SystemBase WiComm User manual

WiComm
Ethernet and Wireless Serial Server
Installation and User’s Guide

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Notice
SystemBase Co.,Ltd. SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
FITNESS OF THIS PRODUCT FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. SystemBase shall not be liable for any errors
contained in this manual or for any damages resulting from loss of use, data, profits, or any incidental or
consequential damages arising from the use of SystemBase products or services. The information contained in this
documentation is subject to change without notice.
© Copyright 2007 SystemBase Co.,Ltd

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Table of Contents
WiComm ........................................................................................................................1
Ethernet and Wireless Serial Servers ......................................................................1
Section 1: Product Overview........................................................................................ 4
Introduction..................................................................................................................4
Package Contents .......................................................................................................4
About This User’s Guide..............................................................................................4
Windows
™
System Requirements................................................................................5
Wireless Serial Server Requirements (for wireless models only) ................................5
Component Descriptions .............................................................................................5
LED Indicators..........................................................................................................6
Pushbutton Functions ..............................................................................................6
Factory Default Settings ..............................................................................................7
Port Parameters.......................................................................................................7
Section 2: Hardware Installation..................................................................................8
Install the Serial Server (for wired and wireless models).............................................8
Section 3: Configuration and Management ................................................................ 9
Configuration Options..................................................................................................9
ExtendView Utility ....................................................................................................9
Web Browser Interface.............................................................................................9
HP Web JetAdmin Utility..........................................................................................9
Command Console ................................................................................................10
Configuring the Serial Server via an Ethernet Connection.........................................10
Configuring the Serial Server via a Serial Connection...............................................12
First-Time Configuration of the Wireless Serial Server Using 802.11b/g (wireless
models only) .............................................................................................................. 13
Verifying the Serial Server’s Connection to a Serial Device ......................................14
Changing the Serial Settings.....................................................................................15
U SING THE E XTEND V IEW U TILITY TO C HANGE THE S ERIAL S ETTINGS :..............................15
Changing the Baud Rate........................................................................................15
Section 4: Troubleshooting........................................................................................ 16
Introduction................................................................................................................16
Troubleshooting Installation Problems.......................................................................16
Troubleshooting Network Configuration Problems ....................................................16
Troubleshooting Windows Problems .........................................................................17
Troubleshooting Wireless Configuration Problems....................................................17
Section 5 – Where to Get Help ................................................................................... 18
Returning Products....................................................................................................18
Appendix A: Serial Port Pinouts................................................................................ 19
TCP Port Connections...............................................................................................19

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Section 1: Product Overview
Introduction
WiComm is a high-performance, standalone device designed to connect a wide range of serial devices (i.e., security
devices, telecommunications equipment, modems, data display devices, industrial instrumentation, etc.) to an
Ethernet network. The Serial Server supports RS232 serial interfaces at a variety of baud rates (data transmission
speeds), automatically senses both 100baseTX Fast Ethernet and 10baseT Ethernet network connections, and the
wireless version allows connections to 802.11g wireless networks as well.
The installation can be performed by the least-experienced users, while providing networking professionals with
advanced features for configuration. SystemBase is confident that you will enjoy the many features of the Serial
Server. For more information on this product or for downloading firmware upgrades, visit the SystemBase web site at
http://www.sysbas.com/.
Package Contents
 WiComm Serial Server
 Power supply adapter
 Serial Server Installation CD
About This User’s Guide
This User’s Guide contains information on system requirements, basic troubleshooting, and instructions on the
following:
 Installing the Serial Server hardware
 Configuring the Serial Server for use with a serial device
 Configuring the Serial Server for use on your network
 Configuring the Serial Server using the ExtendView Utility
IMPORTANT
Use Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher to view or print the PDF files contained on the CD.
NOTE
: Th
e Serial Server can be used with a variety of network operating systems and protocols. Refer to Section 3:
Management Methods for detailed information.

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Windows
™
System Requirements
To configure the settings of the Serial Server using the provided ExtendView Utility in Windows, your Windows-based
system should include the following components:
 A PC with a 133 MHz or higher processor
 Microsoft Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP, or 2003 server operating system
 At least 64 MB of RAM (memory)
 At least 10 MB of free hard disk space (to install the software)
 A CD-ROM drive (to load the software)
 An Internet connection through a cable or DSL modem, or an external dial-up or ISDN modem
(for online product registration)
Wireless Serial Server Requirements
To use the wireless Serial Server, you need an 802.11g compatible wireless network consisting of either of the
following:
 An 802.11b/g wireless-enabled PC connected directly to the Serial Server (Ad-Hoc or Peer-to-
Peer Mode).
 An 802.11b/g wireless access point that allows wireless and wired Ethernet-enabled computers to
connect to the serial sever.
To configure the wireless Serial Server, you will need the following information from your wireless network
administrator:
 Wireless Mode used (Infrastructure or Ad-Hoc)
 The SSID (service set identifier) for your wireless network.
 The Radio Frequency Channel of the wireless network.
 If you are using TCP/IP (recommended for Windows Networks) and are not connected to a DHCP
(Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server (for obtaining an IP Address automatically), you will
need a unique IP Address for the wireless Serial Server (for example: 192.168.1.14). If the Serial
Server is not on the same IP subnet as the computers you are printing from, you will also need a
subnet mask and a router (default gateway) address.
 Wireless Security Settings (WEP keys, 802.1x settings, etc.)
Component Descriptions
The Serial Server includes the following components as described below:
 Power connector – The power supply cable plugs into this connector.
 Test button – Pressing this button for less than five seconds will print a test page (if the device is
connected to a serial printer). Pressing and holding this button for more than five seconds will
reset the Serial Server to factory default settings.
 LED status indicators – used to indicate the operational states of the Serial Server. Refer to the
next page for detailed LED status light descriptions.
 Ethernet port – This port (8-pin RJ45 jack) is used for connecting the Serial Server to an
Ethernet card, hub, router, or other wired access point for network access.
 Serial port – This port (PC-compatible 9-pin male DB-9 connector) can be configured to connect
the Serial Server to a serial device that uses the RS232 serial interface.

