Campbell Scientific NL100 Network Link Interface - Manual (Page 11)

NL100/105 Network Link Interface
2.3 Port Configuration
An important step in configuring an NL100/105 for use is setting up the
communication port(s) that you will be using. Regardless of whether you are
connecting the datalogger (or a communication peripheral) to the RS485 port,
the CS I/O port, or the RS232 port, you must set up the port to support the
mode of communication that will be used for that portion of your network.
The three options supported are explained briefly, below.
2.3.1 TCPSer
When the port is set to TCPSer, it will act as a TCP serial server. Any packet
that is transmitted via the port will be sent using the TCP/IP protocol. This is
the simplest way to set up a port and will work in many scenarios, regardless
of whether the datalogger has a mixed-array or PakBus operating system.
One disadvantage of using this mode when communicating with PakBus
dataloggers is that no PakBus routing can occur via the port. It may also be less
efficient in some instances when communicating with PakBus dataloggers.
2.3.2 PakBus
PakBus is a packet-based communications protocol developed by CSI. It is
used in the CR1000, CR800/850, CR3000, and CR200 dataloggers, as well as
CR10X, CR510, and CR23X dataloggers with a special operating system. One
of the advantages of PakBus communication is that PakBus devices in the
network can communicate directly with and route packets between other
PakBus devices in the network. In addition to the native PakBus packets, other
packet types, such as TCP/IP or ModBus, can be “wrapped” in a PakBus
packet and transferred among the PakBus devices in the network, thus
allowing for various communication protocols within one network.
By configuring a port for PakBus communication, the NL100/105 is set up as a
PakBus router in the network. The NL100/105 can then route packets to other
devices in the network that it has “learned” about through beaconing or
PakBus neighbor filters. When a port is configured for PakBus, the
NL100/105’s PakBus/TCP Server Config option must be enabled or
communication will not take place via TCP/IP with the PakBus devices on that
port.
2.3.3 PakBusSer
This option is used only in a PakBus network. In this mode when a packet is
routed out the port, the PakBus framing is removed from the packet. Typically,
the attached device would be one that does not support PakBus communication
(such as a ModBus device).
2.4 NL100/105 Menu Options
The following discusses the menu options and settings that you will see when
connected to the NL100/105 using a terminal emulation package. DevConfig
provides these same options in a graphical user interface.
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