5.3 Control Panel Use

The main purpose of the 2N^® SmartCom Control Panel is to virtualise ports and facilitate connection to terminals. The application also provides comfortable administration and user management including assignment of terminal administration rights, thus allowing users to manage a high number of terminals from one place as well as assign small terminal groups to authorised users.

User Mode

Having singed in as the User, you get access to four items of the main menu only: Terminals, Connections, Virtual Ports and Settings. They are all you need for standard work with the terminals. You have been assigned to one of the groups by the Administrator and so you are allowed to view the terminals assigned to this group only. See below for details on the menus.

 

Terminals

Figure: User Mode Terminals Menu

 

The Terminals menu displays the terminals assigned to the group you have the right to view. 

A green dot before the terminal means that the terminal is on-line (connected to the server) and you can get connected to it. A red dot means that the terminal is off-line. 

Click on a selected terminal on the right to display the Terminal Details window including the name, serial number, hardware revision number and count of available relays and digital and analogue inputs. Notes are also displayed on the terminal if available. 

If you are a user, you can select a virtual port for terminal connection. The Virtual ports can fully be administered by the user; refer to the Virtual Ports subsection below. If you select an unoccupied port, the port will be marked 'in use' signalling to the other users that the port is engaged in the configuration. 

If you have the appropriate user right, you can also set the communication parameters for the selected port including the transmission rate and others even if the terminal is connected and used for data transmission. Select the parameters using the combo boxes and the changes will be effective the moment they are saved.

Click on the Info button in on-line terminals to display details on the connected terminal, relay control and values measured on analogue and digital inputs.

Figure: Terminals Menu Terminal Details

The Terminal Details include the following data: GSM module IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity), name and number of the GSM provider at which your 2N^® SmartCom PRO is registered, signal intensity in dBm, ICCID (Integrated Circuit Card ID) and IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity). The In roaming parameter indicates whether the SIM card is used in the roaming mode. Moreover, the 2N^® SmartCom PRO terminal serial number and current firmware as well as information (firmware version, manufacturer and type) on the GSM module used are displayed.

You can switch the relay contacts in the Relays section. The Digital Inputs displays the value currently measured at the input and transformed to a logic value (0 or 1) as calibrated. The Analogue Inputs displays the values measured at analogue inputs. The Calibrated and Absolute parameters include the percentage against the calibrated range and the absolute value against the A/D converter range respectively. 

Refer to Subs. 3.3 and 3.4, Input Circuits, for more details on input circuit function and calibration.

Terminal Time Synchronisation

The time setting supporting PRO and PRO ETH terminals also display the terminal time. Click on Synchronize to set the same time value for the terminal as there is in the server.

Connections

Figure: Connections Menu

 

The Connections menu contains a table showing the terminals that are assigned a virtual port. The table includes the terminal name, serial number, IP address and physical port to be connected to the selected virtual port. The Status field defines the current of the terminal:

• Not Connected - the terminal is on-line connected to the server and ready for virtual port connection.
• Connecting - the terminal - virtual port connection is in progress.
• Connected - the terminal has been successfully interconnected with the virtual port.
• Disconnecting - disconnection from the virtual port is in progress.
• Terminal Disconnected - the terminal is off-line, i.e. has been disconnected from the SC server.
• Disconnect by other user - the terminal has been disconnected by another user. This means that the other user has interconnected its virtual port with this terminal.
• Error - an error occurred during connection or disconnection.

The Incoming and Outgoing Data fields display the amount of data transmitted in the given direction and are for information only. Check off Permanent connection to enable automatic terminal connection to the virtual port upon the application start.

Press Start to interconnect the terminal with the virtual port. If one and the same port is used by multiple terminals, the other users will not be able to press Start until the first connection has been finished. Refer to the note below. Push Stop to terminate communication.

In case another user is connected to the terminal, the Start button has an orange background colour. You can push the button to disconnect the original user and connect the terminal with your virtual port. 

Use the cross to remove the selected row from the table, thus cancelling interconnection between the virtual port of the application and the physical port of the terminal easily.

Virtual Ports

Figure: Virtual Ports Menu

 

Administer virtual ports using the Virtual Ports menu. Every user can use this menu as these settings only relate to the PC with which the user is working. This means that where more PCs are used, the user must create the virtual ports for each of them. This, however, applies to serial ports only; virtual ports are transferable to other PCs. This option, however, can be disabled in the configuration.

Create TCP Port

To create a virtual TCP port, select Add and enter the port to be created. Also, tick off Allow local host only to enable the port use for the current PC only. Finally, click on Create.

Figure: Create TCP Port

Create COM Port

A virtual COM port is created similarly as instructed above. Just select a port and click on Create to make the com0com driver install the selected port into the PC.

