Updating

Instrument

Firmware

First, download the latest firmware for your instrument: Cluster, Pulsar QCM, Pulsar QRM. The firmware can then be installed using the Qblox Configuration Manager tool qblox-cfg, shipped with the qblox-instruments Python package.

Installing Qblox Configuration Manager

The configuration manager shipped with any qblox-instruments version should be able to communicate with all firmware versions. If you nonetheless run into problems with it (in particular when downgrading), please update qblox-instruments (make sure you have activated the correct environment using conda activate my-env-name, see Installation):

$ pip install --upgrade qblox-instruments

In case of downgrading firmware of your instruments, afterwards, you may have to install an older version of qblox-instruments for it to be compatible with the firmware version you installed (see driver changelog on PyPi):

$ pip install qblox-instruments==<version>

Note that we used to ship the configuration manager with each firmware release, rather than with qblox-instruments. This is, however, an older version of the tool, that will not be able to communicate with instruments running newer firmware versions.

Tip

In general, the Qblox Configuration Manager tool can do much more than what’s listed on this page. Run qblox-cfg --help for more information.

Before and after the update, you can verify the firmware version of the instruments, using a terminal of your choice (for qblox-cfg to be available, remember to activate the correct environment using conda activate my-env-name, see Installation):

$ qblox-cfg  192.168.0.2 -v

Then execute the firmware update, replacing <filename.zip> with the file you downloaded (Note: You should not unzip the firmware) :

$ qblox-cfg 192.168.0.2 update <filename.zip>

After executing this command, follow the instructions given by the Qblox Configuration Manager. For tracking the progress of the update, in case of a Cluster, look at the status (S) LED of the CMM, it will (also see Frontpanel LEDs):

  • Turn red/purple during the update of the CMM,

  • yellow during the update of the other modules,

  • and finally white when done.

In case of a Pulsar, the status (S) LED will go from yellow while in progress to green/blue when done.

Tip: Updating all instruments on the network

With this command you can list all instruments found on the network:

$ qblox-pnp list

The following command will update all instruments on the network, in case they are compatible with the update file specified:

$ qblox-cfg -k all update <filename>

The Qblox Configuration Manager will report that it failed if one of the instruments it found wasn’t compatible, but (due to the -k flag, short for “keep going”) it will try to apply the updates to all instruments, instead of stopping immediately after trying to update an incompatible instrument.

Tip: Verbose and Non-interactive modes

By default, the Qblox Configuration Manager will ask you to confirm that you really want to update after printing a summary of the operations it will be performing. You can get more information by adding -v or -vv to the command line (or by inspecting the log file).

Alternatively, if you want to automate qblox-cfg, you may want to disable the prompt (a.k.a. non-interactive mode), which you can do with -y.

IP address and name

Default IP address

The default IP address of the instrument is 192.168.0.2. Replace the IP address in any instruction listed on this page if the instrument’s IP address was changed. To find the IP address of your instrument, see Finding the IP address of a module.

When connected to your instrument(s) directly or via network switches only (NOT via VPN or a router), you can instead use the instrument name or serial number to select an instrument.

You can use the Qblox Configuration Manager to update the IP address of your instrument (for qblox-cfg to be available, remember to activate the correct environment using conda activate my-env-name, see Installation):

$ qblox-cfg 192.168.0.2 set-ip <new-ip-address>

Tip: DHCP and IPv6

Instruments can be configured to use DHCP instead of static addresses, or use IPv6 instead of (only) IPv4 addresses. Run qblox-cfg --help for more information.

Or to change its name:

$ qblox-cfg 192.168.0.2 set-name <new-name>

You can perform several operations at once, should you want to. For example, this will set the IP address and update the firmware of the instrument (originally) at 192.168.0.2:

$ qblox-cfg 192.168.0.2 set-ip <new-ip-address> update <filename>

After the update is completed, verify firmware version via:

$ qblox-cfg <new-ip-address> -v

Host PC

Qblox Instruments

To update your installation of the qblox-instruments driver package, run (make sure you have activated the correct environment using conda activate my-env-name, see Installation):

$ pip install --upgrade qblox-instruments

Please make sure that the driver version you install is compatible with your Cluster or Pulsar firmware, verify via the driver changelog on PyPi.

Quantify

If you have quantify-core or quantify-scheduler installed, a new version of Qblox Instruments may require you to update these as well:

$ pip install --upgrade qblox-instruments quantify-core quantify-scheduler