Updated: Firmware verification [used to] fail when using a Windows VM on Mac
(Original 4/20/12; Edited 3/16/13 to reflect a working configuration)
tl;dr -
- Running Mission Planner via a Windows VM on Mac VMWare may report verification failures when loading firmware.
- The comments on this discussion were helpful.
- About a year later, all versions involved are new, it's working, and I've posted my successful setup.
I'm sharing this story to help others.
Setup that did NOT work: April 20, 2012:
- Mission Planner 1.71 (also tried 1.50)
- Mac OSX 10.6.8 Snow Leopard (both MacBook Pro and Mac Mini tested)
- Windows 7 32-bit VM on VMWare Fusion 3.1.3 and 4.1.2 (also tried a fresh install Win7 VM, and a fresh XP VM)
- FTDI driver verified in Device Manager on both Win 7 and XP
- Brand new APM2.0
- No telemetry, servos, or receiver attached
- Powered via USB and also tried with external 5V supply on output side
- Verified problem with and without GPS lock
- Firmware involved: Factory firmware and attempts to load ArduPlane 2.33 (or any firmware, really)
- Did not test: Uploading sketches directly from Arduino
Symptoms
- Upon attempting to load any firmware, after the "Verify APM" stage, I received an alert that "Upload succeeded, but verify failed: exp ### got ### at ###", where ### is different each time.
- When connecting over USB via other means (clean Boot Camp install), the CLI would usually spit out junk until I pressed enter 3 times.
I read many helpful threads here that suggested fuse/bootloader problems. This comment from Kevin re: VMWare was helpful even though I was NOT receiving the original poster's error, "Can't detect apm version. Check your cabling".
Ultimately Chris' common sense advice of "try different computers and cables" led to the most probably cause: Running in a VM seems to interfere with the 115200 baud serial communication, even though I've never had a problem with other USB devices through VMWare.
I was able to load and verify firmware with ease on a non-VM Windows 7 PC. I then went and tested a bunch of combinations of VMs and Macs (listed above) to provide data to help others. I also eventually got a reliable setup around the same time with similar versions by using Boot Camp instead. Since this wasn't easily googlable, hopefully this post will have the right keywords to save someone else some facepalm. :)
Setup that is currently working in a Fusion VM: March 16, 2013
- Mission Planner 1.2.33
- Mac OSX 10.8.2 Snow Leopard (2012 MacBook Pro 15"R)
- Windows 7 32-bit VM on VMWare Fusion 4.1.4
- FTDI driver verified in Device Manager
- Brand new APM2.5
- Firmware involved: Factory firmware, attempting to load ArduPlane 2.70
The helpful commenters below suggested:
- Setting the COM port settings to 115200/N/8/1/X in Device Manager
- Running Mission Planner in WinXP SP3 compatibility mode
- Installing MonoMac, which is painful. I'm a dev but I feel that project's docs are fairly poor. When I finally got the 3 prereqs and sorted through the shoddy install docs, MP on Mono can't handle my Retina display properly.
Ultimately, none of the above suggestions worked for me at the time, and furthermore I have success loading firmware and connecting with my current VMWare setup with or without the COM port and XP compatibility mode settings.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by lot on -
I have the same error with my APM2 board.
I use:
Snow Leopard, Parallels and APM Planner 1.1.93 Mav 1.0
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Permalink Reply by Michael Pursifull on -
I have not been able to recreate this error under Lion with Parallels Desktop for Mac 7 and Windows 7. I have loaded firmware hundreds of times, and a half dozen times on multiple APM and APM2's since the move to Mav 1.0.
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Permalink Reply by Jerry Normandin on -
It's your serial handshake protocol, It's not your VM everyone! I have a MacPro too running windows7 in a vm just to run Mission Planner and some 3D solid modeling programs. Here's what you do to fix it. Connect your apm 2.0 controller to your computer. Control panel-> device manager,->ports. Select the port you assigned for the atmega driver... change the control protocol from none to Xon/Xoff!
I
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Permalink Reply by lot on
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Thanks for your sugestion!
I tried your suggested settings but it seems not work.
I've done several tests and with "flow control" sets to " hardware" sometimes works and sometimes not. (only works the 10% of times)
Thank you.
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Permalink Reply by Jerry Normandin on
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In control panel setting for the port make sure the port speed is 115200, 8, N, 1, XON/ XOFF
If 115200 doens't work you can drop down to 57600, 8, N, 1, XON/XOFF
I use vmware... latest update.
Also you can run mission planner natively on your mac too! I am going to set up for this tonight because I might be getting an old used mac laptop to take to the field when I have telemetry. no vm .. less memory.
All you need to do is google mono for macosx, install mono for macosx and the cocoa extension.
When you do this you won't even need a vm running.
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Permalink Reply by lot on
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Yes.
Finally it works with this setup:
Port speed is 115200, 8, N, 1, XON/ XOFF.
Thanks!:)
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Permalink Reply by Jake Stew on -
There's a simple fix. Just right click on... Oh, that's right you only have one mouse button.
Sorry I can't be of more help.
All kidding aside... I run linux apps in Virtual box with no problems. Maybe you should try that?
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Permalink Reply by Jerry Normandin on
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LMAO... My mouse has more 6 buttons and a scrolling wheel.
And It works for me. I use xon/xoff handshaking.
Mono works well on the mac.. and my linux laptop runs mission planner natively with mono
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Permalink Reply by Eric Scott on -
Even the "Magic" Mouse has a right click, MBP trackpads have a right click, for some time now. The wired mouse also has a right click. Let's not let anything like facts confuse us though...
This issue is not limited to VM use, although I do see it there. I have had it happen on a HP Elitebook (WIn7 Pro) as well. 2,5,5 did it, 2.6 did it, and I'm pretty sure whatever version was out when the very first APM2.0
's came out did it as well.
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Permalink Reply by Jake Stew on
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Sorry for my ignorance on the issue. My last experience with a Mac was in my university computer lab.
They spent a ridiculous amount of money on big screen Macs and nobody uses them. I tried to use one once since all the PCs were in use in the lab, and I just couldn't figure out how to make anything useful happen with only one mouse button. Now I just glare at them as I wait in line to use a PC in the library.
But hey, I'm in backwards Idaho. I didn't realize you can now use real mice with macintosh computers.
However, what about using Virtual box? It seems to work great for me when I need to do Linux stuff.
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Permalink Reply by Jerry Normandin on
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Jake. You don't need virtualization to run Mission Planner. Download the zip archive, not the msi file.
Install this:
http://www.mono-project.com/Mono:OSX
And this:
http://www.mono-project.com/MonoMac
Install the Mission Planner zip file.
there is even a run file.. or all you need to do is type mono and whatever applicaiton name you want to run, you can create a launcher whenever you want.
It works great!
Also works with Linux!
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