Comtech EF Data RCS10 - Manual (Page 48)

RCS10 Redundant Communication System Operation
TM058 - Rev. 2.3 Page 3-1
Section 3 - Operation
3.1 Operating Procedures
Operation of the RCS10 consists of controlling the unit operating parameters and monitoring status
and responses via one of the control interfaces. Control options for the RCS10 are as follows:
1. Front Panel Control
2. Terminal Mode Control
3. Remote Computer Mode Control
4. Remote SNMP Control
Any of the above methods may be used separately or together to monitor and control the RCS10.
3.1.1 Front Panel Control
The front panel of the RCS10 allows complete control and monitoring of all Modem and Switch
parameters and functions via a keypad, LCD display, Modem and Switch status LEDs and LED
indicators on the DMD10 modems.
3.1.2 Front Panel Layout and Features
The RCS10 Front Panel layout is shown in Figure 3–1. The front panel is divided into the following
functional areas: the LCD front panel display, the Modem and Switch, the Keypad and the LED
Indicators, each described below. Refer to Table 3-1 for a brief description of the RCS10 front panel
controls and indicators.
3.1.3 Front Panel LCD Display
The front panel display is an 8 line by 40 character LCD display. The display is lighted and the
brightness can be set to increase when the front panel is currently in use. The LCD display
automatically dims after a period of inactivity that is programmable from the front panel.
The display has two distinct areas showing current information. The bottom row of the display
shows the functions of each of the four softkeys (labeled ‘S1’, ‘S2’, ‘S3’, and ‘S4’ in Figure 3-1). If a
softkey provides a function, then that function will be displayed just above the corresponding key. If
no function is displayed above a softkey, then there is no function associated with that key, and
pressing it will have no effect. The rest of the display shows current parameter and status
information. The LCD display is a window into a large matrix of switch and modem parameters that
can monitored and changed from the front panel.
The ten keys contained in the MODEM and SWITCH are used to view and change a particular set of
control parameters as described by the label next to the key. Each of these keys are used to
display a series of menu trees that are displayed on the LCD and used to view and enter control
parameters. These keys and their corresponding menus are described separately below:
3.1.4 Front Panel LCD Indicators
There are sixteen (16) LEDs on the RCS10 front panel to indicate the selected LCD menu tree and
current switch status. The color of the illuminated LEDs on the front panel indicate overall switch
status according to the following key: An illuminated green LED indicates normal operation. An
illuminated yellow LED indicates a condition that is not proper for normal operation, however, all
satellite channels are currently on-line. An illuminated red LED indicates that the RCS10 was
unable to provide redundancy protection for a satellite channel, and at least one channel is off-line.
For the purposes of this discussion, the LEDs are separated into two major groups, MENU LEDs
and SWITCH STATUS LEDs. The Menu LEDs are those LEDs immediately next to the front panel