FOR-A MFR-RULINK User manual

MFR-RULINK
MFR Remote Relay Unit
1st Edition - Rev. 2
OPERATION
MANUAL

2
Edition Revision History
Edit.
Rev.
Date
Description
Section/Page
1
-
2014/06/26
1
1
2015/05/25
Grounding part deleted
Drawing with Rack Mount Bracket
–changed
P22
1
2
2015/11/18
Factual errors corrected
Section 3-4

3
Precautions
Important Safety Warnings
[Power]
Caution
Operate unit only at the specified supply voltage.
Disconnect the power cord via the power plug only. Do not pull on the cable portion.
Stop
Do not place or drop heavy or sharp-edged objects on the power cord. A damaged
cord can cause fire or electrical shock hazards. Regularly check the power cord for
excessive wear or damage to avoid possible fire / electrical hazards.
Caution
Ensure the power cord is firmly plugged into the AC outlet.
[Operation]
Hazard
Do not operate the unit under hazardous or potentially explosive atmospheric
conditions. Doing so could result in fire, explosion, or other hazardous results.
Hazard
Do not allow liquids,metal pieces, or otherforeign materials to enter the unit. Doing
so could result in fire, other hazards, or a unit malfunction.
If a foreign material does enter the unit, turn the power off and immediately
disconnect the power cord. Remove the material and contact an authorized service
representative if damage has occurred.
[Transportation]
Caution
Handle with care to avoid impact shock during transit, which may cause
malfunction. When you need to transport the unit, use the original or suitable
alternative packing material.

4
[Circuitry Access]
Do not remove covers, panels, casing, or access the circuitry with power applied to
the unit. Turn the power off and disconnect the power cord prior to removal. Internal
servicing / adjustment of unit should only be performed by qualified personnel.
Stop
Do not touch any parts / circuitry with a high heat factor.
Capacitors can retain enough electric charge to cause mild to serious shock, even
after the power has been disconnected. Capacitors associated with the power
supply are especially hazardous.
Hazard
Unit should not be operated or stored with cover, panels, and / or casing removed.
Operating the unit with circuitry exposed could result in electric shock / fire hazards
or a unit malfunction.
[Potential Hazards]
Caution
If abnormal odors or noises are noticed coming from the unit, immediately turn the
power off and disconnect the power cord to avoid potentially hazardous conditions.
If problems similar to the above occur, contact an authorized service representative
before attempting to operate the unit again.
[Rack Mount Brackets and Rubber Feet]
Caution
To rack-mount or to install rubber feet, do not use screws or materials other than
those supplied. Doing so may cause damage to the internal circuits or components
of the unit. If you remove the rubber feet that are attached to the unit, do not reinsert
the screws that secure the rubber feet.
[Consumables]
Caution
Consumable items that are used in the unit must be periodically replaced. For
further details on which parts are consumables and when they should be replaced,
refer to the specifications at the end of the Operation Manual. Since the service life
of the consumables varies greatly depending on the environment in which they are
used, such items should be replaced at an early date. For details on replacing
consumable items, contact your dealer.

5
Upon Receipt
Unpacking
MFR-RULINK units and their accessories are fully inspected and adjusted prior to shipment.
Operation can be performed immediately upon completing all required connections and
operational settings.
Check your received items against the packing lists below. Check to ensure no damage has
occurred during shipment. If damage has occurred, or items are missing, inform your supplier
immediately.
ITEM
QTY
REMARKS
MFR-RULINK
1
AC Adapter
1
AC Cord
1
DC cable retaining clips
1 set
Rack mount bracket set (Optional)
1 set
EIA standard type
For mounting single or two units to a 1RU rack
space.
Operation Manual
1
(This manual)