Figure: Create COM Port

Having installed a COM port into the PC, activate the COM port. Although the port has been added to the Virtual ports table, the Ready item shows NO. Therefore, click on this table row to view the port details and the Refresh button. Push the button to change the port status from Ready – NO to Ready – YES.

Figure: Refresh Button

Settings

Figure: Settings Men

 

You can change the user password in the Settings menu. Enter the old password and then the new one. The minimum password length and correctness is checked by the parameters. Save the setting using the Change password button.

The menu also displays the installation states of the virtual serial port drivers. If no drivers have been installed, you cannot use or add serial ports in the Virtual ports menu. If the com0com driver is not installed, the 'com0com is not installed' message gets displayed as shown in Figure. You can install drivers for 32 and 64-bit systems too. 

If the installation process is successful, the 'com0com is installed' will be displayed.

The menu also includes encryption key settings for server communication, like in the sign-in window. Tick the checkbox to enable packet encryption. Enter the selected key into the Key field and save the setting. The setting will not be applied until you sign out. Moreover, you can set the configuration export/import options. Select the Virtual ports, Connections and/or Permanent connections in the Export Settings item to transfer your configuration to another PC. Choose the export destination and press Export to execute the operation. 

Setting Export / Import

To import your configuration, sign in as the user to which you want to import the settings. Make sure that this user is identical with the user from which export was made to create a correct configuration file. Now you can load the new configuration onto any account. Select the file to be imported and press Import to import the data. The change will be applied when the user signs out and in.

Moreover, you can set Automatic sign-in in this menu. If you enable this function, the application will automatically log in to the server within a preset time interval. If you interrupt autologin in this interval, you can change the login data and sign in as another user, or to another server.

Autologin

The application Logging checkbox helps you debug the application or just record server communication.

The files are automatically split after reaching 10MB. 

Admin Mode

The Admin user has access to all User mode menus plus the user and terminal administering and server setting menus. The Admin mode menu includes the Users, Groups, Links, Terminals , Server Settings and Firmware Management menus. See the subsections below for details.

 

Users

Figure: Users Menu

 

The Users menu is used for user administration. The list of users is on left. A green dot before the user name means that the user is on-line (connected to the 2N^® SmartCom  Server). A red dot means that the user is off-line (logged out). 

Click on the user to display the User Details including the full name, login, notes and Admin flag if available. By clicking on Change password, the Administrator can change any user password without knowing the original one. This is mainly useful for those users who forget their passwords. Click on Edit to change the user details. 

The Groups menu contains the user groups to which the user is assigned. Click on Add and select an item from the list to create a new group. Push Remove to remove a group from the list.

Add user

Click on the Add user button next to the filter setting. You will be asked to complete the login, full user name and password to ensure a proper function. The parameters are limited and you will be checked during entering. No name or login may be duplicated in the configuration. You will be notified of any duplication in the configuration. You can also add a note and/or the Admin mode to the user by ticking of the Is Administrator option. Click on Create to create a new user.

 

Groups

Figure: User Groups Menu

 

The Groups menu helps you group users and terminals. As it is unnecessary for all users to view and manage all terminals, you can create small user groups for terminal data reading and administering.

Click on a group to display the Group Details including the full group name, notes if any and rights assigned to the group. Click on Edit to change these parameters.

There four group right categories:

• Read – users with the Read right may view the terminals and monitor their states without being able to configure or connect to them.
• Connect – users with the Connect right may view and also connect to the terminals via the Connections menu.
• Configure – users with the Configure right have the advantages of the two user groups above and, moreover, may configure the communication parameters of the terminal ports.
• Monitor – not implemented yet. Prepared for future use.

Use the Terminals menu to add/remove the terminal to be viewed by the users assigned to this group. Click on Add and select an item from the list to add a terminal. Click on Remove to remove a terminal from the list.

The Users menu includes a list of users assigned to this group. Click on Add and select an item from the list to add a user. Click on Remove to remove a user from the list.

Add Group

Click on the Add group button next to the filter setting. You will be asked to complete the group name and rights to ensure a proper function. The parameters are limited and you will be checked during entering. No name may be duplicated in the configuration. You will be notified of any duplication in the configuration. You can also add a note to the group. Click on Create to create a new group.

 

Links

Obrázek: Links Menu

 

The Links menu displays the currently connected terminals and users. The Administrator can supervise and disconnect them if necessary. The table includes the serial number, IP address and port of the selected terminal, the user currently working with the terminal, the user IP address and active port. Find the Stop button in the Action field. 

Terminals

Figure: Admin Mode Terminals

 

The Terminals menu in the Admin mode is similar to that in the User mode but is extended by group assignment, terminal adding and terminal editing options. 

