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G2403a LAN/RS232 Converter Installation Guide
This document describes how to install the HP G2403A Lan/Rs232 Converter and
modify the PC and GC Chemstation software to communicate with the 5890 series II
Gas Chromatograph via LAN. Before installing the converter, familiarize yourself with
the current Chemstation and GC configurations. If you are unsure about this
installation, please do not proceed. Call Agilent.
This document is believed to be accurate and up-to-date. However, Agilent Technologies, Inc. cannot assume responsibility for the use of this material.
The information contained herein is intended for use by informed individuals who can and must determine its fitness for their purpose.
G2403a LAN.doc
http:// www.chem.agilent.com
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HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
Compatibility
These instructions assume that your PC already has a network interface card (LAN
card) installed and that the TCP/IP protocol is already configured.
Compatibility
The LAN/RS232 Converter is compatible with the following:
•
HP 5890 SERIES II GC with the HP 19257A dual interface card (Dice board)
•
HP 7673B Automatic Liquid Sampler (ALS) with an HP G1512A controller and
RS232 interface
•
HP ChemStation version A.06.01 or later
•
Windows NT® 4.0 with service pack 3 or service pack 4 (Windows™ 95/98 is not
supported)
Check the current PC configuration
The number of available Comm ports and other devices attached to your PC will effect
the installation, because the ChemStation can use only Comm ports 1–9. COM10 does
not work.
This document assumes that the PC has only one Comm port (COM1) configured, and
that no devices are attached to it. Verify this by opening the port manager (Ports) from
the Control Panel. Select Start/Settings/Control Panel/Ports.
2
HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
Hardware setup
If another Comm port is already installed and configured
If you already have COM2 installed and configured, and are installing less than eight
instruments (for example, three GC’s and three autosamplers), configure ports
COM3–COM9 as needed.
If you need to install and configure eight instruments
Because the ChemStation cannot use COM10, COM2 must be uninstalled and available
for use by the converter if you want to install eight instruments (for example, four GC’s
and four autosamplers). If COM2 is installed and configured for another device, you
must reconfigure your PC to use only one Comm port (COM1).
To do this, delete the port from the Windows NT Port Manager, then disable the port
from the PC’s BIOS setup. Refer to your PC’s documentation for details. When finished,
the port manager should look like the figure above.
Hardware setup
HP 5890 SERIES II GC Dice board settings
Normally, set the communications data rate to the highest setting, 19,200 baud. If you
do not know the current baud rate setting on your GC, or need to change it, proceed as
follows:
1.
Turn on the GC and hold down the [Clear] key as it powers up. (If the GC is already
on, perform a restart by pressing [Clear], [.], [5], and [Enter]. Then, hold down the
[Clear] key as the GC restarts.)
2.
When the display reads User Tests Sel 0..7, press [4]. The display will show
the GC’s current baud rate setting, for example, RS232 Baud = 19.2K.
If the display shows HP-IB = nn, you need to change the switches to RS232
communications. See the next step.
3.
If needed, change the Dice board switch settings. See Figure 1 for the switch
settings required for 19,200 baud communications. As you modify the switch
settings, the GC display changes to show the new baud rate.
3
HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
Hardware setup
Refer to your HP 5890 SERIES II Gas Chromatograph Service Manual for details on
accessing, removing, and installing this board.
S1
1
◊
2
◊
◊
4
8
◊
16
◊
◊
R
◊
Srq–en
◊ RS-232
HP-IB
Figure 1.
On
HP 5890 Dice board settings for 19.2 K baud
4.
Record the baud rate on the worksheet. You will need it later.
5.
Return to normal mode. Press [7], [Enter] to restart.
HP G1512A ALS controller
Figure 2.
8
4
◊
◊
16
◊
◊
LF
◊
◊
B
◊
B
◊
H
◊
◊
P
◊
P
◊
M
◊
◊
M
◊
◊
Check the switch settings on the back of the controller. In general, use the 19,200 baud
communication rate, which is set as shown below.
.
2
1
HP G1512A Controller set at 19.2 k baud and XON/XOFF handshake
mode
Other switch settings for RS232 configuration are printed on the bottom of the
HP G1512A ALS.
Record the baud rate on the worksheet.
4
HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
1.
Record the MAC address for the LAN/RS232 Converter. The MAC address is
printed on a label on the back of the converter (to the left of the parallel port
connector). This address is used in HP Bootp utility configuration. Also record the
unit type/model (as printed on the converter, e.g., EL-8+).
2.
Connect the converter connector labelled 10Base-T to the LAN using standard
RJ45 LAN cabling.
3.
Connect the instruments to the converter.
•
Connect each GC to one of the numbered ports on the converter front panel
using a standard RJ45 cable (HP Part No. 92268B) and a RJ45/DB25 plug
adapter at the GC.
