EasyServer II Complete Installation Instructions

A list of the the topics covered in this section is featured below. 

Topics:

• Choosing the Right Location
• Connecting to a Thin Ethernet Network
• Connecting to a 10BaseT Ethernet Network
• Attaching Serial Devices
• Supplying Power to the EasyServer II
• LED Functions
• Verifying Proper Functionality
• Power-On Self-Test 
• Asynchronous Port Tests 
• Ethernet Tests 
• Resetting the EasyServer II
• Using the Web-Based Configuration Utility
  • Structure of the Web-Based Configuration Utility 
  • Security Access to the Web-Based Configuration Utility 
  • Setting Up the Server using the Web-Based Configuration Utility 
    
• Troubleshooting Using On-Line Diagnostics

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Choosing the Right Location 

Important:  Place the EasyServer II near a grounded AC power outlet.

Follow these guidelines when choosing a location for the EasyServer II: 
 

• Choose a flat, level surface away from heat sources, with space immediately below, above, and around the server. Do not place the EasyServer II on or under carpet or other material that can block the ventilation holes in the base and top. 
• Choose a location away from pedestrian traffic to reduce the possibility of someone tripping over cables. 
• Does not exceed the cable-length limit. In general, no more than 50 feet (18 m). All ports support the RS-232-D electrical interface with a female DB-25 or RJ-45 connector. It is recommended to use shielded cabling to reduce the incidence of induced electrical noise. Where cables run longer than the RS-232-D recommendations, use a line driver or short-haul modem.  

Connecting to a Thin Ethernet Network 

To attach the EasyServer II to a Thin Ethernet network, attach a male Ethernet T-connector to the Thin Ethernet network cable. Push the base of the T-connector onto the server's 10Base2 connector. Press lightly and turn the T-connector clockwise until it locks into place. 

Caution:  
If you need to disconnect the EasyServer II from the network, always disconnect the T-connector from the server's Ethernet port. Disconnecting a cable section from the T-connector might disconnect other users from the network or disrupt network traffic. 

Note:  
Install a 50-ohm network terminator on the open end of the Ethernet T-connector if the EasyServer II is the last device on the network.

Connecting to a 10BaseT Ethernet Network 

To attach the EasyServer II to a 10BaseT (twisted-pair) Ethernet network, attach the twisted-pair cable to the female RJ-45 connector labelled `10BASET' on the back panel of the EasyServer II.

Attaching Serial Devices 

If DHCP, BOOTP and RARP are not operational, attach a terminal (or remote host in terminal emulation mode) to port 1, the default console port, to serve as the console terminal for setting up the Communication Server. The console port is where boot and error messages are received when you initialize the Server. If, after initializing the server, you want to assign a port other than port 1 as the console port, you can do so with the SET/DEFINE/CHANGE SERVER CONSOLE PORT command. 
Refer to the Appendix: Cables & Connectors for more information on cables and adapters. 

The EasyServer II initializes ports with these values: 
 

Data speed 9600 

Data bits 8 

Stop bits 1 

Parity None 

Flow control XON/XOFF 

While other values can be substituted later, leave the console port set to these default values initially and set the console terminal to the same values to communicate with the EasyServer II. 
 

Supplying Power to the EasyServer II 

Plug the power cord into the power connector at the back of the EasyServer II and into a grounded power outlet. The EasyServer II has no power switch, so plugging in the power cord turns on the server. 

There are four light emitting diodes (LEDs) on the front of the EasyServer II that light up when power is supplied. First all LEDs light up, then the three right-most, then the left-most LED. Only the left-most LED stays on to indicate the Communications Server has power. 

The Link LED at the back of the EasyServer II lights up when a 10 base T cable is properly attached to the server and power is supplied. 

Table 2-1 describes the functions of the LEDs during operation of the EasyServer II. 
 

Table 2-1 LED Functions  

With power supplied to the EasyServer II and all LEDs functioning normally, a display containing copyright information and the server model number and Ethernet address appears on your console terminal screen. (If you want to use the DHCP, BOOTP or RARP protocols to determine the server's Ethernet address from the network, the address must be entered in the appropriate database on a network host.) 

If you don't see any messages on the console terminal screen, recheck the changes, make sure the server console port's communication parameters are set to their defaults, and verify that the console terminal is configured accordingly (i.e., to match the server console port defaults). If the messages are not clearly readable, the console terminal might be set to a different baud rate from the server's default baud rate (9600). Press <Enter> a few times. This causes the communication server's autobaud function to change the server baud rate to match the baud rate of the console terminal. 

If the network is configured to provide the EasyServer II with an Internet address using the DHCP, BOOTP or RARP protocols, the server determines its address from the network. Otherwise, the following message appears: 
 

Server is unable to determine internet address from network. 

To manually enter the address, press <Enter> key a few times now.  Otherwise, server will retry BOOTP and RARP in two minutes. 

Press <Enter> a few times and the following message appears.   

Server is unable to determine internet address from network. 

Server will retry DHCP, BOOTP and RARP if nothing entered in two minutes. 

Enter internet address:  

Enter an Internet address or the word `NONE'. If you entered an Internet address, the following prompt appears: 

Enter internet subnet mask (default is xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx): 

Where xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx is the default subnet mask of the Internet address you entered. If the default subnet mask is not acceptable, enter a new subnet mask now (refer to the SET/DEFINE/CHANGE INTERNET ADDRESS command in the EasyServer II Command Reference). If the default subnet mask is acceptable, press <Enter>. 

Note:  
You can change the Internet address and subnet mask with the DEFINE INTERNET ADDRESS command. 

When the following message appears:   

• TS-X EasyServer II (or LantraServer) is ready 
• Press <Enter> a few times until the following prompt appears: 

  ETS-X EasyServer II (or LantraServer) VX.XXX 
  Port 1: PORT_01 
  Terminal: ansi [Status Line, Turbo SSU] 
  Username: None 

• Enter username: 
• Type your username, or press <Ctrl> Z to let the server assign the port name as the username. 
• The local prompt appears and the EasyServer II is ready. 
• Please type HELP for assistance 

  Local 1> 

Verifying Proper Functionality 

Proper functionality can be checked easily using the Server's in-built diagnostics facility, described in the previous section. This section outlines tests that can be run using the command line method.   

Power-on Self-Test 

Attach a terminal to the console port (Port 1 by default). Plug the power cord into a grounded power outlet. This turns on the EasyServer II and starts the power-on self test.   

The power-on self-test is complete when: 

• The LED (labelled PWR) is on. 
• Copyright and network information is displayed on the display device. 

The power-on self-test has failed if:  

• LEDS are flashing (check that an internet address has been entered). 
• Copyright and network information (including ethernet address and internet address) is not displayed on the terminal. 
• The PWR LED is on but there is no information displayed on the terminal. 
• Only copyright information is displayed.  

Asynchronous Port Tests 

Login to the EasyServer II on the terminal and go to privileged mode by typing `SET PRIVILEGED' and entering the password. To test output on port number n, connect a device to the port and from the console, type `TEST PORT n'. 

The following pattern should display:  

Local 1> TEST PORT 
1234567890abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`~!@-$%^&*()_+|-=\{}[];':'<>,.?/ABCDEFGHIJKL 
234567890abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`~!@-$%^&*()_+|-=\{}[];':'<>,.?/ABCDEFGHIJKL1 
... 
Local 1> 

To test input on port number n, connect a terminal to the port. From the console type `ZERO COUNTERS PORT n' and then `MONITOR PORT n COUNTERS'. Type some keys on the terminal and check that RX Count increases. 

Communication Servers with v5.0 firmware (or later) have inbuilt serial port loopback tests which require the use of a loopback plug (Part No. 410074). From the console type `MONITOR PORT ALL LOOPBACK'. The loopback status of all ports without an active login will be displayed. Plug the 8 pin loopback into each port in turn and ensure the port status changes. 
Press any key to stop the loopback test. This procedure tests input, output and all control signals.   

Ethernet Tests 

If connected via the 10BASET port, check that Link LED (at rear) is lit. 

From the console type TEST INTERNET xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (IP address of an active host on the network). Check that there is a reply from the host. 

EasyServer IIs with v5.0 firmware (or later) have inbuilt ethernet port loopback tests which require the use of an ethernet loopback plug (not supplied). From the console type `MONITOR INTERNET LOOPBACK'. The loopback status of the Ethernet ports will be displayed. The ports are auto-detecting so that whichever port is looped will be displayed. Plug the ethernet loopback into the appropriate port and ensure the status changes. Press any key to stop the loopback test. 

Resetting the EasyServer II 

The reset button returns all EasyServer II parameter settings, including passwords, to factory default values. To reset EasyServer II parameters, insert a straightened paper clip or similar instrument into the opening labelled `RESET' and press lightly. All parameters are reset to factory defaults and the server reboots. 

Note: 
In privileged mode, you can also use the INITIALIZE FACTORY PORT command to reset a port's permanent database settings to the factory default values. This command can be useful when the device attached to a port is replaced by a different device that requires different settings. For example, if port 4 is configured for a terminal and you want to replace that terminal with a modem, rather than change the existing port 4 configuration, you might find it easier to restore the port's factory default settings and then configure the port for a modem. 
 

