HP Web Jetadmin - Upgrading Firmware Using HP Web Jetadmin

downgrade, not all components are rolled back properly to the older versions, causing abnormalities

in behavior. Printer firmware is slightly more friendly during attempted downgrades in that new

functionality is erased as old functionality is applied. However, for some devices, DC Controller or JDI

firmware are not rolled back to older versions, causing abnormalities in behavior.

There might be circumstances where users want to downgrade firmware. For example, new firmware

might have disrupted an important feature, creating a need to roll back to the previous version.

Nothing on the device prohibits a downgrade. While HP discourages downgrades, the ability to

downgrade firmware is built into HP Web Jetadmin. The functionality is disabled by default to protect

against accidental downgrades of a fleet of printers with potential catastrophic consequences. To

enable downgrading firmware, perform the following steps:

NOTE WARNING! Be aware that downgrading firmware has the potential to cause serious

consequences on devices and this action should be considered carefully. Test all firmware

images thoroughly before running HP Web Jetadmin firmware updates on production

devices.

1. Using a text editor, edit the existing file on the HP Web Jetadmin host system in the following

location:

 Windows 2003 Server / XP

DRIVE:\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Local Settings\Application Data\Hewlett-

Packard\HPWebJetadmin\WjaService\config\FirmwareUpgrade.config.xml

 Windows 7 / 2008 / Vista

DRIVE:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Local\Hewlett-

Packard\HPWebJetadmin\WjaService\config\ FirmwareUpgrade.config.xml

2. Change the values from false to true for AllowJetdirectFirmwareDowngrades and

AllowPrinterFirmwareDowngrades:

<ipmc:configuration

xmlns:ipmc="www.hp.com/schemas/imaging/ipmc/config/2004/02/24">

<type>HP.Imaging.Wjp.Sdk.Core.Framework.ConfigurationItemString</type>

</property>

<type>HP.Imaging.Wjp.Sdk.Core.Framework.ConfigurationItemString</type>

</property>

</ipmc:configuration>

3. Either printer firmware or HP Jetdirect firmware downgrades can be enabled or disabled by

toggling the <true>/<false> values in the XML file.

4. Save the file and restart the HP Web Jetadmin service (HPWJA Service). Notify all users logged

into the system about the service restart and ensure that active HP Web Jetadmin tasks are

stopped or rescheduled to avoid problems with the restart.

NOTE Use the standard XML format when creating this file. Use a simple text editor, such as

Microsoft® Notepad. Line breaks should only occur after the appropriate tag at the end of a

statement. Documentation viewers might add what appear to be line breaks into the XML

content shown above.