B&B Electronics ESP904 User Manual

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EEtthheerrnneett SSeerriiaall SSeerrvveerr

MMooddeellss:: EESSPP990044,, EESSPP990044EE

Manual Documentation Number: ESP904-4513m

B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax [phone] – www.bb-elec.com

B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph [phone] – Fax [phone] – www.bb-europe.com

International Headquarters

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Ottawa, IL 61350 USA

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European Headquarters

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Phone [phone] -- Fax [phone]

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Sales e-mail: [e-mail]

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© B&B Electronics – January 2008

Manual Documentation Number: ESP904-4513m

B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax [phone] – www.bb-elec.com

B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph [phone] – Fax [phone] – www.bb-europe.com

 2008 B&B Electronics. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or

mechanical, including photography, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system without written consent. Information
in this manual is subject to change without notice, and does not represent a commitment on the part of B&B Electronics.

B&B Electronics shall not be liable for incidental or consequential damages resulting from the furnishing, performance, or use of
this manual.

All brand names used in this manual are the registered trademarks of their respective owners. The use of trademarks or other
designations in this publication is for reference purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement by the trademark holder.

Manual Documentation Number: ESP904-4513m

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B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph [phone] – Fax [phone] – www.bb-europe.com

TTaabbllee ooff CCoonntteennttss

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .............................................................................. 1

FEATURES .................................................................................................................. 1

COMMUNICATION MODES ......................................................................................... 2

Direct IP Mode ..................................................................................................... 2

Virtual COM Mode ............................................................................................... 2

Paired Mode ......................................................................................................... 3

Heart Beat ............................................................................................................. 3

ESP904 QUICK START GUIDE.................................................................................... 4

Hardware Setup .................................................................................................... 4

Software Installation ............................................................................................. 4

ESP904 Configuration .......................................................................................... 5

Install Virtual COM Ports on PC.......................................................................... 6

Check Communications ........................................................................................ 6

CHAPTER 2: MAKING THE HARDWARE CONNECTIONS ........................... 7

PACKAGE CHECKLIST ................................................................................................ 7

ESP904 CONNECTIONS, INDICATORS AND RESET SWITCH ........................................ 7

Indicator Lights ..................................................................................................... 8

Ethernet Connector ............................................................................................... 8

Power Connector .................................................................................................. 8

Reset Button .......................................................................................................... 8

Serial Ports ........................................................................................................... 9

SERIAL SERVER/PORT OPERATIONAL MODES ........................................................... 9

Default Mode ........................................................................................................ 9

Console Mode ..................................................................................................... 10

Upgrade Mode .................................................................................................... 10

RS-232 Mode ....................................................................................................... 10

RS-422 Mode ....................................................................................................... 10

RS-485 Mode ....................................................................................................... 11

ESP904 SERIAL PORT CONNECTOR PIN-OUTS ......................................................... 12

CHAPTER 3: INSTALLING THE VLINX ESP SOFTWARE............................ 13

SOFTWARE INSTALLATION ....................................................................................... 13

Automatic Installation ......................................................................................... 13

Manual Installation ............................................................................................. 13

Updating an Existing Installation ....................................................................... 15

Opening the ESP Manager ................................................................................. 16

Manual Documentation Number: ESP904-4513m Table of Contents I

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CHAPTER 4: USING ESP MANAGER ................................................................. 17

HARDWARE SETUP .................................................................................................. 17

SOFTWARE SETUP .................................................................................................... 18

SOFTWARE OVERVIEW ............................................................................................ 19

Menus .................................................................................................................. 19

Server Icons Pane ............................................................................................... 21

Serial Server / Virtual COM Lists ....................................................................... 21

Status Bar ............................................................................................................ 22

SEARCH FOR SERVERS ............................................................................................. 22

CONFIGURE SERVER PROPERTIES ............................................................................ 23

CHAPTER 5: CONFIGURING THE ESP904 SERVER PROPERTIES ........... 27

DESCRIPTION OF THE SERVER PROPERTIES .............................................................. 28

Server Name ........................................................................................................ 28

Serial Number ..................................................................................................... 28

Password ............................................................................................................. 28

DHCP ................................................................................................................. 28

IP Address ........................................................................................................... 29

Netmask ................................ ................................ ................................ ............... 30

Gateway .............................................................................................................. 30

MAC Address ...................................................................................................... 30

Version & Date ................................................................................................... 30

