User manual

Sensorsoft Alert User Manual
Connecting to the Alert serial port console
The Alert console port (DB-9M connector) is an RS232 serial interface that can be used to access the Linux
shell of the Alert appliance. It is used for the purpose of configuration or recovery if you lose contact with
the Alert appliance. Since this same DB-9M port is also used as the sensor port, you must carefully follow
the procedure below to use it as the console port. To use this procedure you need a computer or
workstation with an available RS232 serial port, a terminal program (HyperTerminal on Windows), a paper
clip and the cables/adapters supplied with Alert appliance. The following procedures for connecting to your
Alert console port differ depending on whether you have an SSA7001 or SSA7004/7008 model. Be sure to
follow the procedure that is suitable for your Alert appliance.
Model SSA7001
To
connect to your SSA7001 appliance through its console port, you first need the following items:
 A computer with a spare RS232 serial port.
 If the spare serial port on your computer is DB-9M, then you will also need the P/N C4002
adaptor. This is a gray DB-25M to DB-9F adapter that came with your Alert appliance.
 The P/N C2017 cable. This is a light blue DB-9F to DB-25F cable that came with your
SSA7001 Alert appliance.
1. Make sure your Alert appliance is powered off.
2. Disconnect any device that is connected to the serial port of your Alert appliance.
3. Connect the DB-9F (female) end of the P/N C2017 cable to the serial port of your Alert appliance.
4. If the spare serial port on your computer is DB-9, then connect the other end of the P/N C2017 cable to
the P/N C4002 adapter and to your computer’s serial port.
5. Launch a terminal emulation program on your computer. If your computer’s operating system is
Windows you can use HyperTerminal located under Start > Program > Accessories. If your
computer’s operating system is UNIX, you can use either Kermit or Minicom.
6. Configure the terminal program parameters as shown below, and then connect.
1. Serial Speed: 9600 bps
2. Data Bits: 8 bits
3. Parity: None
4. Stop Bits: 1
5. Flow Control: None
6. Emulation: ANSI
7. Use a paper clip to push in the ADM button located inside a small hole on the back of the Alert
appliance. Keep it pushed in as you plug in the power adapter to the Alert appliance. You can release
the ADM button twenty seconds after powering on the Alert appliance, or as soon as you see some text
appear on your terminal screen, whichever is first.
8. Some messages will be printed on the terminal screen as the Alert appliance boots up. When the Alert
appliance finishes booting, you will see the prompt:
[root@(none) /]#
You are now logged in.
9. To configure the appliance’s IP settings, go to section Configuring IP Settings of the Alert Appliance.
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