VPI ETH-4X1-G User manual

MAN048 Rev Date 6/18/2007
ETH-4X1-G / 2X1-G / 2X1
Manual Ethernet Switch
Installation and Operation Manual
Tel: [phone]
www.vpi.us
1275 Danner Drive Fax: [phone]
VPI VIDEO
PRODUCTS
INCORPORATED
Aurora,Ohio 44202

i
COPYRIGHT
Copyright © 2002, 2007 by Video Products Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may
be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Video Products
Incorporated, 1275 Danner Drive, Aurora, Ohio 44202
CHANGES
The material in this manual is for information only and is subject to change without notice. Video Products
Incorporated reserves the right to make changes in the product design without reservation and without
notification to its users.

ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 1
Glossary....................................................................................................................................... 1
Supported Device Types.............................................................................................................. 1
Supported Operating Systems.....................................................................................................1
Application Examples...................................................................................................................... 2
Materials.......................................................................................................................................... 3
Preparation for Installation............................................................................................................... 3
Features and Functions................................................................................................................... 4
Installation........................................................................................................................................ 5
Connect the Cables ..................................................................................................................... 5
Plug-in and Boot Up..................................................................................................................... 6
RS232 Control.............................................................................................................................. 7
Remote Connection .................................................................................................................. 7
Command Protocol ................................................................................................................... 7
NTI Switch Control Program For Windows 9X, NT, 2000 AND XP............................................. 8
SerTest- RS232 Interface Test Program..................................................................................... 8
Main Options............................................................................................................................. 8
Switch Operations..................................................................................................................... 8
Setup Options ........................................................................................................................... 9
Technical Specifications.................................................................................................................. 9
Interconnection Cable Wiring Method- Straight Thru................................................................... 9
Interconnection Cable Wiring Method- Crossover..................................................................... 10
Troubleshooting............................................................................................................................. 10
Warranty Information..................................................................................................................... 10

1
INTRODUCTION
The NTI ETH-4X1-GManual Ethernet Switch was designed to enable the connection between a common DEVICE or NETWORK
and one of up to four DEVICEs or NETWORKs using standard Ethernet cable. The ETH-4x1-G is a switch that provides reliable
physical signal separation between connected devices while supporting 10Base-T, 100Base-T, and 1000Base-T connections.
Push buttons on the switch provide easy user control over the ETH-4X1-G to make a single connection active between two
Ethernet-based devices at a time.
Available Options
•Manual Ethernet Switch with 2 user selectable connection ports rather than 4 (ETH-2X1-G)
•2-Port Manual Ethernet Switch with support for only 10Base-T and 100Base-T connections.(ETH-2X1)
•RS232 control to change connections in the Ethernet switch via a serial stream (ETH-4X1-RS-G or ETH-2X1-RS-G)
Glossary
CPU- Computer for user access
DEVICE- CPU or other data entry/acquisition equipment
NETWORK- Local Area Network (LAN)* , File server, DSL internet connection
MDI- Media Dependent Interface
MDIX- Media Dependent Interface Crossover
COMMON- A DEVICE or NETWORK that is to be commonly connected to the selected NETWORK or DEVICE
(up to 4) through the ETH-4X1-G Manual Ethernet Switch
SELECTABLE- Any NETWORKs or DEVICEs (up to 4) that will be plugged into the user selectable ports
(1-4) and connected to the COMMON through the ETH-4X1-G Manual Ethernet Switch
*Note: The ETH-4X1-G Manual Ethernet Switch cannot differentiate between LANs and cable/DSL modems. For the
purposes of this manual they will be considered to be identical.
Supported Device Types
•Routers
•HUBS
•ETHERNET Switches (Managed / UN-managed)
•PC’s
•Network Appliances
•IEEE 802.3 Supported Devices
Supported Operating Systems
Any IEEE 802.3 compliant operating system

2
APPLICATION EXAMPLES
5VDC
.5A
-+
MANUAL ETHERNET SWITCH
ETH-4X1-G
4321
1234
COMMON
CPU
DSL
5VDC
.5A
-+
MANUAL ETHERNET SWITCH
ETH-4X1-G
432 1
1234
COMMON
CPU
LAN
5VDC
.5A
-+
MANUAL ETHERNET SWITCH
ETH-4X1-G
432 1
1234
COMMON
CPUCPU
CableModem
CPUCPUCPU
ROUTER
MODEM
SERVER
CPUCPU
CAT5e/CAT6 UTP cable
RJ45 male-male
See "Note" on page 3
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Video Products Inc
VPI
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CPU
CPU
CPU
CAT5e/CAT6 UTP cable
RJ45 male-male
See "Note" on page 3
CAT5e/CAT6 UTP cable
RJ45 male-male
See "Note" on page 3

