DeviceMaster AIR Installation

You can use the links below to locate software or documentation.

An Installation Overview is available for the DeviceMaster AIR to review the installation process, which also provides links to the required software and documents.

Device Drivers and Driver Installation Documents

Use this table to access the device driver and driver installation document for your operating system.

Device DriverInstallation Document

Linux

2.6.18 through 2.6.34 kernels

(32/64-bit)

v4.18

Download

Refer to the readme file bundled with the driver for installation procedures. You can also download LCOM, which can be used for testing serial ports on a Linux system.

Linux

2.6.0 through 2.6.17 kernels

(32-bit)

v4.06

Download

Technical support typically recommends using v4.06 for kernels 2.6.0 through 2.6.17, unless you require a 64-bit driver; then use v7.02.

Refer to the readme file bundled with the driver for installation procedures. You can also download LCOM, which can be used for testing serial ports on a Linux system.

Linux

2.4.30 through 2.4.35 kernels

(32-bit)

v4.05

Download

Technical support typically recommends using v4.05 for kernels 2.4.30 through 2.4.35.

Refer to the readme file bundled with the driver for installation procedures. You can also download LCOM, which can be used for testing serial ports on a Linux system.

Windows 7

Windows Server 2008

Windows Vista

Windows Server 2003

Windows XP

(32/64-bit)

v7.10

Download

You can use the appropriate discussion for driver installation procedures or optionally, open the NS-Link User Guide.

NS-Link User Guide for Windows, Rev A Open

Windows 2000

(32/64-bit)

v6.12

Download

You can open the User Guide.

NS-Link User Guide, Rev E Download

Windows NT

v7.25

Download

NS-Link User Guide, Rev D Download

DeviceMaster AIR User Guide and Quick Start

The DeviceMaster AIR User Guide [Rev C] provides detailed installation and configuration information.

Optionally, you can review the Installation Quick Start, which provides links to the appropriate documents and files for the installation.

[Note]
Note

The links in the Quick Start only work if using from the ftp site or if you place the downloaded files in the same directory structure on your system as the ftp structure.

Utilities and Supporting Documents

[Note]
Note

This product is Obsolete means that both the product and download files are obsolete and are AS IS (in mature status and are no longer updated). Limited Technical Support available.

Use this table to access firmware, utilities, and supporting documentation for your installation.

Operating SystemNameFilesDescription

All

Bootloaderv3.16 Copy Update Bootloader if a later version is available. You can use PortVision Plus to identify, configure, update, and manage the DeviceMaster AIR. In addition, it contains Test Terminal and Port Monitor

All

SocketServerv7.11 Copy Update SocketServer if a later version is available. Use PortVision Plus to load firmware.

All

eCos Reference Manual

1998 - 2003 Edition Open

The eCos Reference Manual includes information about Redboot.

Redboot can be used to configure or update the DeviceMaster in the event that you do not want to use PortVision Plus or a device driver. The DeviceMaster AIR User Guide provides basic information about using Redboot with the DeviceMaster AIR.

All

User GuideRev C Open Provides installation and configuration procedures.

All

Installation Quick StartRev D Open Provides an installation overview with links to the appropriate installation documents.

Linux

LCOM Utilityv1.01 Copy You can use LCOM for testing serial ports on a Linux system.

Linux

Using minicomRev C Open This document discusses using minicom, a built-in serial communication utility. You can use minicom for sending commands to attached modems.

Windows 7

Windows Server 2008

Windows Vista

Windows Server 2003

Windows XP

(32/64-bit)

PortVision Plusv4.03 Install from CD You can use PortVision Plus to identify, configure, update, and manage the DeviceMaster AIR. In addition, it contains Test Terminal and Port Monitor.

Windows 2000

PortVision Plusv3.08 Download

You can use the legacy version of PortVision Plus to identify, configure, update, and manage the DeviceMaster PRO. In addition, it contains Test Terminal and Port Monitor.

Windows XP

RRAS OverviewRev A Open Overview for Windows XP RRAS configuration.

Installation Overview

The DeviceMaster AIR installation follows these basic steps:

  1. Install the hardware and configure the wireless network using the DeviceMaster AIR User Guide [Rev C].

  2. Configure the network information (program IP information into the DeviceMaster).

  3. Configure the port attributes.

  4. Connect the serial devices.

If directed to by Technical Support, copy updated firmware files to a temporary location on a hard drive.