Link Status........................................................................................................... 30

Server Serial Port ............................................................................................... 30

Baud Rate ............................................................................................................ 30

Data/Parity/Stop ................................................................................................. 31

Flow Control ....................................................................................................... 31

TCP/UDP Protocol ............................................................................................. 31

Serial Timeout ..................................................................................................... 32

TCP Alive Timeout ................................ ................................ .............................. 32

Connection Mode ................................................................................................ 32

Delimiter HEX 1 and Delimiter HEX 2 ............................................................... 32

Force Transmit ................................................................................................... 33

Port Status........................................................................................................... 33

TCP/UDP Port .................................................................................................... 33

Serial Port Mode ................................................................................................. 33

Connection At ..................................................................................................... 34

Max Connection .................................................................................................. 34

Remote IP Address .............................................................................................. 34

Update/Save ........................................................................................................ 34

CHAPTER 6: INSTALLING VIRTUAL COM PORTS ...................................... 39

VIRTUAL COM PORT INSTALLATION ...................................................................... 39

II Table of Contents Manual Documentation Number: ESP904-4513m

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MATCHING THE ESP904 AND VIRTUAL COM PORT SETTINGS ................................ 42

CHAPTER 7: REMOVING VIRTUAL COM PORTS ......................................... 45

REMOVING THE VIRTUAL COM PORT WITH ESP MANAGER ................................... 45

REMOVING THE VIRTUAL COM PORT USING DEVICE MANAGER ............................ 46

CHAPTER 8: UPGRADING THE ESP904 FIRMWARE.................................... 49

DOWNLOADING THE FIRMWARE .............................................................................. 49

UPGRADING VIA ESP MANAGER ............................................................................. 49

Preparing the Software ....................................................................................... 49

Upgrading the Firmware .................................................................................... 50

CHAPTER 9: USING CONSOLE MODE ............................................................. 51

CONSOLE MODE SETUP ........................................................................................... 51

Navigating the Configuration Menus .................................................................. 52

Using a Password ............................................................................................... 53

CHAPTER 10: USING THE WEB SERVER ........................................................ 55

SETTING SERVER PROPERTIES ................................................................................. 55

CHAPTER 11: USING TELNET ............................................................................ 59

CONFIGURATION USING TELNET ............................................................................. 59

Navigating the Configuration Menu ................................................................... 60

CHAPTER 12: ESP904 TECHNICAL DATA ....................................................... 63

APPENDIX A: RS-232 CONNECTIONS ............................................................... 67

ESP904 DB-9 PIN-OUTS IN RS-232 MODE .............................................................. 67

RS-232 Straight-through Cable Connections ...................................................... 68

RS-232 Crossover (null modem) Cable Connections .......................................... 68

RS-232 Crossover DB-9 to DB-25 Conversion Connections .............................. 69

RS-232 DTE Loopback Connections ................................................................... 70

APPENDIX B: RS-422 CONNECTIONS ............................................................... 71

ESP904 DB-9 PIN-OUTS IN RS-422 MODE .............................................................. 71

APPENDIX C: RS-485 CONNECTIONS ............................................................... 75

ESP904 DB-9 PIN-OUT IN RS-485 MODE ................................................................ 75

APPENDIX D: NETWORK CONNECTIONS ...................................................... 77

STANDARD ETHERNET CABLE RJ-45 PIN-OUT ......................................................... 77

CROSSOVER ETHERNET CABLE RJ-45 PIN-OUT ....................................................... 78

Manual Documentation Number: ESP904-4513m Table of Contents III

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IV Table of Contents Manual Documentation Number: ESP904-4513m

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Introduction

CChhaapptteerr 11:: IINNTTRROODDUUCCTTIIOONN

The VLINX Model ESP904 Quad-Port Ethernet Serial Server provides
Ethernet to Serial connections for RS-232, RS-422 or RS-485 devices. The
serial ports can be accessed over a LAN/WAN using Direct IP Mode, Virtual

COM Port, or Paired Mode connections. The 10/100 Mbps Ethernet

connection auto-selects 10BaseT or 100BaseTX and indicates the type of
connection with a bi-color link light.

