I just ran the software update tool on the StellarMate (it has been unplugged for a couple weeks) and it is failing an update to the Pi firmware.

Terminal window last lines:

Errors were encountered while processing:
/tmp/apt-dpkg-install-OjMWrA/40-linux-firmware-raspi2_1.20190215-0ubuntu0.18.04.1_armhf.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
stellarmate@stellarmate:~$

Is there a trick I need to know to get the firmware to update?

I have upgraded my equipment and am ready to give the Mate another try, especially since it appears we have a new Topcam driver for the guide cam. Also, this is running the bleeding version.

You can’t update the firmware by using the update tool...only the software on the SM..
Also if you are trying to update to the latest version of SM, which is 1.4.3 then you need to download the latest image and burn to an SD card...

Thanks! This should be fun... . Obviously my unix days are FAR behind me!

Yes, thanks to Ubuntu for breaking that package!

So there is one way to resolve this in Mate Terminal:

Once you get the error, just enter this command:
Then restart StellarMate. I fixed this in v1.4.3 at any rate.