Comtrol DM Primo User Manual

Product Overview

DeviceMaster

®

Primo

Hardware Installation

Use this document to initially configure the DeviceMaster Primo hardware. It also
discusses all hardware related information.

Red

, underscored items are links to URLs. Blue, underscored items are links

within this document or to another document on the media (CD or web site).

Note: If you copy this document from the ftp/Web or CD and do not use the

The DeviceMaster Primo provides a data communication solution for connecting
Windows and Unix/Linux hosts to asynchronous serial devices over a TCP/IP
based Ethernet network. You may connect your Windows NT/98/ME/2000/XP host
to a native RS-232/422/485 serial port, or your PC-based Unix/Linux host to a
fixed tty port, through a TCP/IP Ethernet connection.

With one asynchronous serial port connection on one end, and a 10/100 Mbps
Ethernet connection on the other, the DeviceMaster Primo allows any device that
primarily supports the asynchronous communications protocol to attach to a
network. The DeviceMaster Primo works like an add-on single-port serial board to
your PC server, but with one major advantage — the TCP/IP network. Since the
host communicates with the COM port on the DeviceMaster Primo over a TCP/IP
network, you are able to control your asynchronous serial device from virtually
any location.

Although it connects through the virtual link of the Ethernet network, the port on
the DeviceMaster Primo is recognized as a real COM port by Windows or a fixed
tty port by Unix/Linux. the DeviceMaster Primo provides both the basic transmit/
receive data functions, as well as RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, and DCD control signals.

procedure discussed on the CD, you will get an error message when selecting
hyperlinks outside of this document.

Locating the Drivers You can use the following links to locate the appropriate driver for your host PC

system.

• Windows XP

• Windows 2000

• Windows NT

• Windows 98/Me

• Linux

Locating Other Installation Documents

DeviceMaster Primo Hardware Installation 1

You may need one of these DeviceMaster Primo documents to install the driver in
the host PC. You can use the links below to locate the appropriate driver
installation document.

• Windows XP

• Windows 2000

— ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/Dev_Mstr/Primo/Drivers/Linux/

SW_Doc/p1pwinxp.pdf

SW_Doc/p1pwin2k.pdf

— ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/Dev_Mstr/Primo/Drivers/WinXP/

— ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/Dev_Mstr/Primo/Drivers/Win2000/

— ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/Dev_Mstr/Primo/Drivers/WinNT/

— ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/Dev_Mstr/Primo/Drivers/Win98/

or ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/Dev_Mstr/Primo/Drivers/WinXP/

or ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/Dev_Mstr/Primo/Drivers/Win2000/

Initial Configuration Procedures

• Windows NT or ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/Dev_Mstr/Primo/Drivers/WinNT/

SW_Doc/p1pwinnt.pdf

• Windows 98/Me

or ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/Dev_Mstr/Primo/Drivers/Win98/

SW_Doc/p1pwin9x.pdf

• Using Pair Connect and Raw Connect

or ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/Dev_Mstr/

Primo/Raw_Pair/raw_pair.pdf

Initial Configuration Procedures

If the DeviceMaster Primo has not been configured for your site, you must first
configure the IP address. IP configuration can be done using one of these methods.

• Telnet session

• Serial console mode

• Custom Mode (DeviceMaster Manager), which is automatically installed
when installing one of the Windows device drivers. See Locating Other

Installation Documents on Page 1 to locate the appropriate document.

Telnet Method Use the following procedure to configure the Primo using a telnet session. The

default IP address for the DeviceMaster Primo is 192.168.127.254.

1. Connect the cross-over Ethernet cable supplied with
the Primo between the 10/100 Base-T jack and the
host PC NIC.

Note: You may need to temporarily change the IP

address on the host PC so that they are on the
same subnet.

