Atop ABLELink GW21C-MAXI User manual

Atop ABLELink®Ethernet-Serial
Server GW21C-MAXI
User Manual
Version 1.1
Updated on 2004/03/5
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.atop.com.tw

User manual Version 1.1
ABLELink®Ethernet-Serial Server GW21C-MAXI
Copyright © 2004 Atop Technologies, Inc.
All rights reserved. Designed in Taiwan.
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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
The information contained in this document is the property of Atop Technologies, Inc. and is supplied for
the sole purpose of the operation and maintenance of products of Atop Technologies, Inc. No part of this
publication is to be used for any other purposes, and it is not to be reproduced, copied, disclosed,
transmitted, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any human or computer language, in any form,
by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior express written consent of Atop Technologies, Inc.
Published by
Atop Technologies, Inc.
2F, No. 146, Sec. 1, Tung-Hsing Rd.
Jubei City, Hsinchu 302
Taiwan, R.O.C.
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.atop.com.tw
Copyright © 2004 Atop Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved.
All other product names referenced herein are registered trademarks of their respective companies.

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FCC WARNING
Class A for Ethernet-Serial Server (Model GW21C-MAXI)
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This
equipment generates, uses and radiates radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which
case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expenses.
A shielded-type power cord is required in order to meet FCC emission limits and also to prevent
interference to the nearby radio and television reception. It is essential that only the supplied
power cord can be used.
Use only shielded cables to connect other devices to this equipment by RS-232 / RS-485 ports.
Be cautioned that changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void your authority to operate the equipment.

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ABLELink®Ethernet-Serial Server GW21C-MAXI
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Contents
1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................... 5
1.1 PACKAGING........................................................................................................................... 5
1. 2 APPLICATION CONNECTIVITY................................................................................................. 6
2. NOMENCLATURE AND SETTINGS ................................................................................ 8
2.1 NOMENCLATURE OF GW21C-MAXI COMPONENTS ................................................................ 8
2.2 MODE SWITCH..................................................................................................................... 8
3. HARDWARE INSTALLATION............................................................................................ 9
3.1 CONFIGURATION.................................................................................................................... 9
3.2 ASSIGNING A NEW IP ADDRESS BY ARP COMMAND ................................................................ 9
3.3 TCP/IP PORT NUMBER ....................................................................................................... 10
4. SOFTWARE CONFIGURATION...................................................................................... 11
4.1 CONFIGURATION SET BY MONITOR.EXE UTILITY ..................................................................... 11
4.2 CONFIGURATION SET BY TELNET UTILITY .............................................................................. 11
4.3 CONFIGURATION SET BY HYPER TERMINAL CONSOLE UTILITY................................................ 19
4.4 CONFIGURATION SET BY WEB BROWSER............................................................................... 20
4.5 VIRTUAL COM MODE .......................................................................................................... 26
4.5.1 Setup of a virtual COM driver ...................................................................................................26
4.5.2 Virtual COM communication .....................................................................................................27
5. SNMP SETUP......................................................................................................................31
5.1 SNMP NETWORK MANAGEMENT PLATFORM ........................................................................ 31
5.2 USING NETWORKVIEW AS AN EXAMPLE............................................................................... 31
6. START WRITING YOUR OWN APPLICATIONS......................................................... 33
6.1 PREPARING THE SYSTEM .................................................................................................... 33
6.2 RUNNING THE SAMPLE PROGRAM........................................................................................ 33
TCPTEST in Visual Basic ..................................................................................................................33
TCPTEST2 in Visual C ......................................................................................................................34
7. DIAGNOSTICS.................................................................................................................... 36
7.1 USE STANDARD TCP/IP UTILITY PING COMMAND ................................................................. 36
7.2 USE MONITOR.EXE CONFIGURATION UTILITY PROGRAM ........................................................ 36
7.3 USE TCPTEST.EXE OR TCPTEST2.EXE SAMPLE PROGRAM ............................................ 37