•
Connect each ALS controller to one of the numbered ports on the converter
front panel using a standard RJ45 cable and a RJ45/DB9 plug adapter at the
Host Comm. connector on the controller.
HP 6890 System
HP G1512A
HP 5890 SERIES II GC
LAN backbone
HP G1512A
HP 5890 SERIES II GC
Figure 3.
4.
HP 6890 System
Cabling diagram
Record which device is connected to each connector on the converter.
5
HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
Converter software installation
5.
Plug in the converter’s power cord. The power LED on the front of the converter
will flicker, and the link LED should be on.
Converter software installation
6
1.
Load the software CD into your ChemStation PC’s CD drive.
2.
Click the Start button, select Run..., and type
d:\winnt\sts_els\x86\setup.exe, where d is the drive letter of your CD.
Click OK.
3.
Follow the instructions on the screen. Accept the default options.
4.
When the EtherLite Installation screen appears, click Add to add a unit.
HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
HP Bootp server configuration
5.
On the screen that appears, enter the IP address, select the unit type (the type is
printed on the front of the converter), and click OK.
•
If your installation is on your site LAN, contact your LAN administrator for an
IP address, Subnet Mask, Gateway, and Host Name for the converter and PC.
•
If your installation is isolated (not on the site LAN), assign an address based
on your ChemStation PC’s address.
A sample isolated LAN address configuration might be:
Device
Sample IP address
PC
10.1.1.100
Converter
10.1.1.101
Select the unit type (usually EL-8+).
6.
Continue with the installation, selecting OK or Next as prompted.
7.
When installation is complete, click OK to restart the computer.
HP Bootp server configuration
After the drivers for the converter are installed, add an IP address entry for it on the
HP Bootp Server.
7
HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
HP Bootp server configuration
1.
Open the Bootp program. You should see a request for identification from the
converter, similar to the example shown below. In this example, the MAC address
on the converter is 00A0F7008662.
2.
Add a Bootp entry for the converter. Select Configure/Add Entry.
3.
The Add Bootp Entry screen appears. From the dropdown menu, select the MAC
address for the converter (or type it in). Enter the Host name, IP Address, Subnet
Mask, and Gateway for the converter. The TCP/IP protocols (Subnet Mask,
Gateway, and the first three portions of the IP address) for the PC, converter, and
all instruments must be configured the same.
•
If your PC, converter, and GC’s are on your site LAN, contact your LAN
administrator for the Host name, IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Gateway
information.
•
A typical Subnet Mask is 255.255.255.0.
•
No default Gateway is needed for the converter if it is not on the Site LAN.
For an example of isolated LAN addresses, see page 7.
8
HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
HP Bootp server configuration
Select the MAC address for your converter
Enter the Host Name, IP Address,
Subnet Mask, and Gateway
4.
Verify the entry. Select Configure/Bootp Manager, and confirm the information is
correct. Select OK.
The Gateway field
is blank if the
converter is not on
the site LAN.
9
HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
Configure the PC Comm ports
5.
In a few moments, the converter should request an IP address, and the Bootp
program will respond as shown below. (If needed, you can also unplug the
converter then plug it back in, which forces it to make a Bootp request.)
Configure the PC Comm ports
After you have installed the converter and the driver software, open the port manager
(the Ports icon) from the PC Control Panel. You should have new, additional ports
listed. For example:
Since this PC in this example originally had one Comm port, the first connector on the
converter is configured as COM2, connector 2 is COM3, connector 3 is COM4, etc.
Configure your Comm ports with instruments in the same order they are connected to
the converter.
The instructions below describe adding one HP 5890 GC (on converter connector 1)
and one HP 7673 ALS (on converter connector 2). Use a similar routine to set up each
of your instruments.
10
HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
Configure the PC Comm ports
Configure a Comm port for your GC as follows:
1.
Highlight the appropriate Comm port (in this example, COM2) in the list, and click
on the Settings button.
2.
Make the following settings.
Setting
Value
Baud Rate
19,200*
Data Bits
8
Parity
None
Stop Bits
1
Flow Control
None
* Normally the GC is set to 19.2K. If your setting is different, set the Baud Rate to
match the setting in the GC hardware.
After making the setting changes, the settings for the COM2 should look like the
following:
3.
Write down the baud rate, data bits, parity, stop bits, flow control, and instrument
(5890 or 7673) configured for the port. You will need this information later.
4.
Click OK.
11
HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
HP ChemStation changes
Enter similar settings to configure the HP G1512A ALS.
1.
Open the settings screen for COM3.
2.