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LED Indicators
The Serial Server provides three multifunction LED (Light Emitting Diode) indicators (yellow, green, and orange) for
easy monitoring. The following table defines the function of each LED.
FUNCTION
STATE STATUS
ON The device is receiving power
OFF The device is not receiving power
P OWER
(O RANGE ) Blinking The device’s power supply is malfunctioning
Yellow OFF
Green OFF No network activity
Yellow ON
Green OFF 10baseT network active
Yellow Blinking
Green OFF 10baseT network data received
Yellow OFF
Green ON 100baseTX network active
Yellow OFF
Green Blinking 100baseTX network data received
Yellow ON
Green ON Wireless network active (wireless models only)
N ETWORK
S TATUS
(Y ELLOW /
G REEN )
Yellow Blinking
Green Blinking Wireless network data received (wireless models only)
Pushbutton Functions
Action Result
Depress for less than 5 seconds Generates configuration data that can be viewed using a
terminal emulator (e.g., Windows Hyper Terminal) or other
serial device that can display ASCII characters, or it will
initiate a test page if the Serial Server is connected to a
serial printer.
Depress for more than 5 seconds Resets the Serial Server’s configuration to factory defaults
(cold reset). The unit will automatically re-initialize after
updating the configuration memory.

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Factory Default Settings
The Serial Server is shipped with a default configuration that will work with the most common serial-to-Ethernet and
wireless connections. The default settings can be changed to suit specific installation requirements via the
ExtendView Utility, the embedded Web server, or via a Telnet connection to the Serial Server’s internal console. The
factory default settings can be easily restored at any time by performing a cold reset (press and hold the pushbutton
on the device for more than five seconds).
Port Parameters
Parameter Description Settings
CHARACTER bits per character 7, 8 (default)
FLOW flow control NONE (default), Xon/Xoff, CTS/RTS
PARITY parity NONE (default), EVEN, ODD, MARK, or SPACE
SPEED baud rate (bits per second) 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 3600, 4800, 7200, 9600
(default), 14400, 19200, 38400, 57600, 76800,
115200 (console port default), 230400, 460800
STOP stop bits per character 1 (default), 2
MODE line mode (serial port protocol) 232 (default)
ECABLE E-Cable mode (for TCP connections) Enable, Disable (default)
ECADDR E-Cable destination IP address (set by user)
ECONN E-Cable connection attempt time 20 seconds
ECPORT E-Cable destination IP port number 9100 (default), or set by user

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Section 2: Hardware Installation
Install the Serial Server
The Serial Server can be wall mounted, set on the desktop, or mounted using the optional DIN rail kit .
Before attempting to install the Serial Server, make sure you have installed and set up your serial device
as described in the documentation that came with the device. Write down the 12-digit MAC (Media
Access Code) address printed on the label located on the bottom of the Serial Server (for example:
004017023F96). You may need this number in order to configure the Serial Server.
Connect the Serial Server to your serial device using a standard PC-compatible 9-pin (DB-9) serial cable
for RS-232 type devices (refer to Appendix A for pinout descriptions).
Plug the Serial Server power supply adapter into a suitable AC receptacle, and then plug the power
supply cable into the Serial Server. The Serial Server will run through a sequence of power-up
diagnostics for a few seconds.
 If the Serial Server is operating properly, the LEDs will blink momentarily and then go out, the
yellow and green LEDs will illuminate if the wireless network is active, and the orange LED
will illuminate, indicating the device is receiving power.
 The unit powers up in the Normal mode, which provides for connection from the network to
device(s) connected to the serial port of the Serial Server.
 If the orange LED blinks continuously in a regular pattern, a problem exists. If this is the case,
try powering the unit OFF and then ON again. If the problem persists, refer to the
Troubleshooting section in this User’s Guide.
Connect the Serial Server to your network through a switch or hub using a category 5 (CAT5)
Ethernet cable. The Serial Server’s IP address must be configured before a network connection is
available. If your network offers DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), the Serial Server will
automatically search for a DCHP server upon power up and obtain an IP address. If your network
does not offer DHCP, a static (fixed) IP address must be assigned (see your system administrator for
assistance). In most cases, a fixed IP address is preferred because a DHCP server may not always
assign the same IP address to the Serial Server when the Serial Server is powered ON.
The Serial Server also supports the following protocols. See your system administrator for help.
 arp
 rarp
 BootP
NOTE
: The IP address must be within a valid range, unique to your network, and in the same subnet as
your PC.
NOTE
: For wireless Serial Servers, if a wired connection is established to the unit, the wireless link will be disabled.