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APPENDIX A: GW21C-MAXI ETHERNET-SERIAL SERVER SPECIFICATIONS ... 38
A.1. HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS .............................................................................................. 38
A.2. SOFTWARE SPECIFICATIONS .............................................................................................. 39
A.3 CONNECTOR PIN ASSIGNMENTS.......................................................................................... 39
A.3.1 COM Port..................................................................................................................................39
A.3.2 Ethernet Port (RJ-45) ...............................................................................................................41
A.3.3 Power terminal block connector ...............................................................................................42
A.4 BUZZER/LED MESSAGE ...................................................................................................... 42
Buzzer ................................................................................................................................................42
LAN LED ............................................................................................................................................42
COM Port LED ...................................................................................................................................43
RUN LED ...........................................................................................................................................43
APPENDIX B. UPGRADE SYSTEM SOFTWARE........................................................... 44
B.1 UPGRADE PROCEDURES ..................................................................................................... 44
B.2 CRITICAL ISSUES OF UPGRADING ........................................................................................ 45
B.3 ERROR MESSAGES ............................................................................................................. 45
APPENDIX C. HARDWARE CONFIGURATION.............................................................. 46
C.1 DISABLE SYSTEM FIRMWARE .............................................................................................. 46
APPENDIX D CONFIGURATION UTILITY ........................................................................ 47
D.1 RUN THE UTILITY................................................................................................................. 47
D.2 DETECT OPERATIONAL DEVICES ......................................................................................... 47
D.3 CONFIGURE DEVICES.......................................................................................................... 47

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ABLELink®Ethernet-Serial Server GW21C-MAXI
Copyright © 2004 Atop Technologies, Inc.
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1. Introduction
The Atop GW21C-MAXI Ethernet-Serial Server is a gateway between Ethernet (TCP/IP) and
RS-232/RS-485 communications. The information transmitted by GW21C-MAXI is transparent to both
host computers (Ethernet) and devices (RS-232/RS-485). Data coming from the Ethernet (TCP/IP) is sent
to the designated RS-232/RS-485 port and data being received from RS-232/RS-485 port is sent to the
Ethernet (TCP/IP) transparently.
In the computer integration manufacturing or industrial automation area, the Atop GW21C-MAXI
Ethernet-Serial Server is used for field devices to direct connect to Ethernet network. Terminal Server
(main control program run in GW21C-MAXI) transforms whatever data received from RS-232/RS-485 to
TCP/UDP port then connect devices to the Ethernet network via a single application program or multiple
application programs.
Many control devices provide the ability to communicate with hosts through RS-232/RS-485 however
RS-232/RS-485 serial communication has its limitations. For one, it is hard to transfer data through a long
distance. With Atop GW21C-MAXI, it is possible to communicate with a remote device in the Intranet
environment or even in the Internet and thus, increases the communication distance dramatically.
GW21C-MAXI from Atop Technologies Inc. offers one RS-232/ RS-485 port, one RJ45 Ethernet and
Watch-Dog Timer etc.
1.1 Packaging
Atop Ethernet-Serial Server x 1
Atop Ethernet-Serial Server quick start guide x 1
Mini DIN to RS-232 DB-9 Cable x 1
Product CD containing configuration utility and sample programs x 1

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1. 2 Application Connectivity
TCP Server mode
Host
RS-232/RS-485
GW21C-MAX
I
PL
C
TCP Client mode
Remote Control Host
RS-232
/RS-485
RS-232
/RS-485
RS-232
/RS-485
Ca
r
d
R
eade
r
Ca
r
d
R
eade
r
Ca
r
d
R
eade
r
GW21C-MAXI GW21C-MAXI GW21C-MAX
I

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ABLELink®Ethernet-Serial Server GW21C-MAXI
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UDP mode
GW21C-MAXI
RS-232/RS-485
Displa
y
Tunneling mode
GW21C-MAXI GW21C-MAXI
RS-232/RS-485 RS-232/RS-485
PLC Touch Screen

