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Black Box SW542A Manual

Black Box SW542A Manual

Serial console port manager
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© Copyright 2000. Black Box Corporation. All rights reserved.
1000 Park Drive
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Lawrence, PA 15055-1018
•
724-746-5500
•
Fax 724-746-0746

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  • Page 1 © Copyright 2000. Black Box Corporation. All rights reserved. 1000 Park Drive • Lawrence, PA 15055-1018 • 724-746-5500 • Fax 724-746-0746...
  • Page 2 Order toll-free in the U.S.: Call 877-877-BBOX (outside U.S. call 724-746-5500) SUPPORT FREE technical support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Call 724-746-5500 or fax 724-746-0746 INFORMATION Mailing address: Black Box Corporation, 1000 Park Drive, Lawrence, PA 15055-1018 Web site: www.blackbox.com • E-mail: info@blackbox.com...
  • Page 3 Industrie Canada. TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL BLACK BOX and the logo are registered trademarks of Black Box Corporation. Any other trademarks mentioned in this manual are acknowledged to be the property of the trademark owners.
  • Page 4 SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER NORMAS OFICIALES MEXICANAS (NOM) ELECTRICAL SAFETY STATEMENT INSTRUCCIONES DE SEGURIDAD 1. Todas las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser leídas antes de que el aparato eléctrico sea operado. 2. Las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser guardadas para referencia futura.
  • Page 5 NOM STATEMENT 12. Precaución debe ser tomada de tal manera que la tierra fisica y la polarización del equipo no sea eliminada. 13. Los cables de la fuente de poder deben ser guiados de tal manera que no sean pisados ni pellizcados por objetos colocados sobre o contra ellos, poniendo particular atención a los contactos y receptáculos donde salen del aparato.

  • Page 6: Table Of Contents

    SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER Contents Chapter Page 1. Specifications ......................6 2. Introduction ......................7 Features ......................7 Physical Description ..................9 2.2.1 Front Panel ..................9 2.2.2 Rear Panel ..................10 3. Getting Started ......................11 Communication Parameters..............11 Applying Power to the Port Manager............11 System-Setup Ports..................12 Connecting Your PC to the Serial Console Port Manager ......12 Communicating with the Serial Console Port Manager......13 4.

  • Page 7: Chapter Page

    Sending Parameters to a File ..............47 Restoring Saved Parameters ..............48 9. Command Reference Guide ................49 Command Conventions ................49 Command Response ..................50 Command Summary ..................51 Command Set ....................52 10. Troubleshooting....................58 10.1 Calling Black Box ..................58 10.2 Shipping and Packaging ................58 Appendix: RS-232 Port Interface ................59...

  • Page 8: Specifications

    (24) [SW542A] or (48) [SW543A] Front-mounted LEDs: (1) Power On, (1) Ready, and (1) Data Activity for each RS-232 port Connectors — (8) [SW542A] or (16) [SW543A] Rear-mounted DB9 male Temperature Tolerance — 32 to 113°F (0 to 45°C) Humidity 10 to 90% noncondensing Tolerance —...

  • Page 9: Introduction

    The Serial Console Port Manager allows reliable, high-speed connections between PCs, modems, and other devices using dissimilar baud rates, parity, and handshaking. It comes in 8-port (product code SW542A) and 16-port (SW543A) versions. The Port Manager supports communication at speeds up to 115.2 kbps and features full RTS/CTS hardware handshaking.
  • Page 10 SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER OLATILE EMORY If AC power to the unit is lost or interrupted, the Port Manager’s non-volatile memory will retain user-defined parameters and port connections. OLLECTING ATA FROM ULTIPLE OURCES A Buffer Mode allows the Port Manager to collect data from up to six or fourteen different devices (all devices except those on Ports 1 and 2) and store that data for later retrieval.

  • Page 11: Physical Description

    Setup Switches. ➃ RDY: Flashes to indicate that the Port Manager is operational. ➄ ACTIVITY LEDs (numbered 1 though 8 [SW542A] or 1 through 16 [SW543A]): Lit when corresponding port is receiving data.

  • Page 12: Rear Panel

    SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER 2.2.2 R ANEL Figure 2-2. The 8-port Port Manager’s rear panel. Figure 2-3. The 16-port Port Manager’s rear panel. ➀ RS-232 Ports: Standard DB9 connectors configured as DTE ports for connection to switched devices. The RS-232 ports are similar to standard serial ports on a PC.

  • Page 13: Getting Started

    CHAPTER 3: Getting Started 3. Getting Started 3.1 Communication Parameters The Setup Switches, located on the back of the 8-port Serial Console Port Manager or the underside of the 16-port Port Manager, select default settings for the RS-232 ports. Setup Switch functions are summarized in Section 4.1 (and on a label next to the switches).

  • Page 14: System-Setup Ports

    SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER 3.3 System-Setup Ports In order to ensure access to important command functions, Ports 1 and 2 are designated as System-Setup Ports. System-Setup Ports always have access to all Serial Console Port Manager commands. Although any Serial Console Port Manager port can be granted access to all commands, Ports 1 and 2 are the only ports that always have access to all command functions, even when the Port Manager has been reset to the default state.

  • Page 15: Communicating With The Serial Console Port Manager

    CHAPTER 3: Getting Started 3.5 Communicating with the Serial Console Port Manager Perform the following procedure to enter Command Mode, explore the basic features, and check for proper operation. 1. Start your communications program (for example, ProComm) and make sure it’s set to 9600 bps, 8 data bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit.
  • Page 16 SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER PORT STATUS: Version 2.0, Site ID: (undefined) PORT | NAME PASSWORD | STATUS | MODE | BUFFER COUNT -----+------------------+------------------+--------+------+-------------- | (undefined) | (undefined) Free | Any | (undefined) | (undefined) Free | Any | (undefined) | (undefined) Free | Any | (undefined)
  • Page 17 CHAPTER 3: Getting Started iii. Issue a Third-Party Disconnect command to disconnect Ports 2 and 3; type /D 2 and press [Enter]. The Port Manager will display the “Are you Sure (y/n)?” prompt. Type y and press [Enter] to disconnect. iv.

  • Page 18: Hardware Installation

    SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER 4. Hardware Installation 4.1 Configure Setup Switches The Serial Console Port Manager has a bank of eight DIP switches that you’ll use to set the Port Manager’s default baud rate, handshake, message type, and duplex mode. These Setup Switches are on the rear panel of 8-port units; they’re on the bottom of 16-port units.

  • Page 19: Default Baud Rate (Sw1, Sw2, And Sw3)

    CHAPTER 4: Hardware Installation 4.1.1 D 1, S EFAULT Setup Switches 1 through 3 select the default baud rate for all ports. The default baud rate must match the rate your control device will use when communicating with the Serial Console Port Manager. If the control device will communicate using a modem, select a default baud rate that is compatible with the modem.

  • Page 20: Default Response-Message Format (Sw6)

    SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER 4.1.3 D EFAULT ESPONSE ESSAGE ORMAT When commands are invoked, the Serial Console Port Manager can respond with either verbose (English-text) or terse (numeric/abbreviated) messages. Response messages are summarized in Section 9.2. After installation, the /P command can also set the response format to “none”...

  • Page 21: Initialize Unit To Default Settings

    CHAPTER 4: Hardware Installation 4.2 Initialize Unit to Default Settings If Setup Switches are changed, the new parameters will not take effect until the Serial Console Port Manager is initialized. CAUTION After initialization, the Serial Console Port Manager will revert to the parameters specified by the Setup Switches.

  • Page 22: Application Example

    SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER Switch Figure 4-1. Application example for a 16-port unit. 4.4 Application Example The example in Figure 4-1 shows one of many possible installation configurations for the Serial Console Port Manager. In this example, ports have been configured as follows: •...
  • Page 23 CHAPTER 4: Hardware Installation • Ports 5, 7, and 9 (User Ports): The Port Password “COLOCATION1” has been assigned to these three ports. If the Port Manager is contacted through the Modem Port, and this password is entered at login, users will only be able to review status of permitted ports and connect to the devices attached to Ports 5, 7, and 9.

  • Page 24: Configuration

    SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER 5. Configuration 5.1 Access to the Serial Console Port Manager’s Command Mode When Command Mode is active, you can invoke commands to select parameters and connect or disconnect ports. NOTE Command Mode cannot be accessed from a Buffer Mode Port, Passive Mode Port, or any port that is currently connected to another Serial Console Port Manager port.