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Section 3: Configuration and Management
Configuration Options
After the hardware installation has been successfully completed, the Serial Server can be configured and managed
via an Ethernet and/or wireless connection using the ExtendView Utility, the embedded web (HTTP) server pages, or
the Serial Server’s internal configuration console, which can be accessed via a Telnet connection or directly through
the Serial Server’s serial port. Additional options for configuration and management of the Serial Server are available
as third-party utilities that can be downloaded from their respective web sites as noted below. If you are using a
wireless Serial Server, you can still configure it via an Ethernet connection or optionally configure it via a wireless
connection.
ExtendView Utility
 a Windows TCP/IP utility used for configuring the Serial Server’s port, network, and wireless
settings.
 uses a 32-bit graphical user interface.
 works with Windows PCs running the TCP/IP protocol.
 included on the Serial Server installation CD.
 can be downloaded from the SystemBase web site:
http://www.sysbas.com
 after installation, this utility can be run from the START menu.
Installing the ExtendView Utility (Windows operating
systems):
1. Ensure your PC is connected and has access to your network.
2. Connect an available Ethernet cable from your network hub to the Serial Server. Ensure the
Serial Server is powered ON.
3. Insert the CD supplied with your Serial Server into the CD-ROM drive of your computer. The CD
should automatically start and display a menu screen. Click on Install Software.
4. Click on ExtendView. After the installation is complete, you can start the ExtendView utility by
clicking on Start,Programs, and then ExtendView.
Web Browser Interface
 allows you to configure the Serial Server with a standard web browser (e.g., Firefox or Internet
Explorer).
 no additional software is needed on the system.
 can be used on any system that supports web browser capabilities.
 type the IP address into your web browser address bar to connect.
 the default password is ACCESS (not case sensitive).
HP Web JetAdmin Utility
 a web browser-based utility (works with browsers like Internet Explorer or Firefox).
 can be downloaded from the HP web site http://www.hp.com.

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Command Console
 a command-line-oriented console.
 contains some advanced features not available through ExtendView or the Web Browser
Interface.
 the default password is ACCESS.
 can be accessed via TELNET or via a direct connection to the Serial Server’s serial port.
 type HELP for a list of console commands.
Configuring the Serial Server via an Ethernet Connection
For Microsoft Windows operating systems, the ExtendView Utility is the recommended method of configuring one or
more Serial Servers on your network. Once the Serial Server obtains an IP address (occurs automatically when the
unit is powered ON and connected to a DHCP network), the ExtendView Utility’s auto-discovery feature will search
for and locate all Serial Severs on the network and then display the IP address for each discovered Serial Server.
Using the ExtendView Utility to Configure the Serial Sever
(Windows operating systems):
1. Start the ExtendView Utility by clicking on Start,Programs, and then ExtendView.
2. When the Welcome screen appears, click on Next, choose any name for your View Name, select
Automatically create a view with default settings (or configure the view to your preferences), and
then click on Finish.
3. Right-click on the Serial Server that you want to configure from the displayed list, and then left-click
on Configuration. The default Serial Server name is SBxxxxxx (where xxxxxx is the last six digits of
the MAC address from the label located on the back of the Serial Server).
4. If you are using TCP/IP (recommended for Windows) and you do not have a DHCP server (see note
below), you will need to manually assign a valid IP Address (if you are not sure what IP address is
valid, ask your network administrator), and then click on OK.
5. Configure the 802.11b/g wireless settings (for wireless models only). To operate on an 802.11b/g
network, the Serial Server configuration must be set to the same configuration as your wireless
network to allow the Serial Server to communicate over your wireless network. All nodes of a
wireless network need to have the same settings to allow communication between the devices.
 wireless mode (ad-hoc or infrastructure)
 SSID channel
 data rate
 wireless security settings (WEP keys, 802.1x settings, etc.)
NOTE
: If you are using DHCP on your network, the Serial Server should have acquired valid IP settings at this point
and no further configuration is necessary. However, for most installations, a static IP address is preferred. If your
DHCP server does not allow the Serial Server to keep its assigned IP address permanently, then you must manually
assign an IP address. In this case, use a static IP address outside the range reserved for DHCP (see your DHCP
server documentation for details). To assign a static IP address, right-click on the Serial Server in the menu, and
then select Configuration. On the TCP/IP tab, under IP Address Resolution, select Set Permanent, and assign a valid
static IP address for your network. Click on
OK
to save the n
ew settings.