RFL Electronics Inc. INSTRUCTION DATA RFL NCM Network Communications Module DESCRIPTION The Network Communications Module (NCM) is an Asynchronous Data Module designed for use in RFL IMUX 2000 T1 and E1 multiplexers. It provides one DCE Half/Full-Duplex channel between an unlimited number of locations using a single 64 kbps DS0 time slot.
SPECIFICATIONS As of the date this Instruction Data Sheet was published, the following specifications apply to the RFL NCM Module. Because all of RFL products undergo constant improvement and refinement, these specifications are subject to change without notice. Live Insertion/Extraction: The NCM Module is capable of live insertion and extraction into the IMUX 2000 shelf without interruption to the DS1 or any other DS0.
INSTALLATION Before the RFL NCM module can be placed in service, it must be installed in a multiplexer shelf. Installation involves determining the module slot in the Main Shelf or Expansion Shelf where the module will be installed, inserting a Module Adapter into the rear of the shelf behind the module slot, connecting all signal and power wiring to the Module Adapter, checking the settings of all switches, and inserting the module into the front of the shelf.
The MA-402I module adapter is shown in Figure 1. This module is a two-port RS232 I/O which has two 9-pin D-subminiature (DC-9) connectors on its rear panel. Each of these 9-pin connectors is wired in a standard RS-232 configuration as shown in the table at the bottom of the figure. Each connector is labeled to show the corresponding port on the NCM module. The MA-485 module adapter shown in Figure 2 supports both 2-wire and 4-wire RS-485 applications.
MA402I 1 6 9 5 CH1 1 6 9 5 CH2 Pin No. Function 1 Receive Line Signal Detect* 2 Receive Data 3 Transmit Data 4 Not used 5 Signal Ground 6 Not used 7 Data Set Ready* 8 Clear To Send* 9 Not used * These signals always active Figure 1. MA-402I Module adapter, connector pinouts RFL NCM November 6, 2007 5 RFL Electronics Inc.
MA485 TB1 TERMINATION 4W IDLE OUT MARK 1 2 3 4 5 6 OUT J4 IN J2 OUT HI-Z J3 4W J1 IN 2W Jumper J1 J2 Function Selects 2W or 4W operation TB1 Pin No. TDB (+) In 4W operation, selects MARK or HI-Z as follows: 2 TDA (-) In “MARK” position, forces the transmission of “All Marks” when data is not being transmitted. 3 GND In “HI-Z” position, forces the output to a “high impedance” when data is not being transmitted.
LINK LED (Ethernet Link is connected when LED is illuminated) MA490 MA-490 LINK ACT 1 NET ACT LED (Ethernet Data is active when LED is illuminated) 8 1 6 CRAFT 9 5 J3 NCM NCM J1 NCM NCM J2 NCM NCM 1 6 DATA 9 5 Jumper J1, J2 & J3 Function Selects NCM Module Mode or Stand Alone Mode as follows: When MA-490 is used with an NCM module, all 3 jumpers must be in the NCM position. When MA-490 is not used with an NCM module, all 3 jumpers must be in the NCM position.
9. Select an unused time slot for the NCM using DIP switches SW2-1 through SW2-5. The NCM uses one 64 Kbps digital time slot within the multiplexer’s aggregate rate. Set the time slot using direct binary coding as shown in Table 4. Refer to the multiplexer manual for guidelines on time slot selection. Note that selecting an invalid time slot will disable the module. In T1 systems, only time slots 1 through 24 are allowed.
1 2 3 5 7 9 11 32 38 43 40 41 42 24 37 25 26 27 36 34 4 6 8 10 12 15 23 16 17 18 13 39 14 19 20 21 22 29 31 30 33 28 35 Figure 4. Controls and indicators, RFL NCM, Network Communications Module 1 3 5 7 9 11 15 23 16 4 6 8 10 12 18 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 0 0 0 5 9 8 7 6 2 17 5 9 8 7 6 5 9 8 7 6 13 Figure 5. Front Panel View of RFL NCM, Network Communications Module RFL NCM November 6, 2007 9 RFL Electronics Inc.
14. Set DIP switches SW6-7 and SW6-8 to set the word length (number of bits per character) in accordance with Table 1. If the system application mode is NMS, the word length must be set to the same word length as the local common module. Otherwise, any word length can be used. NOTE In any Application Mode, the Baud Rate, Parity and Word Length settings of the NCM must match at all nodes in the network.
15. (continued). If some of the nodes in a T1/E1 network have an NCM, and others do not as shown in Figure 7, the address Pass Setting will be set differently at some of the nodes. In Figure 7, nodes 1, 2 and 3 have NCM modules, and nodes 4 and 5 do not have NCM modules.
Table 1.
Table 1.
Table 1. - continued, Controls and indicators, RFL NCM Module Item 20 Name/Description DIP Switch, SW7 Function SW7-1 to SW7-2 Selects CM address pass setting in NMS application mode only in accordance with the table below. In all other application modes, these switch settings are ignored. SW7-1 (ADR1) SW7-2 (ADR0) Pass Setting Down Down Will pass any messages regardless of the “Local CM Address” setting of the NCM. Messages without address headers are also passed.
Table 1.
Table 2. Application Modes And Bus Settings NMS Application Mode (SW7-4, SW7-5 & SW7-6) Broadcast NMS Master D&I Slave D&I End Transmit on A Receive on B (SW2-6) Transmit on B Receive on A (SW2-7) Application enabled disabled The NCM mode will be Terminal broadcast or DI-A broadcast disabled enabled The NCM mode will be DI-B broadcast enabled enabled The NCM mode will be D&I broadcast disabled disabled (Not a valid setting.
Table 3.
Table 4.
16. 17. If you plan to operate the NCM module under local control, perform the following steps; otherwise, go to step 17 for remote control. Local control is recommended for NMS application mode. a. Set to local control by placing DIP switch SW10-3 in the UP position. b. Turn service on by placing DIP switch SW10-4 in the UP position. c. Slide the module into the selected module slot until it is firmly seated and the module front panel is flush with the top and bottom of the shelf. d.
FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION Figure 8 is a block diagram of the RFL NMS module. It is provided to familiarize the user with the NMS signal flow and interfacing. The figure shows signal flow in the transmit and receive modes of operation. IN1 49.152 mHz OSCILLATOR (U11) 3.3 V OUT1 Actel FPGA (U2) IN2 OUT2 RXB TXA SW1 to SW10 RXA FRONT PANEL LEDs TXB EQLB T1 & E1 BACKPLANE & CONTROL SIGNALS PALB ADRA CROSS POINT LATTICE (U6) ADRB SERVICE 3.3V 3.3 V TP1 +5Vdc 2.5V TP3 REGULATOR (U3) 2.
SYSTEM OVERVIEW The Network Communications Module (NCM) is an Asynchronous Data Module designed for RFL IMUX 2000 T1 and E1 Multiplexers. The NCM provides one DCE Half/Full-Duplex channel between an unlimited number of locations using a single 64 kbps DS0 time slot. The NCM provides an NMS communication path between nodes of a T1 or E1 network, and can also be used for party-line applications such as DNP and Modbus networking.
NCM BACKPLANE AND POWER CONNECTIONS The NCM occupies a single slot in the multiplexer chassis and conforms to the RFL IMUX 2000 back plane signal format. All T1 and E1 signals, and control signals passing through the back plane, interface with the cross point Lattice device (U6). All inputs and outputs of the Lattice Device are pulled up to 3.3V through approximately 50K Ohms. The NCM requires digital +5Vdc and digital ground connections to the back plane. TP2 and TP12 are the ground test points.
1. SCB MODULE The SCB circuit is used to generate the read, write, and address data necessary to transfer control and status data to and from the SCB bus. The SCB address is configured externally via SW1 and is selectable between 1 and 36. The SCB circuit also communicates to the Common Module the following information: Card Type (117), number of configuration bytes, and number of status bytes.
In the Broadcast Mode of operation, all nodes receive the same data regardless of who is transmitting. The broadcasting applies to both ports of a two-port I/O. The Master Mode of operation designates a particular NCM at a node, as the master. If the NCM is set up for TERM/DI-A or DI-B operation, and the I/O has only one port, the actual functionality is the same as the broadcast mode.
UART TRANSMIT SECTION The UART transmitters are programmed for the appropriate baud, number of data bits, and whether or not parity is to be enabled for the output data to be transmitted. This circuit reacts to a “Data Ready” flag, and latches the data into its 16-byte FIFO. The data is then loaded into the transmitter shift register, and is then shifted out. The parity is transmitted as received from the T1 receiver, and is not checked or regenerated. The end equipment is responsible for parity checking.
6. T1 RECEIVE MODULE The T1 receive module clocks in the receive data at the proper time slot on the negative edge of the T1 clock, and latches it one clock following the time slot. The data is decoded as being either data or idle/address frame, and as being low or high frame. In NMS mode, the NCM will block all data until low and high address frames are received in consecutive T1 frames, decoded, and then determined to be a valid BCD address.
TESTING After the NCM module has been configured and installed, it should be tested for proper operation before it is put into service. At present, the only test necessary to verify NCM performance is the loop test in NMS mode. This test is performed when the module is installed to verify operational performance in terminal, DI-A, or DI-B configurations. TEST EQUIPMENT REQUIRED 1. PC with version 10.3 or greater of NMS. 2. IMUX 2000 Multiplexer. 3. Patch cord terminated in bantam jacks (2 required).
PC CH1 TRANSMIT DS1 EQUIP OUT CH2 NCM MODULE RECEIVE DS1 EQUIP IN LOOP TEST CABLE MA-402I MODULE ADAPTER COMMON MODULE IMUX 2000 TERMINAL MULTIPLEXER RS232 Figure 9. Simplified block diagram, loop test for RFL NCM module in NMS mode, installed in a terminal multiplexer. 9. Go to “Setup” on the toolbar in NMS, and select “Communication Preferences”. Check the “Change Advanced Settings” box, and enter the NCM/CM address into the “Assume Communication Works/Comm to node #”. Click “OK”. 10.
LOOP TEST PROCEDURE FOR RFL NCM MODULES IN NMS MODE INSTALLED IN DI-A CONFIGURED MULTIPLEXERS The following procedure is used to test RFL NCM modules installed in IMUX 2000, DI-A configured multiplexers. To test NCM modules installed in IMUX 2000 terminal multiplexers, use the procedure on page 27 of this instruction data sheet. Before performing this procedure, make sure the system is on-line and out-of-service. 1.
PC CH1 DS1-B EQUIP OUT CH2 CM DI-B MA-402I MODULE ADAPTER DS1-B EQUIP IN NCM MODULE DS1-A EQUIP OUT LOOP TEST CABLE CM DI-A DS1-A EQUIP IN IMUX 2000 DROP/INSERT MULTIPLEXER RS232 Figure 10. Simplified block diagram, loop test for RFL NCM module in NMS mode, installed in a DI-A configured multiplexer. 9. Go to “Setup” on the toolbar in NMS, and select “Communication Preferences”.
LOOP TEST PROCEDURE FOR RFL NCM MODULES IN NMS MODE INSTALLED IN DI-B CONFIGURED MULTIPLEXERS The following procedure is used to test RFL NCM modules installed in IMUX 2000, DI-B configured multiplexers. To test NCM modules installed in IMUX 2000 terminal multiplexers, use the procedure on page 27 of this instruction data sheet. Before performing this procedure, make sure the system is on-line and out-of-service. 1.
PC CH1 DS1-B EQUIP OUT CH2 CM DI-B MA-402I MODULE ADAPTER LOOP TEST CABLE DS1-B EQUIP IN NCM MODULE DS1-A EQUIP OUT CM DI-A DS1-A EQUIP IN IMUX 2000 DROP/INSERT MULTIPLEXER RS232 Figure 11. Simplified block diagram, loop test for RFL NCM module in NMS mode, installed in a DI-B configured multiplexer. 9. Go to “Setup” on the toolbar in NMS, and select “Communication Preferences”.
REMOTE CONTROL USING NMS There are two ways to program the NCM module, locally using DIP switches, or Remotely using NMS (Network Management Software). If your NCM module is to be used in NMS application mode, it is highly recommended to set-up the NCM module using the DIP switches only, since the NCM card in the NMS application mode is the vehicle for NMS communication. Refer to the IMUX 2000 or IMUX 2000E Instruction Manuals for information on using NMS. Go to the NCM module using NMS.
1. Module Enable The Module Enable box can be checked or unchecked. For the NCM module to be In Service, check the Module Enable box. For the NCM module to be Out Of Service, uncheck the Module Enable box. 2. Time Slot The Time Slot can be set from 1-24 for T1 networks and from 1-31 for E1 networks. Click on the up or down arrows to make the selection. 3. Mode There are three basic types of network modes: 1. Broadcast mode 2. NMS mode 3. A combination of Master, D&I Slave and End Slave modes.
