Data Comm for Business, Inc.

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Product Application Note

Multiplexers Connect Using Ethernet And New Ethernet Serial Server

It is sometimes desirable to connect a host computer at one location to remote terminals or PCs at another location in a facility containing ethernet wiring with no direct RS-232 cabling. The two locations might be in different cities connected with a router based WAN (Wide Area Network). Now, it is economical and convenient to transport RS-232 data between two LAN locations using DCB's SR multiplexers, available in models from 4 to 32 ports. The multiplexers connect to an ethernet LAN/WAN through our new SS-1 ethernet serial servers which provide a path through the ethernet equivalent to a 38.4 Kbps seriat connection. Multiplexers, which are all tuned for bursty traffic such as terminal keyboarding and printers, work hand-in-hand with the ethernet serial server to provide multiplexer performance over ethernet.

Figure One

The remainder of this product application note illustrates the complete configuration for the SR multiplexer and the SS-1 ethernet serial server.

Set up is quite easy. The SR multiplexers are configured as if they were in normal point-to-point asynchronous mode. Although the SS1 serial port works at speeds up to 230 Kbps, configure the Async composite at 38.4Kbps. This will guarantee adequate performance for the multiplexer and not seriously impact ethernet performance. Both multiplexers are configured the same (other than their Ids.)

Since the SS-1 Ethernet Serial Servers must deal with TCP/IP, their configuration is more complicated. Use the steps below to configure these devices. NOTE, they are configured differently.

One SS-1will be programmed to automatically connect to the other. The one controlling the connection will be called the CLIENT, the other one, the SERVER.

You need the following configuration information before starting...

  1. IP address for the SERVER.
  2. Network Mask for the SERVER.
  3. IP address for the CLIENT.
  4. Network Mask for the CLIENT.
  5. Network Gateway for the SERVER.
  6. Network Gateway for the CLIENT.
  7. Backup Gateway for the SERVER.
  8. Backup Gateway for the CLIENT.

Install the SERVER and CLIENT on an ethernet segment.

Configure the SERVER SS-1 unit:

Configure the remote SS-1 unit.

After the reboot, Everything should be up and running. When you connect the multiplexer composites to the SS-1 serial ports they should come up and begin transferring data. Verify proper operation by connecting the terminal to a multiplexer NMP and running the RTY command.

Troubleshooting:

If the multiplexers don't connect, troubleshoot by telnetting into the SS-1 units (port 8000 ) from a LAN workstation and checking parameters with menu command 5. Example listings are below. Verify a valid link to both SS-1s by pinging them from a workstation on the LAN

Example SS-1 configurations 

root>Telnet 205.166.54.202 8000 

(---------[  Setup from LAN  ]---------)
<<<<<------- Ver=1.0 Rel=01 ------->>>>>
      Serial Server Setup Program.

 Copyright(c) 1997.  All Rights Reserved.
<<<<<------------------------------->>>>>
       [Press any key to continue]


<<<<<            Main Menu             >>>>>
<<<<<---------------------------------->>>>>
 1. Set Server(Local) & Client(Remote) IP Address, Subnet Mask, Gateway Address.
 2. Set Manager/Telnet IP Address.
 3. Set Serial Port Data.
 4. Additional Setup Screen.
 5. Display Settings.
 6. Reset Configuration to Default.
 7. Save and Exit.
 0. Exit without Saving.




 Choose a Number => 5 
 Local Address: 205.166.054.202               Serial NO: 00:C0:02:07:92:27
 Remote Address: 205.166.054.201
 Gateway Address: 205.166.054.003
 Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.000
 Name of Contact Person: 
 Device Name: Remote Serial Server
 Physical Location: 

 Entry  Manager_IpAddr  
 *****  *************** 
   1.   000.000.000.000
   2.   000.000.000.000
   3.   000.000.000.000
   4.   000.000.000.000

Current Setting of Serial Port: 
 Flow Control: None    
 BaudRate: 9600 
 Parity Bits: None
 Data Bits: 8 Bits
 Stop Bits: 1 Bit 

