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Chapter 3 - Initial Set-up
There are 2 ways to communicate to the LINKnet
Techbox: USB & Ethernet
The USB port is primarily intended to use for initial set up of the Techbox and setting up of the IP address.
But it can be used to install configurations, install firmware and monitor the entire LINKnet System. All of the
nodes in the system will appear in the DSE Module List when using the USB. Also if there are Ethernet issues
or IP address conflicts, the USB port can be used to directly connect to each Techbox for analysis. When
using the USB for the first time, the USB driver must be installed. Refer to Installing the USB driver for DSE
and the LINKnet Techbox at the end of this section.
An Ethernet connection can also be used to connect to the LINKnet Techbox. It will have a faster connection
than the USB method. A pc can be connected directly to the Ethernet port or it can be connected to the
Ethernet switch where all of the modules in the system will appear in the DSE Module List. When
communicating to the LINKnet modules via Ethernet, the computer must be on the same subnet and the
LINKnet modules. For set up instructions on using Ethernet communications, see page 15 to or if in DSE go
to HELP / LINKnet Support / Setting the computer IP Address for LINKnet access.
IP addressing information
Each LINKnet Techbox must have a unique IP address. Each LINKnet Techbox has a unique default IP
shipping address of 192.168.1.xxx. The last 3 digits will be random for each Techbox in the range of 1-127.
When the LINKnet TB is powered up in a system and it has the default shipping configuration, it will self
assign a unique address on each Techbox. At this point DSE can be launched and all of the LINKnet
Techboxes will appear in the Module List. (If there are duplicate IP Addresses, communications will not
establish between the Techboxes and DSE will not obtain a Module List.) Now the
custom configurations can be installed to each individual TB.
In a LINKnet configuration there is a System Control block which contains a place to
set the IP address. If no IP address is entered, the default shipping address of
192.168.1.xxx will be used and the TB will be self assigned an IP address in the
range of 1 - 127.
If an IP Address is entered in the System Control block, it will override the self assigned IP address.
It is recommended that an IP Address be assigned to each LINKnet TB. It is recommended that the LINKnet
configuration address be used as the last 3 digits of the IP address. Thus if the configuration address is 10 the
IP address would be 192.168.1.10
Configuring the LINKnet Techbox IP addressing
There are two ways to set the IP Address. One way is to set the IP Address is in the SYSTEM CONTROL
function block, which is located in the LINKnet configuration, as shown below. If you enter an IP Address
you MUST also enter the Subnet Mask address. If the IP Address in the SYSTEM CONTROL block is left at
0.0.0.0, the IP Address which is currently in the Techbox will be used. If an IP Address is set in the SYSTEM
CONTROL block, it will override the present IP Address which is in the Techbox.
The remaining way is to use the USB cable and connect it directly to the individual TechBox via the USB port
on the Techbox. The USB cable will supply power to the Techbox so it does not have to be fitted to a drive.
To use this method, connect the USB cable to the LINKnet Techbox, then launch DSE and go to
COMMAND / REFRESH FULL. The module will appear in the MODULE LIST. Then do a COMMAND /
SET IP ADDRESS. Enter the desired IP ADDRESS. Then do a COMMAND / GET INO and verify this data
in the SCRATCHPAD. Because of the way the USB driver loads and unloads from Windows, there is a
specific procedure which must be followed. Connect the USB cable to the Techbox first then launch DSE.
DSE can’t be open when connecting the USB cable to the Techbox. The USB driver will not load, thus the
LINKnet Product Manual HA473865U001 Issue 1.
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