3
MATERIALS
Materials Supplied with this kit:
•NTI ETH-4X1-G / ETH-2X1-G Manual Ethernet Switch
•120 VAC at 60 Hz 5VDC/.5A AC Adapter
•CD with this manual in pdf format and RS232 control programs (ETH-4X1-RS-G / ETH-2X1-RS-G only)
Materials Not Supplied, BUT REQUIRED:
•Ethernet Cables- Cat5e/Cat6 UTP cable with male-male connectors, either wired straight-thru or crossover, depending upon
the connected component. See note below.
Note: A crossover cable may be required if any connected components (NETWORK or DEVICE) do not support Auto
MDI/MDIX cable selection. Once a component is properly connected and powered ON, a link LED should illuminate to
indicate communication with another component. If it does not illuminate, a crossover cable may be required. See
pages 9 and 10 for cable pinouts.
PREPARATION FOR INSTALLATION
•A location should be chosen for the ETH-4X1-G such that the Ethernet cable from each supported device will reach it.
•The Ethernet cables must be run to the locations where the ETH-4X1-G switch, COMMON, and the SELECTABLE(s) will be
mounted. Be careful to route the cables away from any sources of magnetic fields or electrical interference that might reduce
the quality of the signal (i.e. AC motors, welding equipment, etc.).
•A 120V electrical outlet must be available close enough to the mounting location of the ETH-4X1-G to plug the AC adapter
into.
•All cables should be installed in such a way that they do not cause stress on their connections to the equipment. Extended
lengths of cable hanging from a connection may interfere with the quality of that connection. Secure cables as needed to
minimize this.

