Moxa Technologies NPort 5150AI-M12-T, NPort 5150AI-M12-CT, NPort 5250AI-M12, NPort 5250AI-M12-CT, NPort 5250AI-M12-T User Manual

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series User Manual

First Edition, June 2012

www.moxa.com/product

© 2012 Moxa Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series User’s Manual

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The software described in this manual is furnished under a license agreement and may be used only in accordance with

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Copyright Notice

Copyright ©2012

Moxa Inc.

All rights reserved.

Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

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Information in this document is subject to cha nge witho ut no ti c e and doe s not repres e nt a co mmitment o n the part of
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Table of Contents

1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1-1

Overview ........................................................................................................................................... 1-2

Package Checklist ............................................................................................................................... 1-2

Product Features ................................................................................................................................ 1-2

Product Specifications ......................................................................................................................... 1-2

2. Getting Star ted.................................................................................................................................. 2-1

NPort 5x50A I-M 1 2 Se ries Appearance ................................................................................................... 2-1

Connecting the Hardware..................................................................................................................... 2-1

Wiring Requirements ................................................................................................................... 2-1

Connecting the Power .................................................................................................................. 2-2

Connecting to the Network ........................................................................................................... 2-2

Connecting to a Serial Device ....................................................................................................... 2-2

LED Indicators ............................................................................................................................ 2-2

3. Initial IP Address Configuration ........................................................................................................ 3-1

Initializing the NPort’s IP Address ......................................................................................................... 3-2

Factory Default IP Address ................................................................................................................... 3-2

NPort Administration Suite ................................................................................................................... 3-2

ARP................................................................................................................................................... 3-2

Telnet Console ................................................................................................................................... 3-3

Serial Console (19200, n, 8, 1) ............................................................................................................. 3-6

4. Choosing the Proper Operation Mode ................................................................................................ 4-1

Overview ........................................................................................................................................... 4-2

Real COM Mode .................................................................................................................................. 4-2

RFC2217 Mode ................................................................................................................................... 4-3

TCP Server Mode ................................................................................................................................ 4-3

TCP Client Mode ................................................................................................................................. 4-3

UDP Mode .......................................................................................................................................... 4-4

Pair Connection Mode .......................................................................................................................... 4-4

Ethernet Modem Mode ......................................................................................................................... 4-4

Reverse Telnet Mode ........................................................................................................................... 4-5

Disabled Mode .................................................................................................................................... 4-5

5. Web Console Configuration ............................................................................................................... 5-1

Opening Your Browser ......................................................................................................................... 5-2

Quick Setup ....................................................................................................................................... 5-3

Export/Import .................................................................................................................................... 5-6

Basic Settings .................................................................................................................................... 5-6

Network Settings ................................................................................................................................ 5-7

Serial Settings .................................................................................................................................. 5-10

Operating Settings ............................................................................................................................ 5-12

Real COM Mode ......................................................................................................................... 5-12

RFC2217 Mode .......................................................................................................................... 5-15

TCP Server Mode ....................................................................................................................... 5-17

TCP Client Mode ........................................................................................................................ 5-20

UDP Mode ................................................................................................................................ 5-24

Pair Connection Mode ................................................................................................................ 5-26

Ethernet Modem Mode ............................................................................................................... 5-28

Reverse Telnet Mode ................................................................................................................. 5-30

Disabled Mode .......................................................................................................................... 5-31

Accessible IP Settings........................................................................................................................ 5-32

Auto Warning Settings ....................................................................................................................... 5-33

Auto warning: Email and SNMP trap ............................................................................................ 5-33

Event Type ............................................................................................................................... 5-34

Upgrade Firmware ............................................................................................................................ 5-36

Monitor............................................................................................................................................ 5-36

Monitor Line ............................................................................................................................. 5-36

Monitor Async ........................................................................................................................... 5-37

Monitor Async-Settings .............................................................................................................. 5-37

Monitor Relay Output ................................................................................................................. 5-38

Change Password ............................................................................................................................. 5-38

Load Factory Default ......................................................................................................................... 5-39

Save/Restart .................................................................................................................................... 5-39

6. Configuring NPort Administrator ....................................................................................................... 6-1

Overview ........................................................................................................................................... 6-2

Installing NPort Administrator .............................................................................................................. 6-2

Configuration ..................................................................................................................................... 6-4

Broadcast Search ........................................................................................................................ 6-5

Unlock Password Protection .......................................................................................................... 6-6

Configuring the NPort 5x50AI-M12 ................................................................................................ 6-7

Upgrading the Firmware ............................................................................................................... 6-9

Export Configuration .................................................................................................................. 6-10

Import Configuration ................................................................................................................. 6-10

Monitor............................................................................................................................................ 6-11

Port Monitor ..................................................................................................................................... 6-15

COM Mapping ................................................................................................................................... 6-15

On-line COM Mapping ................................................................................................................ 6-16

Off-line COM Mapping ................................................................................................................ 6-19

COM Grouping .................................................................................................................................. 6-20

Creating a COM Group ............................................................................................................... 6-20

Deleting a COM Group................................................................................................................ 6-22

Adding a Port to a COM Group .................................................................................................... 6-24