Features

 4 multi-interface serial ports - RS-232, RS-422, RS-485; software

selectable connections

 10/100 Mbps Ethernet with Auto Selection
 LAN and WAN Communications
 TCP or UDP Client or Server operation - configurable
 Software Support - Windows 98/ME/2000/2003/NT 4.0/XP and Vista
 Firmware Upload for future revisions/upgrades
 Configuration of Ethernet and serial port settings can be accomplished

using any of four methods:

 Virtual COM Driver Software for Windows - installs a virtual COM

port, viewable in the Windows Device Manager under Ports (COM &

LPT). Virtual COM port provides access to any of the ports on the

ESP904, like any other serial port (legacy, PCI, USB or PCMCIA) on
the computer. Any program running on the computer and using
Windows-based COM ports can access the serial devices attached to the

o VLINX ESP Manager Software for Windows allows

configuration via a network connection or directly from the
Ethernet port of a computer (using an Ethernet crossover cable).

o Web Server allows configuration via the network using any

web browser.

o Telnet allows configuration via the network by accessing the

setup configuration menu.

o Console Mode allows configuration through an RS-232 serial

port in using a VT100 Terminal Emulation program and an RS­232 crossover cable.

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Introduction

ESP904. The LAN becomes transparent to the serial device and the
software running on the PC.

 Heart Beat Connection - selectable protocol ensures reliable

communications in Virtual COM Port or Paired Connection modes. This
feature restores the connections if communications are temporarily lost
at either end due to loss of power or the Ethernet connection.

Communication Modes

The ESP904 enables communication with serial devices over a LAN or
WAN. Serial devices no longer are limited to a physical connection to the PC
COM port. They can be installed anywhere on the LAN using TCP/IP or
UDP/IP communications. This allows traditional Windows PC software
access to serial devices anywhere on the LAN/WAN network.

Direct IP Mode

Direct IP connections allow applications using TCP/IP or UDP/IP socket

programs to communicate with the asynchronous serial ports on the ESP904.
In this type of application the ESP904 is configured as a TCP or UDP server.
The socket program running on the PC establishes a communication
connection with the ESP904. The data is sent directly to and from the serial
port on the server. When using UDP protocol the server can be configured to
broadcast data to and receive data from multiple IP addresses.

Virtual COM Mode

Use Install Virtual COM to add a driver, to provide a virtual COM port on
the computer. The new COM port shows up in the Device Manager.
Windows programs using standard Windows API calls are able to interface
to virtual COM ports. When a program on the PC opens the new COM port,
it communicates with the remote serial device connected to one of the ports
on the ESP904.

After connection, the LAN is transparent to the program and serial device.
Applications are able to work just as if the serial device is connected directly
to a physical COM port on the computer. The virtual COM port software

converts the application’s data into IP packets, sends it across the network to

the ESP904, which converts the IP packet back to serial data and sends the
data out a serial port located on the ESP904.

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Introduction

To use this mode, the ESP904 must be set to either TCP/server or
UDP/server with a designated communication port number. The virtual COM
driver is the TCP or UDP client.

Paired Mode

Paired Mode is also called serial tunneling. In this mode any two serial

devices that can communicate with a serial link will be able to communicate
using two ESP904s and the LAN.

Two ESP904s are connected to a network, one configured as a TCP or UDP
client and the other as a TCP/UDP server. When setting up the server the
remote IP address section must contain the address of the client. This will
allow the client’s IP address to pass the IP address-filtering feature of the
server. Conversely, the Remote IP address of the client must contain the
server’s IP address. Both communication port numbers must be the same.

Heart Beat

The Heart Beat protocol connection provides a reliable communications
connection in Virtual COM Port Mode or with Paired Connection Mode.
This feature restores the connection if communications are temporarily lost at
either end due to loss of power or Ethernet connection.

Without this feature a device that loses a connection and stops
communicating would not be able to reconnect without human intervention.
A TCP data connection can be lost when there is a power failure or
temporary loss of an Ethernet connection on either the client or server. If a
loss occurs the Heart Beat feature will try to reconnect the TCP data
connection every five seconds until communications is established again. The
Heart Beat feature is available for use in Virtual COM Port Mode and Paired

Connection Mode. This is not available when using a UDP application.

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Introduction

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ESP904 Quick Start Guide

For descriptive purposes this Quick Start Guide considers a typical
configuration consisting of a PC connected via an Ethernet LAN to an

ESP904 Serial Server connected to the RS-232 port of a serial device.

Hardware Setup

Figure 1. Quick Start Hardware Setup

Step 1: Connect the ESP904 to the network using a standard network cable

Step 2: Connect the ESP904 to the RS-232 serial device.