2. Set DIP switch SW1 to OFF (down) to establish a Telnet connection.

3. Plug the power adapter DC plug into the jack labeled DC-IN.

4. Plug the power adapter into an electrical outlet.

Note: There is no on/off switch. The Primo

automatically turns on when plugged into the
outlet. The PWR LED on the Primo top panel will glow to indicate that it
is receiving power and the Link LED will light when the Primo is
properly connected to a live Ethernet device or network. Orange
indicates a 10 Mbps Ethernet connection and green indicates a 100
Mbps Ethernet connection.

5. Start a Telnet session for either
Microsoft Windows or Unix. The
following illustrates telnet in Windows
NT.

a. On the Windows toolbar, select the

Start button, then select Run.

DeviceMaster Primo Hardware Installation 2

Telnet Method

b. Type telnet 192.168.127.254 (use your IP address if it is different from the

default) in the Open box, and then select OK.

c. Type 1 to select ansi/vt100 for Console terminal type, and then press the

Enter key.

d. If you are prompted for the Console

password, type the password and then
press the Enter key. A connection
between your computer and
DeviceMaster should now be
established, and the DeviceMaster
utility program will automatically
start running.

Note: To ensure proper operation, on

the Terminal menu, select Preferences, and then make sure the VT100
Arrows option is selected.

e. Use the keyboard arrow keys to select [serverConfig], and then press the

Enter key. The next telnet window appears.

f. Use the keyboard arrow keys to position the cursor over the first digit of

the IP address. Type the correct IP address, and then press the Enter key
to accept this value.

g. Press the ESC key to return to main menu, and then select Restart and

press the Enter key to activate the change.

6. Optionally remove the Ethernet cross-over cable from the PC host NIC and
the Primo. Connect a standard Ethernet cable between the Primo Ethernet
port and an Ethernet hub.

DeviceMaster Primo Hardware Installation 3

Serial Console Method

7. Set the DIP switch for your serial device using the following table:

SW1 SW2 SW3 Interface Mode

OFF OFF OFF RS-232 Data Comm

OFF ON RS-422

ON OFF RS-485 by RTS (Ready to Send)

ON ON RS-485 by ADDC (Automatic Data Detection

Serial Console
Method

8. Connect the appropriate serial cable between the DB9 serial port on the Primo
and your serial device. See The Serial Connector and Building Cables

on Page

8, if you need to build a cable.

9. Install a device driver on your PC host if you want to use the serial port as a
COM or tty port. See Locating the Drivers

and Locating Other Installation

Documents on Page 1 to continue the installation.

To use pair-connect or raw-connect (socket mode), see ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/

Dev_Mstr/Primo/Raw_Pair/raw_pair.pdf.

Use the following information to configure the Primo using a serial connection.

1. Connect a null-modem cable between the serial port
on the Primo and a PC COM port. See The Serial

Connector and Building Cables on Page 8, if you

need to build a cable.

2. Set SW1 to ON (up), SW2 or SW3 can be set to any position.

3. Plug the power adapter DC plug into the jack labeled DC-IN.

4. Plug the power adapter into an electrical outlet.

Note: There is no on/off switch. The Primo

automatically turns on when plugged into the
outlet. The PWR LED on the Primo top panel
will glow to indicate that it is receiving
power.

5. Start a terminal emulator such as the latest version of HyperTerminal for
Windows or Minicom for Linux. The following procedure uses HyperTerminal
in Windows NT.

a. On the Window’s desktop toolbar, select the Start button, then point to

Programs, then Accessories, then Communications, then Hyperterminal, then
select a HyperTerminal session. The HyperTerminal window appears.

Note: Some versions of HyperTerminal may or may not support every

keystroke.

b. On the File menu, select New

Connection. The Connection
Description dialog box appears.

c. In the Name box, type the desired

name and select an icon from the

Icon list.

DeviceMaster Primo Hardware Installation 4

Serial Console Method

d. Select the OK button. The Connect To dialog box appears.

e. From the Connect using drop-down list box, select the COM port that you

are using. Select the OK button. The Properties dialog box appears.

f. Select the following parameters:

* Bits per second: 19200
* Data bits: 8
* Parity: None
* Stop bits: 1
* Flow Control: None

g. Select the OK button. The HyperTerminal main window appears.
h. At the Console terminal type command line, type 1 for ansi/vt100

parameter.

i. Press the Enter key. HyperTerminal displays a configuration menu.

DeviceMaster Primo Hardware Installation 5

Serial Console Method

j. Select [serverConfig] from the menu.

k. Press the Enter key. Hyperterminal displays various parameters that are

required to configure the DeviceMaster Primo. The parameters are
enclosed in square brackets.

l. If you want to set the IP address of the server, use the keyboard arrow

keys to position the cursor over the first digit of the IP address. Type in the
correct IP address and then press the Enter key to accept this value. Press
the ESC key to return to the main menu. HyperTerminal displays the
previous main menu.

m. Using the arrow keys, select Restart from the menu.

6. Set the DIP switch for your serial device using the following table:

SW1 SW2 SW3 Interface Mode

OFF OFF OFF RS-232 Data Comm

OFF ON RS-422

ON OFF RS-485 by RTS (Ready to Send)

ON ON RS-485 by ADDC (Automatic Data Detection

7. Disconnect the null-modem cable from the PC COM port.

8. Connect the appropriate serial cable between the DB9 serial port on the Primo
and your serial device. See Building RS-232 Straight-Through Cables

on Page

9, if you need to build a cable.

DeviceMaster Primo Hardware Installation 6

9. Install a device driver on your PC host if you want to use the serial port as a
COM or tty port. See Locating the Drivers

Documents on Page 1 to continue the installation.

To use pair-connect or raw-connect (socket mode), see ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/

Dev_Mstr/Primo/Raw_Pair/raw_pair.pdf.

Connecting a Previously Configured Primo

Use the following procedures to connect a previously configured DeviceMaster
Primo; that is, the IP has been configured for your network.

1. Connect the appropriate serial cable between the Primo and the serial device.
See The Serial Connector and Building Cables
cable.

2. Plug the power adapter DC plug into the jack labeled DC-IN.

3. Plug the power adapter into an electrical outlet.

Note: There is no on/off switch. The Primo

automatically turns on when plugged into the
outlet. The PWR LED on the Primo top panel
will glow to indicate that it is receiving
power.

4. Connect a straight-through Ethernet cable between the 10/100 Base-T jack and the network hub.

Note: The Link LED will light when the Primo is

properly connected to a live Ethernet device
or network. Orange indicates a 10 Mbps
Ethernet connection and green indicates a 100 Mbps Ethernet
connection.

5. Set the DIP switch, using the following table to set the interface mode:

Connecting a Previously Configured Primo

and Locating Other Installation

on Page 8, if you need to build a

Replacing Hardware

SW1 SW2 SW3 Interface Mode

OFF OFF OFF RS-232 Data Comm

OFF ON RS-422

ON OFF RS-485 by RTS (Ready to Send)

ON ON RS-485 by ADDC (Automatic Data Detection

Note: After changing the setting of SW1, you must wait a few seconds for the

green Ready LED to turn off and on, indicating that the function of the
serial port has been changed.

Follow this procedure, to replace a DeviceMaster Primo with another
DeviceMaster Primo in an existing configuration.

1. Disconnect the power from the Primo to be removed from service.

2. Remove the old unit and attach a new or spare Primo.

3. Connect the new Primo to the network hub or server NIC.

4. Connect the power source to the new Primo.

5. If necessary, change the driver to reflect the MAC or IP address of the new Primo.

DeviceMaster Primo Hardware Installation 7

The Serial Connector and Building Cables

6. If necessary, configure any RS-422 or RS-485 ports to match the previous unit.

7. Transfer all cabling from the old Primo to the new Primo.

8. It is not necessary to shut down and restart the server.

The Serial Connector and Building Cables

This subsection provides you with information about the serial port pinout,
building additional loopback plugs, and building several types of serial cables.

DB9 Male Pinouts Use the following illustration and table for DB9 male pinout data.

Pin RS-232 RS-422 RS-485

1 DCD TXDB(-) TXDB/RXDB(-)

2 RXD TXDA(+) TXDA/RXDA(+)

3TXDRXDA(+)

4DTRRXDB(-)

5GND GND

6DSRRTSB(-)

7RTSRTSA(+)

8CTSCTSA(+)

9CTSB(-)

Building Additional DB9 Loopback Plugs

Loopback connectors are DB9 female serial port plugs, with pins wired together as
shown, that are used in conjunction with application software to test serial ports.

Note: Comtrol includes the Test Terminal (WCOM32) program on the CD for

Windows 98 and Windows NT drivers. See the on-line help for WCOM32 for
information about using these applications. Linux users can use MiniCom.

Wire the following pins together to replace
a missing RS-232 loopback plug:

• Pins 1 to 4 to 6

•Pins 2 to 3

• Pins 7 to 8 to 9

Pin 1

Pin 6

Pin 5

Pin 9

RS-232 Only
(Back View)

DeviceMaster Primo Hardware Installation 8

Building (RS-232) Null-Modem Cables

Building (RS-232)
Null-Modem Cables

Building RS-422 Null-Modem Cables

Use the following figure if you need to build a null-modem cable. A null-modem
cable is required for connecting DTE devices.

Signal

TxD
RxD
RTS
CTS
DSR
DCD
DTR

DeviceMaster Primo

GND
RI 9

DB9

Pins

3
2
7
8
6
1

4
5
9

DB9

Pins

2
3
8
7
4
1
6
5

DB25

Pins

3
2
5
4
20
8
6
7

22

Signal

RxD
TxD
CTS
RTS
DTR
DCD

DSR

GND

RI

Note: You may want to purchase or build a straight-through cable and purchase a

null-modem adapter.

Use the following figure if you need to build an RS-422 null-modem cable. A null­modem cable is required for connecting DTE devices. Make sure that you use
twisted-pair cable.

DB9

Signal

Primo

Pins

TXDB­TXDA+
RXDA+
RXDB-

Optional connections for signal ground and
hardware flow control:

GND
RTSB­RTSA+
CTSA+

CTSB- 9

1
2

3
4

5
6

7
8

Data Terminal
Device

RXDB­RXDA+

TXDA+
TXDB-

GND
CTSB­CTSA+
RTSA+

RTSB-

Building RS-232 Straight-Through Cables

DeviceMaster Primo Hardware Installation 9

Use the following figure if you need to build an RS-232 straight-through cable.
Straight-through cables are used to connect modems and other DCE devices.

DB9

DB9

Signal

DCD
RxD
TxD
DTR
GND
DSR
RTS
CTS

DeviceMaster Primo

Pins

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

RI 9

DB25

Pins

Pins

Signal

1

8

DCD

2

3

RxD

3

2

TxD

4

20

DTR

5

7
6

4
5

22

GND
DSR

RTS
CTS

6
7
8

9RI

Hardware Specifications

LED Indicators The top panel on the Primo contains three LED

indicators, which described below.

Hardware Specifications

LED

Name

LED Function

PWR Red indicates that the power is on.

Link

Orange indicates a 10 Mbps Ethernet connection.
Green indicates a 100 Mbps Ethernet connection.

Ready Green indicates the Primo is ready.

Reset Button The reset button is located next to the Ethernet RJ45 port on the rear panel. To

reset the Primo, press the button for three seconds to erase the password and reset
the parameters back to the manufacturer’s default values.

DIP Switch This table illustrates the Primo DIP switch settings.