Removing a Port from a COM Group ............................................................................................ 6-25

Modify Ports in a COM Group ...................................................................................................... 6-27

Changing the COM Number of a COM Group ................................................................................. 6-27

Changing Advanced Settings and Serial Par ameters of the COM Group ............................................. 6-29

Changing the Serial Port Specified as Signal Por t for the COM Group ............................................... 6-31

IP Address Rep ort ............................................................................................................................. 6-32

7. IP Serial LIB ...................................................................................................................................... 7-1

Overview ........................................................................................................................................... 7-2

IP Serial LIB Function Groups ............................................................................................................... 7-3

Example Program ............................................................................................................................... 7-3

A. Pinouts and Cable Wiring .................................................................................................................. A-1

Pin Assignments and Cable Wiring ........................................................................................................ A-2

Ethernet M12 .............................................................................................................................. A-2

Power M12 ................................................................................................................................. A-2

RS-232/422/485 (male DB9) Pinouts ............................................................................................. A-2

Serial Cable Wiring Diagrams ............................................................................................................... A-3

Female DB9 to Male DB9 .............................................................................................................. A-3

B. Well Known Port Numbers ................................................................................................................ B-1

C. SNMP Agents with MIB II & RS-232 Like Groups .............................................................................. C-1

D. Auto IP Report Protocol .................................................................................................................... D-1

E. Compliance Notice ............................................................................................................................. E-1

1

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1. Introduction

Welcome to the NPort IA5400A Series of industrial ser i al devic e serv ers . In this manual, w e refer to the four
products in the series collectively as “N Por t 5x50AI-M12 Series.”

The nine models in the NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series are:
NPort 5150AI-M12 1-port RS-232/422/485 Device Server , 1 x 10/10 0BaseT(X) with M12

Connector, M12 Power Input, -25 to 55°C

NPort 5150AI-M12-CT 1-port RS-232/422/485 Device Server , 1 x 10/10 0BaseT(X) with M12

Connector, M12 Power Input, -25 to 55°C, Conformal Coating

NPort 5150AI-M12-T 1-port RS-232/422/485 Device Server , 1 x 10/10 0BaseT(X) with M12

Connector, M12 Power Input, -40 to 70°C

NPort 5250AI-M12 2-port RS-232/422/485 Device Server , 1 x 10/100BaseT(X) with M12

Connector, M12 Power Input, -25 to 55°C

NPort 5250AI-M12-CT 2-port RS-232/422/485 Device Server , 1 x 10/10 0BaseT(X) with M12

Connector, M12 Power Input, -25 to 55°C, Conformal Coating

NPort 5250AI-M12-T 2-port RS-232/422/485 Device Server , 1 x 10/10 0BaseT(X) with M12

Connector, M12 Power Input, -40 to 70°C

NPort 5450AI-M12 4-port RS-232/422/485 Device Server , 1 x 10/100BaseT(X) with M12

Connector, M12 Power Input, -25 to 55°C

NPort 5450AI-M12-CT 4-port RS-232/422/485 Device Server , 1 x 10/10 0BaseT(X) with M12

Connector, M12 Power Input, -25 to 55°C, Conformal Coating

NPort 5450AI-M12-T 4-port RS-232/422/485 Device Server , 1 x 10/10 0BaseT(X) with M12

Connector, M12 Power Input, -40 to 70°C

The following topics are covered in this chapter:

Overview

Package Checklist

Product Features

Product Specifications

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Introduction

1-2

Ethernet Interface

Number of Ports: 1

Speed:

Connector:

Serial Interface

Number of Ports:

Serial Standards:

Connector:

Serial Line Protection:

RS

Serial Communicat ion Parameters

Data Bits:

Overview

NPort 5x50A I-M 1 2 de vice server is designed to make serial devices network-ready in an instant and is
compliant with EN 50155 and EN 50121-4 standards, allowing them to perform reliab ly in rolling stock and
wayside applications where high level vibr ation is present. Use the NPort 5x50AI-M12 device ser ve rs to give
your PC software direct access to serial dev ic e s from anyw here on the netwo rk .

Package Checklist

Before installing the NPort 5x50AI-M12 series device servers, verify that the package contains the following
items:

Standard Accessories

• 1 NPort 5x50AI-M12 serial device server

• Wall Mount Kit

• Documentation and Software CD

• Quick Installation Guide (printed )

• Warranty Card

Optional Accessories

• DR-4524 45W/ 2A DIN-Rail 24 VDC Power Supply with universal 85 to 264 VAC input

• DR-75-24 75W/3.2A DIN-Rail 24 VDC Power Supply with universal 85 to 264 VAC input

• DR-120-24 120W/5A DIN-Rail 24 VDC Power Supply with 88 to 132 VAC/176 to 264 VAC input by switch

• WK-36-01 Wall mounting kit

NOTE: Notify your sales representative if any of the above items is missing or damaged.

