What procedures can I use to test and recover an EDS8PR, EDS16PR or EDS32PR?

Note: Unlike the EDS1100, EDS2100 and EDSxPS models, the Reset button on the EDSxPRs cannot be used to set the unit back to factory defaults. Its only function is to reboot the EDSxPR.

Here are some procedures that can be used to Test and Recover an EDSxPR with an unknown configuration:

I. Set the EDSxxPR to Factory Defaults

From a Windows PC, connect the EDS to the network, or connect directly to the EDS using a crossover Ethernet cable.

Use Lantronix DeviceInstaller Utility to search for the EDS and determine its IP address.

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DeviceInstaller is available here:
Latest version of DeviceInstaller

If the EDSxPR has an IP address and is reachable, browse to its IP address.

• Log in with the configured credentials (defaults are username = 'admin', password = 'PASS').
• Click on the 'System' link on the left hand orange menu .
• Click on Restore Factory Defaults.
• Wait for the EDS to reboot.

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DHCP is enabled by default, so the EDS will pick up an IP address from the local DHCP server if one exists.

Proceed to serial port testing (part II).

If the EDS has an IP address that is unreachable, or you cannot connect to it via DeviceInstaller for whatever reason, use the RJ45 serial console port to log into the CLI and set the EDS to factory defaults.

• Connect the console cable between a PC or Laptop's serial port and the EDSxPR's RJ45 console connector, next to the Ethernet connector.
  • For best results, use the Lantronix 500-103-R RJ45-to-DB9F cable that was in the box with the EDSxPR.
• Start a Hyperterminal session via COMx (x for the COM# of the PC/Laptop)
• Configure it with 9600 baud, 8 Bits, No Parity, 1 Stop Bit, No Flow Control
• Once the session has started, press Enter
• You will get a prompt. Follow the sequence of commands, as below:
  
  # enable
  (enable)#reload factory defaults
• This command will destroy all configurable parameters and reboot. You will receive two prompts:
  
  Are you sure you want to do this (yes / no)? yes ß must type 'yes'
  Do you want to back out (yes / no)? no ß must type 'no'
• At this point, the EDS will reboot with DHCP enabled.
• • All the serial ports will also default to passively accept incoming TCP connections.

II. Testing Individual Ports for Bidirectional Data Flow

Use two terminal sessions (eg. Hyperterminal) to test for bidirectional data flow for specific faulty ports (or all ports).

One terminal session will be a TCP socket connection (network connection to the EDS serial port)

The other terminal session will be a serial COM connection to the EDS serial port via serial cable.

Hyperterminal-Winsock connection is shown below:

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• For the 'Host address' field, type in the IP address of the EDS
• For 'Port number' field, type 100xx (where xx represents the EDS port# being tested)
• Click OK
• A terminal session over TCP will appear.

Hyperterminal COM connection is shown below:

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• Use the serial settings shown below for a connection to the serial ports.
• • These settings match the factory default settings of the individual serial ports.
• Click OK.
• • You will have an open running terminal session over serial connection to the EDS serial port being tested.

At this point, you will have two terminal sessions running side by side - one representing a network connection to the EDS serial port being tested, while the other represending a serial connection to the EDS serial port being tested.

• Enter data on one terminal session by typing into the blank terminal screen. You will not see anything in the screen, but verify that the data input appears on the other terminal window.
• Do this on both terminal session windows.
• Verify that data is not missing or corrupted in one window or another.

It helps to type a sequence of known data such as:
'AaBbCcDdEeFfGg….' Or 'The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog', to make it easy to see any missing or corrupted data.

If the data is sent in both directions with no loss of characters or garbled data, you have a good working serial port.

Missing or corrupt data indicates some problem with the cabling or the serial port hardware of the EDS.

[Originally Published On: 10/17/2011 05:00 PM]