Is it okay to have firmware from different sets on the modules of my Agilent LC systems under Empower ICF control? - WKB18406

ENVIRONMENT

• Empower
• Agilent ICF Support

ANSWER

Agilent's guidance is that the modules in a configuration should have firmware from the the same release set.


Agilent LC Firmware Set Interoperability and Support Statement:

Agilent releases LC firmware in sets for modules, which have been tested for interoperability. A set typically covers a range of firmware revisions, e.g. A/B/C/D.07.0x with variable values for x.
All Agilent LC instrument firmware sets have been designed and tested to be fully backward compatible to Agilent chromatographic data systems (CDS)
The module firmware in each set is fully compatible and interoperable with firmware for all other modules in the same set.
Firmware of different modules is linked, e.g. between host modules (B/D-firmware) and hosted modules (C-firmware). When upgrading firmware within a set, all modules in a system must be updated to the current firmware revision within that set.
Agilent recommends keeping the LC instrument firmware always current in order to include latest improvements and bug fixes.
Do not mix firmware revisions between different sets. Agilent does not guarantee mixed firmware revisions from older or newer sets.
For documentation of firmware revisions (e.g. in customer SOPs) the term "Revision XXX or later" or "Firmware from Set XXX or later" should be preferred instead of enforcing a specific firmware revision in order to allow applying bug fixes without a need for revalidations.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION