Configuring a MOXA Terminal Server for Serial Ports

[sbeadle1]

📖 Home  Back  
This article details configuring a MOXA Nport device to use in conjunction with modems for PSTN outstations.

Setup

MOXA Nport 5410 (4 serial ports, 1 x Ethernet port (configured at IP address 192.168.0.210))

Using the web interface or telnet command line, setup the MOXA with the following settings. Customize settings for IP, baud rate etc as required.

Server name : NP5410_11Time zone : (GMT)Greenwich Mean Time: Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, LondonLocal time : 2004/11/22 02:30:43Time server :Web console : EnableTelnet console : Enable-----------------------------------------------------------------------------IP address : 192.168.0.210Netmask : 255.255.255.0Gateway :IP configuration : StaticDNS server 1 :DNS server 2 :SNMP : EnableSNMP community name : publicSNMP contact :SNMP location :Auto IP report to IP :Auto IP report to TCP port : 4000Auto IP report period(seconds) : 10-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Port 1Baud rate : 9600Data bits : 8Stop bits : 1Parity : NoneFlow control : NoneFIFO : EnableInterface : RS-232-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Port 2Baud rate : 9600Data bits : 8Stop bits : 1Parity : NoneFlow control : NoneFIFO : EnableInterface : RS-232-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Port 3Baud rate : 9600Data bits : 8Stop bits : 1Parity : NoneFlow control : NoneFIFO : EnableInterface : RS-232-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Port 4Baud rate : 9600Data bits : 8Stop bits : 1Parity : NoneFlow control : NoneFIFO : EnableInterface : RS-232-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Port 1 TCP Server ModeTCP alive check time (0-99min) : 7Inactivity time : 0Delimiter 1 : (Disable) 0Delimiter 2 : (Disable) 0Force transmit : 200Max connection : 1Local TCP port : 4001Command port : 966-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Port 2 TCP Server ModeTCP alive check time (0-99min) : 7Inactivity time : 0Delimiter 1 : (Disable) 0Delimiter 2 : (Disable) 0Force transmit : 0Max connection : 4Local TCP port : 4002Command port : 967-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Port 3 TCP Server ModeTCP alive check time (0-99min) : 7Inactivity time : 0Delimiter 1 : (Disable) 0Delimiter 2 : (Disable) 0Force transmit : 0Max connection : 1Local TCP port : 4003Command port : 968-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Port 4 TCP Server ModeTCP alive check time (0-99min) : 7Inactivity time : 0Delimiter 1 : (Disable) 0Delimiter 2 : (Disable) 0Force transmit : 0Max connection : 1Local TCP port : 4004Command port : 969

Configuring ClearSCADA to use the terminal server comms ports via TCP.

Add 4 x PSTN channels, set for IP ports 4001 - 4004 as shown below.

PSTN Channel, Connection TabConnection Type: TCP/IPTCP/IP Type: TCPHost Address 192.168.0.210 (the MOXA IP address)Port: 4001

Operation

Upon initially placing the channels in service, ClearSCADA will continuously (once per 30 sec) send the modem initialization string 'ATV1E0H0S0=1' (default string shown) until a modem answers. A good response will signal the channel to be healthy.

No response will trigger an alarm with 'Communications State - Failed (I/O Failed)'

After successfully initializing a modem, the channel then checks the status of the modem every 2 minutes by sending the same initialization string. This means it could take up to 2 minutes to flag a failed channel.
If the modem doesn't respond after it has been initialized, a channel fail is alarmed with 'Communications State - Failed (Modem Failed)'.
If the serial cable or the Ethernet is broken the channel will signal a failure, and attempt to re-initialize the modem. It will try every 30 seconds to do this.

Using the MOXA in 'Real Comm' mode:
Using this model MOXA and ClearSCADA, where the manufacture supplied drivers are used to map the serial ports through to appear as windows serial ports and operate in a 'Real COM' mode.
The ports will operate as COM5 - COM8 for RTUConfig and Hyperterminal programs but will not work correctly in ClearSCADA. The following alarm results:
'Communications State - Failed (No write in progress)'
Refer to Comtrol Rocketport Error "No Write in Progress". The MOXA 5410 doesn't support the feature required to enable the COM ports to work in a 'real COM' mode.

Go: Home Back