SW1 SW2 SW3 Interface Mode

ON --- --- RS-232 Console

OFF OFF OFF RS-232 Data Comm

OFF ON RS-422

ON OFF RS-485 by RTS

ON ON RS-485 by ADDC

Environmental

This table illustrates environmental conditions.

Conditions

Environmental Conditions Value

Operating temperature*:

System off (storage)
System on (operational)

-20 to 85
0 to 60oC

o

C

Altitude 0 to 10,000 feet

Heat output 16.4 BTUs/Hr

Humidity (non-condensing):

System on (operational)
System off (storage)

8% to 80%

20% to 80%

* If this product is stacked, the environmental air flow must

insure that the Ambient Operating Temperature does NOT
exceed these limits.

DeviceMaster Primo Hardware Installation 10

Electromagnetic Compliances

Electromagnetic
Compliances

Other Specification Information

This table illustrates electromagnetic compliances for the Primo.

Electromagnetic Compliances Status

EMC: (conforms to the following standards)

FCC Class B
EN55022: 1994 class B
EN61000-3-2: 1995 class B
EN61000-3-3: 1995
EN55082-1: 1997
EN61000-4-2: 1995

Contact Discharge 4kV, Air Discharge 8kV

EN61000-4-3: 1995
EN61000-4-4: 1995

AC/DC Power supply 1kV, Data/Signal lines 5kV

EN61000-4-5: 1995

AC/DC Line to Line 1kV, AC/DC Line to Earth 2kV

EN61000-4-6: 1995
EN61000-4-8: 1993

3A/m at 50Hz

EN61000-4-11: 1994

Safety:

EN60950
UL/CUL, TUV

This table provides other data that you may require about the Primo.

Topic Specification

Yes

Yes
Yes

-

Power Connector

+

VDC

External power supply adapter (if

provided):
Input line frequency
Input line voltage
Output voltage
Output current

Note: Any power source that

meets the output voltage
and current requirements
can be used.

Processor type x186 or equivalent

Memory 512 KB

Baud rate/port range 50 bps - 230 Kbps

Ethernet host interface

(upstream and downstream)

Serial interface

Network protocols

Configuration:

Data bits
Parity
Stop bits

SNMP support Monitoring only.

See illustration at left.

60 Hz
100 - 120VAC
12 VDC
400 mA (minimum)

10/100Base-T (10/100 Mbps - RJ45)

RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485,
Dip Switch Selectable

TCP, UDP, ICMP, Telnet, IP,

RTelnet, DHCP

7 or 8

Odd, Even, None

1 or 2 (with parity setting of None)

DeviceMaster Primo Hardware Installation 11

Notices

Notices

This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy, and if not
installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try and
correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which
the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Important Safety Information

Technical Support

To avoid contact with electrical current:

• Never install electrical wiring during an electrical storm.

• Never install the power plug in wet locations.

Warning

• Use a screwdriver and other tools with insulated handles.

If you need technical support, contact Comtrol using one of the following methods.

Contact Method

FAQs

Corporate

Headquarters

http://forum.comtrol.com/

Comtrol Europe

Downloads http://support.comtrol.com/download.asp

E-mail [e-mail] [e-mail]

Web site http://www.comtrol.com http://www.comtrol.co.uk

Fax [phone] [phone]

Phone [phone] [phone]

FTP site ftp://ftp.comtrol.com

Trademark Notices

Comtrol is a trademark of Comtrol Corporation. DeviceMaster is a registered
trademark of Comtrol Corporation. Windows, MS-DOS, and Microsoft are
registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other product names mentioned
herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective
owners.

Fifth Edition, October 15, 2003 2:36 pm
Copyright © 2001 - 2003. Comtrol Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.

Comtrol Corporation makes no representations or warranties with regard to the
contents of this document or to the suitability of the Comtrol product for any
particular purpose. Specifications subject to change without notice. Some software
or features may not be available at the time of publication. Contact your reseller
for current product information.

Document Number: 2000212 Rev. E

DeviceMaster Primo Hardware Installation 12