Linear AM-SEK User manual

AM-SEK
Serial-Ethernet Server
User Manual

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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
The information contained in this document is the property of Nortek Security & Control LLC, and is supplied for the sole
purpose of operation and maintenance of products of Nortek Security & Control LLC. 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
explicit written consent of Nortek Security & Control LLC.
Published by Nortek Security & Control LLC. Toll-Free: [phone]. Website: www.nortekcontrol.com
Copyright © 2021 Nortek Security & Control LLC. Linear and GTO are trademarks of Nortek Security & Control LLC. All
rights reserved.
All other product names referenced herein are registered trademarks of their respective companies.
This document is intended to provide customers with brief descriptions on the product and to assist customers to get
started. For detail information and operations of the product, please refer to www.linear-solutions.com.
FCC NOTICE
We, Nortek Security & Control LLC of 5919 Sea Otter Place, Carlsbad, CA 92010, declare under our sole responsibility
that the device, ACP00964 complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules.
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 the device’s RS-232 or RS-485 port.
Be cautioned that changes or modications not explicitly approved by Nortek Security & Control could void your
authority to operate the equipment.

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction..................................................................6
1.1 Application Connectivity............................................................6
TCP Server Mode ......................................................................... 6
TCP Client Mode..........................................................................7
UDP Mode ..............................................................................7
Tunneling Mode...........................................................................8
2. Hardware Setup ..............................................................9
2.1 LED Indicators....................................................................9
2.1.1 LAN LED............................................................................9
2.1.2 COM Port LED .......................................................................9
2.1.3 RUN LED ...........................................................................9
2.2 Installation Procedures.............................................................10
3. Software Setup ...............................................................10
3.1 Conguration by Monitor.exe Utility...................................................10
3.1.1 Static IP ............................................................................10
3.1.2 Auto IP (Dynamic IP) ..................................................................11
3.2 Conguration by Telnet Utility .......................................................12
3.2.1 Login to the System...................................................................12
3.2.2 Networking..........................................................................13
3.2.3 Change the Password .................................................................14
3.2.4 COM1 Setup ........................................................................14
3.2.5 Congure AM-SEK as TCP Client ........................................................ 16
3.2.6 Congure AM-SEK as UDP Client ........................................................17
3.2.7 COM Port Setting..................................................................... 17
3.2.8 Enabling Serial Data Buffer .............................................................18
3.2.9 Setting Packet Delimiter ............................................................... 18
3.2.10 Accept Control Command from COM Port ................................................ 19
3.3 Conguration Using Web Browser....................................................19
3.3.1 Log in to the System ..................................................................19
3.3.2 Change the password ................................................................. 20
3.3.3 Network Setup .......................................................................21
3.3.4 Congure AM-SEK as TCP Server........................................................ 22
3.3.5 Congure AM-SEK as TCP Client ........................................................ 23
3.3.6 Pair Connection ......................................................................23
3.4 Assign a New IP Address by ARP Command ...........................................24
4. Using Virtual COM ............................................................25
4.1 Setup of a Virtual COM Driver .......................................................26
4.1.1 Pre-installation Requirements ........................................................... 26
4.1.2 Cautions on Use .....................................................................26
4.1.3 Limitation ........................................................................... 26
4.1.4 Installation .......................................................................... 26
4.1.5 Uninstalling .........................................................................26

