g2403a lan/rs232 converter installation guide · write down the baud rate, data bits, parity, stop...

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G2403a LAN/RS232 Converter Installation Guide

This document describes how to install the HP G2403A Lan/Rs232 Converter andmodify the PC and GC Chemstation software to communicate with the 5890 series IIGas Chromatograph via LAN. Before installing the converter, familiarize yourself withthe current Chemstation and GC configurations. If you are unsure about thisinstallation, please do not proceed. Call Agilent.

HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter InstallationCompatibility

2

These instructions assume that your PC already has a network interface card (LAN

card) installed and that the TCP/IP protocol is already configured.

CompatibilityThe LAN/RS232 Converter is compatible with the following:

• HP 5890 SERIES II GC with the HP 19257A dual interface card (Dice board)

• HP 7673B Automatic Liquid Sampler (ALS) with an HP G1512A controller and RS232 interface

• HP ChemStation version A.06.01 or later

• Windows NT® 4.0 with service pack 3 or service pack 4 (Windows™ 95/98 is not

supported)

Check the current PC configurationThe number of available Comm ports and other devices attached to your PC will effect

the installation, because the ChemStation can use only Comm ports 1–9. COM10 does

not work.

This document assumes that the PC has only one Comm port (COM1) configured, and

that no devices are attached to it. Verify this by opening the port manager (Ports) from

the Control Panel. Select Start/Settings/Control Panel/Ports.

HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter InstallationHardware setup

3

If another Comm port is already installed and configured

If you already have COM2 installed and configured, and are installing less than eight instruments (for example, three GC’s and three autosamplers), configure ports

COM3–COM9 as needed.

If you need to install and configure eight instruments

Because the ChemStation cannot use COM10, COM2 must be uninstalled and available

for use by the converter if you want to install eight instruments (for example, four GC’s

and four autosamplers). If COM2 is installed and configured for another device, you must reconfigure your PC to use only one Comm port (COM1).

To do this, delete the port from the Windows NT Port Manager, then disable the port

from the PC’s BIOS setup. Refer to your PC’s documentation for details. When finished, the port manager should look like the figure above.

Hardware setup

HP 5890 SERIES II GC Dice board settings

Normally, set the communications data rate to the highest setting, 19,200 baud. If you

do not know the current baud rate setting on your GC, or need to change it, proceed as follows:

1. Turn on the GC and hold down the [Clear] key as it powers up. (If the GC is already

on, perform a restart by pressing [Clear], [.], [5], and [Enter]. Then, hold down the

[Clear] key as the GC restarts.)

2. When the display reads User Tests Sel 0..7, press [4]. The display will show the GC’s current baud rate setting, for example, RS232 Baud = 19.2K.

If the display shows HP-IB = nn, you need to change the switches to RS232

communications. See the next step.

3. If needed, change the Dice board switch settings. See Figure 1 for the switch settings required for 19,200 baud communications. As you modify the switch

settings, the GC display changes to show the new baud rate.

HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter InstallationHardware setup

4

Refer to your HP 5890 SERIES II Gas Chromatograph Service Manual for details on

accessing, removing, and installing this board.

Figure 1. HP 5890 Dice board settings for 19.2 K baud4. Record the baud rate on the worksheet. You will need it later.

5. Return to normal mode. Press [7], [Enter] to restart.

HP G1512A ALS controller

Check the switch settings on the back of the controller. In general, use the 19,200 baud

communication rate, which is set as shown below..

Figure 2. HP G1512A Controller set at 19.2 k baud and XON/XOFF handshake mode

Other switch settings for RS232 configuration are printed on the bottom of the

HP G1512A ALS.

Record the baud rate on the worksheet.

S1 On

1

2

4

8

16

R

Srq–en

HP-IB RS-232

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M M P P H B B LF 16 8 4 2 1

HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter InstallationLAN/RS232 Converter Installation

5

LAN/RS232 Converter Installation1. Record the MAC address for the LAN/RS232 Converter. The MAC address is

printed on a label on the back of the converter (to the left of the parallel port connector). This address is used in HP Bootp utility configuration. Also record the

unit type/model (as printed on the converter, e.g., EL-8+).

2. Connect the converter connector labelled 10Base-T to the LAN using standard

RJ45 LAN cabling.

3. Connect the instruments to the converter.

• Connect each GC to one of the numbered ports on the converter front panel

using a standard RJ45 cable (HP Part No. 92268B) and a RJ45/DB25 plug adapter at the GC.