Make the following settings:
Setting
Value
Baud Rate
19200*
Data Bits
8
Parity
None
Stop Bits
1
Flow Control
Xon/Xoff
* Normally the rate is set to 19.2K. If your setting is different, set the Baud Rate to
match the setting in the hardware.
It should look like:
3.
Write down the baud rate, data bits, parity, stop bits, flow control, and instrument
(5890 or 7673) configured for the port. You will need this information later.
4.
Click OK.
Continue to set up your components until all of them are configured.
HP ChemStation changes
After you have set up the PC hardware, you will need to make changes to the
HP ChemStation software. If you do not already have the ChemStation installed, install
it now.
12
HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
HP ChemStation changes
If you are using any HP 6850 or an HP 6890 GC’s on this system, configure and test them
before adding an HP 5890.
Configure the HP 5890 GC and HP G1512A ALS as HP-IB devices using the
Configuration Editor.
Configure the devices you wish to control as described below.
1.
From the Start menu in the Task Bar, select Start/Programs/ HP ChemStation/HP
Configuration Editor. A window for each instrument appears.
2.
Highlight the title bar of the instrument you want to configure, then select
Configure/Instrument.
3.
Select the Instrument Type (5890 GC) from the list. Click OK.
4.
The instrument device configuration dialog is displayed. HP-IB is the Interface
Type. Enter an HP-IB address for the GC. The default address for an HP 5890, 15,
is used in this example.
While the value used does not correspond to an actual hardware setting, each
instrument’s HP-IB address must be unique. Use numbers 1–16.
13
HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
HP ChemStation changes
GC HP-IB address
ALS HP-IB address
14
5.
To configure your HP 5890 GC with a sampler, select the sampler from the Options
group box and then click Add. Set a unique HP-IB address for the sampler. Click
OK.
6.
Verify that the changes you made appear in the Instrument’s window on the main
Configuration Editor screen. If the changes are not there, repeat the above steps.
7.
Repeat steps 2–6 above for each instrument to be configured.
8.
When you have finished configuring the instrument(s), select File/Save to save
your changes, then exit the program.
HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
Modify the PC’s Win.ini file
9.
If you have just loaded the ChemStation software, you will need to restart your
computer now.
Modify the PC’s Win.ini file
After the ChemStation is installed and configured, edit the Win.ini file as described
below.
1.
Save your old Win.ini file under another name. (The Win.ini file is located in the
\Winnt directory on your boot drive.) If you encounter any problems, you may
need to access the original version.
2.
Using a text editor (such as Notepad), open the Win.ini file and locate the [PCS]
and [PCS,X] sections. See Example 1 below.
3.
Edit (or add) the Link line for each device you address using RS232. The Link
lines must exactly duplicate the Comm port configuration. See Example 2.
The syntax for an RS232 device is:
LinkX=RS232,<Comm port>:<baud rate>,n,8,1,p
4.
Edit (or add) the DeviceX line for each device you address using RS232. The first
entry in the line must be the LinkX line number for the device. See Example 2.
The syntax for an RS232 device is:
DeviceX=<Link line>,<HP-IB address>,<instrument type>
Installation is complete.
15
HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
Modify the PC’s Win.ini file
Example 1.
16
[PCS] section of a Win.ini file before making changes
Instrument 1 configured as an HP-IB HP 5890 GC with an HP 7673 ALS
Win.ini file excerpt
[PCS]
Path=C:\HPCHEM
Links=1
Link1=HPBSICL,1,15,0,3
UsePoll=Yes
Applications=HPGC
Instruments=1
REV=6.03.00
Devices=1,2
Device1=1,15,5890
Device2=1,8,7673
Comments
[PCS,1]
InstType=5890
InstName=5890 RS232
WinSize=Normal
Start=Yes
Program=C:\HPCHEM\CORE\HPCORE.EXE
DEBackground=255 255 255
DEChromatogram=255 255 255
DEAxes=0 0 0
DERtimes=0 0 0
DEBaselines=255 0 255
DEChrom1=0 0 255
DEChrom2=255 0 0
DEChrom3=0 128 0
DEAnnotation=0 0 0
DEFrame=255 0 0
DETitle=255 0 255
DEAxesTitle=0 0 0
DECompounds=255 0 255
DEChrom4=255 0 255
Instrument 1
Link1 is configured for HP-IB. Note the HPSICL entry.
This example system has 1 instrument. The maximum is 4.
ChemStation software version.