Product Features

The NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series are the world’s first EN 50155 compliant device servers and have the following
features:

• Versatile socket operation modes , inc luding TCP Server, TCP Client, UDP

• Support UDP multicast and COM Grouping

• -40 to 70°C operating temperature range (T models only)

• Compliant with EN 50155/50121-4

• M12 connector and IP40 metal housing

• 2 KV isolation for serial signals

Product Specifications

10/100 Mbps, auto MDI/M DIX

M12

DB9 male

-485 Data Direction Control: ADDC® (automatic data direction control)

5, 6, 7, 8

1/2/4
RS-232/422/485

15 KV ESD protection for all signals

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Introduction

1-3

Stop Bits:

Parity:

Flow Control:

Baudrate:

Serial Signals

RS

RS-422: Tx+, Tx-, Rx+ , Rx-, GND

RS

RS

Software

Network Protocols:

LLDP Configuration Options:

Windows Real COM Drivers:

Fixed TTY Drivers:

Solaris 10, Fr

Linux Real TTY Drivers:

Physical Characteristics

Housing:

Weight:

Dimensions:

Environmental Limits

Operating Temperatur e:

Standard Models:
Wide Temp. Models:

Ambient Relative

Storage Temperature:

Power Requirements

Input Voltage:

Power Consumption: 439.4 mA@12V

Connector:

Standards and Certifications

EMI

Safety:

EMC:

EMS:

Rail

Reliability

Alert Tools:

Automatic Reboot Trigger:

Warranty

Warranty Period:

Details:

1, 1.5, 2

None, Even, Odd, Space, Mark

RTS/CTS and DTR/DSR (RS-232 only), XON/XOFF

50 to 921.6 Kbps

-232: TxD, RxD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, GND

-485-4w: Tx+ , Tx-, Rx+, Rx-, GND

-485-2w: Data+, Data-, GND

ICMP, IP, TCP, UDP, DHCP, BOOTP, Telnet, DNS, SNMP V1, HTTP, SMTP, IGMP V1/2,

Web Console (with new Quick Setup), Telnet Console, Windo ws Utility

Windows 98/ME/NT/2000, Windows XP/2003 /Vista/2008/7 x86/x64

SCO Unix, SCO OpenServer, UnixWare 7, UnixWare 2.1, SVR 4.2, QNX 4.25, QNX 6,

eeBSD, AIX 5.x, HP-UX 11i, Mac 10.3

Linux kernel 2.4.x, 2.6.x, 3.0.x

Metal

0.56 kg (1.23 lb)
80 x 216.6 x 52.9 mm (3.15 x 8.53 x 2.08 in)

-25 to 55°C (-13 to 131°F)

-40 to 75°C (-40 to 167°F) EN 50155 Compliant

Humidity: 5 to 95% (non-condensing)

-40 to 85°C ( -40 to 185°F) EN 50155 Compliant

12 to 48 VDC

M12

: EN 55022 Class A, FCC Part 15 Subpart B Class A

UL 60950-1, EN 60950-1

EC, FCC

EN 55024

Traffic: EN 50155, EN 50121-4

Built-in buzzer and R TC

Built-in WDT (watchdog timer)

5 years

See www.moxa.com/warranty

2

2. Getting Started

In this chapter, we give instructions o n installing NPort 5x50AI-M12 device servers. Software installation is
covered in subsequent chapters.

The following topics are covered in this chapte r:

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series App earance

ATTENTION

Safety First!

Be sure to disconnect the power cord before installing and /or wir ing your NPort

Wiring Caution!

Calculate the maximum possible curre nt in each power wire and com mon wire . Observe all elec trical codes
dictating the maximum current allowab
If the current goes above the maximum ratings, the wiring could overheat, causing serious damage to your
equipment.

Temperature Caution!

Please take care when handling NPort
components generate heat, and consequently the casing may feel hot to the touch. When installed with other
components, make sure that there is at least 2 cm clearance on all sides of NPort

in order to allow

proper heat dissipation.

Connecting the Hardware

This section describes how to connect NPort 5x50AI-M12 to serial devices for first tim e testing p urposes. We
cover Wiring Requirements, Connecting the Power, Connecting to the Network, Connecting to a

Serial Device, and LED Indicators.

Wiring Requirements

5x50AI-M12 Series.

le for each wire size.

5x50AI-M12. When plugged in, NPort 5x50AI-M12’s internal

5x50AI-M12

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Getting Started

2-2

You should observe the following:

• Use separate paths to route wiring for power and devices . If power wir ing and devic e wir ing pa ths must
cross, make sure the wires are perpendicular at the intersection point.

NOTE: Do not run s ignal or commu nication wiri ng and power wiring in t he same wir e conduit. T o
avoid interfer enc e , wires wi th di ff e re nt signal character istics should be routed sep ara te l y.

• You can use the type of signal transmitted through a wire to determine which wires should be kept separate.
The rule of thumb is that wiring that shares similar electrical characteristics can be bundled together.

• Keep input wiring and output wiring separate.

• Where necessary, it is strongly advised that you labe l wir ing to all devices in the system.

Connecting the Power

Connect the power line with the NPort 5x50AI-M12’s M12 connector. If the power is properly supplied, the
“Ready” LED will show a solid red color until the system is ready, at which time the “Ready” LED will change to
a green color.

