occur down the daisy chain. This process can take over 4 minutes to complete. In some instances, when not all PDU’s are on the same version, this update will not correctly complete. When firmware versions differ, it will be necessary to break the chain and serially connect to each PDU to perform the upgrade.

If the process to upgrade appears to hang, there is no progress bar display on the network controller, because the write process has not yet completed, and the controller has not rebooted, it is possible to remove the network controller, disconnect the ribbon cable, essentially power cycling to reset. Complete the upgrade once restored to operational.

If necessary, please contact systemsupport@panduit.com to raise a support case if you have any questions or issues with the procedure.
 

Panduit.com    SystemSupport@panduit.com    1-866-721-5302    Article:KA-03839