New Firmtek/Seritek firmware

[reddrag0n]

The following firmware updates are mainly for Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" users. However, this firmware is also compatible with Mac OS X 10.4. If your existing FirmTek driver is working well with your current version of Mac OS we highly recommend not upgrading. This falls under the heading, "If it's not broken don't fix it". While FirmTek tries to make every new driver release better than the last, there is always a chance that a new firmware upgrade may actually cause an issue with some configurations. The new 5.3.1 firmware version posted below corrects a Leopard wake on sleep issue.

Firmtek updates for SeriTek 1V4, 1VE4, 1V2E2, 1SE2 cards.

More updates from www.firmtek.com/download/
FirmTek SeriTek/1V4 5.3.1 (SeriTek1V4_5.3.1.zip) Firmware and Driver
FirmTek SeriTek/1VE4 5.3.1 (SeriTek1VE4_5.3.1.zip) Firmware and Driver
FirmTek SeriTek/1V2E2 5.3.1 (SeriTek1V2E2_5.3.1.zip) Firmware and Driver
FirmTek SeriTek/1SE2 5.3.1 (SeriTek1SE2_5.3.1.zip) Firmware and Driver

[aquamac]

Thanks for that info reddrag0n, I do have one of these cards and I will be installing Leo on that computer sometime.

[reddrag0n]

Um, before updating those cards, you might want to read this before anything happens...
courtesy xlr8yourmac.com/

Anyone else have a problem with latest SeriTek card updates? - (Updated with a couple replies/more info)
Early this morning I posted a reader mail w/info and links on new Firmtek updates for their SeriTek 1V4, 1VE4, 1V2E2, 1SE2 cards (see below) - this reader sent a "warning" about the 5.3.1 update and I'm curious if anyone else has seen anything like this:

"HUGE WARNING
Seritek updates are VERY bad. it does not fix sleep issues, it makes them like 10 times worse. Ever since updating to 5.3.1. The computer fails to wake from sleep 100% of the time. But now there is a new symptom. It goes to sleep at random for NO REASON. The boot volume is actually going to sleep DURING boot. Why is a disk going to sleep during activity who knows but it's making the card completely useless.
I'm going to have to revert to my ATA card until I can order a replacement SATA card.
(he later wrote)
I need to do more testing with it. I was almost able to stabilize it earlier. Just dont know if it'll last. Areas I saw most problem with is disk utility repairs or fsck. Drive actually going to sleep instead of remounting, confusing the heck out of os x. I also noticed an error with instructions. It says to run the ppc installer first which loads the kext drivers. But i rechecked and it turned out the drivers are not loaded if the firmware update isnt detected first. You actually are supposed to apply firmware update, then run the ppc kext installer on any boot volumes to load the kexts. I will need more testing to see if loaded kext resolves problems.
(I asked him again (3rd time) for card model, OS version, Mac, etc.)
Power mac g4 digital audio, Seritek 1S2 card, OS X 10.5.1
-Adam W. "

There's always the chance of problems with a firmware update (and if interrupted in the process the card can be rendered useless) but I don't know if the above is common or just a random case. I also suggested he write Firmtek support as they may be able to send a previous version for reflashing back.
If you've updated your SeriTek 1V4, 1VE4, 1V2E2, 1SE2 to 5.3.1, let me know (mailto:[e-mail]?subject=Firmtek Update feedback) if you've seen any problems or fixes. (Please include your card model, OS version used, Mac it's installed in, etc.)
Here's a couple replies:

"I've updated my SeriTek 1S2 to 5.3.1 firmware, on 10.5.1 in my powermac G5 Dual 2GHz, I have 1 disk (WD 160GB) for backup with time machine on this card.

When this disk spins down, my machine freezes the current application on exit, Finder not responding, restart by menu is impossible, etc...

Firmware 5.1.3 worked well before...
I disabled energy saver drive sleep for a fix.
-'mister spoke'

And another:

" Mike, All the person with the problem has to do is to email Firmtek and they'll send him the 5.3.0 firmware/driver, one step down from the 5.3.1 firmware/driver. There's a HUGE disclaimer that goes along with the updates, by the way, and it says:

"When to Upgrade Firmware
The following firmware updates are mainly for Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" users. However, this firmware is also compatible with Mac OS X 10.4. If your existing FirmTek driver is working well with your current version of Mac OS we highly recommend not upgrading..." This falls under the heading, "If it's not broken don't fix it". While FirmTek tries to make every new driver release better than the last, there is always a chance that a new firmware upgrade may actually cause an issue with some configurations. The new 5.3.1 firmware version posted below corrects a Leopard wake on sleep issue."

As you may remember, I'm running the SeriTek 2SE2-E bus masters (2) in my Dual Core 2.3GHz G5 PowerMac, to support a SeriTek 2eEN4 external eSATA enclosure that I've done a write-up for you about, and I've just updated to the v5.3.0 firmware/drivers which are still working perfectly fine for me. I did NOT update to 5.3.1, and everything's fine and dandy with my system, which I run my workstation off of (fully bootable, it runs my G5 with its 2TB RAID system). I took the warning above literally and saw no reason to update, and it may be a good thing for others to do the same if their systems are running fine with the older drivers/firmware.
Here is one FirmTek email address to get immediate help for these problems: [e-mail]. That gets you through to Chi Kim Stanford's desk, and begets an immediate email response in my experience. (another is [e-mail])
Kindest regards,
David C/MakeUsImages, Inc. "