Connecting to the Network

Connect one end of the Ethernet cable to the NPort 5x50AI-M12’s 10/100M Ethernet port and the other end of
the cable to the Ethernet network. If the cable is properly connected, the NPort 5x50AI-M12 will indicate a valid
connection to the Ethernet in the following ways:

• The Ethernet LED maintains a solid green color when connecte d to a 100 Mbps Etherne t network.

• The Ethernet LED maintains a solid orange color when connected to a 10 Mbps Ethernet network.

• The Ethernet LED will flash when Ethernet packets are being transmitted or received.

Connecting to a Serial Device

Connect the serial data cable between NPort 5x50AI-M12 and the serial device. Serial data cables are optional
accessories for NPort.

LED Indicators

The top panels of all NPort 5x50AI-M12 have four LED indicators , as descr ib ed in the followi ng table.

Name Color Function

PWR green Power from Power 1 input

Steady on: Power is on and NPort is booting up.

red

Blinking: Indicates an IP conflict, or DHCP/BOOTP server did not respond properly.

Ready

10M,

100M

P1, P2,

P3, P4

green

orange 10 Mbps Etherne t connection.

green 100 Mbps Etherne t connection.

orange Se rial port is receiving data.

green Ser ial port is tra ns mitting data.

Steady on: Power is on and NPort is functioning normally.
Blinking: The NPort has been located by NPort Administrator’s Location function.

off Power is off, or a power error condition exists.

off Ethernet cable is disconnected, or has a short.

off No data is being transmitted or received through the s erial port.

3

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3. Initial IP Address Configuration

When setting up your NPort 5x50AI-M12 for the fir s t time , the f irst thing you should do is configure the IP
address. This chapter introduces the metho ds that c an be used to conf igure the device server’s IP address.

Select one of the initial IP Address configuration methods to configure NP ort 5x50AI-M12’s IP
Address. For more details about network settings, see the Network Settings section from Chapter 5, Web

Console Configuration.
The following topics are covered in this chapter:

Initializing the NPort’s IP Address
Factory Default IP Address
NPort Administration Suite
ARP
Telnet Console
Serial Console (19200, n, 8, 1)

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Initial IP Addre ss Configuration

3-2

ATTENTION

Consult your network administrato r o n how to reserv e a fixed I P address for your NPort

in the
MAC-IP mapping table when using a DHCP Server or BOOTP Server. In most applications, you should assign
a fixed IP address to your NPort

ATTENTION

In order to use this setup method, both your computer and NPort

connected to the sam e
LAN. Or, you may use a cross
computer’s Ethernet card. Before exec uting the AR P command,

must be configured

with the factory default IP address

must

be on the same subnet.

Initializing the NPort’s IP Address

1. Determine whether your NPort 5x50AI-M12 needs to use a Static IP or Dynamic IP (either DHCP or BOOTP
application).

2. If the NPort 5x50AI-M12 is used in a Static IP environment, you can use NPort Administration Suite,
ARP, Web Console, Telnet Console, or Serial Console to conf igur e the new IP address.

3. If the NPort 5x50AI-M12 is used in a Dynamic IP environment, you can use NPort 5x50AI-M12
Administration Suite, Web Console, Telnet Console, or Serial Console to configure NPort 5x50AI-M12 to get
an IP address dynamically with DHCP, DHCP/BOOTP, or BOOTP.

5x50AI-M12.

Factory Default IP Address

NPort 5x50AI-M12 products are configured with the following default private IP address:
Default IP address: 192.168.127.254
(IP addresses of the form 192.168.xxx.xxx are referr ed to as priv ate IP addre s s es, si nc e it is not possible to

directly access a device configured with a private IP address from a public network. For example, you would not
be able to ping such a device from an outside Internet connection. NPort 5x50AI-M12 applications that require
sending data over a public network, such as the Internet, require setting up the serv er with a va lid p ublic IP
address, which can be leased from a local ISP.)

NPort Administration Suite

NPort Administration Suite consists of some useful utility programs that are used to configure and manage your
NPort 5x50AI-M12.

See Chapter 5 for de tails o n ho w to i ns tall NP ort A dm inistr atio n Sui te, and how to use thi s s uite o f
useful utilities to se t up IP add re s se s and conf i g ure your NPo rt 5x50AI-M12 Series serial device
servers.

5x50AI-M12

ARP

You can make use of the ARP (Addres s Resolutio n Protocol) command to set up an IP address for your NPort
5x50AI-M12. The ARP command tells your computer to associate the NPort 5x50AI-M12’s MAC address with
the intended IP address. You must then use Telnet to access the NPort 5x50AI-M12, at which point the device
server’s IP address will be reconfigured.

-over Ethernet cable to connect the NPort 5x50AI-M12 directly to your

(192.168.127.254), and your computer and the NPort 5x50AI-M12

5x50AI-M12 must be

your NPort 5x50AI-M12

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Initial IP Addre ss Configuration

3-3

ATTENTION

Figures in this chapter were generated using

Take the following steps to use ARP to configure the IP address:

1. Obtain a valid IP address for your NPort 5x50AI-M12 from your network administrator.

2. Obtain the NPort 5x50AI-M12’s MAC address from the label on its bottom panel.

3. Execute the ‘arp -s’ command from your computer’s MS-DOS prompt by typing :

arp –s 192.168.200.100 00-90-E8-xx-xx-xx

This is where 192.168.200.100 is the new IP address and 00-90-E8-xx-xx-xx is the MAC address for your
NPort 5x50AI-M12. (Be sure to use the actual IP address and MAC address for your NPort 5x50AI-M12.)