6
Table of Contents
1. Prior to Starting ...........................................................................................................................7
1-1. Welcome ..............................................................................................................................7
1-2. Features...............................................................................................................................7
1-3. User-supplied Devices.........................................................................................................7
1-4. Communication Specifications.............................................................................................7
2. Panel Descriptions ......................................................................................................................8
2-1. Front Panel...........................................................................................................................8
2-2. Rear Panel ...........................................................................................................................9
3. Connection and Setup...............................................................................................................10
3-1. Connection.........................................................................................................................10
3-2. Main Unit Setup..................................................................................................................11
3-2-1. Web-based Control Screen Setup..............................................................................11
3-2-2. Changing of Port Settings...........................................................................................11
3-2-3. Changing Network Settings........................................................................................12
3-3. MFR-RULINK Setup...........................................................................................................13
3-3-1. How to Open a Web-based Control Screen...............................................................13
3-3-2. Changing Port Settings...............................................................................................13
3-3-3. Changing Network Settings........................................................................................14
3-4. Matching Settings...............................................................................................................15
3-4-1. Obtaining Main Unit Settings......................................................................................15
3-4-2. Loading Settings to MFR-RULINK..............................................................................16
3-4-3. Mismatch Warning......................................................................................................16
3-5. MFR Remote Control Unit Setup.......................................................................................18
4. MFR Operation..........................................................................................................................19
4-1. Functions and Operations..................................................................................................19
5. Troubleshooting.........................................................................................................................20
6. Specifications and Dimensions.................................................................................................21
6-1. Unit Specifications..............................................................................................................21
6-2. External Dimensions..........................................................................................................22

7
1. Prior to Starting
1-1. Welcome
Congratulations! By purchasing an MFR-RULINK, MFR Remote Relay Unit, you have entered
the world of FOR-A and its many innovative products. Thank you for your patronage and we
hope you will turn to FOR-A products again and again to satisfy your video and audio needs.
FOR-A provides a wide range of products, from basic support units to complex system
controllers, which have been increasingly joined by products for computer video-based systems.
Whatever your needs, talk to your FOR-A representative.We will do our best to be of continuing
service to you.
1-2. Features
The MFR-RULINK connects MFR main units to MFR remote control units that are located in
distant locations. Operations such as Cross point switching or Lock can be performed with
MFR-RULINK using MFR remote control units from a distant location.
MFR remote control unit settings can be changed using MFR-RULINK’s Web-based control
feature.
Built-in web server in MFR-RULINK for web browser control.
Connect up to 128 devices (including main units) to the MFR LAN network
Connect up to 15 MFR remote control units to the MFR-RULINK LAN.
Various routing control features supported using Salvo, Take, Level and Chop functions from
remote control units.
1-3. User-supplied Devices
PC (for MFR-RULINK setup)
Network devices for MFR LAN (network cables, hub, etc.)
Remote access environments such as VPNs, private-lines, and etc.
1-4. Communication Specifications
Data Communication
- While connection is established
- When entering settings
Approx. 1 KB to 2 MB
Other cases (not entering)
Approx. 1 KB to 3 KB / second
Default network settings
MFR Main Unit
Protocol
TCP
PC-LAN1
192.168.1.12
PC-LAN2 (MFR-5000/8000)
192.168.1.13
TCP Port
23
MFR-RULINK
PC-LAN
192.168.1.71

8
2. Panel Descriptions
2-1. Front Panel
Letter
Indicator/s
Description
A
POWER
Indicates power status.
See the table below for details on LED indicators.
B
BUSY
Indicates Flash writing status.
See the table below for details on LED indicators.
C
REF IN
Not used (unlit)
D
GPI
Not used (unlit)
E
RS-422 1 - 4
Not used (unlit)
F
RESET
Used to reset MFR-RULINK.
MFR-RULINK LED Indicators
Color
Type
Green
Red
Orange
POWER
Normal operation
Power alarm
BUSY
Normal operation
Communication alarm
(Lit until communication
established)
Writing to Flash.
IMPORTANT
Do not power off the MFR-RULINK while the BUSY LED is lit orange (writing to Flash,
max 2 minutes).
POWER BUSY REF IN GPI RS-422 RESET
21 43
MFR-RULINK
Remote Relay Unit
A
B
E
F
C
D