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4.2 Virtual COM Communication ........................................................26
4.2.1 Enable Virtual COM on AM-SEK ......................................................... 26
4.2.2 Run Serial/IP on Monitoring PC .......................................................... 27
4.3 Conguring Virtual COM Ports.......................................................28
5. SNMP Setup .................................................................29
5.1 SNMP Network Management Platform ................................................29
6. Start Writing One’s Own Applications ............................................29
6.1 Preparing the System ..............................................................29
6.2 Running the Sample Program .......................................................29
6.2.1 TCPTEST in Visual Basic ............................................................... 29
6.2.2 TCPTEST2 in Visual C .................................................................30
7. Diagnostics ..................................................................30
7.1 Use Standard TCP/IP Utility Ping Command ...........................................30
7.2 Use Monitor.exe Conguration Utility Program..........................................31
7.3 Use TCPTEST.exe or TCPTEST2.exe Sample Program ...................................31
Appendix A: Specications .......................................................32
A.1 Hardware Specications ...........................................................32
A.2 Software Specications ............................................................32
A.3 Panel Layout and Connector Pin Assignments..........................................33
A.3.1 Panel Layout - DB9 for AM-SEK ......................................................... 33
A.3.2 DB9 Pin Assignments ................................................................. 34
A.3.3 Ethernet Port (RJ-45) .................................................................. 34
A.3.4 Power Terminal Block Connector ........................................................ 35
A.4 Buzzer/LED Message ..............................................................35
A.4.1 Buzzer .............................................................................35
A.4.2 LAN LED ...........................................................................35
A.4.3 COM Port LED.......................................................................35
A.4.4 RUN LED ...........................................................................35
Appendix B: Upgrade System Firmware ............................................36
B.1 Upgrade Procedures ..............................................................36
B.2 Critical Issues of Upgrading.........................................................37
B.3 Error Messages...................................................................37
Appendix C: Disable System Firmware .............................................37
Appendix D: Using Monitor.exe Utility ..............................................38
D.1 Run the utility ....................................................................38
D.2 Detect Operational Devices .........................................................38
D.3 Congure Devices ................................................................38

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Figures
Figure 2.1 AM-SEK interfaces ..........................................................9
Figure 3.1 Congure by monitor.exe utility ................................................10
Figure 3.2 Static IP setup dialog window .................................................11
Figure 3.3 monitor.exe Auto IP Dialog Window .............................................11
Figure 3.4 Login to the system..........................................................12
Figure 3.5 Main menu .................................................................12
Figure 3.6 Overview ..................................................................13
Figure 3.7 Network settings ............................................................13
Figure 3.8 Change the password ........................................................14
Figure 3.9 Com1 setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Figure 3.10 Link Mode-TCP server setup .................................................15
Figure 3.11 Link Mode-TCP client setup ..................................................16
Figure 3.12 Link Mode-UDP client setup..................................................17
Figure 3.13 Com port setting ...........................................................17
Figure 3.14 Com port-Enabling serial data buffer ...........................................18
Figure 3.15 Setting packet delimiter timer.................................................18
Figure 3.16 Setting packet delimiter-character pattern ......................................19
Figure 3.17 login the system via Web ....................................................19
Figure 3.18 Overview .................................................................20
Figure 3.19 Change the password .......................................................20
Figure 3.20 Network setup .............................................................21
Figure 3.21 Com1 setup-TCP server .....................................................22
Figure 3.22 Com1 setup-TCP client......................................................23
Figure 3.23 Com1 setup –pair connection.................................................23
Figure 3.24 Com 1 setup –UDP mode ....................................................24
Figure 3.25 Congure success..........................................................24
Figure 3.26. Ms-DOS command prompt window ...........................................24
Figure 3.27. Assigning a new IP address by ARP command ..................................25
Figure 4.1 Virtual Com connection diagram ...............................................25
Figure 4.2 Enable Virtual Com ..........................................................26
Figure 4.3 Enable Virtual Com via telnet ..................................................27
Figure 4.4 Serial/IP conguration........................................................27
Figure 4.5 Conguration Wizard.........................................................28
Figure 6.1 TCP test sample program in Visual Basic ........................................29
Figure 6.2 TCP test sample program in Visual C............................................30
Figure 7.1 Standard TCP/IP utility ping command ..........................................30
Figure 7.2 Monitor conguration utility ...................................................31
Figure D1. Main window of monitor.exe utility program ......................................38
Figure D2. Conguration dialog box .....................................................38