A green dot before the terminal means that the terminal is on-line (connected to the server) and you can get connected to it. A red dot means that the terminal is off-line. 

Click on a terminal in the right-hand part of the screen to display the Terminal Details including the terminal name, serial number, hardware version as well as count of available relays and digital and analogue inputs. Notes can be added if available. Click on Edit to change the terminal details. 

Specify in the Terminal Groups in which group the selected terminal shall be visible (i.e. which group shall be allowed to use this terminal). Click on Add to add a group. Click on Remove to remove a group from the list. 

You can also set communication for the RS-232 and RS-485/M-BUS ports even if the terminal is connected and used for data transmission. Select the parameters using the combo boxes and the changes will be effective when saved. 

Create Terminal

Click on Add terminal next to the filter to create a new terminal.

Figure: Create Terminal

To add a terminal, enter the terminal name, serial number and password. The parameters are limited and you will be checked during entering. No name or serial number may be duplicated in the configuration. You will be notified of any duplication in the configuration. Click on Create to create a new terminal. 

 

Server Settings

 Figure: Server Settings Menu

 

The Server Settings menu contains the 2N^® SmartCom Server settings. The menu has two parts.

The first menu part affects the server function directly and any change may lead to restart and subsequent disabling of work of other users. Set the listening port and http port and enable the http daemon here. The user AT API settings are available here too. Set the port for API connection and communication. There is a button for you to enable/disable the API. Futhermore, set packet encryption for the server. You can enter ASCII characters, which will automatically be translated into Hexa for later server settings. The key length is 32 hexa / 16 ASCII characters. Or, you can enter hexa characters. The ASCII field is thus not applied. See the figure above. Set the encryption mode in the Packet encryption mode parameter. There are three options.

• DISABLED – 2N^® SmartCom Server does not encrypt any data.
• OPTIONAL – 2N^® SmartCom Server encrypts data if the counterparty requires so.
• FORCED – 2N^® SmartCom Server encrypts all incoming and outgoing data.

The other part does not affect the server function. You can modify the Log level setting, which is a digital value specifying how detailed the LOG file should be. The setting options are 1–5. The default value is 3. 

The Max user and Terminal TCP connections items are automatically set to the highest possible value according to the licence. Enter the required count of connections if necessary. If you exceed the licence limit, the application will automatically limit your selection to the upper limit allowed in the licence.

Also, set the Keep Alive packets. The default value is an optimum solution and need not be changed. Should problems occur with the NAT use on application-server-terminal route, lower the time values. The Application data directory parameter shows the path to the directory where the 2N^® SmartCom Server saves the LOG files and is for information only. 

Default Terminal Firmware URL is the address that can be used for firmware upgrade for the terminals. This firmware corresponds to and is fully compatible with the version of your 2N^® SmartCom Server and 2N^® SmartCom Control Panel.

The non-editable column to the right includes information on the server to which you are connected such as serial number, licensed hours, maximum counts of users and terminals, upgrade enable/disable and AT API functions. It also shows the remaining server operation hours and the current server time.

Firmware Management

Figure: Firmware Management Menu

 

The Firmware Management menu is used for updating the 2N^® SmartCom  PRO  terminal firmware via the 2N^® SmartCom Server. The user selects a firmware version and ticks off the terminal or group of terminals to be updated. This enables the Update button. Push the button to execute automatic update for all the selected terminals. 

There is a list of available FW versions in the left section of the window. Push the Add button to add a new firmware version to the list. 

The right-hand window section displays a table including the list of all configured terminals or terminal groups (View Groups/View Terminals).

View Terminals

The table includes six columns. The checkbox helps select a terminal to be updated. The second column indicates whether the terminal is on-line or off-line. The terminal name, serial number and current firmware versions are available here too. An actual or scheduled upgrade is indicated by 'original FW → new FW'. The Status field defines the state of the terminal updating process as follows:

• OK – update completed, terminal ready for work.
• UPDATING – update in progress.
• ERROR – update error.
• UNKNOWN – terminal not connected yet (FW version unknown).

View Groups

The table includes only names of terminal groups and offers checkboxes for selection. When you select a group and push Update, all the terminals assigned to the selected group will be updated. Go back to View Terminals to display the update states of all the terminals. 

Update Firmware

 

Scheduled terminal update

Click on Update to open a new window for you to schedule the upgrading date and time for the selected terminals. Push Yes to execute update immediately. As the current system time is running on the server, the updating procedure will start immediately. To execute update later, set the required date and time. The update will start automatically on the selected day and at the selected time. 

Firmware Update Details

 

Push the Info button in the Details column to open the Firmware update details, including the upgrade date. Click on Change to re-schedule the upgrade, or push Keep to retain the original setting and close the window.