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Category: Ethernet Serial Server

Model numbers Tech note applies to:

ESR/ESP90x

Brief Description:

Trouble shooting steps for the ESR9x and ESP9x ethernet to serial servers

Solution/Troubleshooting:

Usually we’re able resolve the most common setup problems connecting to ESP or ESR Serial Servers by checking these points with our customer if the customer is using a Virtual Com Port or Direct to IP Connection.  This information applies to units shipping at the end of 2005 or units with firmware version 2.0

The first thing the Serial Server needs is to be matched to the Local Area Network it will be used on.  A new Static IP address is needed, and the operating mode for each port must be assigned.  After the settings have been established and saved, then a Virtual Com Port can be installed.

Some customers have told me they installed a virtual com port before setting up the Serial Server IP address or other settings, usually this fails to connect.

Things To Check – Nine Not So Secret Steps

Can’t find the ESP/ESR Server using the ESP Manager.

• Check the XP firewall settings.  XP is normally set to block the Broadcast mode used to identify any ESP or ESP units.  Temporally disable the firewall until you have set up the server.

• Is a new ESP/ESR being used with previously installed ESP Manager?  Check the version, if older than the current version, use the most recent version which is reverse compatible.  Remove the older version from the Control Panel with Add/Remove before installing the new version.

• Is the Serial Server on the same subnet as the computer being used for setup?  The ESP Manager uses a broadcast mode to tell the ESP/ESR servers to identify themselves, and this does not work through a router.  Connect the server to the computer using an Ethernet Crossover cable, hub or unmanaged switch.  The first three fields of the IP address of the Computer must match what the server will be set to..  If the 3rd field is different, then the Computer and Server are on different Subnets.  They should match for a preliminary setup, then the IP and Gateway settings can be changed for the subnet it will be used on.  You can also connect through the Serial port in the Console mode without using the ESP Manager.  A RS-232 Crossover cable is required.

Can’t Connect to the Server through the Virtual Com Port or Directly to the IP address and Port number.

• Check that the unit is not in Console mode, check switches.  In the ESR, make sure the Run/Console switch is set to the Run.  In the ESP901/902, make sure the switches are all set to Off, and the Server has been powered up since they were changed.  Check the operating mode on the first port, make sure that it is set to RS-232, RS-422 or RS-485, not Console.

• Check the Remote IP address.  It should be 255.255.255.255 to permit connection from any computer IP address.  It must be used if the computer is using dynamic addressing.  Once things are verified to be working, this setting can be changed if required.  This setting is intended for use in a paired mode by the Client.

• Can you Ping the Serial Server IP address and get a response?  If not, something is wrong with the network cabling or connections. Check the Power light, Link Light and Ready Lights.  You can Ping the address by going to the computer Start menu, selecting Run, entering Command, to drop to a DOS command line,  then Ping and the IP address. (example: Ping 192.168.1.100).  While at the DOS command line you may as well check the IP address of the computer and the gateway it is using.  Enter IPCONFIG and the IP address of the computer is shown, the Subnet mask, and the Default Gateway is shown.  Write these down, since the ESP/ESR will be on the same network, and the IP address of the ESP/ESR must match the first 3 fields.  The last field must not be 0 or 255 in the IP address, it must be an unused address, usually assigned by your Network Administrator.  The Default Gateway of the server normally matches the computer, and the Subnet mask also matches the computer, unless the Server will be installed on a different Subnet.  A different Subnet means that the 3rd address field is different for the computer and Serial Server, and a managed switch/router translates between the two Subnets.

• Can you connect to the Server using HyperTerminal, Direct to TCP/IP (winsock)?  When this mode is selected, the IP address of the server is used, and the port number (such as 4000) is used.  HyperTerminal will show Connected or Connecting until it times out with a message window Unable to connect to xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx, then status at the bottom will show Disconnected.

• If you can connect directly to the IP address, close the connection, then try the Virtual Com Port connection.  If any ESP/ESR settings have been changed and updated/saved to the server since the Virtual Com was installed, the Virtual Com Port may need to be removed and reinstalled so the current settings will be used.  If it looks like HyperTerminal can connect to the Virtual Com port, then you can check with data or if in RS-232 or RS-422 or 4-Wire RS-485, you can make the connections for a loopback test, see that data is returned when typed.

The ESP Manager will usually show the IP address of the server, and the port number for each port, 4000, 4001, etc., and after mapping to a Com number, the Com number used for that port.  It will show “Not Connected” until a program opens the Com number, and the ESP Manager is refreshed by Searching Server again.  Then it will show Connected.

Your program that accesses the device on the server should also show connected if the program is compatible, and it is trying to access the server.

If you can’t connect, time to check all these settings:

• DHCP set to Disable.

• Check that the IP address of the server matches the network, first 3 fields, (see section after Can you Ping the address).

• Check the Subnet Mask, that it matches, (usually 255.255.255.0).

• Check the Gateway address that the first 3 fields match. 

• Check the Connection mode field, should be set to Server

• Protocol should be set to TCP. 

• The serial port mode must be set for Direct to IP operation, if using the Virtual Com Port driver, the program opening the port will set the baud rate, bits, parity.

• Flow Control must match the setting to be used by the program.,  Flow Control is usually set to None for RS-485.

• The TCP/UDP port is usually set to 4000 for the first port, mode is TCP.

• The Serial Port mode for the lowest port (1) must be set from Console to an operating mode, such as RS-232, RS-422 or RS-485. 

• The Remote IP address should be 255.255.255.255 to allow connection from any address.

• Run/Console switch must be set to Run, ESP901/ESP902, Switches OFF.

Most often one of the settings is wrong by accident or misunderstanding, so all critical fields should be checked.  IP address numbers are actually 8 bit numbers, so values from 0 to 255 are used, the same for Gateway and Masks, numbers above 255 are invalid.

Other serial servers have mostly similar settings, although the details are different for each manufacturer.

When done, reset the Firewall.  As a TCP server, the port number, 4000, and other port numbers must be open to the server, also Port 5300 for the Keep Alive Heartbeat function.  See the manual for other port settings used.

Most common problems can be resolved by checking and correcting bad settings. If you still have problems, please be patient with Tech Support because we will need to check each of these points with you before looking for other possibilities

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