Frama F-Link Instruction sheet

CONFIGURATION MANUAL
English version

Frama F-Link
2
Frama F-Link
Configuration Manual (EN)
All rights reserved. Frama Group.
The right to make changes in this Installation Guide is reserved. Frama Ltd also reserves the right to change and/or adapt parts
of this Installation Guide and/or the product at any time without prior notice. The shown postal rates and other only partly valid
information serve solely as examples and represent no claim to being up to date.

Frama F-Link
3
Safety precautions and warnings
Thank you for deciding to use the Frama F-Link.
The information in this guide is intended to support you during the configuration of the Frama F-Link unit.
This networking unit meets currently valid safety regulations. Inappropriate use, however, can lead to personal
injury or damage to property. With this in mind, please first read this guide before you put the unit into service. By
doing so, you will protect yourself and avoid damaging the unit. Store this guide carefully and pass it along to any
subsequent owner.
Symbols used
This configuration guide uses the following symbols:
Danger!
This symbol points to dangers and safety risks when handling, operating or servicing the F-Link
unit which could result in personal injury.
Note!
This symbol points to valuable guidelines and instructions for handling the F-Link unit which
can eliminate the risk of damage to the F-Link, the franking system, the mail items or the
immediate surroundings.
Tip!
Interesting notes and tips for efficient handling of the F-Link.

Frama F-Link
4
Table of Contents
1INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................................5
2F-LINK SPECIFICATIONS........................................................................................................................5
CONNECTION /PROTOCOLS ...............................................................................................................................................................................5
3SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ......................................................................................................................5
4CONFIGURATIONS VARIANTS .............................................................................................................6
4.1 WIRED OPERATION .................................................................................................................................................................................7
4.1.1 DHCP MODE........................................................................................................................................................................................7
4.1.2 DHCP MODE WITH PROXY SERVER....................................................................................................................................................7
4.1.3 IDENTIFYING THE DYNAMIC IP ADDRESS (DHCP) OF AN F-LINK DEVICE ........................................................................................7
4.1.4 STATIC MODE ........................................................................................................................................................................................8
4.2 WIRELESS OPERATION........................................................................................................................................................................ 10
5CONFIGURATION PAGE FEATURES ...................................................................................................14
5.1 LOGIN ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
5.2 CONFIGURATION PAGE MANAGEMENT..................................................................................................................................... 15
5.2.1 MODEM S91 SETTING (ONLY APPLICABLE TO F-LINK A/B VERSIONS) .......................................................................................... 15
5.3 CONFIGURATION PAGE LAN SETTINGS ...................................................................................................................................... 16
5.3.1 DHCP HOSTNAME ............................................................................................................................................................................. 16
5.4 PROXY SETTINGS................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
5.5 CONFIGURATION PAGE WIRELESS SETTINGS........................................................................................................................... 18
5.6 CONFIGURATION PAGE SITE SURVEY .......................................................................................................................................... 18
5.7 CONFIGURATION PAGE ADMINISTRATION – STATUS ......................................................................................................... 19
5.8 CONFIGURATION PAGE ADMINISTRATION – SYSTEM LOG............................................................................................... 20
5.9 CONFIGURATION PAGE ADMINISTRATION – EVENT LOG.................................................................................................. 20
5.10 CONFIGURATION PAGE ADMINISTRATION – F-LINK LOG.................................................................................................. 21
6TROUBLESHOOTING............................................................................................................................22
6.1 NO ACCESS TO THE CONFIGURATION PAGES......................................................................................................................... 22
6.2 OLD CONFIGURATION PAGE VALUES.......................................................................................................................................... 22
6.3 F-LINK LED STATUS .............................................................................................................................................................................. 22
6.4 NO ACCESS TO FRAMA FO2 BACKEND SERVER...................................................................................................................... 22
6.5 RESET THE CONFIGURATION........................................................................................................................................................... 23
6.6 CONNECTING F-LINK TO ANOTHER FRANKING SYSTEM.................................................................................................... 23
6.7 SUPPORTED SPECIAL CHARACTERS.............................................................................................................................................. 23
6.8 STATUS MESSAGES............................................................................................................................................................................... 24
7APPENDIX..............................................................................................................................................27
7.1 IP CONFIGURATION QUESTIONNAIRE......................................................................................................................................... 27