Using the Web-Based Configuration Facility 

Alternative to command line.  
The easy-to-use web-based configuration facility is the quick alternative to the command line method of configuring EasyServer II. 
 

Scope of this section.  
This section introduces the structure and content of the facility, and gives detail on the five main divisions of the facility; Start, Setup, Diagnostics, Files and Help.   

IP address.  
Once the EasyServer II has been given a valid IP address, the built-in web-based configuration utility may be used to set up the EasyServer II. A web browser such Internet Explorer or Netscape can be used to connect with the EasyServer II.   

Display URL.  
Go to the EasyServer II web-based configuration utility by entering the URL of the EasyServer II in a web browser on the network, (i.e. http://123.456.789.001). The EasyServer II home page is displayed.     

Structure of the EasyServer II Web-Based Configuration Facility 

The following outlines the structure and content of the EasyServer II web-based configuration utility: 

Step 1.  
Start - introductory information. 

Setup - setting up the Server, Terminal, Modem, Printer, Direct Connection, Extend/NT (LantraServer only) and the Command Line Interface. 

Step 3.  
Diagnostics - using Ping, Server Counters, Port Counters, Telnet Listener Status and Internet Counters. 

Step 4.  
Files - download files relating to Server Configuration (view the changes made to this server, and download a file containing the changes), Host-based Remote Port Utility  svr_tty including the `C' source, svr_tty.c., example svr_tty.conf configuration file, example inittab entries, and the online tutorial for Remote Port, and Remote Printer Support  (including the `C' source, svr_print.c., an example printer interface, and the online tutorial for remote printer support. 

Step 5.  
Help - including Start (a quick start guide to using the HTML based interface, Tutorial (plain English guides to the server's functionality, Search (find keywords anywhere within the server's online documentation or command set, Help (browse the various commands available for the EasyServer II via the online help, Support (contact support and provide them with your details and server configuration quickly and easily). 

Access to the above is acheived by selecting the appropriate tab button from the set which appears at the top of every screen.     

Security Access to the Web-based Configuration Facility 

The EasyServer II requires security access for many of its pages. To gain access, the server requires you to have a user account on the server. This account can be the root account, or an account that has been created for you by a privileged user (i.e., root). 

To have full access to all the online help and tutorials, you must login in as a privileged user when prompted for a username and password. To login as a privileged user, enter a login name of `root' and the systems privileged password (`system', by default). If you have been provided with a privileged user account, then enter that username and password. 

To have user level access to the online help and tutorials, you must have a user account on this server. Enter the username and password of this account as required. User level access limits the commands and information available to that normally accessible by a non-privileged user. Contact your system administrator if you require a user account for the EasyServer II.     

Setting up the Server using the Web-Based Configuration Facility 

Using Web Configuration.  
From the EasyServer II, select Setup. The Setup system screen appears displaying the setup options shown below. To setup the Communications Server for the first time, work systematically through the setup screens, beginning with Server. 

Note: 
In all setup screens, the procedure is to specify the desired configuration, then to press Configure. The values are immediately saved in EasyServer II's firmware. There is also the option to Reset to Defaults values. 

1.  Server.  
Allows the complete specification of: 

• Server Name, Password and Identification. 
• Flash Memory Server Software Upgrade 
• Startup Configuration Files. 
• Domain Name Services. 
• Timer Values. 

2.  Terminal.  
Allows the complete configuration of terminals connected to specified EasyServer II ports. 

3.  Modem.  
Allows the selection and configuration of modems connected to specified ports: 

• Network Modem - a modem that is accessed remotely via a network port on the EasyServer II (i.e.., for use with svr_tty). 
• Dialin PPP - a modem used for dialin PPP access to the network. 
• Dialin SLIP - a modem used for dialin SLIP access to the network. 
• Dialin Login - a modem used for normal login access to systems on the network. 

4.  Printer.  
Allows the complete configuration of printers connected to specified EasyServer II ports. 

5.  Direct Connection.   
Allows the complete configuration of devices connected directly to specified EasyServer II ports. Types include: 

• PPP - line will be used exclusively for PPP. 
• SLIP - line will be used exclusively for SLIP. 
• Login over a Serial Line - an application will be used to login over the serial line. 
• Direct Connection - the serial line is accessed via a network port on the EasyServer II (i.e., for use with svr_tty). 

6.  Extend/NT (LantraServer only). 
Configure port(s) for remote access by Windows/NT. 

7.  Command Line Interface.  
For full access to all of the commands available within the server use the command line interface. All commands have context sensitive help, just press the Help button. 
 

 

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