User's Manual

© 2001, AXCESS Inc. 750.001.004 R0033 43
Configuring the NIU
Introduction
The Network Interface Unit (NIU) is provided with Receivers that can
connect to a LAN/WAN. The NIU allows the Receiver to connect to
the LAN by providing a fixed IP address to the Receiver and
converting the Receiver’s serial data to TCP/IP packets. The NIU
consists of a DB25 serial port, a 10 base 100 Ethernet connection
(RG45), and a power transformer.
Like the Receiver, the NIU must be configured via a terminal
emulation program such as
HyperTerminal
.
In order to allow PC applications to connect to the Receiver and gain
access to the tag read data, the NIU must be assigned a fixed IP
address.
If you plan to have a PC and the Receiver(s) on a private hub (not
connected to the company network or the Internet), then you can
assign any IP addresses. For example, the PC could be
200.200.200.1. [Note: On the PC, the IP address is set in Settings,
Control Panel, Network, TCP/IP components, Properties, IP Address,
Specify an IP address, fill in 200.200.200.1, for Subnet Mask fill in
255.255.255.0, click OK, click OK, PC will reboot.] The first Receiver
could be at 200.200.200.2 and the next at 200.200.200.3. The
procedure below describes how to setup the IP address and other
parameters on the NIU.
If you plan to put the Receiver on the corporate network, or the
Internet, you will need to get an IP address assigned by your network
manager. The PC application software will not work with dynamic IP
address assignment. Once you have the IP address from the network
manager, the procedure below describes how to assign that address
to the NIU.
Connecting the NIU to the PC
Step 1: IMPORTANT!
Ensure that the NIU’s power is
OFF
.
Step 2:
Connect one end of the null-modem serial cable to the
DB25 port of the NIU (Figure 18).
Step 3:
Connect the other end of the null-modem cable to an open
com port on your computer.