4. Next, execute a special Telne t c omma nd by typing :

telnet 192.168.200.100 6000

After issuing this command, a Connect failed message will appear, as shown here. After the NPort reboots,
its IP address should be updated to the new address, and you can reconnect us ing either Telnet, Web, or
Administrator to check that the update was succe ssf ul.

Telnet Console

Depending on how your computer and network are configured, you may find it convenient to use network
access to set up your NPort 5x50AI-M12’s IP address. This can be done using Telnet.

1. From the Windows desktop , click on Start and then select Run.

2. Type telnet 192.168.127.254 (use the correct IP addre s s if different fr om the default) in the Open text
input box, and then click OK.

3. When the Telnet window opens, if you are prompted to input the Console password, input the password and
then press Enter.
Note that this page will only appear if the NPort is password pro te c ted .

the NPort 5x50AI-M12I.

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Initial IP Addre ss Configuration

3-4

4. Type 2 to select Network setting s , a nd then pr e ss Enter.

5. Type 1 to select IP address and then press Enter.

6. Use the Backspace key to erase the current IP address, type in the new IP address, and then press

Enter.

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Initial IP Addre ss Configuration

3-5

7. Press any key to continue…

8. Type m and then press Enter to return to the main menu.

9. Type s and then press Enter to Save/Restart the system.

10. Type y and then press Enter to save the new IP address and restar t the NPort 5x50AI-M12.

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Initial IP Addre ss Configuration

3-6

ATTENTION

The

Serial Console (19200, n , 8, 1)

You may use the RS-232 console port to set up the IP address for NPort 5x50AI-M12. We sug gest using PComm
Terminal Emulator, which is available free of charge as part of the PComm Lite program suite, to carry out the
installation procedure , althoug h other similar utilities may also be used.

Serial Console is at serial port 1 of the NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series, with RS-232 mode.

Before you start to configure the NPort 5x50AI-M12 via serial console, turn off the power and connect the serial
cable from NPort 5x50AI-M12 to your computer’s serial port.

1. Connect NPort 5x50AI-M12’s serial port 1 directly to your computer’s male RS -232 serial port.

2. From the Windows desktop clic k on Start  Programs  PComm Lite  Terminal Emulator.

3. When the PComm Terminal Emulator window opens, first click on the Port Manager menu item and select
Open, or simply click on the Open icon.

4. The Property window ope ns automatic al ly . From the Communication Parameter page, select the
appropriate COM port for the connection, COM1 in this example, and 19200 for Baud Rate, 8 for Data Bits,
None for Parity, and 1 for Stop Bits.

5. From the Property window’s Terminal page, select ANSI or VT100 for Terminal Type and then click OK.
Note: If you select Dumb Terminal as the terminal type, some of the conso l e functio ns —especially the
“Monitor” function—may n ot work properly .

6. Press the “ ` ” key continuously and then po wer o n the NPort 5x50AI-M12.

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Initial IP Addre ss Configuration

3-7

7. The NPort 5x50AI-M12 will automatically switc h fro m data mod e to conso le mode as it receives a
continuous string of “ ` ” characters.

8. Input the password when prompted. Note that this page will only appear when the NPort 5x50AI-M12 has
been set up for password protection.

9. Start configuring the I P address under Netwo rk Setting s . Refe r to step 4 in the Telne t Console section for
the rest of the IP settings.

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4. Choosing the Proper Operation Mode

In this chapter, we describe the various NPort 5x50AI-M12 operation modes. The options include an operation
mode that uses a driver installed on the host computer, a nd operati o n modes that rely on TCP/I P so cke t
programming concepts. Af ter choosing the proper operation mode in this chapter, refer to Chap ter 5 for
detailed configuration parameter definitions.

The following topics are covered in this chapter:

Overview
Real COM Mode
RFC2217 Mode
TCP Server Mode
TCP Client Mode
UDP Mode
Pair Connection Mode
Ethernet Modem Mode
Reverse Telnet Mode
Disabled Mode

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Choosing the Proper Operation Mo de

4-2

NPort
work with
95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP//2003/Vista/2
x64/2003 x64/Vista x64/2008 x64/7 x64
also TTY
establishes a
serial
5x50AI
host computer. Real COM Mode also
simultaneous connections, so that
collect data from the same

ATTENTION

The driver used for Real COM Mode comes with the NPort Administrator. The driver is installed automatically
on your computer when you install NPort Administr a tio n Suite.

Overview

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Serial Device Server s network-enable traditional RS-232/422/485 devices, in which a Serial
Device Server is a tiny computer equipped with a CPU, real-time O S , and TCP/IP protocols that can
bi-directionally translate data betwee n the seria l and Ethernet formats. Your computer can access, manage,
and configure remote facilities and equipment over the Internet from anywhere in the world.