Frama F-Link
5
1Introduction
This manual describes the configuration of the device F-Link for the operation with a Frama franking
system. To install the F-Link on a Frama franking system the installation manual shipped with the de-
vice. [F-Link Installation Manual, Order-Nr: 1018863] shall be used.
The F-Link can be configured via the configuration page. For configuration tasks an additional PC with
internet web browser is needed.
The F-Link configuration pages are supported by the following internet web browsers:
Mozilla Firefox 13.0 and newer
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9.0 and newer
Google Chrome 20.0 and newer
Apple Safari 5.1.7 and newer
This version of the configuration manual is based on the screenshots and features of firmware release
version F-Link 2-2-10 / Image 1-0-22.
2F-Link Specifications
Connection / Protocols
IPv4 (only)
Security standard TLS 1.2 SHA-II
(wired) 100 Base-T (10/100Mbsp RJ45)
(wireless) IEEE 802.11n/g or b
WLAN security: WPA2, WPA-PSK (AES, TKIP, TKIPAES)/Mixed Mode, WEP (64/128bit)
DHCP Standard, Forward Proxy
3System Requirements
In order to connect your Franking System via F-Link with the FramaOnline2 system, you require the
following.
Firewall
Port 443 open
Port 53 open if the DNS is located outside the network the F-Link is connected to
Infrastructure:
An Ethernet network socket that connects to the Internet
The F-Link must be able to access DNS via TCP port 53
The F-Link must be able to communicate via TCP port 443 (https / TLS) to the URL
fo2.frama.com
Proxy server
The F-Link supports connection via an http proxy server with basic authentication or without
authentication.
Note!
Communication via Proxy Server with SSL/TLS Interception is not supported!
Due to security requirements, the F-Link cannot connect through an https proxy serv-
er that intercepts the TLS v1.2 encrypted communication.

Frama F-Link
6
4Configurations Variants
DHCP (see chapt. 4.1.1)
The F-Link is preconfigured for wired operation in a LAN network with a DHCP server. In this case,
normally no additional configuration is required.
Static IP (see chapt. 4.1.4)
Fix IP setting requires full information about the Network configuration.
With Proxy or without Proxy server
With basic authentication or without authentication
Wireless (see chapt. 4.2)
The F-Link device can also operate with a wireless network. Refer to chapt. 2.2 Wireless Operation
about installing the F-Link for wireless operation.
Alias IP 192.168.1.200 (factory default)
From factory the F-Link is configured with the Alias IP address 192.168.1.200.
The F-Link Alias IP address in no longer accessible, once the device was used with any other
static or DHCP IP address.
The Alias IP address can be re-established with a Reset function.
Reset the F-Link configuration (set back to factory default)
Status: Ready LED must be permanently lit
Disconnect LAN cable
Press the reset button for a minimum of 10 seconds
Wait until the Ready LED is permanently lit again
Connect LAN cable.
Tip!
Proxy servers using SSL/TLS-interception require a specific rule in order to allow
transparent communication (Franking System via F-Link to FramaOnline) via https port
443.
The specific rule grants correct identification of FramaOnline2 (https certificate) for the
F-Link.
Note!
Configuration in environment with “open access points”
To prevent an automatic connection with open access points dismount the WI-FI an-
tenna until the F-Link has been set to WI-FI function.
Note!
During first connection to the Frama FO2 backend system, the F-Link will be config-
ured (e.g. country code, language, time …) automatically. Thus the very first connec-
tion takes longer time than subsequent ones.