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1. Introduction
The AM-SEK Ethernet Serial Server is a gateway between Ethernet (TCP/IP) and RS-232 or RS- 485/RS-422
communications. The information transmitted by AM-SEK is transparent to both host computers (Ethernet) and devices
(RS-232 or RS-485/RS-422). Data coming from the Ethernet (TCP/IP) is sent to the designated RS-232 or RS-485/RS-
422 port and data being received from RS-232 or RS- 485/RS-422 port is sent to the Ethernet (TCP/IP) transparently.
In the computer integration manufacturing or industrial automation area, the AM-SEK Ethernet Serial Server is used
for eld devices to directly connect to the Ethernet network. The terminal server (main control program run in AM-SEK)
transforms whatever data received from RS-232 or RS-485/RS-422 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 or RS-485/RS-422, however
RS-232 or RS-485/RS-422 serial communication has its limitations. It is hard to transfer data through a long distance.
With AM-SEK, it is possible to communicate with a remote device in the Intranet environment or even in the Internet,
Therefore, this setup increases the communication distance dramatically.
AM-SEK offers one RS-232 or RS-485/RS-422 port, one RJ45 Ethernet and a Watch-Dog Timer.
1.1 Application Connectivity
TCP Server Mode
The AM-SEK can be congured as a TCP server on TCP/IP Networks to wait for other applications (clients) in the host
computer to establish a connection with the serial device. After the connection is established between serial device and
the host computer, data can be transmitted in both directions.

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TCP Client Mode
The AM-SEK can be congured as a TCP client on TCP/IP Networks to establish a connection with other applications
(server) in the host computer. After the connection is established, data can be transmitted between serial device and the
host computer in both directions.
UDP Mode
UDP is a faster, but it’s a non-guaranteed datagram delivery protocol. AM-SEK can be congured in UDP mode on a
TCP/IP Network to establish a connection using unicast or multicast data from the serial device to one or multiple host
computers.
Data can be transmitted between the serial device and the host computers in both directions.

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Tunneling Mode
The serial connection can be established with two or more AM-SEK devices to send data over TCP/IP Network. This
helps nullify the 15-meter distance limitation normally imposed on an RS-232 interface.

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2. Hardware Setup
NOTE:
1. Panel layout available in Appendix A.3.1
2. Press the reset button of AM-SEK to reset the settings to the default values (see Figure 2.1 below).
DIN-Rail Screw Hole
DC Jack 5VDC
Reset Button
DC 9~30V RJ45 10/100 Mpbs
Wall Mount Screw Hole
2.1 LED Indicators
2.1.1 LAN LED
Message Description
Off Ethernet Disconnected
Blinking with Green Data is transmitting on Ethernet for 100Mbps
Blinking with Orange Data is transmitting on Ethernet for 10Mbps
Table 1. LAN LED Message
2.1.2 COM Port LED
Message Description
Off No data is transmitting on COM port
Blinking Data is transmitting on COM port
Table 2. COM Port LED Message
2.1.3 RUN LED
Message Description
On Jumper JP1 Pin1 and Pin2 are shorted to disable
AP rmware running
AP rmware is running normally
Table 3. RUN LED Message
Figure 2.1 AM-SEK interfaces

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2.2 Installation Procedures
1. Connect AM-SEK to power source using 5VDC jack (or 9~30VDC terminal block power source).
Note: AM-SEK provides two power inputs that can be connected simultaneously to live DC power sources. If any one
of the power inputs fails, the other live source acts as a backup to support power needs automatically. The redundant
dual DC power inputs give one extra assurance of non-stop operation.
2. Connect AM-SEK to the Ethernet network. Use a standard straight-through Ethernet cable when connecting it to
a hub/switch. It can also be connected to the PC‘s Ethernet port via a cross- over Ethernet cable for easy set up.
However in this case, it’s necessary to make sure the PC is in the same network sub-net as the AM-SEK.
3. Connect AM-SEK’s serial port to a serial device.
4. Placement options: Mount AM-SEK to a wall/panel (mounting screws included) or Din-Rail rack (requires optional
item model: Din-Rail-Kit DK-25).
3. Software Setup
AM-SEK 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
Firmware 3.609 or Greater
User Name admin
Password default
Firmware 3.605 or earlier
User Name admin
Password Null (leave blank)
COM 1 9600, None, 8, 1, No ow 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
3.1 Conguration by Monitor.exe Utility
3.1.1 Static IP
Use monitor.exe (available at www.linear-solutions.com) to congure the network parameters of AM-SEK. Click Cong
(see Figure 3.1), then enter static IP information (see Figure 3.2).
Figure 3.1 Congure by monitor.exe utility