  • Page 25: System-Setup Ports

    CHAPTER 5: Configuration 5.2 System-Setup Ports As discussed previously in Chapter 3, the Serial Console Port Manager’s Ports 1 and 2 are designated as System-Setup Ports. Ports 1 and 2 will always allow password-protected access to all command functions, even when the Port Manager is reset to default parameters.

  • Page 26: The Port Passwords

    SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER NOTES (continued) When the Supervisor Password is defined, the Port Manager will display a password prompt when you attempt to access the Command Mode. Any RS-232 port that has not been assigned a Port Password can then only be accessed using the Supervisor Password.

  • Page 27: Defining The Site Id And Supervisor Password

    CHAPTER 5: Configuration 5.4. Defining the Site ID and Supervisor Password Before configuring individual ports, the Site ID and Supervisor Password should be defined. The Site ID indicates the location or name of the Serial Console Port Manager; the Supervisor Password restricts access to sensitive command functions. The Site ID and Supervisor Password are defined using the System Parameters menu (/F).

  • Page 28: Port Configuration

    SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER 5.5 Port Configuration 5.5.1 C ONFIGURATION ONVENTIONS When responding to prompts, invoking commands, and selecting items from the port configuration menus, note the following: • To select an item from a Port Configuration menu, key in the number for the item and press [Enter].

  • Page 29: Port Modes

    CHAPTER 5: Configuration 5.5.2 P ODES The Serial Console Port Manager offers four different port operation modes: Any- to-Any Mode, Passive Mode, Buffer Mode, and Modem Mode. • Any-to-Any Mode: Allows communication between connected ports. Any-to- Any Mode Ports can be connected to other Any-to-Any, Passive, Buffer, or Modem Mode Ports by accessing Command Mode and invoking the /C command (see Section 7.1.1).

  • Page 30: Port Configuration Menus

    SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER 5.5.3 P ONFIGURATION ENUS The Port Configuration menus are used to select options for each port. Parameters selected using these menus will stay in effect until the Serial Console Port Manager is initialized or the /P command is used to reconfigure the port. After initialization, parameters will revert to the defaults specified by the Setup Switches.
  • Page 31 CHAPTER 5: Configuration The Port Configuration menu offers the following options: 1. Port Name (up to 16 characters, undefined by default): Assigns a name to the port. 2. Password (up to 16 characters, undefined by default): Defines the Port Password for this port. Note that identical Port Passwords are generally assigned to several ports.
  • Page 32 SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER When Modem Mode is selected, the menu will include additional prompts (see Figure 5-2) that are used to define these modem strings: 71. Reset String: When necessary, this prompt can be used to redefine the reset string that will be sent to the attached modem. The Reset String is sent prior to the Initialization String in order to provide a common initial setting for modem parameters.
  • Page 33 CHAPTER 5: Configuration 8. Supervisor Mode: Permits or denies access to Supervisor Mode. When Supervisor Mode is enabled (“Permit,” the default value), and the valid Supervisor Password is entered, the port will allow access to Supervisor-Level commands. When Supervisor Mode is disabled (“Deny”), the port may not enter Supervisor Mode, even when the Supervisor Password is entered.
  • Page 34 SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER 11. Timeout Disconnect: Enables and selects the Timeout Period for this port. If Timeout Disconnect is enabled, the port will disconnect if it does not receive or transmit data for the specified Timeout Period. In Any-to-Any Mode, Passive Mode, or Buffer Mode, the default setting for this item is “OFF.”...

  • Page 35: Copying Parameters To All Ports

    CHAPTER 5: Configuration 5.6 Copying Parameters to All Ports The /CP (Copy Port Parameters) command provides a convenient means for selecting identical (or similar) parameters for all of the Serial Console Port Manager’s RS-232 ports. When the /CP command is invoked, the Port Manager will display the menu shown in Figure 5-3.

  • Page 36: Saving User-Selected Parameters

    SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER To select common parameters for all of the Port Manager’s RS-232 ports, proceed as follows: 1. Access the Port Manager’s Command Mode. If the password prompt is displayed, key in your Supervisor Password. 2. At the command prompt, type /CP and press [Enter]. The Copy Port Parameters menu will be displayed.