If the serial device is configured as a DCE use a straight-through serial cable. If
the serial device is configured as a DTE use a crossover (null modem) cable.

Step 3: Apply power to the Serial Server.

Software Installation

Using the CD included with the ESP904, install the VLINX ESP Manager
software on the configuring computer.

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Introduction

ESP904 Configuration

Step 1: Open the ESP Manager software. It will automatically search for

any reachable (ESP90x) Serial Servers. A list of all Serial Servers
connected to the LAN will appear in the Serial Server List window.

Step 2: Double click the first ESP904 port on the list (4000) to bring up the

Server Properties configuration screen.

Figure 2. The Server Properties Window

Step 3: Change the Server Properties as required.

 Enable DHCP to allow the ESP904 to generate its own IP

address

OR

 Obtain appropriate static IP, Netmask and Gateway addresses

from your Network Administrator (recommended)

 Set the Console Mode property to RS-232 to match the serial

device connected to the ESP904 serial port 1.

 Set Baud Rate, Data/Parity/Stop, and Flow Control to match

the configuration of the serial device connected to the ESP904
serial port

Step 4: When the parameters have been set, click Update. Following the

prompts in the dialogue boxes, Restart the Serial Server and

Search all reachable servers again.

Step 5: Re-enter Server Properties to verify the changes have taken effect,

or to view/change the configuration of other ports. Each port must
be configured separately.

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Introduction

Install Virtual COM Ports on PC

Step 1: From the Windows Start menu, run the Install Virtual COM Ports

utility included with the VLINX software,

Step 2: Search for all servers on the network

Step 3: Select the first port (4000) and map it to an unused COM port (e.g.

Port 15). Configure it for TCP protocol and the appropriate IP
address (determined in the last section).

Figure 3. Configuring the Virtual COM Port

Check Communications

Step 1: From the Windows Start menu, run HyperTerminal

Step 2: Configure HyperTerminal to connect using the COM port

configured in the last section (e.g. Port 15).

Step 3: Set Baud Rate, Data/Parity/Stop, and Flow Control to match the

configuration of the serial device connected to the ESP904 serial
port.

Step 4: Communications with the serial device should now be operational.

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Making Hardware Connections

CChhaapptteerr 22:: MMAAKKIINNGG TTHHEE HHAARRDDWWAARREE

CCOONNNNEECCTTIIOONNSS

Package Checklist

The ESP904 4-port serial server is shipped with the following items
included:

 ESP904 Serial Server Module
 Power supply
 This manual
 CD-ROM disc with manual, VLINX ESP Manager and Virtual COM

Driver software for Windows 98/ME/2000/2003/XP/NT 4.0/Vista

ESP904 Connections, Indicators and Reset Switch

The ESP904 has:

 Seven indicator LEDs
 One Ethernet connector
 A power connector
 A recessed reset switch
 Four serial port connectors

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Making Hardware Connections

Light

Indication

Power

Red - power is applied

Link

Yellow – 10BaseT Ethernet connection established
Green – 100BaseTX Ethernet connection established

Ready

Flashing Green – system is ready

Serial (4)

When set up as a TCP server:

Steady Green - client has made a connection,

communications starting

Flashing Green – data present at serial port
Light off – connection closed

When setup in UDP mode:

Steady Green (all ports)
Flashing Green – data is being transmitted

NNoottee::

Indicator Lights

Ethernet Connector

The ESP904 has a standard RJ-45 receptacle mounted in the top edge of the
chassis. The ESP904 can be connected to an Ethernet hub, switch, or wall
plate using a standard straight-through RJ-45 (male) Ethernet cable. To
connect directly to an RJ45 Ethernet port on a PC or laptop a crossover
Ethernet cable must be used.

Refer to Appendix D for details on Network Cables

Power Connector

Plug the ultra-miniature phone plug from the included power supply into the
power jack and then plug the supply in. When power is applied the Red
power light will illuminate. The tip of the power plug is positive; the sleeve
is negative.

Reset Button

This switch resets the unit, similar to the effect of removing/applying power.

8 Chapter 2 Manual Documentation Number: ESP904-4513m

The Reset switch is recessed to avoid accidental operation. To reset the unit,
insert a small plastic tool, press lightly and hold for 3 seconds. The Link and
Ready lights will go out and then come back on.