9
2-2. Rear Panel
Letter
Connector/s
Descriptions
A
PC-LAN
Allows PC and External device connection.
Ethernet port (10/100BASE-TX RJ-45)
B
MFR-LAN
Allows remote control unit connection.
Ethernet port (10/100/1000BASE-T RJ-45)
C
REF IN
Not used
D
GPI
Not used
E
DC12V IN 1, 2
DC12V Power supply input
F
RS-422 1 to 4
Not used
SER. NO.
2
4
3
21
GPIREF INMFR-LANPC-LAN
1DC1 2V IN
RS-422
A
E
F
B
C
D

10
3. Connection and Setup
This section describes how to set up an MFR-RULINK to remotely control the main unit with a
remote control unit from a distant location using a practical connection example.
Complete network settings for broadband router and other required devices before starting this
process.
1. Connection
Connect the main unit, MFR-RULINK, and etc. (see Section 1)
2. Main unit settings
Set the port to connect with the MFR-RULINK. (see Section 3-2-2)
Change gateway settings. (see Section 3-2-3)
3. MFR-RULINK settings
Set the main unit as a connection point. (see Section 3-3-2)
Change IP address and gatewey network settings. (see Section 3-3-3)
4. Matching settings
Read main unit settings. (see Section 3-4-1)
Load settings into the MFR-RULINK. (see section 3-4-2)
5. Remote control unit settings (Only when changing the MFR-LAN network)
Change IP address settings. (see Section 3-5)
3-1. Connection
Ethernet Hub
MFR-5000
（CPU Redundant）
MFR-RULINK
Ethernet Hub
PC
(Web browser)
192.168.2.XXX/24
MFR-18RU
Ethernet Hub
Ethernet Hub
192.168.1.254/24
MFR-39RU
VPN etc.
Broadband
Rooter
192.168.1.13/24
192.168.1.12/24
192.168.2.71/24
192.168.2.253/24

11
3-2. Main Unit Setup
3-2-1. Web-based Control Screen Setup
1. Connect a PC to the PC-LAN and start a web browser on the PC.
2. Input http://192.168.1.12 (default setting) in the Web browser address bar to access Web
based control over the Main Unit.
3. You will be asked for a user name and a password. Enter the following passwords.
(default setting)
Username: user
Password: password
4. A Web based control screen appears.
3-2-2. Changing of Port Settings
1. Click the “System Settings” button when the Web-based control screen appears to show
the menu tree.
2. Click Router System Settings in the left tree, then click to open Port Settings.
3. Set the Function to “MFR-RULINK Connection”.
Select an applicable procedure from the following two procedures and set the Function.
A. When there is no PC to execute crosspoint switching using LAN control.
→Set the Default Function column to “MFR-RULINK Connection.”
B. When there is a PC to execute crosspoint switching using LAN control.
(Excluding Web based control, RULINK)
→Set the Client Settings as per the following page.
A
B
Browse

12
IP Address
192.168.2.71 (Address of MFR-RULINK PC-LAN)
Port
Check Any
Unit ID
71 (Not used in this system. Just input the fourth IP address
octet.)
Protocol
TCP
Function
MFR-RULINK Connection
Server ID
(None)
See Port Settings of “MFR Series Web Based Control Operation Manual” for detailed
settings.
4. Click Send after inputting the above to transmit the settings.
5. When MFR-RULINK and the main unit are already connected, it is necessary to
re-connect to reflect the settings. If the IP address of MFR-RULINK is shown under
“Session Information,” check Delete and click Send. Doing so makes units re-connect
under new settings.
3-2-3. Changing Network Settings
1. Click to open Network Settings in the left tree.
2. Input 192.168.1.254 for the Default Gateway.
3. A dialog box opens when the Send button is clicked. Click OK.
4. The web server will automatically reboot, so close the Web browser.