• Connect each ALS controller to one of the numbered ports on the converter

front panel using a standard RJ45 cable and a RJ45/DB9 plug adapter at the

Host Comm. connector on the controller.

Figure 3. Cabling diagram4. Record which device is connected to each connector on the converter.

HP 6890 System

LAN backbone

HP 6890 System

HP 5890 SERIES II GC

HP 5890 SERIES II GC

HP G1512A

HP G1512A

HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter InstallationConverter software installation

6

5. Plug in the converter’s power cord. The power LED on the front of the converter

will flicker, and the link LED should be on.

Converter software installation1. Load the software CD into your ChemStation PC’s CD drive.

2. Click the Start button, select Run..., and type

d:\winnt\sts_els\x86\setup.exe, where d is the drive letter of your CD. Click OK.

3. Follow the instructions on the screen. Accept the default options.

4. When the EtherLite Installation screen appears, click Add to add a unit.

HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter InstallationHP Bootp server configuration

7

5. On the screen that appears, enter the IP address, select the unit type (the type is

printed on the front of the converter), and click OK.

• If your installation is on your site LAN, contact your LAN administrator for an

IP address, Subnet Mask, Gateway, and Host Name for the converter and PC.

• If your installation is isolated (not on the site LAN), assign an address based

on your ChemStation PC’s address.

A sample isolated LAN address configuration might be:

6. Continue with the installation, selecting OK or Next as prompted.

7. When installation is complete, click OK to restart the computer.

HP Bootp server configurationAfter the drivers for the converter are installed, add an IP address entry for it on the HP Bootp Server.

Device Sample IP address

PC 10.1.1.100

Converter 10.1.1.101

Select the unit type (usually EL-8+).


8

1. Open the Bootp program. You should see a request for identification from the

converter, similar to the example shown below. In this example, the MAC address

on the converter is 00A0F7008662.

2. Add a Bootp entry for the converter. Select Configure/Add Entry.

3. The Add Bootp Entry screen appears. From the dropdown menu, select the MAC address for the converter (or type it in). Enter the Host name, IP Address, Subnet

Mask, and Gateway for the converter. The TCP/IP protocols (Subnet Mask,

Gateway, and the first three portions of the IP address) for the PC, converter, and all instruments must be configured the same.

• If your PC, converter, and GC’s are on your site LAN, contact your LAN

administrator for the Host name, IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Gateway

information.

• A typical Subnet Mask is 255.255.255.0.

• No default Gateway is needed for the converter if it is not on the Site LAN.

For an example of isolated LAN addresses, see page 7.


9

4. Verify the entry. Select Configure/Bootp Manager, and confirm the information is

correct. Select OK.

Select the MAC address for your converter

Enter the Host Name, IP Address,Subnet Mask, and Gateway

The Gateway fieldis blank if the converter is not onthe site LAN.

HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter InstallationConfigure the PC Comm ports

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5. In a few moments, the converter should request an IP address, and the Bootp

program will respond as shown below. (If needed, you can also unplug the

converter then plug it back in, which forces it to make a Bootp request.)

Configure the PC Comm portsAfter you have installed the converter and the driver software, open the port manager (the Ports icon) from the PC Control Panel. You should have new, additional ports

listed. For example:

Since this PC in this example originally had one Comm port, the first connector on the converter is configured as COM2, connector 2 is COM3, connector 3 is COM4, etc.

Configure your Comm ports with instruments in the same order they are connected to

the converter.

The instructions below describe adding one HP 5890 GC (on converter connector 1)

and one HP 7673 ALS (on converter connector 2). Use a similar routine to set up each

of your instruments.

HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter InstallationConfigure the PC Comm ports

11

Configure a Comm port for your GC as follows:

1. Highlight the appropriate Comm port (in this example, COM2) in the list, and click

on the Settings button.

2. Make the following settings.

After making the setting changes, the settings for the COM2 should look like the following:

3. Write down the baud rate, data bits, parity, stop bits, flow control, and instrument (5890 or 7673) configured for the port. You will need this information later.

4. Click OK.

Setting Value

Baud Rate 19,200*

Data Bits 8

Parity None

Stop Bits 1

Flow Control None

* Normally the GC is set to 19.2K. If your setting is different, set the Baud Rate to match the setting in the GC hardware.

HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter InstallationHP ChemStation changes

12

Enter similar settings to configure the HP G1512A ALS.