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Making Hardware Connections

Network
Connector
RJ-45
female

Power jack

2.5 mm Tip (+)

Reset
Switch

Serial Ports

1234

NNoottee::

Figure 4. Top View of the ESP904

Serial Ports

The ESP904 has four serial ports, each configurable through software as RS­232, RS-422 or RS-485 interfaces. When in RS-232 mode the interfaces are
configured as DTEs (Data Terminal Equipment).The connectors are DB-9M.

Figure 5. The ESP904 Serial Port Connectors

Serial Server/Port Operational Modes

Using the ESP Manager the ESP904 Serial Server can be put into Console

Mode, Default Mode or Upgrade Mode. The serial ports can be configured

for RS-232, RS-422 or RS-485 operation.

Default Mode

When Default Mode is selected and the Server Properties are Updated
(Saved) all the configuration settings return to their default values. The
default settings for the ESP904 serial ports are: Console Mode for Port 1;
RS-232 mode for Ports 2, 3 and 4.

Refer to Chapter 5 for details on Server Configuration settings Refer to Chapter
12 for Serial Server default parameters.

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Making Hardware Connections

NNoottee::

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Console Mode

In Console Mode the ESP904 Configuration Menu can be accessed from a
PC by connecting its RS-232 serial port to Port 1. Since the PC is a DTE
device, and the ESP904 serial ports are configured as DTEs (with DB-9M
connectors), a null modem crossover cable must be used.

In Console Mode the default serial port settings are: 9600 baud, 8 data bits,

No parity, and 1 stop bit. From Windows, HyperTerminal with VT100

terminal emulation can be used for Console Mode configuration.

Upgrade Mode

In Upgrade Mode firmware can be uploaded from a PC via its serial port to
the ESP904 Port 1, using RS-232. Upgrading also can be via the network
connection, using the ESP Manager software and a virtual COM port mapped
to the ESP904 Port 1.

RS-232 Mode

In RS-232 Mode the currently selected serial port is configured as an RS-232
interface supporting eight RS-232 signal lines plus Signal Ground and is
configured as DTE like a computer. Signals are single ended and referenced
to Ground. To use handshaking, Flow Control must be set to RTS/CTS
during Configuration.

RS-422 Mode

Refer to Chapter 9 for details on Console Mode

Refer to Chapter 8 for details on Upgrade Mode

Refer to Appendix A for RS-232 connection pin-outs.

In RS-422 Mode the currently selected serial port is configured as an RS-422
interface supporting four RS-422 signal channels with full duplex operation
for Receive, Transmit, RTS (Request To Send) and CTS (Clear To Send).
The data lines are differential pairs (A & B) in which the B lines positive
relative to the A lines in the idle (mark) state. Ground provides a common
mode reference. To use handshaking Flow Control must be set to RTS/CTS
during configuration.

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Making Hardware Connections

NNoottee::

NNoottee::

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RS-485 Mode

In RS-485 Mode Mode the currently selected serial port is configured as an
RS-485 interface supporting transmit (TX) and receive (RX) signal channels
using 2-wire, half-duplex operation. The data lines are differential with the
Data B line positive relative to Data A in the idle (mark) state. Ground
provides a common mode reference.

RS-485 Receiver Biasing can be implemented from the ESP904 if the

network does not supply it. Remove the two side-cover screws of the
ESP904, slide the cover off and re-position the bias jumpers (shown open in
the figure below) to enable biasing (shorting).

Refer to Appendix B RS-422 connection pin-outs.

Refer to Appendix C for RS-485 connection pin-outs.

Figure 6. Internal Setting to Select RS-485 Bias

(For more information on RS-485 Receiver Biasing, see B&B Electronics RS­422/485 Application Note available at www.bb-elec.com)

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Making Hardware Connections

DB-9M

Pin

RS-232

Signal Name

DTE

RS-422

RS-485

1

Carrier Detect

DCD

In

RXDA (−)

--

2

Receive Data

RXD

In

RXDB (+)

--

3

Transmit Data

TXD

Out

TXDB (+)

Data B (+)

4

Data Terminal Ready

DTR

Out

TXDA (−)

Data A (−)

5

Signal Ground

GND

---

GND

GND

6

Data Set Ready

DSR

In

CTSA (−)

--

7

Request To Send

RTS

Out

CTSB (+)

--

8

Clear To Send

CTS

In

RTSB (+)

-- 9 Ring Indicator

RI

In

RTSA (−)

NNoottee::

ESP904 Serial Port Connector Pin-outs

Pin-outs for RS-232, RS-422 and RS-485 operation are shown below.