Frama F-Link
7
4.1 Wired operation
The F-Link supports operation with dynamic IP address assigned by a DHCP server or with a static IP
address configured via configuration page.
4.1.1 DHCP Mode
The factory default LAN connection type is DHCP (auto configuration). The F-Link can be connected to
the network with an active DHCP server as described in the installation manual. After powering-up the
F-Link gets an IP address from the DHCP server in the LAN network.
In most cases no additional configuration is required and the F-Link operates with the franking system.
4.1.2 DHCP Mode with Proxy Server
If the internet connection is handled via proxy server, the proxy configuration has to be setup first.
For connecting to the configuration pages of the F-Link device, the dynamic assigned IP address has to
be known. Chapter 2.1.3 outlines, how this IP address can be identified.
The determined IP address can now be typed into the browsers address field to access the F-Link con-
figuration page. See Chapter 3 for further details.
4.1.3 Identifying the dynamic IP address (DHCP) of an F-Link device
Identifying this address can be done in several ways:
A) With franking system displayed Error message
The IP address is shown as a part of the error message on the franking system.
If the F-Link device is not able to connect with the Frama FO2 server, a corresponding error
message will be displayed. Several messages show a hint for configuring of the F-Link. This
hint includes the current IP address of the device!
B) Search over ARP table
The IP address can be find out by consulting a listing (e.g. arp table) which shows the assign-
ments between MAC and IP addresses inside a DHCP network. The MAC address of the F-Link
can be found at the sticker at the bottom of the device.
C) Frama AG IP Finder Tool
Search in your Network for the DHCP IP address of the F-Link with the IP Finder tool.
−Download the Frama F-Link IP Finder tool, from www.frama.com/support to your PC.
(Only Windows operating systems like Windows XP, Windows 7 are supported)
−Start the Frama F-Link IP Finder tool
−Enter the MAC address of the F-Link which can be found at the sticker at the bottom of the
device. Choose MAC for LAN (cable) or WLAN (WI-FI).
−Press the Search button
−The Frama F-Link IP Finder tool scans all IP addresses in your network. If an F-Link was
found with this MAC address an entry will be showed in the result list.
−The F-Link configuration page can be opened now with the default internet web browser
on your PC by clicking on the IP address in the list

Frama F-Link
8
4.1.4 Static Mode
The F-Link device can operate with a static IP address. The factory default LAN connection type is
DHCP (auto configuration).
Note!
If the F-Link was used with LAN connection type DHCP or STATIC before for connec-
tions, the access to the F-Link configuration page by the Alias IP address 192.168.1.200
and a direct LAN cable is only possible after a reset of F-Link.
Changing to a static IP address over Alias IP address 192.168.200:
1. Connect the F-Link device directly with a LAN cable to a PC
(A cross-wired LAN cable is needed if the PC doesn’t support auto-MDIX).
2. Note the PC LAN network settings for later use.
Set the PC LAN network settings as follow:
IP address: 192.168.1.199
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
3. Turn on the F-Link and wait until the Ready LED of the F-Link is permanently on.
4. Open internet web browser on PC.
5. Insert the F-Link default IP 192.168.1.200 into address field.
6. Login with username and password. (Default username: “admin” and password: “admin”).
7. Open configuration page LAN Settings.
8. Change LAN connection type to “STATIC (fixed IP)”.

Frama F-Link
9
9. Enter the IP settings for F-Link accordingly to your network.
Example:
Press button “Apply”. -> F-Link reboots. Wait until Ready LED of the F-Link is on again.
(The execution of the command may need to be confirmed in the internet web browser)
10. Turn off F-Link.
11. Disconnect direct LAN network cable between F-Link and PC.
12. Set the LAN network settings of the PC back to the previous values (refer to your notes).
13. Connect the F-Link device to the LAN network for the operation with the franking system.
14. Turn on the franking system and the F-Link.
15. Execute business processes on the franking system when the Ready LED of the F-Link is on.
It’s also possible to change to a static IP address when F-Link uses currently a DHCP IP address. In this
case the dynamic assigned IP address has to be entered into the browser address field. Processes for
finding out this address are described in Chapter 4.1.3.

