Comtrol DeviceMaster NS-Link - Manual (Page 27)

DeviceMaster Driver User Guide: 2000595 Rev. A NS-Link Device Driver Configuration - 27
NS-Link Device Driver Configuration
If you programmed an IP address into the DeviceMaster for your network using
PortVision DX before installing the NS-Link device driver; first associate the MAC
address to the DeviceMaster and then configure the driver with the IP address
that you programming into the DeviceMaster using PortVision DX.
This section discusses the following topics:
• NS-Link Device Driver Configuration Considerations
• Using the Comtrol Drivers Management Console on Page 29
• Associating the MAC Address on Page 34
• Using IP Mode and Enabling SSL on Page 36
• Configuring Device Properties on Page 38
• Configuring COM Port Properties on Page 41
• Network Configuration in Comtrol Drivers Management Console on Page 46
- Disabling IP Mode on Page 46
- Changing a Static IP Address on Page 47
- Setting Up DHCP on Page 49
• Configuring DeviceMaster Ports as Sockets on Page 50
• Enabling Secure Data Mode on Page 51
NS-Link Device Driver Configuration Considerations
The following subsections discuss the NS-Link device driver features and topics
that you may want to review before driver configuration.
IP or MAC
Addressing Issues This is an overview of IP and MAC addressing issues that may affect how you
configure the DeviceMaster with a brief discussion of advantages of each method.
Note: The default IP address for the DeviceMaster is 192.168.250.250.
The IP addressing scheme (IP mode) has the following advantages:
• Uses an IEEE industry standard protocol.
• Allows you to configure systems to use ports on the DeviceMaster that are
outside of the host system’s local Ethernet segment.
Note: This IP address must be a unique reserved IP address. Do not use an
address from a dynamic address pool. If necessary, see the system
administrator for an IP address.
The MAC addressing method (MAC mode) has the following advantages:
• Simplifies implementation and ongoing support by eliminating the address
administration issues inherent in network protocols. MAC addresses are
predefined by DeviceMaster and there is no potential for an address conflict at
setup.
• It is isolated from foreign LAN segments minimizing potential security issues.
• Maximizes throughput of serial data.