Traditional SCADA and data collection sy s te ms rely on serial ports (RS-232/422/485) to collect data from
various kinds of instruments. Since NPor t 5x50AI-M12 Serial Device Servers network-enable ins truments
equipped with an RS-232/422/485 communication port, your SCADA and data collection system will be able to
access all instruments connected to a standard TCP/IP network, regardless of whether the devices are used
locally or at a remote site.

NPort 5x50AI-M12 is an external IP-based network device that allows you to expand the number of serial ports
for a host computer on demand. As long as your host computer s upports the TCP/IP protocol, you won’t be
limited by the host computer’s bus limitation (suc h as ISA or PCI), or lack of drivers for various operating
systems.

In addition to providing socket access, NPort 5x50AI-M12 also comes with a Real COM/TTY driver that
transmits all serial signals intact. This me a ns that your existing COM/TTY-based softwar e ca n be preserv ed,
without needing to invest in additional s of tware.

Three different Socket Modes are available : TCP Server, TCP Client, and UDP Server/Client. The main
difference between the TCP and UDP protocols is that TCP guarantees delivery of data by requiring the recipient
to send an acknowledgement to the sender. UDP does not require this type of verification, making it possible
to offer speedier delivery. UDP also allows unicast or multicast of data to only one IP or groups of IP addres ses.

Real COM Mode

5x50AI-M12 comes equipped with COM drivers that

Windows

drivers for Linux or Unix systems. The driver

transparent connection between host a nd

device by mapping the IP:Port of the NPort

-M12’s serial port to a local COM/TTY port on the

serial device at the same time.

008/7/XP

systems, and

suppo rts up to 8

multiple hosts can

One of the major conveniences of using Real COM Mode is that Real COM Mode allows users to continue using
RS-232/422/485 serial communications software that was written for pure serial communications applications.
The driver intercepts data sent to the host’s COM port, packs it into a TCP/IP packet, and then redirects it
through the host’s Ethernet card. At the other end of the connection, the NPort 5x50AI-M12 accepts the
Ethernet frame, unpacks the TCP/IP packet, and then transparently sends it to the appropriate ser ia l devic e
attached to one of the NPort 5x50AI-M12’s serial ports.

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Choosing the Proper Operation Mo de

4-3

ATTENTION

Real COM Mode allows several hosts to have access control over the same NPort

The driver that

comes with your NPort

devices by checking the host’s IP

address. Refer to Accessibl

In TCP Server mode, NPort
unique IP:Port address on a
5x50AI
computer,
connection with and get data from the serial
operation mode also supports up to
connections, so that multiple hosts
same serial device

As illustrated in the figure, data
follows:

In TCP Client mode,
establish a TCP connection to a pre
when serial data arrives.
After the data has been transferred,
automatically disconnect from the host computer

TCP alive check time

chapter 5 for more details.
As illustrated in the figure, data transmis s ion proceeds as

follows:

5x50AI-M12 controls host access to attached serial

e IP Settings in Chapter 5 for more details.

RFC2217 Mode

RFC2217 mode is similar to Real COM mode in that a driver is used to establis h a trans parent connection
between a host computer and a serial device by mapping the serial por t on the NPort 5x50AI-M12 to a local
COM port on the host computer. RFC2217 defines genera l COM por t contro l op tions based on the Telnet
protocol. Third party drivers that suppo r t RFC2 217 are widely available on the Internet and can be used to
implement Virtual COM mapping to your NPort 5x50AI-M12 serial port(s).

TCP Server Mode

5x50AI-M12 is configured with a
TCP/IP network. NPort

-M12 waits passively to be contacted by the host
allowing the host computer to establish a

—at the same time.

5x50AI-M12.

device. This

8 simultaneous

can collect data from the

1. The host reque s ts a connec tion f ro m the NPort
5x50AI-M12 configured for TCP Server M ode.

2. Once the connec tio n is es tablished, data can be
transmitted in both directions—f ro m the host to the
NPort 5x50AI-M12, and from the NPort 5x50AI-M12 to
the host.

TCP Client Mode

the NPort 5x50AI-M12can active ly

1. The NPort 5x50AI-M12 configured for TCP Client Mode
requests a connection from the host.

2. Once the connec tio n is es tablished, data can be
transmitted in both directions—f ro m the host to the
NPort 5x50AI-M12, and from the NPort 5x50AI-M12 to
the host.

or Inactivity time settings. Refer to

transmission proceeds as

-defined host computer

the NPort can

by using the

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Choosing the Proper Operation Mo de

4-4

Compared to TCP communication, UDP is faster and more
efficient. In UDP mode, you can not only unicast but also
multicast data from the serial device to multipl e host
computers, and the serial device can also recei
from multiple host computers, making this mode ideal for
message display applications.

UDP Mode

ve data

Pair Connection Mode

Pair Connection Mode employs two NPort 5x50AI-M12 units in tandem, and can be used to remove the
15-meter distance limitation imposed by the RS-232 interface. One NPort 5x50AI-M12 is connected from its
RS-232 port to the COM port of a PC or other type of computer, such as a hand-held PDA, and the serial device
is connected to the RS-232 port of the other NPort 5x50AI-M12. The two NPort 5x50AI-M12 units are then
connected to each other with a cross-over Etherne t c able, both ar e connec te d to the same LAN, or in a more
advanced setup, they communicate with each other ov er a WAN (i.e., thr o ugh o ne or more ro uter s ). Pair
Connection Mode transparently transfers both data and modem control signals (although it cannot transmit the
DCD signal) between the two NPort device servers.