13
3-3. MFR-RULINK Setup
3-3-1. How to Open a Web-based Control Screen
1. Connect a PC to the PC-LAN and start a web browser on the PC.
2. Enter “http://192.168.1.71” (default address) into the address bar of the browserto access
the MFR-RULINK.
3. You will be asked for a username and password. Enter the following passwords. (default
setting)
Username: user
Password: password
4. A Web-based control screen is displayed.
3-3-2. Changing Port Settings
1. When the Web based Control Screen opens, click the System Settings button to display
the menu tree. Click MFR-RULINK Settings in the left tree then click Port Settings to
open the setting screen.
2. Input the IP Address and Port settings of the main unit PC LAN for Remote Server 1, and
the IP Address of the CPU2 for Remote Server 2.
TCP (Client)
Remote Server 1
IP Address
192.168.1.12 (Factory Setting)
Port
23 (Factory Setting)
Remote Server 2
(MFR-5000 CPU with
Redundant Power Supply)
IP Address
192.168.1.13 (Factory Setting)
Port
23 (Factory Setting)
3. Adjust the Timeout period and Retry count as necessary.
Timeout: Period of time from the point when the MFR-RULINK sends out a command to
when a response is received from the main unit.
Retry: The number of times to send out a command again after a timeout.
If there is no response within a specified Timeout period and Retry limit, the command will
terminate.
4. After inputting, click Send to transmit the settings.

14
3-3-3. Changing Network Settings
1. Select Network Settings from the left tree to open the Network Settings screen.
2. Change the IP Address under PC-LAN to 192.168.2.71.
3. Change the Default Gateway under PC-LAN to 192.168.2.253.
4. When you click Send, a dialog opens twice. Click OK.
5. The Web server will automatically reboot, so close the Web browser.
6. After the Web server restarts, the MFR-RULINK is connected to the main unit. When the
communication is established, the BUSY LED on the MFR-RULINK front panel turns off
and the MU Connection Error message is cleared. (It takes about 60 seconds to
establish communication.)
* The IP address of Web-based Control changes to 192.168.2.71.
Input http://192.168.2.71 to access from Web browser from now on.

15
3-4. Matching Settings
To match the Main Unit settings and the MFR-RULINK settings, obtain and apply the Main Unit’s
identical settings to the MFR-RULINK.
3-4-1. Obtaining Main Unit Settings
1. Start the Web browser of the PC of MFR-RULINK-side PC.
2. Input http://192.168.1.12 (Factory Setting) in the address bar of the Web browser and
access the main unit.
3. When passwords are requested, enter the following passwords. (Factory Setting)
Username: user
Password: password
4. A Web-based Control Screen is displayed.
5. Select Source Name in the left menu tree to open the screen.
6. Click Save.
7. A confirmation dialog box opens. Click Save.
8 The setting data of the Source Name screen is downloaded as a file. Specify a storage
location to save the data file.
9. Open the following screens to save the associated setting files in the same way.
Destination Name
System Size / Level Name
Inhibit Crosspoint
Ethernet Hub
MFR-5000 PC-LAN
MFR-RULINK
PC-LAN
Ethernet Hub
192.168.1.12
PC
(Web browser)

16
3-4-2. Loading Settings to MFR-RULINK
1. Start the Web browser of the MFR-RULINK side PC.
2. Input http://192.168.2.71 in the address bar of the browser to access the MFR-RULINK.
3. A Web-based Control Screen opens.
4. Select Source Name in the left menu tree to open the setting screen.
5. Click Browse and select the Source Name screen setting file.
6. Click Load to load the settings. When the settings match those of the main unit, the error
message will close.
7. Open the following screens to load the associated setting files in the same way.
Destination Name
System Size / Level Name
Inhibit Crosspoint
3-4-3. Mismatch Warning
A warning message appears when the following settings are updated in the Web based
control of the Main Unit. Update the relevant screen settings again as described in 3-4-2.
“Loading Settings to MFR-RULINK.”
・Source Name
・Destination Name
・System Size/Level Name
・Inhibit Crosspoint
Browse

17
An error message as shown below appears at the right top of the Web-based Control Screen
of MFR-RULINK when the settings of the main unit and those of the MFR-RULINK do not
match.

18
3-5. MFR Remote Control Unit Setup
The MFR remote control unit will automatically communicate with an MFR main unit or
MFR-RULINK immediately after connection is established.
The MFR remote control unit is properly configured at factory shipment, but when setting
changes are required, set them from Web-based control.
The main unit side of MFR-18RU can be set using the Web-based control of the main unit.
The MFR-RULINK side of MFR-39RU can be set using Web-based control of the MFR-RULINK.
Refer to “6. Settings of the remote control unit” of “Operation manual of MFR Series Web
based control” for details on remote control unit settings.
Displaying Web based control screen
Open the Web-based Control Screen of the main unit. Click System
Settings in the upper left to display a menu tree..
Clicking a remote control unit connected to the LAN of the main unit
opens a setting screen.
Clicking a remote control unit connected to the MFR-RULINK LAN
expands the menu tree such as shown at right, but a setting screen
will not open by clicking the name.