  • Page 37: The Status Screens

    CHAPTER 6: The Status Screens 6. The Status Screens The Serial Console Port Manager’s Status screens display the connection status and communication parameters for its RS-232 ports. There are three different types of status screens: The Port Status screen (/S), the Port Diagnostics screen (/SD), and the Port Parameters screens (/W).

  • Page 38: The Port Diagnostics Screen (/Sd)

    SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER The Port Status screen lists the following items for each port: • Port: The port’s number. • Name: The port’s user-defined name. • Password: The port’s user-defined password. Actual passwords are not displayed; this column will read either “undefined” or “defined”. To display Port Passwords, type /SP [Enter] (Supervisor Mode only).
  • Page 39 CHAPTER 6: The Status Screens In User Mode, the Port Diagnostics screen will display only the status of those ports that share the same Port Password that was entered at login. Ports that are protected by other passwords will not be displayed. The Port Diagnostics screen lists the following items for each port: •...

  • Page 40: The Port Parameters Screens (/W)

    SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER 6.3 The Port Parameters Screens (/W) The /W command displays even more detailed information about an individual Serial Console Port Manager port. Rather than listing connection information for all ports like the Port Status screens, the Port Parameters screen lists all defined parameters for a specific port, as shown in Figure 6-3.

  • Page 41: Operation

    CHAPTER 7: Operation 7. Operation 7.1 Any-to-Any Mode Any-to-Any Mode Ports can be connected to other Any-to-Any Mode, Passive Mode, Buffer Mode, or Modem Mode Ports by accessing Command Mode and issuing the Connect Command (/C). All ports can be configured for the Any-to-Any Mode. 7.1.1 P ONNECTION AND ISCONNECTION...
  • Page 42 SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER To connect ports: 1. Access the Command Mode. If the Password Prompt is displayed, enter your Supervisor or Port Password. 2. Invoke the /C command to connect the desired ports. a) Resident Connect: To connect your resident port to another port, type /C xx and press [Enter], where “xx”...
  • Page 43 CHAPTER 7: Operation 7.1.1.2 Disconnecting Ports There are three different methods for disconnecting ports: the Resident Disconnect, the Third-Party Disconnect, and the No Activity Timeout. If the Timeout feature has been enabled, a No Activity Timeout will disconnect resident ports or third-party ports. NOTE Option 74 in the Port Parameters menu determines how the DTR signal will react when the port disconnects.
  • Page 44 SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER 2. Third-Party Disconnect (Supervisor Mode only): The /D command is issued from your resident port to disconnect two third-party ports. For example, if your Resident Port is Port 1, a Third-Party Disconnect would be used to disconnect Port 3 from Port 4.

  • Page 45: Defining Hunt Groups

    CHAPTER 7: Operation 7.1.2 D EFINING ROUPS A Hunt Group is a group of ports that the Serial Console Port Manager will scan and connect to the first available port in the group. Hunt Groups are created by assigning identical or similar names to two or more ports. Hunt Groups can be defined using Any-to-Any Mode, Passive Mode, Buffer Mode, or Modem Mode Ports.

  • Page 46: Passive Mode

    SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER Hunt Group Example 2: 1. Ports 3, 4, and 5 are Any-to-Any Mode ports and servers are attached to each port. All three ports are named “SERVER”. 2. Your resident port is Port 1, you are in Supervisor Mode, and you want to connect Port 2 to the first available printer.

  • Page 47: Reading Data From Buffer Mode Ports

    CHAPTER 7: Operation 7.3.1 R EADING ATA FROM UFFER ORTS To retrieve data from Buffer Mode Ports, you must first determine which port buffers contain data. To check port buffers for stored data, access the Command Mode, type /S, and press [Enter] to display the Port Status screen. The Port Status screen’s “Buffer Count”...

  • Page 48: Modem Mode

    SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER 7.4 Modem Mode In addition to allowing data transfer, the Modem Mode also provides additional functions specifically related to modem communication. A Modem Mode Port can perform all functions normally available in Any-to-Any Mode. Any Serial Console Port Manager port can be configured as a Modem Mode Port.