Node 1 Node 2 Node 3 IMUX 2000 IMUX 2000 IMUX 2000 NCM in Broadcast mode NCM in Broadcast mode NCM in Broadcast mode MA-485 MA-485 MA-485 Figure 13a. Typical 3-node network using MA-485s (1 RS-485 port) Node 1 Node 2 Node 3 IMUX 2000 IMUX 2000 IMUX 2000 NCM in NMS mode NCM in NMS mode NCM in NMS mode MA-490 MA-490 MA-490 Figure 13b.
5. Bus A & Bus B Bus A can be enabled or disabled, and Bus B can be enabled or disabled. Enabling or disabling Bus A and Bus B is mode dependent in accordance with the table below. Mode Bus A Bus B Application Broadcast enabled disabled The NCM mode will be Terminal broadcast or DI-A broadcast disabled enabled The NCM mode will be DI-B broadcast enabled enabled The NCM mode will be D&I broadcast disabled disabled (Not a valid setting.
The Address window has two major selections, CM Address Passing and Local CM Address. Both of these settings apply to NMS mode only. Set the local CM address first. Figure 14. NCM Address Configurations and Status window for Node 1 Local CM Address The “Local CM Address” for the NCM module must be set to the same address as the local Common Module (CM3B, CM3C, CM3R, CM6B, or CM4).
CM Address Passing The CM Address Pass setting controls the range of addressed messages that are allowed to pass from the NCM to the local common module in accordance with the table below. There are four CM Address Passing settings as follows, Any, = =, > =, and < = . CM Address Pass 1 Any 2 == 3 >= 4 <= Description Will pass any messages regardless of the “Local CM Address” setting of the NCM. Messages without address headers are also passed.
The Serial Port window shown in Figure 15 has three major settings, Serial Port Settings, Port 2 Enable and Loopback. Figure 15. NCM Serial Port Configurations and Status window for Node 1 Baud Rate There are five Baud Rate settings (2400, 4800, 9600, 19200 and 38400) which can be viewed by clicking on the down arrow. Then click on the desired Baud Rate. Data Bits There are two choices for the NCM Data Bit setting, 7 bits or 8 bits. These are set in accordance with Table 5.
Table 5. Valid NCM Parity and Data Bit Settings in NMS application mode Common Module Parity Setting NCM Parity Setting NCM Data Bits Setting Even Even 7 Odd Odd 7 Space Space 7 None 8 Mark 7 Mark Port 2 Enable For the interfaces that physically have two ports, port 2 can be enabled or disabled. The MA402I has two RS232 ports, one on port 1 and one on port 2. The MA490 has one RS485 port on port 1. The MA490 has one Ethernet port on port 1 and one RS232 port on port 2.
REMOTE CONTROL USING SCL COMMANDS When installed in an IMUX 2000 remote controllable shelf, the NCM module can be operated under local or remote control. When under remote control, certain configuration parameters can only be changed through the RS-232 remote port on the multiplexer. The remote interface for this module involves two codes: a “P” (parameter) code, and an “S” (status) code. See the IMUX 2000 instruction manual for more information on the remote control interface.
NOTE When using binary numbers with a SET command, they must be preceded by the letter “B” as shown in the following example: ::SET:P1 = B00000011; Besides using the P code, it is also possible to turn module service on or off by sending one of the following in the parameter field with a SET command: SRVC = ON SRVC = OFF RFL NCM November 6, 2007 42 RFL Electronics Inc.
Table 6.
Table 6.
Table 6.
“S” CODES “S” codes appear in response to a “STATUS?” query. There are eleven “S” codes for the NCM module: S01 through S11. Like the “P” code, this number is displayed in both decimal and binary form. The four least significant digits of the binary number represent the conditions shown in Table 7. The four most significant digits are not used.
Table 7.
Table 7.
Table 7.
Table 7.
Table 7 .
NOTICE The information in this publication is proprietary and confidential to RFL Electronics Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise), or stored in any retrieval system of any nature, unless written permission is given by RFL Electronics Inc. This publication has been compiled and checked for accuracy. The information in this publication does not constitute a warranty of performance.