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2. Nomenclature and Settings
2.1 Nomenclature of GW21C-MAXI Components
Figure 2.1 shows the names of GW21C-MAXI components. In the figure, the indicated switch settings
represent factory settings.
Mode Switch Table Led Indicator
Mode Switch
RS-232C Terminal
Block Connector
Power Supply Input
Connector
RS232C Mini-Din
Pin Assignment
UTP Connector
Mini DIN Connector
Figure 2.1. Nomenclature of GW21C-MAXI components.
2.2 MODE Switch
This sets or initializes the operating mode for the GW21C-MAXI.
The factory default setting is that Switch 1 (SW1) and Switch 2 (SW2) are set to OFF. You can use the
Mode switch to change the operating mode from the factory default settings to your desired mode.
GW21C-MAXI can be setup either RS-232, RS-485, RS-422 or Console configuration mode by MODE
Switch.
SW1 SW2 Mode
OFF RS-232OFF
ON CONSOLE
OFF RS-485ON
ON RS-422

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3. Hardware Installation
 Prepare necessary cables, hub, power cord and RS232/RS485 connector.
 Connect GW21C-MAXI to Ethernet network via hub/switch or direct connect to host computer through
cross over cable.
 Connect a serial device to a serial port of GW21C-MAXI, make sure the right connection of either
RS-232 or RS-485.
 Plug in DC9-30V, the buzzer will beep and the RUN LED will blink if GW21C-MAXI functions normally.
Please refer to Appendix A.4 to see all of LED messages.
 Use monitor.exe configuration utility in the product CD or diskette to diagnose GW21C-MAXI. If it
starts up successfully, you are able to find the IP and MAC addresses of GW21C-MAXI. You can
change the network parameters of GW21C-MAXI to join your LAN by changing its IP address,
gateway IP address and subnet mask.
3.1 Configuration
Atop GW21C-MAXI Ethernet-Serial Server is shipped with default settings shown in the following table:
Property Default Value
IP Address 10.0.50.100
Gateway 10.0.0.254
Subnet Mask 255.255.0.0
User Name admin
Password Null
COM 1 9600,None, 8, 1, No flow control, buffer disabled, packet delimiter timer 2ms
Link 1 Type: TCP Server, Listen port 4660, Filter=0.0.0.0, Virtual COM disabled
SysName of SNMP name
SysLocation of SNMP location
SysContact of SNMP contact
Note: Atop provides a reset button to restore system settings including IP address, gateway IP address
and subnet mask etc. to the defaults. Press and hold the reset button for 5 seconds till the server reboots.
3.2 Assigning a new IP Address by ARP command
ARP –s is used to assign a static IP address of GW21C-MAXI and add this static entries to the ARP
cache of the computer, when TCP/IP packet with destination port number 1 is sent to GW21C-MAXI, it
causes the device to check its MAC address with IP address, once GW21C-MAXI finds those two
unmatched, it will reboot and change to the new IP address which was set by ARP –s command. The
following example uses ARP to assign a static IP address of GW21C-MAXI using its MAC address printed
on the label of the rear panel, then use Telnet to send the TCP/IP packet with destination port number 1 to
GW21C-MAXI, after GW21C-MAXI reboots it will change its IP address to the new one.

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ABLELink®Ethernet-Serial Server GW21C-MAXI
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Notes:
1. Arp command can only be used to set a static IP address of GW21C-MAXI using system default user
name admin and default password null.
2. Only TCP/IP packet with destination port number 1 will lead GW21C-MAXI to reboot and change the
IP address.
3.3 TCP/IP Port Number
Port number 4660 is default of GW21C-MAXI and is associated with serial port COM1 respectively. After
your application program connects to the TCP port 4660 of GW21C-MAXI, data being sent to this TCP
connection from your application program are transparent to the COM1 of GW21C-MAXI. Vice versa is
also true.

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4. Software Configuration
4.1 Configuration set by monitor.exe utility
Use monitor.exe that comes with the product CD or diskette to configure the network parameters of
GW21C-MAXI. As you can see from the following picture, you can change IP address, gateway IP
address, subnet mask, user ID and password of GW21C-MAXI from the utility. For more details of the
utility please refer to Appendix-D Configuration Utility.
4.2 Configuration set by Telnet utility
You can use Telnet utility to change configuration settings of GW21C-MAXI. To do so, please do the
following.
Log in to the system
Telnet to GW21C-MAXI using command “Telnet IP_address”.
For example Telnet 10.0.50.100
1. After telnet to GW21C-MAXI, system prompts for a password, the default password is null.
Note: You can press the reset button of GW21C-MAXI to reset the password to the default value.
2. After verifying the password, the following terminal screen appears.

