How to put the IHC Controller on the network
Why.
The IHC Visual Controller have a RS232 port (serial) for connecting to the PC
to use when up- and downloading programmers and when monitoring the port status of the
controller.
So when the PC is not near the place where the IHC controller is as it was in my
case you can then use a serial port server. I have choose to use a serial port server there is smart device there
gives you a serial port on the network and then installing a small app on the PC
there is making a virtual serial port...
The serial port server
I choose to buy a Moxa Nport 5110 serial port server because of a number of
things, 1. I already like and know the
http://www.Moxa.com Brandt, 2. The price is ok low for my wallet, 3. it is
good quality and work well., 4. Good virtual serial port software..
It is a very cool device there is having many ways to Config it and it can be via telnet, windows app
or a build-in web server so it is easy to Config it and it can be monitor via
SNMP or sending alerts via SMTP when there is some thing changed. You can read all the details about
it here http://www.moxa.com/product/NPort_5110.htm
How is it connected to the IHC
Here you can see how the Moxa is connected to the IHC Controller and yes it
is still a test setup there is lying on my computer table until I am ready to
mount it on the wall and connect it to the installation, i need to play some
time first.
Here is a better view of how all the things are connect in my setup
Config Moxa device and installing the software
1. Just install the Moxa software and then start the Moxa administration app from the
start menu.
2. Click search and it automatic find the device.
3. Double click on the device in the list and it will open the Configuration of
the device.
4. Click on the network tap and setup the right IP number and sub mask for the
device to have in your network
5. Click on the Operating Mode tab
6. Select the Modify
7. Double click on the port 1 and set it to use Real COM Mode
8. Click OK to close all the windows and save the settings to the device
Now the device is Config and ready...so the next task is to Config a virtual COM
port on the PC there is using the device.
9. Select the Com Mapping in the Moxa administration app
10. Click Add in the menu bar
11. Select the Nport device and click OK
12. Double click on the item on the list and change the COM port to what you
like, I use COM 3.
13. Select the Advanced settings tab and change the mode to Classical with FIFO
Disable
14. Click OK to close the windows
15. Click Apply in the menu bar to save the settings and enable the virtual port
16. Exit the Moxa administration app
The IHC Config apps
For this sample I will use the IHC service app because it is very simple in
design, but it is basically the same for each IHC app.
1. Start the IHC Service application from the Start menu
2. When the IHC Service starts and it not can connect to the IHC it will automatic open
the Instillinger window and let you set what COM port to use and I use COM 3 for my
virtual COM port
3. Click OK to close the settings window.
Now the IHC Service is showing the input and output status on the IHC and it is
via the virtual com port in windows there is connect to the serial port server
via the Ethernet network, so now I do not need to move the pc to where the IHC
is placed every time I need to Config the IHC or let my VB.net application
communicate with the IHC Controller.
Forum thread about this article
http://www.tooms.dk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=49
Forum for IHC
http://www.tooms.dk/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=21
2005-09-27 / Thomas