Ethernet Modem Mode

Ethernet Modem Mode is designed for use with legacy operating systems, such as MS-DOS, that do not support
TCP/IP Ethernet. By connecting one of NPort 5x50AI-M12’s serial port to the MS-DOS computer’s serial port, it
is possible to use legacy software originally des igned to transmit data via modem, but now transmit the data
over the Ethernet.

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Choosing the Proper Operation Mo de

4-5

Reverse Telnet Mo d e

Console management is commonly used by connecting to Console/AUX or COM ports of routers, switch es, and
UPS units. Rtelnet works the same as RAW mode in that only one TCP port is listened to after booting up. The
system then waits for a host on the network to initiate a con nection. The difference is that the RAW mode does
not provide the conversion function provide d by T elnet. If the connected devices need to use the CR/LF
conversion function when controlling, then users must choose Rtelnet mode.

Disabled Mode

When the Operation Mode for a particular port is set to Disabled, that port will be disabled.

5

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5. Web Console Configuration

The Web Console is the m ost user-friendly of the methods available to configure the NPort 5x50AI-M12. In this
chapter, we introduce the Web Console function gr oups and function definitions.

The following topics are covered in this chapter:

Opening Your Browser
Quick Setup
Export/Import
Basic Settings
Network Settings
Serial Settings
Operating Settings

 Real COM Mode
 RFC2217 Mode
 TCP Server Mode
 TC P C li e nt Mode
 UDP Mode
 Pair Connection Mode
 Ethe r ne t Modem Mode
 Reverse Telnet Mode
 D is a b le d Mode

Accessible IP Settings
Auto Warning Setti ng s

 A uto warning: Email and SNMP trap
 Ev e nt Typ e

Upgrade Firmware
Monitor

 Mo nitor Line
 Monitor Async
 Monitor Async-Settings
 Monitor Relay Output

Change Password
Load Factory Default
Save/Restart

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Web Console Confi guration

5-2

ATTENTION

If you use other web browsers,

allow cookies that are stored on your
computer
NPort

ATTENTION

Refer to Chapter 3,

, to see how to configure the IP address. Examples

shown in this chapter use the Factory Default IP addre ss (19 2 .168 .127.254).

Opening Your Browser

1. Make sure your browser has cookie s enabl e d . To enable cookie s in I nterne t Exp lor er , right click on the
Internet Explorer icon on your desktop, select Properties, click on the Security tab, and then select Enable
under Allow cookies that are stored on your computer, Allo w per -se ssio n cookies (not stored), and File
download.

2. Enter the IP address of your device in the address field of the browser, then press the Enter key. The default
IP address is 192.168.127.254.

3. Input the password if prompted. The password will be transmitted with MD5 encryption over Ethernet. Note
that you will not be prompted to enter the password if the NPort 5x50AI-M12 is not currently
password-protected.

” or “allow per-session cookies.”

5x50AI-M12 uses cookies only for password transmission.

Initial IP Address Configuration

remember to enable the functions to “

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Web Console Confi guration

5-3

ATTENTION

If you can’t remember the password, the ONLY way to configure
defaults
Remember to

Reset to

default

M12

with the

ATTENTION

If your NPort
function in your browser. If the cookie function is disabled, you will not be allowed to enter the Web Console
Screen.

4. The NPort 5x50AI-M12 homepage will open next. There are two buttons on this page: Quick setup and
Export/Import. You can click Overview at any time to go back to this page. The following sections
introduce these two convenient functions and all the other specific settings in the Main Menu on the left.

by using the “Reset to default” button located at the top side of NPort 5x50AI-M12.

export the configuration file when you have finished the configuration. After using the “

” button to load factory defaults, your configuration can be easily reloaded into the NPort 5x50AI-

Import function.

5x50AI-M12 application r e quires using password protection, you must enable the cookie

Quick Setup

Quick Setup streamlines configuration of your NPort into three basic and quic k steps that cove rs the most

commonly-used settings. At any time while in Quick Setup you may click the Back button to return to the
previous step, or the Cancel button to revers e all se ttings. For more detailed settings, please refer to the
“Basic Settings,” “Network Settings,” “Serial Settings,” and “Operating Settings,” sections later in this chapter.

the NPort 5x50AI-M12 is to load factory

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Web Console Confi guration

5-4

In Step 1/3, you must assign a valid IP address to the NPort 5x50AI-M12 before it will work in your network
environment. Your network system administrator should provide you with an IP address and related setting s
for your network. In addition, the server name field is a useful way to specify the location or application of
different NPort 5x50AI-M12s.

In the Step 2/3, you must specify which operation mode you will use. If your operation mode is not Real COM,

TCP Server, TCP Client or UDP mode, please click Cancel and to go back to main menu and choose
Operating Settings to select your proper setting.

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Web Console Confi guration

5-5

In the Step 3/3, you can modify the serial settings.

Review your settings at the Finish Settings page to confirm that they are correct, and then click the
Save/Restart button to restart the de v ice with the ne w settings.