19
4. MFR Operation
4-1. Functions and Operations
Remote control unit functions and Web-based control functions that can be operated from the
MFR-RULINK-side LAN are shown in the table below.
* Refer to “Operating manual of MFR series Web based control” for detailed setting procedures.
Operation
: Setting changes and command execution are both supported.
: Command execution is supported. ▲: Setting changes are supported.
39: Settable by MFR-39RU/39RUA. 18: Settable by MFR-18RU/18RUA
16D: Settable by MFR-16RUD 16T: Settable by MFR-16RUTA
Controller
Functions
Remote control unit
Web-based Control
Main
Unit
MFR-
RULINK
Main
Unit
MFR-
RULINK
Crosspoint
change
(1 channel)
Source and/or destination
changes
○
○
○
---
Use of bus buttons
○
○
---
---
Use of buttons and CONTROL
knob
18, 16T
18, 16T
---
---
Display use
16D
16D
---
---
CHOP function
●
●
---
---
TAKE function
●
●
○
---
Crosspoint
changes
(Simultaneous)
Main unit stored SALVO
●
---
▲
---
Control panel button assigned
SALVO
39 ●
39 ●
▲
▲
TAKE function
●
●
○
---
LINK function
●
---
▲
---
Erroneous
operation
protection
LOCK LOCAL
○
○
---
---
LOCK OTHER/ LOCK ALL
○
○
○
---
Crosspoint inhibit
---
---
○
○(*4)
Monitor output function (*1)
●
---
---
---
Operation Preview function
●
●
---
---
Main unit and
system setting
change
Source/destination name settings
---
---
○
○
System tally settings
---
---
○
---
Remote
control unit
setting
changes
Mode menu
39, 18, 16T
39, 18, 16T
---
---
Button assignment
39, 18, 16T
(*2), 16D
39, 18, 16T
(*2), 16D
○(*5)
○(*5)
PAGE function
○
○
---
---
Multi-remote control unit panel
operation
39 (*3)
39 (*3)
▲(*5)
▲(*5)
IP address setting
39
39
▲(*5)
▲(*5)
Other settings
39
39
○(*5)
○(*5)
Status display
●
●
●
●
Alarm display
●
●
●
●
*1 This function is supported only for the MFR-5000/8000.
*2 Source and destination button/channel assignments can be performed using CONTROL on
MFR-18RU / 16RUTA / 18RUA / 39RUA units.
*3 MFR-39RU / 39RUA able to change multi-remote control unit panel operation settings while
other remote control unit panels can only be used for operation.
*4 When main unit and MFR-RULINK settings are different, inhibit procedures set by the main
unit are not reflected on the remote control unit display, but Crosspoint change are inhibited.
*5 Remote control unit setting changes are possible in the respective LAN of the main unit and
the MFR-RULINK LANs.

20
5. Troubleshooting
If any of the following problems occur while operating your MFR-RULINK, proceed as indicated
below to see if the problem can be corrected before assuming a unit malfunction has occurred.
Problem
Check
Action
Web-based Control
Screen of the main unit
cannot be opened.
Are multiple Web-based
Control Screens open?
It is not possible to open multiple
Web-based Control Screens. Close the
open Web-based Control screen.
XPT does not switch.
Are inhibit settings correct?
Load the inhibit settings of the main unit.
Refer to 3-4. Sharing Settings
BUSY LED is lit red.
Whether communication with
the main unit is not
established.
Are the Port Settings of MFR-RULINK
correct?
Check settings of Remote Server1 and
Remote Server2.
Refer to 3-2-2. Changing of Port
Settings
Are settings of the main unit correct?
Check the Port Settings.
Refer to 3-3-12. Changing of Port
Settings.