Helmholz REX 300 User manual

Quick Start Guide REX300
www.helmholz.com
Version
11 en from FW 3.6

Quick Start Guide REX 3002
Before getting started:
The new CTM function is supported starting with device rmware v.3.4.1 and shDIALUP v.3 (for more information, please go to page 9).
We recommend using the myREX24 mediation server, as this will only require an outgoing connection from your control center and another one from the remote control network (end
customer). In addition, myREX24 will make it much easier to manage your remote servicing connections (please read page 3 for myREX24).
Content
1. Introduction 3
2. Preparing the REX 300 unit 3
3. Creating a REX 300 conguration in the myREX24 portal 3
4. Transfer options of the router conguration 7
5. Establishing a VPN connection to your REX 300 18
6. Setting up VCOM LAN for serial communications 20
7. Alternative conguration without myREX24 Portal with integrated assistants 21
8. Remote maintenance of an S7-MPI/PROFIBUS PLC 22
9. Remotely servicing an Ethernet PLC 24
10. Restoring the REX 300 router to its default settings 25
11. Firmware update using a USB ash drive 26
12. LED description 26
13. Technical specications 27

Quick Start Guide REX 300 3
2. Preparing the REX 300 unit
2.1 REX 300 with modem
Screw the antenna into place and insert the corresponding SIM card or connect the
modem to the right phone line (as applicable).
Connect a supply voltage of 10–30 V DC to the two-pole connector.
2.2 REX 300 WAN/LAN
Connect the REX 300 router's WAN port to the network or DSL modem being used
to establish an Internet connection.
Connect a supply voltage of 10–30 V DC to the two-pole connector.
1. Introduction
The REX 300 is an industrial router designed to be installed on mounting rails and
used for worldwide remote access to PLCs, HMIs, IP cameras, etc. This Quick Start
Guide goes over the basic settings in the myREX24 portal and shows how to use the
portal to create a conguration and transfer it to your REX 300 unit.
If you would like to operate your router without our VPN portal, you will nd further
information in Chapter 7 "Alternative conguration without myREX24 portal with
integrated assistants" on page 21.
Please note: Write down the serial number and MAC address of your REX 300 router
before installing the router in your system. You will need the serial number in order to
congure the device!
3. Creating a REX 300 conguration in the myREX24
portal
REX 300 routers can be fully congured using the myREX24 portal. Once the corre-
sponding conguration le is ready, it can be transferred to the actual REX 300 unit
in a variety of ways.

Quick Start Guide REX 3004
3.3 Creating a router con guration
The following information describes the con guration points required to establish
a VPN portal connection. For a more detailed description of the advanced functions
and con guration options available, please use the portal’s online help.
Note: You should always individualize your access data (user names/passwords). For
more information, make sure to consult the portal‘s online help
You should always individualize your access data (user names/passwords).
.
Once a connection to the myREX24 portal is successfully established, a new browser
window with your myREX24 online account will open. Create a new device in the
„Machines“ menu.
With the button you go to the next submenu.
Note: The device name must start with a letter. Umlauts, special characters, and spaces
are generally not permitted. In addition, every device name must be unique.
3.2 Log in to the myREX24 portal
Once you install and open the shDIALUP program, you can use your login data to
log in to the myREX24 portal.
Note: Your login name is composed of a user name preceding the @ character and the
name of your company.
Example: admin@helmholz
Other users can be created and administered after you log onto the myREX24 portal.
3.1 Registration
If you do not yet have a myREX24 account, you will  rst have to visit www.myREX24.
net and register under “Request access.” Make sure to  ll out all mandatory  elds.
Once you submit the form, you will receive an e-mail containing your login data.
You can download the software necessary for establishing a connection with my-
REX24-Portal (shDIALUP and shCHECK), as well as other documents with supplemen-
tary example applications anytime from the download area under
www.myREX24.net and www.helmholz.com.

Quick Start Guide REX 300 5
Enter the IP address and the appropriate subnet mask for your equipment network
into the LAN parameter elds. All REX 300 routers come with a default IP address of
192.168.0.100/24. If you don‘t have to/don‘t wish to change this address, it should
be noted that this address area on the REX 300 WAN side may not be used.
If you would like to connect additional TCP/IP components for purposes of remote
maintenance at the LAN interface of the REX 300, this IP address is also the standard
gateway for these devices (see page 24).
Open the „Internet“ tab without clicking on .
The description page for the device you just created will appear now. Please note
that the location and contact information data are optional.
A eld for entering a phone number for the SIM card will be shown for GSM devices
only. If you do enter a number, the myREX24 portal will be able to control the REX
300 router using SMS text messages.
The “Change VPN Password” eld requires no entry. The password is generated
automatically.
To make sure that the conguration is sent to the right device, you will need to enter
the REX 300 router‘s serial number. The purpose of the additional description eld is
to make it possible to distinguish between several remote servicing units internally.
Go to the „Network“ tab without .

