User`s guide

Configuring and Testing the PCLTA-21 Card

Comm

The Comm button is not available if you are using the PCLTA21VNI image. If

you are using the PCLTA21VNI image, first select the PCLTA21NSI image,

click Apply, run the Comm test, then reselect the PCLTA21VNI image, and

click Apply.

The Comm feature is not designed to work across routers.

The Comm button verifies communications between the PCLTA-21 card and

another device on the network. When this function is chosen, a dialog will

appear asking for confirmation of this command, as follows:

This procedure will configure the Network Interface for a zero-

length domain if it is not already configured. Do you want to

proceed?

Choosing OK causes the control panel to first check the network interface for the

configured state. If it is already in the configured state, it will not be modified

further. If it is not in the configured state it will install the network interface

with a zero-length domain on index 0, a subnet of 1, and a node ID of 126, and

then change its state to configured.

Once the device is in the configured state, the control panel application enters

the receive-ready state and displays the following message while waiting for a

service pin message from another device on the network:

Now waiting for a service pin message.

Once the service pin is activated on the other device and a service pin message is

received, the control panel application sends a diagnostic message to the other

device using Neuron ID addressing. It will repeat this message, referred to as a

“ping,” once per second until either the OK or the Quit button is chosen (the Quit

button will appear in place of the Comm button).

This series of tests confirms that the PCLTA-21 card can be configured and can

communicate with a device on the network. The Comm function is intended to

eliminate the PCLTA-21 card, the card drivers, the network connection, the

hardware of the other device, and the topology configuration from the list of

possible problem points or points of failure during network troubleshooting. The

Comm function test does not eliminate the possibility that the wrong type of

media has been used. Be sure that the medium is suitable for use with the

selected channel type. The Comm function also does not eliminate the possibility

of a missing or improper network termination.

The network wiring may work for this test but may fail if multiple devices are

communicating. Be sure to verify that the proper termination is used when

troubleshooting communication problems.