Figure 7. Serial Connection Pin-outs for RS-232/RS-422/RS-

485

For more information on RS-232, RS-422 and RS-485 pin-outs, cable
connections and loopback connections refer to Appendices A, B and C

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Installing the VLINX ESP Software

CChhaapptteerr 33:: IINNSSTTAALLLLIINNGG TTHHEE VVLLIINNXX EESSPP

SSOOFFTTWWAARREE

The Windows-based ESP Manager and Virtual COM Port software makes
configuration fast and easy. If using Windows, installing the ESP Manager
software and setting up virtual COM ports to configure the ESP904 is
recommended.

Software Installation

The VLINX ESP software includes:

 ESP Manager
 Install Virtual COM Ports
 Uninstall Virtual COM Ports

Automatic Installation

Step 1a: Inserting the VLINX CD in the CD-ROM should automatically

launch the Install Shield Wizard.

Manual Installation

Step 1b: To manually start the software installation, from the Windows

Destop, click Start button. At the Run command line type
D:start.exe. Then select OK. (D: is the drive letter for the CD

ROM.)

Figure 8. The Run Dialogue Box

The Install Shield Wizard window will be displayed.

Manual Documentation Number: ESP904-4513m Chapter 3 13

B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax [phone] – www.bb-elec.com

B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph [phone] – Fax [phone] – www.bb-europe.com

Installing the VLINX ESP Software

Figure 9. The Install Shield Wizard Window

Step 2: When the VLINX ESP Setup window appears, click Next.

Figure 10. VLINX ESP Setup Window

Figure 11. The Choose Destination Window

Step 3: When Choose Destination Location appears, click Next.

The installation progress will be shown until complete.

14 Chapter 3 Manual Documentation Number: ESP904-4513m

B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax [phone] – www.bb-elec.com

B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph [phone] – Fax [phone] – www.bb-europe.com

Installing the VLINX ESP Software

Figure 12. The Install Shield Wizard Complete Window

Step 4: Click Finish when the Install Shield Wizard Complete dialogue

appears. When finished, dialogue box will close.

Updating an Existing Installation

If an older version of the ESP Manager software is already installed, the

Modify, repair or remove the program window will appear when the

installation process is initiated:

Figure 13. The InstallShield Wizard Modify, Repair or Remove Screen

Manual Documentation Number: ESP904-4513m Chapter 3 15

B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax [phone] – www.bb-elec.com

B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph [phone] – Fax [phone] – www.bb-europe.com

Installing the VLINX ESP Software

The recommended procedure is to Remove all installed components first
Once the software has been removed, Install the new software.

Opening the ESP Manager

Step 5: If the ESP904 is not already connected to the network or to the

Ethernet port on the computer, connect it. Apply power.

The Power indicator should light red, the Link light should indicate
which type of Ethernet connection has been made and the Ready
LED will flash indicating configuration can begin.

Step 6: Start the ESP Manager software. From the Windows Desktop, click:

Start  Programs  B&B Electronics  VLINX  ESP Servers
 VLINX ESP Manager.

As soon as the ESP Manager opens it will initiate Searching

Server and after a few seconds the Serial Server List will display

all (ESP90x) Serial Servers on the network.

Figure 14. ESP Manager Displaying all ESP90x Serial Servers

16 Chapter 3 Manual Documentation Number: ESP904-4513m

B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax [phone] – www.bb-elec.com

B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph [phone] – Fax [phone] – www.bb-europe.com

Using ESP Manager

CChhaapptteerr 44:: UUSSIINNGG EESSPP MMAANNAAGGEERR

The ESP Manager software allows:

 Searching for servers connected to the network
 Displaying and changing the configuration of those servers
 Installing virtual COM ports on a computer
 Displaying and configuring virtual COM ports
 Uninstalling virtual COM ports on a computer
 Upgrading the ESP904 firmware
 Monitoring Port Status
 Saving and Loading Configuration Files

Hardware Setup

Step 1: Connect the ESP904 to the LAN or to a computer Ethernet port.

Figure 15. Ethernet Connection via a LAN

Manual Documentation Number: ESP904-4513m Chapter 4 17

B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax [phone] – www.bb-elec.com

B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph [phone] – Fax [phone] – www.bb-europe.com