Frama F-Link
10
4.2 Wireless operation
The F-Link device can also operate with a wireless network. By default the F-Link is configured to oper-
ate with a wired connection. Refer to the install manual for information about installing the F-Link on
the franking system for wireless operation.
Access
Point
Note!
If the F-Link was used with LAN connection type DHCP or STATIC before for connec-
tions, the access to the F-Link configuration page by the default IP address
192.168.1.200 and a direct LAN cable is only possible after a reset of F-Link.
Configuring the F-Link for wireless operation over Alias IP address 192.168.1.200:
1. Connect the F-Link device directly with a LAN cable to a PC
(A cross-wired LAN cable is needed when the PC doesn’t support auto-MDIX).
2. Note the PC LAN network settings for later use.
Set the PC LAN network settings as follows:
IP address: 192.168.1.199
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Note!
Configuration in environment with “open access points”
To prevent an automatic connection with open access points dismount the WI-FI an-
tenna until the F-Link has been set to WI-FI function.
3. Turn on the F-Link and wait until the Ready LED of the F-Link is on.
4. Open internet web browser on PC.
5. Insert the F-Link default IP 192.168.1.200 into address field.
6. Login with username and password. (Default username: “admin” and password: “admin”).
7. Open configuration page Wireless Settings.

Frama F-Link
11
Press button “Wireless ON” -> Please wait. The wireless function will be enabled.
(The execution of the command may need to be confirmed in the internet web browser)
8. Wait until Ready LED of the F-Link is switched on again. Wait until home site is displayed
again. Open configuration page Site Survey
9. Press button “Scan AP”
10. Select the wireless network which shall be used. Press button “Next”.
If your wireless network uses Hidden-SSID then press button “Next” without selecting a wire-
less network.
11. Select the channel1, security mode and encryption type for your wireless network. Insert the
passphrase / security keys for your wireless network.
Insert also the SSID of your wireless network even if it uses Hidden-SSID.
1F-Link V2: Selection field for the Wi-Fi channel does not exists.

Frama F-Link
12
12. Press button “Apply”. -> Please wait. The wireless network will be connected.
(The execution of the command may need to be confirmed in the internet web browser)
13. Wait until Ready LED of the F-Link is switched on again.
14. When F-Link is able to build-up a wireless connection to your access point, the connection
over the LAN port (cable) will be closed. The F-Link configuration page can therefore not be
opened again by default IP 192.168.1.200 and a direct LAN cable connection.
If the configuration page was reloaded in your internet web browser with the default IP
192.168.1.200 the F-Link has no access to your wireless network.
Check the wireless signal strength at the F-Link position and the wireless settings of F-Link
(SSID, pass phrase, key, channel, …)
15. Disconnect direct LAN network cable between F-Link and PC.
16. Set the LAN network settings of the PC back to the previous values.
17. Execute business processes on the franking system.
Access to F-Link configuration page under wireless operation mode:
1. The F-Link configuration page can now only opened by an access via wireless network and the
assigned DHCP IP address for F-Link. For identifying the DHCP IP address of the F-Link see
chapter 4.1.3.
2. Open internet web browser on a PC that is also connected to the same wireless network as the
F-Link. Enter the DHCP IP address of F-Link into the address field of the internet web browser.

Frama F-Link
13
3. Open configuration page Administration – Status. Check if F-Link gets the correct IP settings
from the wireless network.
4. Check the F-Link status. Must be “Ready To Connect”.
5. Execute business processes on the franking system.
Note!
Don’t enable the wireless function, when F-Link is connected to a LAN network
with DHCP server!
Connect the F-Link device directly to a PC for configuring it for wireless operation.
After enabling the wireless function the F-Link still uses the default IP 192.168.1.200 on
the LAN connection as long as the wireless network connection was not successfully
builds up.

Frama F-Link
14
5Configuration Page Features
5.1 Login
Enter the IP address of the F-Link into the address field of the internet web browser.
Enter the username and the password into the login window:
(Default username: “admin” and password: “admin”)
Press button OK.
Now you are on the home screen. Over the configuration page you can change the settings of the F-
Link, display the actual status and the logged data. Use the menu on the left side to navigate.
All changes on the configuration page are stored only when you press the “Apply” button below the
settings fields.

