JGS524PE firmware update

rcmjr1959 wrote:

The process should be straightforward and I always shudder when I sit down to get into these Netgear devices.

First, correctly identify the switch model according to the product and the attached label. Assume you talk of a JGS524PE or the very similar JGS524Ev2 (without PoE support, operating the same firmware). JGS524PE - 24-Port Gigabit Ethernet Plus Switch with 12 Ports PoE . Yes, it can be very confusing to the community members here, to mix different model numbers (JGS524, JGS524PE) and tagging as a Managed Switch does not bring up the quality of this community.

The archive downloaded from the Netgear Support site is unpacked? 

The firmware download is named JGS524PE_JGS524Ev2_V2.6.0.50.zip - so an archive file, which requires zo be be unzipped first - so you have two files named JGS524PE_JGS524Ev2_V2.6.0.50.bin and JGS524PE_JGS524Ev2_V2.6.0.50_Release_Notes.html

The administration (and configuration) and uploading a firmware to a Easy Smart Switches (earlier named  Plus Switches) does technically require "just" a plain http Web UI connection, the authentication as well as the firmware does transfer a file with a .bin extension - all these are potential trip hazards, prohibiting a successful firmware upload over a plain text, unencrypted, unsecured connection - perfectly fine for typical users.

Modern computers, Web browsers, and some third party so called "Internet Security" software might interfere or even prohibit what appears to be a simple file upload. Start with using a different Web browser, watch the computer "security" or "firewall" software, and - unless using a clean Windows 10/11 system (Microsoft Defender is perfectly fine, no actions required!) or a Mac - disable third party firewalls or Internet security **** on the computer.

Some overly "smart" systems (computers) might not allow either the plain text login (admin password), and subsequently uploading (== posting) a generic .bin file over "insecure" connections. The upload is -silently- blocked, no file will be uploaded - what's not a Netgear issue; much more a wonderful "security" feature of some browsers, crappy Internet Security programs, ...  

None of these are making up a real problem on the simplistic design and implementation of these earlier Plus or Easy Smart switches - built on a very tiny uC for configuring and lightly manage those switches.

Regards,

-Kurt.