Device1 uses Link1, HP-IB address 15, Instrument Type= 5890
Device2 uses Link1, HP-IB address 8, Instrument Type= 7673
HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
Modify the PC’s Win.ini file
Win.ini file excerpt
DEChrom5=128 128 0
DEChrom6=128 0 128
DEChrom7=0 64 0
DEChrom8=64 128 128
_INSTPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\
_AUTOPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\CORE\
_EXEPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\CORE\
_DATAPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\DATA\
_DATAFILE$=DEFAULT.D
_METHFILE$=DEF_GC.M
_CONFIGSEQPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\SEQUENCE\
_CONFIGMETPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\METHODS\
_SEQFILE$=DEF_GC.S
_PRODUCT$=GC-GC-GC
_LIBPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\SPECLIBS\
_LIBFILE$=DEMODAD.UVL
_METHPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\METHODS\
_SEQPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\SEQUENCE\
_DATAFILE1$=DEFAULTF.D
_DATAFILE2$=DEFAULTB.D
_DDEOffLine=
_DATASEQSUBDIR$=
Devices=1,2
InstStart=7673-5890-35900
Comments
Instrument 1 uses Devices 1 and 2.
The rest of the individual [PCS,X] sections remain unchanged.
17
HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
Modify the PC’s Win.ini file
Example 2.
[PCS] section of a Win.ini file after making changes
Instrument 1 reconfigured as an RS232 HP 5890 with an HP 7673 ALS
In this example, it is assumed that the PC has a single RS232 port, COM1, so that COM2
becomes the first connector on the converter.
Modified Win.ini file excerpt
[PCS]
Path=C:\HPCHEM
Links=1,2
Link1=RS232,COM2:19200,n,8,1,p
Link2=RS232,COM3:19200,n,8,1,p
UsePoll=Yes
Applications=HPGC
Instruments=1
REV=6.03.00
Devices=1,2
Device1=1,15,5890
Device2=2,8,7673
[PCS,1]
InstType=5890
InstName=5890 RS232
WinSize=Normal
Start=Yes
Program=C:\HPCHEM\CORE\HPCORE.EXE
DEBackground=255 255 255
DEChromatogram=255 255 255
DEAxes=0 0 0
DERtimes=0 0 0
DEBaselines=255 0 255
DEChrom1=0 0 255
DEChrom2=255 0 0
DEChrom3=0 128 0
DEAnnotation=0 0 0
DEFrame=255 0 0
18
Comments
Each RS232 port needs a Link reference; in this case, there are
only 2 devices (the HP 5890 and the HP 7673).
Link1 and Link2 are configured for RS232 on COM2 and COM3,
respectively
This example system has 1 instrument. The maximum is 4.
ChemStation software version.
Device1 uses Link1, HP-IB address 15, Instrument Type= 5890
Device2 uses Link2, HP-IB address 8, Instrument Type= 7673
Note: The HP-IB address is ignored when RS232 is used.
Instrument 1 (No edits need to be made after this point.)
HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter Installation
Modify the PC’s Win.ini file
Modified Win.ini file excerpt
DETitle=255 0 255
DEAxesTitle=0 0 0
DECompounds=255 0 255
DEChrom4=255 0 255
DEChrom5=128 128 0
DEChrom6=128 0 128
DEChrom7=0 64 0
DEChrom8=64 128 128
_INSTPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\
_AUTOPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\CORE\
_EXEPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\CORE\
_DATAPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\DATA\
_DATAFILE$=DEFAULT.D
_METHFILE$=DEF_GC.M
_CONFIGSEQPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\SEQUENCE\
_CONFIGMETPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\METHODS\
_SEQFILE$=DEF_GC.S
_PRODUCT$=GC-GC-GC
_LIBPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\SPECLIBS\
_LIBFILE$=DEMODAD.UVL
_METHPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\METHODS\
_SEQPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\SEQUENCE\
_DATAFILE1$=DEFAULTF.D
_DATAFILE2$=DEFAULTB.D
_DDEOffLine=
_DATASEQSUBDIR$=
Devices=1,2
InstStart=7673-5890-35900
Comments
Instrument 1 uses Devices 1 and 2.
19
Installation Worksheet
Installation Worksheet
LAN/RS232 Converter
MAC address: ________________________________
Model: ____________________
GC and ALS connections on the converter
Converter
connector #
Instrument type
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
LAN/RS232 Converter:
IP Address: _____._____._____._____
Host Name: ______________________
Subnet Mask: _____._____._____._____
Gateway: _____._____._____._____
Comments:
20
Instrument baud
rate setting
Comm port
used on PC
Installation Worksheet
PC configuration settings:
Comm port
Baud rate
Data bits
Parity
Stop bits
1
8
None
1
2
8
None
1
3
8
None
1
4
8
None
1
5
8
None
1
6
8
None
1
7
8
None
1
8
8
None
1
Flow control
Instrument
21
Installation Worksheet
22
Printed on recycled paper
This product is recyclable.
Hewlett-Packard Company
Printed in USA 6/99
Manual Part No.
G2403-90100