Configuring Network Information in the DeviceMaster AIR

After installing the hardware, you are ready to program the network information (IP address) into the DeviceMaster AIR using PortVision Plus Plus.

[Note]
Note

PortVision Plus requires a Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 host system.

You can install PortVision Plus. After installing PortVision Plus, program the IP address into the DeviceMaster AIR using the following procedure.

  1. Start PortVision Plus using the PortVision Plus desktop shortcut or from the Start button, click Programs, Comtrol, PortVision Plus.

  2. If this is the first time you have opened PortVision Plus, click Scan and then Yes to locate DeviceMaster AIR units on the network.

    [Note]
    Note

    PortVision Plus will locate all Comtrol DeviceMaster models, excluding the DeviceMaster FreeWire.

  3. Highlight the DeviceMaster AIR for which you want to program network information and open the Configure Device screen using one of these methods.

    • Double-click the DeviceMaster AIR in the List View pane.

    • Click Config.

    • Right-click the DeviceMaster AIR in the List View pane and click Configure Device.

    [Note]
    Note

    For additional information, open the PortVision Plus Help system. Access the Help system using the Help button or go directly to the help for a specific property page by clicking the Context menu button.

  4. Optionally, rename the DeviceMaster AIR in the Device Name field.

  5. Change the DeviceMaster AIR network properties as required for your site.

    • If you want to run the DeviceMaster AIR using the MAC addressing scheme, click Disable IP.

    • To use the DeviceMaster AIR with DHCP, click DHCP IP, and make sure that you provide the MAC address of the device to the network administrator. Make sure that the administrator reserves the IP address, subnet mask and gateway address of the DeviceMaster AIR in the DHCP server.

    • To program a static IP address, click Static IP and enter the appropriate values for your site.

  6. Click Apply Changes to update the network information on the DeviceMaster AIR.

  7. Click Close to exit the Configure Device window.

Optionally, refer to the DeviceMaster AIR User Guide for procedures to program the IP address in the DeviceMaster AIR through a serial connection (null-modem cable) with RedBoot.

Configuring Port Attributes

Use the links below to locate the appropriate document link for information about configuring port attributes.

Port TypeConfiguration Information
COM

To use a DeviceMaster AIR port as a COM port, you should install the NS-Link device driver for your Windows system.

After the driver is installed, configure the Network Connections tab in the driver accordingly:

  1. Select MAC Mode.

  2. Select the MAC address of the DeviceMaster AIR from the drop list or enter the MAC address.

  3. Select OK.

  4. To use the DeviceMaster AIR in IP Mode, select IP Mode.

  5. Enter the IP address and select OK.

  6. Configure the COM port properties.

For more information, open the NS-Link User Guide for Microsoft Systems.

TCP/IP socket

There are several ways to access the SocketServer or NS-Link web pages to configure socket port attributes.

  • SocketServer

    1. Open a web browser.

    2. Enter the IP address of the DeviceMaster AIR that you want to configure.

    3. Select the port that you want to configure.

  • PortVision Plus provides several ways to access the the SocketServer or NS-Link web page.

    • Web Manager Button

      1. If necessary, start PortVision Plus, right-click the DeviceMaster AIR that you want to configure, and click Web Manager.

      2. Click the port for which you want to configure socket port settings (serial, TCP connection configuration, and UDP connection configuration).

        [Note]
        Note

        For socket configuration information see the Help system. Click the ? in a configuration area for field specific information or the Help button at the bottom of the page to view page level help. To locate configuration procedures, scroll to the top of the Help file and view the Table of Contents.

      3. Click Save to return to the main page.

      4. Optionally, access the following pages to configure additional settings.

        1. Click the Network page to change the network settings.

        2. Click the Email Settings page to configure email notification services.

        3. Click the RFC1006 Settings page to configure RFC1006 settings.

    • Configure Device Page

      1. If necessary, start PortVision Plus, double-click the DeviceMaster AIR that you want to configure in the List View pane.

      2. Click the Port Settings tab to configure socket port settings (serial, TCP connection configuration, and UDP connection configuration).

        [Note]
        Note

        For socket configuration information click the Help button at the left.

      3. Optionally, access the following pages to configure additional settings.

        1. Click the Email Settings property page to configure email notification services.

        2. Click the RFC1006 Settings property page to configure RFC1006 settings.

        3. Click the Port Settings property page to configure serial port characteristics for socket services.

You can refer to the help systems for detailed configuration information.

tty

To use any of the DeviceMaster AIR port as tty port, you should install the Linux NS-Link device driver and configure DeviceMaster AIR network information for the serial portion using the driver.