  • Page 49: Saving And Restoring Configuration Parameters

    CHAPTER 8: Saving and Restoring Configuration Parameters 8. Saving and Restoring Configuration Parameters After the Serial Console Port Manager is configured to fit the requirements of your application, parameters can be downloaded and saved as an ASCII text file. Later, if the configuration is accidentally altered, the file with the saved parameters can be uploaded to automatically reconfigure the Port Manager without the need to manually assign each parameter.

  • Page 50: Restoring Saved Parameters

    SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER 8.2 Restoring Saved Parameters This section describes the procedure for uploading stored parameters to the Serial Console Port Manager. 1. Start your terminal-emulation program and access the Port Manager’s Command Mode; if the password prompt is displayed, enter the Supervisor Password.

  • Page 51: Command Reference Guide

    CHAPTER 9: Command Reference Guide 9. Command Reference Guide 9.1 Command Conventions The commands described in this section conform to the following conventions: • Slash Character: Most Serial Console Port Manager commands begin with the slash character (/). • Apply Command to All Ports: When the asterisk character is entered as the argument of the /D (Disconnect Port) or /E (Erase Buffer) commands, the command will be applied to all ports.

  • Page 52: Command Response

    SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER 9.2 Command Response When commands are sent to the Serial Console Port Manager, the Port Manager can respond with either verbose (English-text) or terse (numeric/abbreviated) messages. The default message type for all ports can be set to either terse or verbose using Setup Switch Sw6 (see Section 4.1.3).

  • Page 53: Command Summary

    CHAPTER 9: Command Reference Guide 9.3 Command Summary The chart below summarizes all the commands available with the Serial Console Port Manager. Command Availability Function Command Syntax Supervisor User √ √ Enter Command Mode [Enter] √ √ Exit Command Mode /X [Enter] √...

  • Page 54: Command Set

    SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER 9.4 Command Set ] — E NTER NTER OMMAND In order to set parameters or connect ports, you must first access the Command Mode as described in Section 5.1. When the Command Mode is inactive (port asleep), the port will only respond when the [Enter] key is pressed without any characters preceding it.
  • Page 55 CHAPTER 9: Command Reference Guide /C — C ONNECT Establishes a bidirectional connection between two ports. For more information and command line examples, please refer to Section 7.1. There are two different types of port connections: • Resident Connect: If the /C command specifies one port name or number, your resident port will be connected to the specified port.
  • Page 56 SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER /D — T HIRD ARTY ISCONNECT Invoke the /D command at your resident port to disconnect two other ports. The /D command cannot be used to disconnect your resident port. To disconnect your resident port, issue the Resident Disconnect Sequence or wait for the Timeout Period to elapse (if one is enabled).
  • Page 57 CHAPTER 9: Command Reference Guide /F — S YSTEM ARAMETERS Displays a menu which is used to define the Site ID message and Supervisor Password. When the Supervisor Password is defined, the Serial Console Port Manager will display a password prompt before allowing access to Command Mode.
  • Page 58 SERIAL CONSOLE PORT MANAGER /J — D ISPLAY Displays the user-defined Site ID message. Availability: Supervisor/User. Format: /J [Enter] Response: Displays Site ID Message. /P — S ARAMETERS Displays a menu which allows you to select options and parameters for the selected port.
  • Page 59 CHAPTER 9: Command Reference Guide /U — S ARAMETERS Sends the Serial Console Port Manager’s configuration parameters to an ASCII text file as described in Chapter 8. Availability: Supervisor only. Format: /U [Enter] Response: Displays Save Parameter File menu; when you finish configuring your terminal-emulation program and press [Enter], sends a series of command lines to the specified file.

  • Page 60: Troubleshooting

    If you need to transport or ship your Serial Console Port Manager: • Package it carefully. We recommend that you use the original container. • Before you ship the unit back to Black Box for repair or return, contact us to get a Return Authorization (RA) number.

  • Page 61: Appendix: Rs-232 Port Interface

    APPENDIX: RS-232 Port Interface Appendix: RS-232 Port Interface RS-232 DCD and DTR hardware lines function as follows: 1. When connected: a) If either port is set for Modem Mode, the DTR output at either port reflects the DCD input at the other end. b) If neither port is set for Modem Mode, DTR output is held high (active).
  • Page 62 NOTES...
  • Page 63 NOTES...
  • Page 64 NOTES...

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