Machine firmware and PC software

MaskedMan · Post by **MaskedMan** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 8:56 am

Do the manufactures update machine firmware or issue software patches on a frequent or regular basis? Just wondering if this is something one has to keep an eye out for....

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 9:03 am

Every month, sometimes every week, every time they find a buffer overflow that lets data be loaded into code (and run) or a DOS (Denial Of Service) TCP/IP attack vulnerability.

Oh, wait a minute. That's MicroSoft !!!!

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 9:42 am

MaskedMan,

Which category of equipment or software are you asking about? The XPAP makers don't issue "firmware upgrades" to their existing machines (at least not that is "user-installable") and the software that analyzes the sleep statistics (occasionally) have periodic updates (if you can find them).

Hope that answers your questions.

Den

christinequilts · Post by **christinequilts** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 11:12 am

Machine firmware updates are not something end users can do- about the only time it happens is when a machine is sent back to the manufacture for repair.

john5757 · Post by **john5757** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 11:28 am

On some machines the firmware can be updated in the field like some ResMed machines Spirit and the Elite. The elite can be updated to perform like the Spirit. Rarely are there any updates are available to the core firmware. When I got my Reslink unit for the spirit it did came with updated firmware In case the Spirit needed a update in order to work with the Spirit. The update was on the smartmedia card and if the version on the smartmedia was newer than was on the Spirit it will automatically update itself for about 20mins. In my case the firmware in the Spirit was already up to date.
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MaskedMan · Post by **MaskedMan** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 2:12 pm

Thanks for the info. I spend a lot of time at work applying software and firmware updates to various electronic devices. I kind of thought these being "medical devices" would mean that such updates are probably not easily obtained by non-medical people.

Machine	Mask