Note that if you changed the IP address, you will not be able to return to the Home Page with the Home button.

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Web Console Confi guration

5-6

Export/Import

Export/Import allows you to back up and recover your settings.

Click Export to store all configuration data into a default file, <Servername>.txt. Click the Import button to
upload a configuration file to the NPort 5x50AI-M12.

Basic Settings

Server name

Setting Factory Defa ult Necessity

1 to 39 characters NP[model name]_[Serial No.] Optional
This option is useful for specifying the location or application of different NPort 5x50AI-M12s.

Web/Telnet Console

The “Disable” option for “Web Console” and “Telne t Console” is included for security reasons. In some cases,
you may want to disable one or both of these console utilities as an extra precaution to prevent unauthorized
users from accessing your NPort 5x50AI-M12. The factory default for both Web console and Telnet console is
Enable.

Web console

Setting Factory Defa ult Necessity

Enable or Disable Enable Required

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Web Console Confi guration

5-7

ATTENTION

If you disable both the “Web

you can still use NPort Administrator to configure

NPort

device servers locally or remotely over the network. Refer to Chapter 6 for more details.

(if the

Telnet console

Setting Factory Defa ult Necessity

Enable or Disable Enable Required

5x50AI-M12

Reset button protect

Setting Factory Defa ult Necessity

No or Yes None Optional

console” and “Telnet console,”

Network Settings

You must assign a valid IP address to the NPort 5x50AI-M12 before it will work in your network environment.
Your network system administrator should provide you with an IP address and related settings for your network.
The IP address must be unique within the network (otherwise, the NPort 5x50AI-M12 will not have a valid
connection to the network). First time users can re fe r to Chapter 3, Initial IP Address Configuration, for
more information.

You can choose from four possible IP Configuration modes—Static, DHCP, DHCP/BOOTP, and BOOTP—
located under the web console screen’s IP configuration drop-down box.

IP configuration

Method Function Definition Default

Static User defined IP address, Netmask, Gateway.
DHCP DHCP Server assigned IP address, Netmask, Gateway, DNS,

DHCP/BOOTP DHCP S erver assi gned IP address, Netmask, Gateway, DNS,

BOOTP BOOTP Server assigns IP address

and Time Server

and Time Server, or BOOTP Server assigned IP address
DHCP Server doe s not respond)

NPort 5x50AI-M12 Series Web Console Confi guration

5-8

ATTENTION

assigned by the DHCP or BOOTP server. The Timeout for each try increases from 1 second, to 3 seconds, to

(192.168.127.254), Netmask, and Gateway for IP settings.

IP address

Setting Factory Defa ult Necessity

E.g., 192.168.1.1 (IP
addresses of the form
x.x.x.0 and x.x.x.255
are invalid.)

An IP address is a number assigned to a network device (su ch a s a computer) as a permanent a ddress on t he
network. Computers use the IP address to identify and talk to each other over the network. Choose a proper IP
address which is unique and valid in your network environment.

Netmask

Setting Factory Defa ult Necessity

E.g., 255.255.255.0 255.255.255.0 Required
A subnet mask represents all of the network hosts at one geographic location, in one building, or on the same

local area network. When a packet is sent out over the network, the NPort 5x50AI-M12 will use the subnet
mask to check whether the desired TCP/IP host specified in the packet is on the local network segment. If the
address is on the same network segment as the NPort 5x50AI-M12, a connection is established directly from
the NPort 5x50AI-M12. Otherwise, the connectio n is establ is he d thro ugh the given default gateway.

Gateway

Setting Factory Defa ult Necessity

E.g., 192.168.1.1 None Optional

192.168.127.254 Required

A gateway is a network gateway that acts as an entrance to another network . Us ua lly, the computers that
control traffic within the network or at the local I nte r net servic e pro v ide r are gateway nodes. NPort
5x50AI-M12 needs to know the IP address of the default gateway computer in order to communicate with the
hosts outside the local network environment. For correct gateway IP address information, consult the network
administrator.

IP configuration

Setting Factory Defa ult Necessity

Static, DHCP,
DHCP/BOOTP, BOOTP

In Dynamic IP environments, the firmware will retry 3 times every 30 seconds until networ k s e tting s are

5 seconds. If the DHCP/B OOTP Server is unavailable, the firmware will use the default IP address

DNS server 1 / DNS server 2

Setting Factory Defa ult Necessity

(IP addresses of the
form x.x.x.0 an d
x.x.x.255 are invalid.)

Static Required

None Optional

When the user wants to visit a particular website, the computer asks a Domain Name System (DNS) server for
the website’s correct IP address, and then the computer uses the response to connect to the web server. DNS
is the way that Internet domain names are identifie d and translated into IP addresses. A domain name is an
alphanumeric name, such as moxa.com, that it is usually easie r to remember. A DNS server is a host that
translates this kind of text-based domain name into the numer ic I P addres s used to es tablis h a TC P/I P
connection.

In order to use NPort 5x50AI-M12’s DNS feature, you need to configure the DNS server. Doing so allows NPort
5x50AI-M12 to use a host’s domain name to access the host. NPort 5x50AI-M12 provides DNS server 1 and