 [Press any key to continue]
Current Setting of Buffer: 
 Timer: 20 ms
 Block Size: 1024 Bytes
 High Water: 80% 
 Low Water: 20% 
 Line Terminator Character: 13 (Dec) 
 Transmit on LT Char: ON 
 Transmit Mode: NO Filter

Current Statistics of Serial Server: 
 Packets In Network: 25852
 Packets Out Network: 4063
 Error Packets: 0
 Characters In Serial Port: 0
 Characters Out Serial Port: 0

Current Configuration of Serial Server:
 Switches Status : SW 1 (ON), SW 2 (ON)  (Server Mode)
 Current Connection SERVER IP Address: 205.166.054.201l

 [Press any key to continue]


And for the Client unit...

root>Telnet 205.166.54.201 8000 

(---------[  Setup from LAN  ]---------)
<<<<<------- Ver=1.0 Rel=01 ------->>>>>
      Serial Server Setup Program.

 Copyright(c) 1997.  All Rights Reserved.
<<<<<------------------------------->>>>>
       [Press any key to continue]


<<<<<            Main Menu             >>>>>
<<<<<---------------------------------->>>>>
 1. Set Local & Remote IP Address, Subnet Mask, Gateway Address.
 2. Set Manager/Telnet IP Address.
 3. Set Serial Port Data.
 4. Additional Setup Screen.
 5. Display Settings.
 6. Reset Configuration to Default.
 7. Save and Exit.
 0. Exit without Saving.




 Choose a Number => 5 
 Local Address: 205.166.054.201               Serial NO: 00:C0:02:07:92:28
 Remote Address: 205.166.054.202
 Gateway Address: 205.166.054.003
 Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.000
 Name of Contact Person: 
 Device Name: Remote Serial Server
 Physical Location: 

 Entry  Manager_IpAddr  
 *****  *************** 
   1.   000.000.000.000
   2.   000.000.000.000
   3.   000.000.000.000
   4.   000.000.000.000

Current Setting of Serial Port: 
 Flow Control: None    
 BaudRate: 9600 
 Parity Bits: None
 Data Bits: 8 Bits
 Stop Bits: 1 Bit 

 [Press any key to continue]
Current Setting of Buffer: 
 Timer: 20 ms
 Block Size: 1024 Bytes
 High Water: 80% 
 Low Water: 20% 
 Line Terminator Character: 13 (Dec) 
 Transmit on LT Char: ON 
 Transmit Mode: NO Filter

Current Statistics of Serial Server: 
 Packets In Network: 25852
 Packets Out Network: 4063
 Error Packets: 0
 Characters In Serial Port: 0
 Characters Out Serial Port: 0

Current Configuration of Serial Server:
 Switches Status : SW 1 (OFF), SW 2 (ON)  (Client Mode - Transparent)
 Current Connection SERVER IP Address: 205.166.054.202

 [Press any key to continue]


<<<<<            Main Menu             >>>>>
<<<<<---------------------------------->>>>>
 1. Set Local & Remote IP Address, Subnet Mask, Gateway Address.
 2. Set Manager/Telnet IP Address.
 3. Set Serial Port Data.
 4. Additional Setup Screen.
 5. Display Settings.
 6. Reset Configuration to Default.
 7. Save and Exit.
 0. Exit without Saving.




 Choose a Number =>0
@------------------------------------@
@ End of Serial Server Setup Program @
@------------------------------------@





<<<<<            Main Menu             >>>>>
<<<<<---------------------------------->>>>>
 1. Set Local & Remote IP Address, Subnet Mask, Gateway Address.
 2. Set Manager/Telnet IP Address.
 3. Set Serial Port Data.
 4. Additional Setup Screen.
 5. Display Settings.
 6. Reset Configuration to Default.
 7. Save and Exit.
 0. Exit without Saving.

 Choose a Number =>0
@------------------------------------@
@ End of Serial Server Setup Program @
@------------------------------------@

 


Data Comm for Business, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of a diverse line of data communications and networking products. Their experts can help you connect remote sites with phone (1-800-4-dcbnet), email (info@dcbnet.com), or personal (807 Pioneer, Champaign, Il. 61820) assistance. Check out their Web page at http://www.dcbnet.com .

Copyright ©1997, 1998 Data Comm for Business, All Rights Reserved.