1. Open the settings screen for COM3.

2. Make the following settings:

It should look like:

3. Write down the baud rate, data bits, parity, stop bits, flow control, and instrument

(5890 or 7673) configured for the port. You will need this information later.

4. Click OK.

Continue to set up your components until all of them are configured.

HP ChemStation changesAfter you have set up the PC hardware, you will need to make changes to the HP ChemStation software. If you do not already have the ChemStation installed, install

it now.

Setting Value

Baud Rate 19200*

Data Bits 8

Parity None

Stop Bits 1

Flow Control Xon/Xoff

* Normally the rate is set to 19.2K. If your setting is different, set the Baud Rate to match the setting in the hardware.


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If you are using any HP 6850 or an HP 6890 GC’s on this system, configure and test them

before adding an HP 5890.

Configure the HP 5890 GC and HP G1512A ALS as HP-IB devices using the Configuration Editor.

Configure the devices you wish to control as described below.

1. From the Start menu in the Task Bar, select Start/Programs/ HP ChemStation/HP

Configuration Editor. A window for each instrument appears.

2. Highlight the title bar of the instrument you want to configure, then select

Configure/Instrument.

3. Select the Instrument Type (5890 GC) from the list. Click OK.

4. The instrument device configuration dialog is displayed. HP-IB is the Interface

Type. Enter an HP-IB address for the GC. The default address for an HP 5890, 15, is used in this example.

While the value used does not correspond to an actual hardware setting, each

instrument’s HP-IB address must be unique. Use numbers 1–16.


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5. To configure your HP 5890 GC with a sampler, select the sampler from the Options

group box and then click Add. Set a unique HP-IB address for the sampler. Click

OK.

6. Verify that the changes you made appear in the Instrument’s window on the main Configuration Editor screen. If the changes are not there, repeat the above steps.

7. Repeat steps 2–6 above for each instrument to be configured.

8. When you have finished configuring the instrument(s), select File/Save to save your changes, then exit the program.

GC HP-IB address

ALS HP-IB address

HP G2403A LAN/RS232 Converter InstallationModify the PC’s Win.ini file

15

9. If you have just loaded the ChemStation software, you will need to restart your

computer now.

Modify the PC’s Win.ini fileAfter the ChemStation is installed and configured, edit the Win.ini file as described below.

1. Save your old Win.ini file under another name. (The Win.ini file is located in the

\Winnt directory on your boot drive.) If you encounter any problems, you may

need to access the original version.

2. Using a text editor (such as Notepad), open the Win.ini file and locate the [PCS] and [PCS,X] sections. See Example 1 below.

3. Edit (or add) the Link line for each device you address using RS232. The Link

lines must exactly duplicate the Comm port configuration. See Example 2.

The syntax for an RS232 device is:

LinkX=RS232,<Comm port>:<baud rate>,n,8,1,p

4. Edit (or add) the DeviceX line for each device you address using RS232. The first

entry in the line must be the LinkX line number for the device. See Example 2.

The syntax for an RS232 device is:

DeviceX=<Link line>,<HP-IB address>,<instrument type>

Installation is complete.


16

Example 1. [PCS] section of a Win.ini file before making changesInstrument 1 configured as an HP-IB HP 5890 GC with an HP 7673 ALS

Win.ini file excerpt Comments[PCS]Path=C:\HPCHEMLinks=1Link1=HPBSICL,1,15,0,3 Link1 is configured for HP-IB. Note the HPSICL entry.UsePoll=Yes Applications=HPGCInstruments=1 This example system has 1 instrument. The maximum is 4.REV=6.03.00 ChemStation software version.Devices=1,2Device1=1,15,5890 Device1 uses Link1, HP-IB address 15, Instrument Type= 5890Device2=1,8,7673 Device2 uses Link1, HP-IB address 8, Instrument Type= 7673 [PCS,1] Instrument 1InstType=5890InstName=5890 RS232 WinSize=NormalStart=YesProgram=C:\HPCHEM\CORE\HPCORE.EXEDEBackground=255 255 255DEChromatogram=255 255 255DEAxes=0 0 0DERtimes=0 0 0DEBaselines=255 0 255DEChrom1=0 0 255DEChrom2=255 0 0DEChrom3=0 128 0DEAnnotation=0 0 0DEFrame=255 0 0DETitle=255 0 255DEAxesTitle=0 0 0DECompounds=255 0 255DEChrom4=255 0 255


17

The rest of the individual [PCS,X] sections remain unchanged.