4
FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS
1. 5VDC .5A- male connection jack for the AC adapter
2. Port Select Switches- (1-4)- for manual control of "COMMON"* and user selectable ports (1-4)
Note: ETH-2x1-G Switch has only 1 Port Select switch that toggles between ports when pressed.
3. RS232- 9 pin DIN male (optional)- for computer control of "COMMON"* and user selectable ports (1-4) (only on models
with RS232 option)
4. Status LEDs- for visual indication of switch connection between the "COMMON"* and the user selectable ports (1-4)
5. User Selectable Ports (1-4)- RJ45 female- for connection of SELECTABLEs*
Note: ETH-2x1-G Switch has only 2 user selectable ports.
6. COMMON port- RJ45 female- for connection of COMMON*
*See Glossary (page 1) for explanation of “COMMON” and “SELECTABLE”.
NETWORK
5VDC
.5A
-+RS232
MANUAL ETHERNET SWITCH
ETH-4X1-RS-G
2 3 5
Front View of ETH-4X1-RS-G Rear View of ETH-4X1-RS-G
COMMON
4321
43 2 1
5VDC
.5A
-+RS232
MANUAL ETHERNET SWITCH
ETH-4X1-RS-G
COMMON
432 1
6
4
1
12 34
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5
INSTALLATION
Connect the Cables
1. Position the ETH-4X1-G such that the Ethernet cable from the COMMON , the AC adapter power cable, and the
Ethernet cables from the SELECTABLEs can reach the ETH-4X1-G.
2. Connect one end of an Ethernet cable to the COMMON (See Fig.1.) Connect the other end of that
cable to the "COMMON" port on the ETH-4X1-G.
3. Connect another Ethernet cable between each SELECTABLE and the user selectable ports (1-4) on the
ETH-4X1-G. (See Figs.1 and 2.)
Figure 1- Connect DEVICE to switch
Figure 2- Connect NETWORK to switch
See note under “Materials” on
p
a
g
e 3
See note under “Materials” on page 3
Ethernet Cable
Rear View of CPU
(DEVICE)
RJ45 Female
RJ45 Ethernet Cable
to COMMON device
(NETWORK)
NETWORK
5VDC
.5A
-+
R
MANUAL ETHERNET SWITCH
ETH-4X1-G
Rear View of ETH-4X1-G
COMMON
4321
432 1
RJ45 Male
RJ45 Male
RJ45 Female
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Video Products Inc
Ethernet Cable
Cable Modem
(NETWORK)
RJ45 Female
RJ45 Ethernet Cable
to COMMON device
(DEVICE)
NETWORK
5VDC
.5A
-+
R
MANUAL ETHERNET SWITCH
ETH-4X1-G
COMMON
4321
43 2 1
RJ45 Male
RJ45 Male
Rear View of ETH-4X1-G
RJ45 Female
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6
Plug-in and Boot Up
1. Connect the AC adapter power connector to the 5VDC port on the ETH-4X1-G. Make sure the power connector is
properly inserted. (See Fig. 3.)
2. Plug the AC adapter into a power outlet. The status LED for SELECTABLE port 1 will illuminate indicating a proper
power connection has been made.
Note: An illuminated Status LED also indicates a connection between the "COMMON" port and the associated user
selectable port.
Figure 3- Connect the AC adapter
3. Power up the COMMON and SELECTABLE device(s). The COMMON device should react as if it were directly
connected to the SELECTABLE device plugged into user selectable port 1.
5 VDC
Adapter
ADAPTER
Barrel
(Inside
barrel)
(Outside
barrel)
Power Connector
2.1 mm x 5.5 mm Female
5VDC @ .5A OUTPUT
Status LEDs
Front View of ETH-4X1-RS-G
NETWORK
5VDC
.5A
-+RS232
R
MANUAL ETHERNET SWITCH
ETH-4X1-RS-G
COMMON
4321
12 34
DB9 Male
RS232 Connector
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7
RS232 Control
RS232 (optional) enables the ETH-4X1-RS-G to be remotely controlled via RS232. To control the ETH-4X1-RS-G via RS232 the
user has three options:
•write a program that runs on a PC using the Command Protocol (below)
•use the NTI Switch Control Program (page 8) provided on the CD
•use the SerTest program (page 8) provided on the CD
Remote Connection
The RS232 Interface is designed to control the switch via serial (RS232) connection from any host computer or other controller
with an RS232 communications port. To use the RS232 port , connect a crossed female serial cable from a CPU serial port to
the DB9 pin male RS232 port on the ETH-4X1-RS-G. Connections are as follows:
RS232 Connector (DB9 Male)
Pins at
ETH-4X1-RS-G Signal Pins at CPU
2 RxD 3
3 TxD 2
5 GND 5
RS232 program setup parameters:
•9600 baud
•8 bit data
•1 stop bit
•no parity
•no flow control
Command Protocol
CPU controller commands supported by the unit are defined below. Commands may be sent using any RS232 communication
program (i.e. Windows HyperTerminal). All commands should be terminated with a <CR> (carriage return). When a command is
sent, the entire string is echoed back along with a response from the addressed unit as shown in the command definitions table
below. All characters in the command string should be upper case, and all numbers below 10 should have a leading 0 (ex: 1 =
01). As command strings are sent, the inner character delay cannot exceed 500 milliseconds.
The following commands are supported.
LEGEND ALL NUMBERS MUST BE TWO DIGITS
SW: SWITCH UNIT ADDRESS- this is 01 and cannot be changed)
OP: OUTPUT (COMMON) PORT -this is 01 and cannot be changed
IP: INPUT NETWORK PORT (01-MAXINPUTS) (MAXINPUTS = 02 or 04)
<CR>: CARRIAGE RETURN (Hex 0x0D)
Command String Good Response Description
CS SW,IP,OP *<CR> Connect COMMON Port To Input/SELECTABLE Port
RO SW,OP *<CR>IP<CR> Read Connection For Output/COMMON Port
RU SW *<CR>IP,OP<CR> Read Unit Size
RV SW,00 *<CR>string\0<CR> Read NTI Version String (Short Version)
RV SW,01 *<CR>string<CR> Read NTI Version String (Long Version)
If the first field is not a known command (as listed above) or SW field is different from the serial address programmed in the switch
memory (01), the command will be ignored. If the SW field corresponds to the unit address, but the syntax is wrong after this field,
the switch will answer with a bad response ?<CR>.
1
Mating Face of DB9 Male
2345
6789
"RS232" Connector