Did you know you can update not only the system firmware but the disk firmware as well. Iomega says this update increases disk performance for the ix12, ix2-200 and ix4-200. Here is my step-by-step recipe.

1. Update Iomega Drive Firmware
Iomega ix2-200
Brian Drew – February 17, 2012

2. Why do this?
• I use my Iomega ix2-200 a lot. Every once and a while I check for firmware
updates and today noticed one to upgrade the drive firmware.
• It read - “This update provides performance improvements for your StorCenter
ix2-200 and ix4-200d. Iomega recommends this update for all units.”
• Performance Improvements you say? I like my ix2 but speedy it is not.
• It turned out to be one of those long drawn out things.
• So I decided to capture it in the hopes of saving someone else the agony.
• I’m a Windows user. The Iomega system runs on Unix. I needed to utilities to make
things happen. Here is what I used:
• Terminal Emulation – I use Putty. It’s free and works great.
• Script Editor - EditPadLite 7 – free for personal use
• File Manager – 7-Zip – free tar ball creator
• Secure Copy – WinSCP – free

3. Get the Firmware
• https://iomega-na-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/24661
• Toward the bottom is a download which you need to get.
Get this
• There are full instructions there for a USB based update, but the USB
method didn’t work for me. So I had some fun piecing together the
following solution.
• *** Use the information in these pages at your own risk. I recommend
backing up anything on the Iomega that you may want to keep. Although
this went smooth for me, you just never know ***

4. Configure ssh Access to your Iomega
• Yes, you heard me right – ssh to your ix2. Turns out it’s Unix based inside there.
• Go to the web site of your Iomega and login if you have security set. It’ll look
something like this:
change this part of url
to this
Change “home”
to “support”

5. ssh Access to Iomega – part 2
• These options are then revealed.
Click this
To get that
Until you uncheck this, if ever, you’ll
see this on the Dashboard

6. ssh Access to Iomega – part 3
• Fire up your terminal emulation app. I use Putty.
• These are the only options to set:
• After clicking “Open”
• You’ll end up at the login as:
• Prompt, use “root”
• And for password there are 2 scenarios to determine it.
– If you have never set a password on your ix2, password = soho
– If you have a password, password = soho<your_password>
• i.e. if your regular password is “happy” then use “sohohappy” for root
password
• And you’ll be logged into your Iomega as if it’s a Unix system

7. Run the Download
• Because it is a Unix system.
• Time to run
• It must have a USB drive.
• When done you’ll have a directory
• Inside are more directories
• You can delete non-applicable Model #s
• But keep the Seagate directory
• And that matching your Iomega Model #
• Inside the model # directory is a script that needs minor modification.

8. Edit script
• I edited very little actually. As there is no usb_drive mounted, you either
have to get the USB drive piece working and go that route or modify the
path in the script
Before In StorCenter, Settings, Disks
After

9. Create Archive
• My directory and file structure looked like this just prior to zipping up and
copying over.
• Emctools --> Removed other .bins as mine
is the 1tb model.
Our modified script
• At least with 7-zip, just right-click on the emctools directory and select 7-
Zip and Add to Archive. In the window select Archive Format: tar
• That’s it, click OK. Now you have this:
• Now all we need to do is get it to the Iomega and run it.

10. Copy Archive to Iomega
• In WinSCP
Your “soho” based password
Select SCP – not the default
• After clicking “Log In”, you get this side-by-side view
Your PC Iomega
Just drag and
drop the .tar

11. Copy Archive to Iomega - part 2
• As you are drag and dropping, when you release the mouse on the Iomega
side, you get this prompt:
Click “Transfer settings…..”
Select “Binary” mode
• Then Copy. It’ll take about 2 seconds.

12. Extract files from the Archive
• Go to the Putty session and execute a “ls” to make sure you see it
• Then use “tar –xf emctools.tar” to extract all fines from the archive
• Then use “./preimage.sh” to run the script
• When finished it says to reboot so reboot.
• Too confirm the update took place for both drives open StorCenter
• Go to Settings --> Disks
You should now see “CC38”