DEChrom5=128 128 0DEChrom6=128 0 128DEChrom7=0 64 0DEChrom8=64 128 128_INSTPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\_AUTOPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\CORE\_EXEPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\CORE\_DATAPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\DATA\_DATAFILE$=DEFAULT.D_METHFILE$=DEF_GC.M_CONFIGSEQPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\SEQUENCE\_CONFIGMETPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\METHODS\_SEQFILE$=DEF_GC.S_PRODUCT$=GC-GC-GC_LIBPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\SPECLIBS\_LIBFILE$=DEMODAD.UVL_METHPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\METHODS\_SEQPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\SEQUENCE\_DATAFILE1$=DEFAULTF.D_DATAFILE2$=DEFAULTB.D_DDEOffLine=_DATASEQSUBDIR$=Devices=1,2 Instrument 1 uses Devices 1 and 2.InstStart=7673-5890-35900

Win.ini file excerpt Comments


18

Example 2. [PCS] section of a Win.ini file after making changesInstrument 1 reconfigured as an RS232 HP 5890 with an HP 7673 ALS

In this example, it is assumed that the PC has a single RS232 port, COM1, so that COM2

becomes the first connector on the converter.

Modified Win.ini file excerpt Comments[PCS]Path=C:\HPCHEMLinks=1,2 Each RS232 port needs a Link reference; in this case, there are

only 2 devices (the HP 5890 and the HP 7673).Link1=RS232,COM2:19200,n,8,1,p Link1 and Link2 are configured for RS232 on COM2 and COM3,

respectivelyLink2=RS232,COM3:19200,n,8,1,pUsePoll=Yes Applications=HPGCInstruments=1 This example system has 1 instrument. The maximum is 4.REV=6.03.00 ChemStation software version.Devices=1,2Device1=1,15,5890 Device1 uses Link1, HP-IB address 15, Instrument Type= 5890 Device2=2,8,7673 Device2 uses Link2, HP-IB address 8, Instrument Type= 7673

Note: The HP-IB address is ignored when RS232 is used.[PCS,1] Instrument 1 (No edits need to be made after this point.)InstType=5890InstName=5890 RS232 WinSize=NormalStart=YesProgram=C:\HPCHEM\CORE\HPCORE.EXEDEBackground=255 255 255DEChromatogram=255 255 255DEAxes=0 0 0DERtimes=0 0 0DEBaselines=255 0 255DEChrom1=0 0 255DEChrom2=255 0 0DEChrom3=0 128 0DEAnnotation=0 0 0DEFrame=255 0 0


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DETitle=255 0 255DEAxesTitle=0 0 0DECompounds=255 0 255DEChrom4=255 0 255DEChrom5=128 128 0DEChrom6=128 0 128DEChrom7=0 64 0DEChrom8=64 128 128_INSTPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\_AUTOPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\CORE\_EXEPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\CORE\_DATAPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\DATA\_DATAFILE$=DEFAULT.D_METHFILE$=DEF_GC.M_CONFIGSEQPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\SEQUENCE\_CONFIGMETPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\METHODS\_SEQFILE$=DEF_GC.S_PRODUCT$=GC-GC-GC_LIBPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\SPECLIBS\_LIBFILE$=DEMODAD.UVL_METHPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\METHODS\_SEQPATH$=C:\HPCHEM\1\SEQUENCE\_DATAFILE1$=DEFAULTF.D_DATAFILE2$=DEFAULTB.D_DDEOffLine=_DATASEQSUBDIR$=Devices=1,2 Instrument 1 uses Devices 1 and 2.InstStart=7673-5890-35900

Modified Win.ini file excerpt Comments

Installation Worksheet

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Installation WorksheetLAN/RS232 Converter

MAC address: ________________________________

Model: ____________________

GC and ALS connections on the converter

LAN/RS232 Converter:

IP Address: _____._____._____._____

Host Name: ______________________

Subnet Mask: _____._____._____._____

Gateway: _____._____._____._____

Comments:

Converter connector #

Instrument type Instrument baud rate setting

Comm port used on PC

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8


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PC configuration settings:

Comm port Baud rate Data bits Parity Stop bits Flow control Instrument

1 8 None 1

2 8 None 1

3 8 None 1

4 8 None 1

5 8 None 1

6 8 None 1

7 8 None 1

8 8 None 1


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Manual Part No.

G2403-90100

Printed on recycled paper

This product is recyclable.

Hewlett-Packard CompanyPrinted in USA 6/99

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