LXI TCP/IP Ethernet Communications¶
MagnaDC programmable DC power supply products are available with an optional LXI TCP/IP Ethernet interface (+LXI). The LXI TCP/IP Ethernet interface meets the LXI Class C, Revision 1.4 standard. When specified at time of order, an Ethernet interface module is installed, providing an embedded Ethernet port for communications.
Ethernet connections can be made though the Remote Interface Software (RIS Panel), terminal emulation programs like PuTTY, user written software, National Instruments LabVIEW™ and a wide variety of other software programming interfaces.
Address Negotiation¶
By default, DHCP is enabled on the MagnaDC power supply. If the Ethernet board does not discover a DHCP server, the MagnaDC power supply will default to the Auto-IP configuration as defined in Table 8.3. The device then automatically selects an IP address from 169.254.###.### and subnet as described in RFC 3927 (Request for Comments 3927 - Dynamic Configuration of IPv4 Link-Local Addresses). This routine is used by most computer operating systems.
IP Address |
169.254.###.### |
|---|---|
Subnet Mask |
255.255.0.0 |
Default Gateway |
0.0.0.0 |
DNS Server |
0.0.0.0 |
MAC Address |
01:1E:6F:##:##:## |
Username |
admin |
Password |
leave blank |
The LAN Reset button provides a way to reset the LAN configuration password and to set the device back to DHCP/Auto-IP mode. To activate the LAN Reset function, ensure the power supply is on and in standby mode. Hold down the LAN Reset button for approximately 4 seconds. Observe that the LAN LED rapidly flashes and after 4 seconds, release the LAN Reset button. The LAN configuration password will be reset to blank and the module will be set to DHCP/Auto-IP enabled.
The MAC address consists of two number groups, in format: ##:##:##:##:##:##. For Magna-Power Electronics products, the first three bytes are always 01:1E:6F. The second three bytes are determined by the the LXI TCP/IP Ethernet interface’s serial number, converted to hex. This serial number can be queried from the power supply using the SCPI command SYSTem:COMMunicate:NETwork:SERial.
The LXI TCP/IP Ethernet module supports the mDNS discovery protocol allowing the device to be discovered on the network by software such as National Instruments Measurement and Automation Explorer, Agilent Connection Expert, or the Remote Interface Software supplied with the power supply.
Connectivity¶
The LAN status LED, located at the rear of the MagnaDC power supply, provides LAN fault and device identification, defined as follows:
- On - Normal Operation
The device has a properly configured IP address and the network cable is connected.
- Flashing - Device Identify
The LXI Device Identification function was enabled via the Instrument Identification web page. This identification can help the user to quickly locate the unit and distinguish it from similar devices.
- Off - LAN Fault
The device is experiencing one or more of the following LAN fault conditions: failure to acquire a valid IP address, detection of a duplicate IP address on the network, failure to renew an already acquired DHCP lease, or the LAN cable is disconnected.
Network discovery¶
The Ethernet module supports the mDNS discovery protocol allowing the device to be discovered on the network by software such as National Instruments’ Measurement and Automation Explorer, Agilent Connection Expert, or the Remote Interface Software (RIS Panel) supplied with the MagnaDC power supply.
RIS Panel¶
Remote Interface Software describes application and configuration of the Remote Interface Software which is shipped with TS Series MagnaDC power supply. This software provides the user with a quick method to operate a MagnaDC power supply under computer control. The software can be configured for a number of communication interfaces; Ethernet is included as one of these interfaces.
To use the Remote Interface Software with optional Ethernet communications, the address parameters in the Remote Interface Software and that encoded in the MagnaDC power supply must match. The factory default for DHCP is 1 (on) allowing the IP address to be automatically set by the DHCP server on the network. If DHCP is off and the address is unknown, the device can be located using the Remote Interface Software supplied with the MagnaDC power supply. To access discovery, press Find Device in the Communication Setup menu. The routine scans all the devices on the network and provides their addresses and identifications. Select the desired device and press OK; this automatically changes the address in the Communication Setup. The same result can be achieved with a double click on the desired device. After communications is established, the address of the device may be changed by pressing Change Device’s Settings.
Web Browser¶
The LXI TCP/IP Ethernet interface has an embedded web server that allows the user to view and change the module’s network settings. Magna-Power Electronics LXI TCP/IP Ethernet interface is LXI Class C compliant under LXI Standard Revision 1.4.
To access the web server, first determine the module’s IP address via one of the discovery methods described in RIS Panel. Alternatively, if the host computer supports NetBIOS over TCP/IP, you may use the device’s NetBIOS name instead of the IP address.
Open a WC3 compliant web browser such as Google Chrome, Edge (Chromium), or Mozilla Firefox to http:// [ipaddress]/ or http://[hostname]/. The instrument information screen will be displayed as shown in Web interface information panel. This figure provides the basic information about the configuration and allows the user to enable or disable the LXI Identification. Click Enable Identify or Disable Identify to change the state of the LXI Identification. When LXI Identification is enabled, the LAN LED on the back of the MagnaDC power supply unit will blink. This can help the user to quickly locate the MagnaDC power supply and distinguish it from similar devices.
Web interface information panel¶
To change the Ethernet interface’s network settings, click the Configure tab in the upper right. The browser will prompt for a username and password if you have not authenticated the device already. To authenticate, enter admin for the username and leave the password field blank. The instrument configuration screen, Web interface configuration panel, will appear. This page enables the user to change the Hostname (which corresponds to the NetBIOS name), the description, password, and TCP/IP configuration. After changes to the configuration are made, click the Save Config button. The configuration will be saved, the Ethernet interface will reboot and instructions will be displayed for reconnecting to the interface.
Web interface configuration panel¶
The browser may prompt for a username and password if you have not authenticated the device already. To authenticate, enter admin for the username and leave the password field blank.
NI Measurement and Automation Explorer¶
To access discovery with NI Measurement and Automation Explorer, the NI-VISA add-on module must be installed along with the standard software package. Start NI Measurement and Automation Explorer, right-click on Devices and Interfaces, and then select “Create New…” Select “VISA TCP/IP Resource” from the list. Click Next and then select Auto-detect of LAN Instrument. Click Next and the software will scan the local network for VXI devices and display them for configuration for further usage with NI-VISA and related software.
Agilent Connection Expert¶
To access discovery with Agilent Connection Expert, start Agilent Connection Expert. Select your computer’s LAN interface and then click the Add Instrument button at the top of the screen. The software will scan the local network for VXI devices and display them for configuration for further use with Agilent VISA compatible software.