Check whether you need to update the firmware

The Arduino Uno and Mega 2560 have been shipping with the updated (rev. 0001) version of the ATmega8U2 firmware since around May, 2011. To check which version of the firmware is on your board, connect it to your computer and follow the directions for your operating system:

• Windows: locate the board in the Device Manager (it should be under Ports), right click on it and select "Properties"; in the resulting dialog, click on "driver details" in the "driver" tab. In one the properties, you should the VID, PID, and the revision number.

• Mac OS X: run the System Profiler application (e.g. by selecting "About This Mac" from the Apple menu and clicking the "More Info..." button); go to the USB sheet and click on the item for the Arduino board. The 8U2 firmware version is listed as "version" (e.g. 0.01 for rev. 0001).

If your board has rev. 0001 of the 8U2 firmware on it, there's no need to upgrade it.

Your board should be ready and up to date. You can check this by looking in the serial port menu of the Arduino software. Your port should re-appear.

Using other firmware

The 8U2's flexibility allows for other firmware so your board can appear as a different USB device (MIDI controller, HID, etc.). See the tutorials below for additional information.

MIDI Note Player using the MIDI firmware

note: if you've never used sudo before, it will ask for your password. Use the password you login to your Mac with. sudo allows you to run commands as the administrator of the computer

sudo dfu-programmer at90usb82 erase

Just like you do whenever you're programming it.

The latest version is here https://github.com/arduino/Arduino/tree/master/hardware/arduino/firmwares Choose the version that is suitable for your board, either arduino-usbserial/Arduino-usbserial-uno.hex or arduino-usbserial/Arduino-usbserial-mega.hex

The firmware is also located with the Arduino software in the /hardware/arduino/firmwares/arduino-usbserial folder. On OSX, right-click or command-click on the Arduino application and select "show package contents" to find this folder.

depending on your distribution

Linux: from a command line type sudo apt-get install dfu-programme

or

sudo aptitude install dfu-programmer

 depending on your distribution

ttach:Uno-front-DFU-reset.png

Attach:Uno-back-DFU-reset.png Δ

To do this, briefly bridge the reset pin with the ground. The pins are located near the USB connector, as shown in this picture. Connect them briefly with a piece of wire.

@sudo dfu-programmer at90usb82 erase@@

When this command is done and you get a command prompt again, type

sudo dfu-programmer at90usb82 flash Arduino-usbserial-uno.hex

Finally, type

sudo dfu-programmer at90usb82 reset

your board should be ready and up to date. You can check this by looking in the serial port menu of the Arduino software. Your port should re-appear.

The ATmega8U2 chip on your Arduino board acts as a bridge between the computer's USB port and the main processor's serial port. It runs software called firmware (so named because you couldn't change it once it had been programmed in the chip) that can be updated through a special usb protocol called DFU (Device Firmware Update).

Here's how to update the firmware on your 8u2 in a few steps.

Download a DFU Programmer

This is the software that will update the code on the 8u2 Windows: Download Atmel's flip programmer from here http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/tools_card.asp?tool_id=3886

Mac: Install MacPorts following these instructions: http://www.macports.org/install.php#pkg Once MacPorts is installed, in a Terminal window, type sudo port install dfu-programmer

Linux: from a command line type "sudo apt-get install dfu-programmer" or "sudo aptitude install dfu-programmer" depending on your distribution

Download updated firmware for the 8U2

The latest version is here https://github.com/arduino/Arduino/tree/master/hardware/arduino/firmwares (choose the version that is suitable for your board)

The firmware is also located with the Arduino software in the /hardware/arduino/firmwares/arduino-usbserial folder. On OSX, right or command-click on the Arduino application and select "show package contents" to find this folder

If your board is NOT an Arduino UNO SMD

You'll need to solder a 10k resistor (Brown-black-orange) at the back of your board in the same location as this picture.

Connect the Arduino to your computer with a usb cable

Reset the 8u2

 Do this by briefly bridging the reset pin with the ground. The pins are located near the USB connector, as shown in this picture.  Connect them briefly with a piece of wire.

To verify you have reset the 8u2 chip: In the Arduino programming environment, check the list of serial ports. The serial port for your board should no longer show up.

Windows: use flip to upload the hex file to your board

Mac & Linux: from a terminal window, change directories to get into the folder with the firmware. If you saved the firmware in your downloads folder on OSX, then you might type cd Downloads/

[@

@]

Download a dfu programmer, this is the software that will update the code on the 8u2

Download updated firmware for the 8u2

If your board is NOT an Arduino UNO SMD you'll need to solder a 10k resistor (Brown-black-orange) at the back of your board in the same location as this picture.

Connect the arduino to your computer with a usb cable

Reset the 8u2 by briefly bridging the reset pin with the ground

Program the chip

Unplug your board and plug it back in

your board should be ready and up to date

Updating the Atmega8U2 on an Uno or Mega2560 using DFU

The ATmega8u2 chip on your Arduino board acts as a bridge between the computer's USB port and the main processor's serial port. It runs software called firmware (so named because you couldn't change it once it had been programmed in the chip) that can be updated to either fix the inevitable bugs or to provide new functionality. This is possible through a special usb protocol called DFU (Device Firmware Update)

We're going to learn how to update the firmware on your 8u2 in a few steps.

1. Download a dfu programmer, this is the software that will update the code on the 8u2 Windows: Download Atmel's flip programmer from here http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/tools_card.asp?tool_id=3886 Mac: Install MacPorts following these instructions http://www.macports.org/install.php#pkg Once MacPorts is installed, in a Terminal window, type "sudo port install dfu-programmer" Linux: from a command line type "sudo apt-get install dfu-programmer" or "sudo aptitude install dfu-programmer" depending on your distribution

2. Download updated firmware for the 8u2 the latest version is here https://github.com/arduino/Arduino/tree/master/hardware/arduino/firmwares (choose the version that is suitable for your board) The firmware is also located with the Arduino software in the /hardware/arduino/firmwares/arduino-usbserial folder (On OSX, right or command-click on the Arduino application and select "show package contents" to find this folder)

3. If your board is NOT an Arduino UNO SMD you'll need to solder a 10k resistor (Brown-black-orange) at the back of your board in the same location as this picture.

3. Connect the arduino to your computer with a usb cable

4. reset the 8u2 by briefly bridging the reset pin with the ground

The pins are located near the USB connector. In this picture you can see where these pins are located

the TX and RX leds should light up to indicate that the 8u2 has entered DFU mode (NB: This is not always the case) To verify you have reset the 8u2 chip: Mac and Linus type "ls /dev/tty.*", your board should no longer appear in the output Windows ?????

5. program the chip Windows: use flip to upload the hex file to your board

Mac & Linux: from a terminal window, cd into the folder with the firmware. Once there, type: sudo dfu-programmer at90usb82 erase sudo dfu-programmer at90usb82 flash Arduino-usbserial-uno.hex sudo dfu-programmer at90usb82 reset

6. unplug your board and plug it back in

7. your board should be ready and up to date