See the readme file bundled in the driver for installation and configuration information.

DeviceMaster AIR Firmware

After programming the IP address into the DeviceMaster AIR, you are ready to verify that the DeviceMaster AIR contains the latest firmware. The DeviceMaster AIR has three types of firmware that runs on the system from the factory. The table provides links to the firmware that is commonly updated. There are no wireless firmware updates.

NameFilesDescription

All

Bootloaderv3.16 Copy Update Bootloader if a later version is available. You can use PortVision Plus to identify, configure, update, and manage the DeviceMaster AIR. In addition, it contains Test Terminal and Port Monitor

All

SocketServerv7.11 Copy Update SocketServer if a later version is available. Use PortVision Plus to load firmware.
[Note]
Note

Pepperl+Fuchs Comtrol, Inc. recommends verifying that the DeviceMaster AIR contains the latest SocketServer version before installing a device driver or configuring socket ports to avoid installation problems.

For procedures to check the firmware versions on the DeviceMaster AIR, see Checking the SocketServer Version and Checking the Bootloader Version.

Checking the SocketServer Version

Use this procedure to check the SocketServer version that resides on the DeviceMaster AIR.

  1. If necessary, start PortVision Plus and scan the network.

  2. Check the SocketServer version number of the Software Version for the DeviceMaster AIR.

  3. Check to see if a later version is available.

    If the version on the ftp site is later than the version on the DeviceMaster AIR, download the file and then go to Updating SocketServer

  4. If the SocketServer version on the DeviceMaster AIR is current, you are ready to install an NS-Link device driver for tty or COM ports, or you are ready to configure the sockets.

Updating SocketServer

Use this procedure to upload the latest version of SocketServer into the DeviceMaster AIR.

[Note]
Note

Technical support does not recommend updating firmware across a WAN. For best results, connect the DeviceMaster AIR directly to a PC or laptop to upload SocketServer.

  1. Make sure that you have located or downloaded the latest SocketServer version.

  2. If necessary, open PortVision Plus.

  3. Right-click the DeviceMaster AIR for which you want to update, click Upload Firmware, browse to the SocketServer .bin file, and then click Open.

  4. Click Yes to the Upload Firmware message that warns you that this is a sensitive process. It may take a few moments for SocketServer to upload onto the DeviceMaster AIR. The DeviceMaster AIR will reboot itself during the upload process.

  5. Click OK to the advisory message about waiting to use the DeviceMaster AIR until the status reads ON-LINE. In the next polling cycle, PortVision Plus updates the List View pane and displays the new SocketServer version.

Checking the Bootloader Version

Use this procedure to check the Bootloader version on the DeviceMaster AIR.

  1. If necessary, open PortVision Plus.

  2. Right-click the DeviceMaster AIR and click Reboot Device.

  3. Click Yes to the Confirm Reboot query.

  4. Right-click the DeviceMaster AIR, click Refresh Device as many times as necessary to catch the reboot cycle in the List View pane. The Bootloader version is briefly displayed during the reboot cycle before SocketServer loads.

  5. Check to see if a later version is available.

  6. If necessary, upload a new version of Bootloader.

Updating Bootloader

Typically, you should not update the Bootloader unless advised to do so by Pepperl+Fuchs Comtrol, Inc. Technical Support.

[Note]
Note

Technical Support does not recommend updating Bootloader across a WAN. For best results, connect the DeviceMaster AIR directly to a PC or laptop to upload Bootloader.

Make sure that power is not interrupted while uploading Bootloader. Power interruption while uploading Bootloader will require that the DeviceMaster AIR must be sent into Pepperl+Fuchs Comtrol, Inc. so that it can be re-flashed.

If you are not successful uploading SocketServer into the DeviceMaster AIR, do not upload Bootloader. If the NS-Link driver for Windows has been installed, make sure that the driver is disabled through the Device Manager before uploading Bootloader.

Use this procedure to upload the latest version of Bootloader into the DeviceMaster AIR.

  1. Make sure that you have located or downloaded the latest Bootloader version.

  2. If necessary, open PortVision Plus.

  3. Right-click the DeviceMaster AIR for which you want to update, click Upload Firmware, browse to the Bootloader .bin file, and then click Open.

  4. Click Yes to the Upload Firmware message that warns you that this is a sensitive process.

  5. Click OK to the second Upload Firmware message and then click Refresh until the Bootloader version displays in the List View pane, which should show the new version.


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