Service Information
Offboard Diagnostic Information System Service (ODIS Service)

Number: VOS-15-02

Subject: Online Update Guide

Date: March 31, 2015

Supersedes VOS-14-32 due to revised formatting and additional information.

Table of Contents
Page

Section
1.0

Introduction

1

1.1

General Information

1

1.2

Network Performance Recommendations

2

2.0

Configuration

3

2.1

General Information

3

2.2

Configuration Window

3

2.3

Recommended Settings

4

Update Downloads & Installations

5

3.1

Overview – MUST READ!

5

3.2

Conditions & Restrictions

6

3.3

Update Indicator Icons

6

3.4

Automatic Search, Background Download & Installation

6

3.5

Manual Search, Background Download & Installation

11

3.0

4.0

Identifying Software Versions

14

5.0

Errors and Troubleshooting

15

5.1

Update Connection – Timeout Adjustment

15

5.2

Firewalls and Anti-Virus Software

16

5.3

Update Error Checklist

16

1.0 – Introduction
1.1 – General Information
ODIS Service application and diagnostic database contents are updated via a dealership network
(Internet) connection.
This guide is intended to assist service personnel using ODIS Service online update functions. Please
review the Table of Contents above and refer to the applicable Section / Page for details.

ATTENTION! Please distribute this information to all affected service personnel!
Page 1 of 16
© 2015 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual
property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this
document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these
materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Service Information
1.2 – Network Performance Recommendations
To ensure trouble-free update search and download performance, we recommend the following minimum
network performance specifications and “best practices”:
Network Type:

Minimum
Specification:

Best Practices - Notes:

Local Access
Network (LAN)
Business Grade
SLA

6 Mbps for
single franchise
8 Mbps for dual
franchise

Workshop technicians should have access to more than one
cabled LAN connection in the vicinity of their work area.

Wireless LAN
(WLAN)
Business Grade
SLA

802.11n

• Diagnostic devices on the wireless network should remain
connected to a dedicated “business grade” WLAN at all
times.
• Be aware that update download performance can be
adversely affected during peak dealership network traffic
periods.
• Do not alternate between the dedicated dealership WLAN
and any others at the dealership such as an open “guest”
network for service and sales customers (which tend to have
lower mbps capabilities).

ATTENTION!

If Dealer IT policies require the network to be configured for highly secure data traffic,
e.g.: firewalls, user account controls, anti-virus programs etc., access to URLs that are
routinely used by ODIS Service must be allowed.
Additional information:
• Service Information – ODIS Service document title: Required Open Internet Addresses (URLs)
• Section 5.2 – Pg. 16.

Page 2 of 16
© 2015 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual
property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this
document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these
materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Service Information
2.0 – Configuration
2.1 – General Information
Update search and download routines can be configured to suit user preferences or workshop workflow.
Technician users must become familiar with the configuration on each device. Their use of ODIS Service
must include knowledge of the various search, download and installation prompts, as well as the meaning
of certain notification icons.

2.2 – Configuration Window
The schedule for automatic update searches, well as how downloads take place is configured via the
Update configuration window.
1. From the ODIS Service main/start window, select the Admin operating mode.
2. From the General tab, select Update: Refer to the Legend below for configuration details:

Legend
Download

Specifies how downloads take place.

Loading in the background
Enabled (  ) is the default
setting

When enabled, updates are automatically downloaded in the background.
When downloads are finished, the user must start a manual installation.
When disabled, the download and installation is started manually.

Temporary download directory

Displays the default directory where updates are temporarily saved prior to
installation. If desired, an alternate directory can be specified using the Select
button.

Time of update – Test moment

Configures the automatic search schedule:

Cyclical (after X days for each)

Select this configuration if automatic update searches are desired in a
recurring cycle. In this case, enter the cycle in days (1 – 7) in the Cyclical
update section.

On specific weekdays

Select this configuration if update searches are desired on specific days of
the week. In this case, select the desired days in the Weekdays for update
section.
Page 3 of 16

© 2015 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual
property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this
document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these
materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Service Information
2.3 – Recommended Settings
The application software and diagnostic database versions must be kept up-to-date at all times. To ensure
this we recommend that all diagnostic devices be configured to automatically check for updates every
day and perform a background download of available updates as follows:
1. In the Download subcategory, “Loading in the background” is enabled by default. We recommend
this remain enabled:

2. Select On specific weekdays:

3. Select all the days of the week (and weekends if applicable):

4. Save the configuration settings: Click Save / Yes:

Page 4 of 16
© 2015 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual
property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this
document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these
materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Service Information
3.0 – Update Downloads & Installations
3.1 – Overview
Updates are downloaded into a temporary directory while ODIS Service is running. This enables use of the
software. Update installations take place when ODIS Service not running. Installations can be performed
immediately or deferred to a convenient time (for example, initiated before close of workshop hours).
Available update types and sizes can vary greatly. Application and incremental diagnostic database
updates can be relatively small. This results in quick download and installation times. Diagnostic database
updates for new models and model years can be relatively large. This results in longer download and
installation times.
Total download and installation times also depend on factors like diagnostic device hardware and software
performance, whether or not the device was up-to-date prior to the current update, the dealership network
bandwidth and whether the network connection to the device is cabled or wireless.
While ODIS Service can be configured for various search, download and installation methods, for simplicity
we recommended limiting them to those summarized below:
Method:

Automatic search, background download and
flexible installation options

Manual search, background download and
flexible installation options

Notes:
• This is the recommended configuration setting
(Ref. Section 2.3).
• Update downloads start automatically and run in
the background when ODIS Service is started. No
user intervention is required.
• User must initiate a manual installation when the
download is completed.
• Manual search, download and installation are also
possible at any time via the “Extras” operating
mode.
• Generally used when configurations other than the
recommended setting are applied.
• Manual search, download and installation can be
initiated at any time the “Extras” operating mode.

Page 5 of 16
© 2015 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual
property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this
document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these
materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Service Information
3.2 – Conditions & Restrictions
ATTENTION!
All partially-completed and saved diagnostic sessions must be completed and logs transmitted
prior to installing updates! Saved sessions can only be resumed and completed on the same
software version on which it was created!
Notes:
• If an automatic background download is in progress and a vehicle diagnostic session is started,
the download is automatically paused. The download automatically resumes when the
diagnostic session is finished.
•

If a download in progress is cancelled, or if ODIS Service or Windows® is shut down, the
download automatically resumes the next time ODIS Service is started and a network
connection is present.

3.3 – Update Indicator Icons
The icons described below appear in the ODIS Service main/start window status bar (bottom of screen).
These icons indicate download status, search and installation readiness:
Icon

Description
Download Icon: Automatic background download is in progress.
Download Icon: Automatic background download is paused.
Search & Installation Information Icon:
1. An automatic background download is complete: Click to start the installation process.
2. The time frame for an update search is exceeded (configuration-dependent): Click to start a