Quick Start Guide REX 3006
Under „Connect to server on“, select the actions with which this device should con-
nect to your myREX24 account. Depending upon the device version, you must carry
out corresponding adjustments for establishing a connection:
1* In the case of devices with a radio modem, all entries concerning the access point
(Access Point Name) of the card provider must be made and the SIM PIN entered.
2* In the case of tethered devices and when using static IP addresses, the customer
speci cations for gateway, DNS server and VPN port must be used for the subse-
quent router location.
3* Before de ning a preselectable VPN port, check to make sure that this port is also
open on the system side at the customer location (also see the chapter “Tips and
tricks” on page 19).
You have now con gured the basic settings for the router and can click on to
proceed to transfer the con guration to the REX 300 unit using one of the options
available in the menu (see page 7).
In the event that the dialog for „Submit to Device“ appears automatically, you can
cancel this dialog and call it up later when needed.
Note: The myREX24 portal’s online help provides information on the function of the
advanced settings.
If you enable DHCP, make sure that the DHCP server does not assign the WAN port an IP
address that is already in use on the LAN side.
IP addresses from two different subnets must be assigned to every router‘s LAN and
WAN ports.
1*
2*
3*

Quick Start Guide REX 300 7
1*
2*
3*
4. Transfer options of the router conguration
Once you have created a conguration, you can click the oppy disk icon in order to
select one of three transfer methods described here.
1* Submit to Device:
The conguration is transferred to the router on the local LAN connection of the PC
on which shDIALUP is running.
You can use this option if the REX 300 router can be reached directly through the
local network (LAN).
2* Prepare for CTM:
Used to download the conguration from the myREX24 portal using the REX 300
router's Internet connection (CTM = Conguration Transfer Manager; see page 9).
This Internet transfer method will become the default conguration option as soon
as the REX 300 router has established a connection to the myREX24 portal. Once the
REX 300 router has established a connection to the myREX24 portal, the CTM can be
automatically used for all additional conguration changes.
3* Download to PC:
Save the conguration le and then use a USB stick to transfer it to the REX 300 unit
(see page 16).
Choose this option if the REX 300 router cannot be reached through the local net-
work (LAN) or through the Internet when it is rst being set up.

Quick Start Guide REX 3008
PC
4.1 Transferring the conguration using a local LAN connection
1. Login via shDIALUP
3. Search for the device on the LAN network
4. Transfer the configuration
LANLAN
2. Create/edit and store
the REX 300 configuration
LA
N
In order to transfer the conguration through the LAN network, it must be possible
to reach the REX 300 unit being congured on the same network on which the
computer with the shDIALUP software is active.
4.1.1
Connect your computer's LAN port (LAN adapter) to the REX 300 unit's LAN port.
Make sure to use the included standard Cat5 patch cable to establish this direct
connection between your computer and the router.
4.1.2
In the myREX24 portal (shDIALUP) under “Device Administration”, use the oppy
disk icon to select the “Submit to Device” option.

Quick Start Guide REX 300 9
4.1.3
After you have selected the corresponding PC-LAN network card in the Device Search
menu, the search for locally connected REX routers will be carried out independently
in the following dialog.
The transfer will start if a device with the right serial number is found. Once the
transfer is complete, the REX 300 router will start using the new conguration after
being restarted.
Note: In order to establish a VPN connection with the REX 300, please read Chapter 5 on
page 18.
4.2 Conguration Transfer Manager (CTM)
The Conguration Transfer Manager makes it possible to transfer the conguration
to the REX 300 router once the router has established an Internet connection to the
myREX24 portal.
If the REX 300 unit has a connection to the myREX24 portal, it will check whether
there is a new conguration available for its serial number. If there is one, it will load
it automatically.
This method is ideal for retroactive changes to the conguration.
Note: In order to be able to transfer the conguration, the Conguration Transfer Mana-
ger requires an Internet connection established using a WAN network or SIM card.
If you are using your REX 300 router for the rst time, you can set this connection directly
on the REX 300 via the "First Start" website.
1. Create/edit the REX 300
configuration and deposit it
in the CTM
Cyclic check whenever
there is an Internet
connection
2. The configuration
is downloaded
and activated

Quick Start Guide REX 30010
4.2.1 Establishing an Internet connection through the "First Start" website
If you have not yet congured your REX 300 router using one of the other congu-
ration methods (directly on the computer or using a USB ash drive), you can also
establish an Internet connection for the commissioning directly with the REX 300
router's web interface at the "First Start" website.
If the REX 300 unit is already able to establish an Internet connection, please skip
ahead to page 14, point 4.2.5 “Automatic conguration download.”
Commissioning via the "First Start" website presumes that the REX 300 can be ad-
dressed in the local network under its default IP address.
REX 300 routers come with a default IP address of 192.168.0.100 (subnet mask:
255.255.255.0).
In order to be able to reach the REX 300 router, the PC network adapter must also be
set to the IP address space and subnet of the router.
Start by opening the properties for your LAN connection.
-In Windows XP2:
Start -> Settings -> Control panel -> Network connections.
-In Windows2 7:
Start -> Control panel -> Network and sharing center -> Change adapter settings
Your IP address must lie within the address range "192.168.0.x". The subnet mask
must match the subnet mask used by the REX 300 unit (default: 255.255.255.0).
Note: Make sure that there are no address space conicts with any other network ports
(do not assign the same IP address more than once). If there are, you will not be able to
communicate with your REX 300 unit properly.
Open the Properties dialog box for the network connection that you want to use in
order to establish a connection to your REX 300 unit. To change your computer's IP
address, select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and click on the "Properties" button.