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NOTE:
1. If GW21C-MAXI does not receive any command within 1 minute, Telnet will be terminated
automatically.
2. The changes of networking parameters will take effect only when you exit and restart GW21C-MAXI.
3. Select “1” from “Input choice and enter (0~4):” to enter overview page as following:
This page gives you the general information of GW2iC-MAXI including IP and MAC address, SNMP
information, kernel and AP version, and connection status of the device.

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Networking
Select “2” from “Input choice and enter (0~4):” to enter Networking page as following:
This page allows you to change network settings of the device including IP address, subnet mask,
gateway IP address and SNMP information of GW21C-MAXI. Please notice that any setting change made
on this page won’t take effect until you restart the device.
Change the password
1. Select “3” from “Input choice and enter (0~4):” the following screen appears.
2. If you want to change the password, please type the old password in the “Please input old password”
field, type the new password in the “Please input new password” and the “Please verify new
password” fields.

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Note: You can press the reset key of product to reset password to the default value.
COM1 Setup
Select “4” from “Input choice and enter (0~4):” the following screen appears:
The page gives you the opportunity to configure parameters of COM1 setting which include COM1
working mode, port parameters, enabling or disabling serial buffer’s data and setting packet delimiter.
LINK1 Setup
Type 1 from “Input choice and enter (1~4):” of COM1, the following screen appears. Configure
GW21C-MAXI as TCP server and the local port is 4660. IP filter is disabled by default, if IP filter is
enabled, only source IP 10.0.0.154 can connect to GW21C-MAXI.
Note: IP filtering function is disabled if setting FILTER_IP to “0.0.0.0”.

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Configure GW21C-MAXI as TCP client, the destination IP is 10.0.29.123, destination port is 666.

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Configure GW21C-MAXI as UDP client, the local port is 4660, the destination IP is 10.0.29.254,
destination port is 666.
COM port setting
Type 2 from “Input choice and enter (1~4):” of COM1, the following screen appears, you can then give the
COM port alias name, set the baud rate and parity, determine number of data bit and stop bit, and decide
if you want to use flow control and the type of flow control you want to use.

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Enabling serial data buffer
Type 3 from “Input choice and enter (1~4):” of COM1, by default COM port serial data buffer is enabled
meaning that when TCP/IP Ethernet connection is broken, serial data collected from serial device will be
kept in GW21C-MAXI, once TCP/IP connection is resumed, the serial data will be sent through Ethernet
connection, you can disable it if you wish.

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Setting packet delimiter
Packet delimiter is a way of controlling packets within serial communication. It can prevent packets from
being cut thus keep the packets complete. GW21C-MAXI provides two ways of parameter setting as inter
character timer and terminator. By default packet delimiter timer is 1 ms, you can change timer shown in
the following figure:
You can also choose character pattern as the packet delimiter indicated in the following figure:

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4.3 Configuration set by Hyper Terminal console utility
1. Power off GW21C-MAXI.
2. Set the MODE switch SW1 to ‘OFF’ and SW2 to ‘ON’.
3. Use a PC to connect to GW21C-MAXI’s console with RS-232 cross over cable.
4. Power on GW21C-MAXI.
5. Open a Hyper Terminal program from your computer Start menu -> Programs -> Accessories ->
Communication -> Hyper Terminal, set COM2 parameters as follows.
- Baud rate: 9600 bps
- Data bit: 8 bits
- Parity: None
- Stop bit: 1bit
- Flow control: None
Note:
At present time baud rate is fixed at 9600 bps for console port communication, RS-232C parameters
of your computer COM port and GW21C-MAXI must be the same.
6. Once Hyper Terminal is connected, type in username and password then the following Hyper Terminal
window appears,
7. The following configuration operations are totally the same as those by Telnet.
8. After finishing console settings, power off GW21C-MAXI, put SW1 and SW2 back to the previous
setting.