Frama F-Link
15
5.2 Configuration Page Management
On the configuration page Management you can set your own administrator username and password
for the access to the F-Link configuration page.
5.2.1 Modem S91 setting (only applicable to F-Link a/b versions)
The modem S91 setting changes the attenuation of the internal modem in F-Link. This option is only
relevant for Frama franking systems of the Matrix F series range. The attenuation can be switched be-
tween two values:
S91 OFF default attenuation
S91 ON higher attenuation
The higher attenuation / S91 ON is only recommended if you experience problems with the modem
communication between F-Link and the Matrix F series franking system (frequently no answer / no
connection build up or connection lost during communication).
The first pressing of the S91 ON button after a reset of F-Link initializes this feature internally only.
Press the S91 ON button a second time to change the value. The current status shows the actually
state of the modem S91 setting.
If the modem S91 setting was changed try multiple connections before estimate the effect. In special
cases also a decreasing of the modem speed on the Matrix F series franking system might also help to
get a more stable communication performance.

Frama F-Link
16
5.3 Configuration Page LAN Settings
On the configuration page LAN Settings you can change the LAN connection type, set values for the
LAN connection type and set the proxy settings for F-Link.
The usage of the connection type is descibed in chapter 2.1.
5.3.1 DHCP hostname
An optional hostname for the F-Link can be set on DHCP mode into the field “Hostname”, e.g. “FLINK”.

Frama F-Link
17
5.4 Proxy Settings
When F-Link is forced to use a proxy server without authentication then set the proxy method to
“Proxy Without Authentication“. Enter the IP address of the proxy server into the field “Proxy Host”.
Enter the port number of the proxy server into the field “Proxy Port”.
When F-Link is forced to use a proxy server with authentication then set the proxy method to “Proxy
With Basic Authentication“. Enter the IP address of the proxy server into the field “Proxy Host”. Enter
the port number of the proxy server into the field “Proxy Port”. Enter the proxy username into the field
“Proxy User” and the proxy user password into the field “Proxy Password”.
Consider also chapter 4.4.

Frama F-Link
18
5.5 Configuration Page Wireless Settings
Enable or disable the wireless function over the configuration page Wireless Settings.
5.6 Configuration Page Site Survey
When the wireless function is enabled you may scan for access points using the configuration page
Site Survey.
The value RRSI show the signal level of the wireless network. If this value is too low, no stable network
connection is possible. Try to find a better position for F-Link where the signal level is higher.
When you have selected a wireless network and have pressed the button Next the additional
configuration page for the wireless network will be shown.
Select the right channel2, security mode and encryption type for your wireless network. Normally you
must only enter the pass phrase or security key for your wireless network here. The other settings
should be left to the automatically detected values.
2F-Link V2: Selection field for the Wi-Fi channel does not exists.

Frama F-Link
19
5.7 Configuration Page Administration – Status
The status of F-Link is showed on the configuration page Administration – Status3.
F-Link state: Description:
Ready To Connect
F-Link is in operation. A connection to the FO2 backend system can be start-
ed.
Connected
F-Link is connected to the FO2 backend system and transfers data.
Ready No Internet
F-Link is in operation, but has no connection to the internet via the wired or
wireless network.
HTTP Error F-Link is in operation, but a HTTP error has occurred when F-Link connected
to the FO2 backend system.
3The firmware version name of F-Link V2 (2nd hardware generation) starts with „F-Link2“. At all other
device naming on the website the F-Link version (hardware generation) is not distinguished.

Frama F-Link
20
5.8 Configuration Page Administration – System Log
The F-Link writes a log file of the system (Linux). You can display the log entries when you open the
configuration page Administration – System Log and press the button Refresh.
5.9 Configuration Page Administration – Event Log
The F-Link writes an event log file. You can display the log entries when you open the configuration
page Administration – Event Log and press the button Refresh. There you can see the events and re-
sults of business processes of the franking system.