Readme for ACCES I/O eNET-232 and eNET-422 July 2005 (c) Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. This document contains important last-minute information about using the ACCES I/O eNET. Please review this document before installing the ACCES I/O eNET. ************************************************************* Thank-you for purchasing the ACCES I/O eNET. ************************************************************* WHAT'S NEW IN THIS RELEASE ************************** This product release includes numerous firmware enhancements to enable setting target IP addresses as either numeric IP addresses or properly-formed DNS names in the serial port modes that target remote servers. These settings are found in the Manager application that is included on this diskette. Also included in this release are new driver mode advanced settings for maintaining a persistent connection when the client station's connection is broken to the unit, then re-established. This setting is accessed through Window's Device Manager | Ports (COM & LPT). Finally, polling of port status can be disabled. This is useful when a software application accessing the remote serial port repeatedly polls to check port status, slowing access to the remote port. This setting is accessed through Window's Device Manager | Ports (COM & LPT). NOTE ON SUBNET CONFIGURATION ************************************************************* If the ACCES I/O eNET is on a different subnet from a client station that is attempting to access it, the ACCES I/O eNET will be visible in an instance of the Manager application running on the the client station, and its ports can be activated on that client station, but applications running on the client station will not be able to open a serial port on the ACCES I/O eNET. For example, if the IP address of the ACCES I/O eNET is 192.168.0.35 and the IP address of the client station is 192.168.1.1, the two devices are on different subnets (as indicated by the difference between the "0" and the "1" in the third portion of the two IP addresses). Two solutions exist: 1) change the subnet of the either the ACCES I/O eNET or the client station so that they are both on the same subnet or, 2) change the subnet mask of the ACCES I/O eNET to encompass both subnets. By default, the ACCES I/O eNET has its subnet mask set to 255.255.255.0. This setting excludes all but the fourth portion of the IP address when assessing IP addresses. In the example above, a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0 will include the ACCES I/O eNET in both subnets. NOTES ON SECURITY ************************************************************* By factory default, the ACCES I/O eNET has empty (null) passwords assigned (one for the administrator, and one for each of the physical serial ports). It is strongly recommended that new passwords be configured if the ACCES I/O eNET is to be used in a multi-user situation, even in small offices. Simple security can aid network users and administrators by preventing accidental changes that could prove detrimental to network performance. The ACCES I/O eNET has been designed to support three basic levels of security: 1. "Administrator" level 2. "Port" level 3. "Access" level ACCES I/O eNETs recognize a single password for each ACCES I/O eNET device, plus an additional, unique password for each port on the ACCES I/O eNET. The administrator has complete access and control over the ACCES I/O eNET. The administrator can assign access and limit control over ports to the other security levels. The port user can change port settings (baud rate, driver mode, etc) as may be permitted by the administrator. Ports may be accessed, but not changed without a password. The port password can be entered using either an html browser interface, or the Manager program (Windows). Using the browser interface, enter the password from the "home page" of the ACCES I/O eNET. If you enter the correct administrator password, you will automatically be directed to the Administrator's Menu. If you enter a correct port password, you will automatically be directed to the Port Configuration Menu. Several ports may share the same password. An empty password field means the password is NULL. If a port level password has been set, but no administrator password has been set, the correct administrator password must be entered (that is, NULL) to log on with administrator rights, i.e. leave password empty and click the CONFIGURE button. Note: If an administrator password has not been set, port level passwords (should they exist) will not restrict users from changing port settings. *THIS HOLDS TRUE EVEN IF PASSWORDS HAVE BEEN SET FOR PORT ACCESS, BUT NOT ADMINISTRATOR ACCESS* Using the Manager application, enter the password by right-clicking" on the ACCES I/O eNET device you wish to manage. Administrator passwords apply to ACCES I/O eNET "boxes" (shown in the left-hand pane of the Manager). Port passwords apply to ACCES I/O eNET port(s) (shown in the right-hand pane of the Manager). Password icons appear to the left of the particular device. If the icon is a lock, it means that the device is locked and you must enter the correct password to access the device. To enter the correct password, right-click on the device, choose "unlock," and enter the correct password in the popup window. An Administrator may grant or restrict access to individual ports by IP address, or IP range. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INTERFACES (MANAGER vs. WEB BROWSER vs. TELNET) **************************************************** MANAGER: -------- The easiest and most powerful way to configure and administer one or more ACCES I/O eNETs is using the graphical user interface of the Manager software provided. To change settings at any level, both the Manager software and a correct password are required. Conceptually, the left pane describes administrator level controls (network settings, etc.) and the right pane describes port level controls (bit rate, driver mode, etc.). No password is required to actually use a port that has no IP access restrictions set: - Highlight an ACCES I/O eNET in the left pane. - Right-click & choose "Properties" to set network parameters. - If the device is locked, you do not have the correct password. Rectify this by choosing "Unlock" and entering the correct password. - Available physical ports will appear in the right pane. - Modes and settings may be configured in the right pane. - Port level passwords may be set from the right pane. - Port activation allows any user to install native support of device ports as COMx - no password is necessary. - Activated ports may be shown in the right pane by highlighting the "My Computer" icon on the left pane. - When activated, a port may communicate directly with your operating system's API as a native COM port. WEB BROWSER: ------------ The web browser interface permits users to change all the device and port settings using a web browser. Most of the same basic functions as those found in the Manager are present in the web browser interface (except for OS-specific port activation features). Changes may only be initiated as administrator, or as port user. When logging on to the ACCES I/O eNET, the password itself determines the access level granted (see above, NOTES ON SECURITY, for more information). TELNET: ------- To configure ACCES I/O eNETs using the Telnet interface, please ensure that carriage return and line feed are set (SET CRLF), and that local echo is set on (SET LOCALECHO). - Basic commands: ?, STATUS, LOGIN, QUIT - Administrator commands: ?, STATUS, DEVICE, PORT, PASSWORD, DEFAULT, RESET, LOGOUT, QUIT - Port user commands: ?, STATUS, PORT, LOGOUT, QUIT - Command descriptions: COMMAND ACTION ? displays list of currently available commands status gives basic information about current configurations device to change network settings (IP, subnet, gateway, NetBiosName, DHCP mode) port to change individual port settings (mode, TCP port, mode settings, access rights, soft reset) login to make configuration changes password to change password settings default restores factory defaults reset causes device to reboot logout ends configuration changes quit closes the Telnet session - After typing "login," enter the correct password to determine level of access. - If your password matches the administrator password, you are granted full functionality. - If your password matches port(s) password, you are granted access to changes for those ports only. NOTE ON DRIVER SIGNING: WIN XP & WIN 2K ************************************************************* Users of Windows XP and Windows 2000 may find their operating systems object to installing unsigned drivers, and, depending on configuration, may not install unsigned drivers at all. To correct this difficulty, open Windows' Verifier (Start | Run | verifier) and under the "Settings" tab, uncheck the "Verification type" checkboxes. LEGAL ************************************************************* - This software remains the property of LAVA COMPUTER MFG INC (LAVA). All rights in the product including License Agreement Number, copyrights, licensing rights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, design rights, engineering rights, moral rights, and any other intellectual property rights belong to Lava. These rights are not transferred as part of this agreement. - No part of the product, including the License Agreement, may be reproduced, published, transmitted electronically, mechanically or otherwise, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system or translated into any language in any form, by any means, for any purpose other than the purchaser's personal use, without the express written permission of Lava. END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT (EULA) ************************************************************* - This license agreement is a legal agreement between you the end user (either as an individual or an entity) and Lava. The software and any of its supporting documentation and associated hardware are hereinafter referred to as "the product". - By installing or using the product, you indicate your complete and unconditional acceptance of these terms and conditions. If you do not agree to the terms and conditions of this agreement promptly remove the product from your computer and destroy associated documentation. - Should there be any conflict between the terms and conditions of this agreement and the terms and conditions of any other agreement between you and Lava or their servants or agents in relation to the product the terms and conditions of this agreement shall apply. - If any provision of this agreement is found to be unlawful or void then that provision shall be severed from this agreement and will not affect the validity of the remaining provisions. - Information contained in the product is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment or contracted obligation on the part of Lava. - You may make and distribute as many copies of this software as you wish, provided that all associated files (including this readme file) are included. - You are expressly forbidden from making alterations or modifications to, merge, adapt, de-compile, disassemble, reverse engineer, or attempt to discover the source code without the expressed written permission from Lava. You are expressly forbidden from using any part of the product in life saving or life critical applications without the express written permission of Lava. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY ************************************************************* - Under no circumstances, including, but not limited to, negligence, shall Lava be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, the product. You specifically acknowledge and agree that Lava is not liable for any defamatory, offensive or illegal conduct of any user of the free forums created using this or other Lava products. If you are dissatisfied with any Lava's terms and conditions, your sole and exclusive remedy is to discontinue using Lava products. In addition, you release Lava and its affiliates from any damages that you incur, and agree not to assert any claims against them, arising from your use of its products or services. REV. A05