What is the iNS/3000 & ixNS/3000 Family?
Features and Benefits
iNS/3000 & ixNS/3000 Connectors: Front and Back Panel Diagrams
Configuring the iNS/3000 & ixNS/3000 Network Server: Storing and Changing Settings
Possible Configurations for the iNS/3000 & ixNS/3000 Network Server in a Networking Environment

What is the iNS/3000 & ixNS/3000?

The iNS & ixNS/3000 family of remote communications servers connects to 10/100 Mbps Ethernet and provides one, two or four DB-9 serial ports that are software selectable to RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485. The iNS/ & ixNS/3000 products use the TCP/IP family of protocols to provide terminal connectivity and communications services in open systems environments.

Features and benefits

The iNS/3000 & ixNS/3000 server family offers the following features and benefits:

• Easy set up and configuration
• Open systems communications for multi-site data networks
• Can be used in a variety of data communications applications
• Reduces cost and complexity
• 1, 2 or 4 serial ports, two enclosure sizes (1-2 Port & 4-Port)
• DB-9 and screw terminal connectors
• 1 Ethernet port or optional 4 port Ethernet switch, Ethernet ports cross-wired for easy connection to another hub
• High-speed serial connections
• Software selectable RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485 modes on each port
• Operating system independent
• Complete remote diagnostics
• LEDs for each port, signaling port status and error conditions
• Industry standard interoperability
• NativeCom serial port redirection support
• Modbus TCP to RTU gateway support
• Developer's API for custom, on-board applications and protocols
• Raw reverse telnet option so you can access ports without using special protocol or processing
• Standard LPD printing option that is efficient and easy to use
• Multiple services per port allows setting up both incoming and outgoing services on the same port
• Reverse telnet support for a variety of UNIX operating systems
• Full SSL Security

iNS and ixNS Panel Connectors

• 1 to 4 serial ports with DB9 and screw terminal connectors
• 1 or 4 RJ-45 Ethernet ports

NS/3000 & ixNS/3000 Connectors 

The front panel of the iNS/ & ixNS/3000 enclosures provide 1 and 2 or 4  serial ports, with its number by each connector. Each numbered serial port connector has an associated LED that signals normal operation or error conditions. A larger Status LED indicates the overall status of the port server. A reset button is provided to restore the default configuration to the unit.

The front panel also provides up to four RJ45 Ethernet hub ports.

Configuring theiNS & ixNS/3000 Network Server

IP Addresses

The iNS & ixNS/3000 family provides flexibility in assigning the necessary IP address. You can assign the IP address using one of four methods:

• If you are using Windows, you can install and use the NativeCOM software, setting the IP address as part of the configuration process.
• The NativeCOM software is provided free of charge with your Systech network device server.
• assign the IP address using ARP on a host
• assign the IP address using a BOOTP server
• allow a DHCP server to assign the IP address

Session settings

When the iNS/ & ixNS/3000 server is booted, the configuration information that defines the operation of an iNS/3000 & ixNS/3000 product during the session (the active configuration) is loaded into memory from the current configuration database in flash memory. You can change any configuration setting in the active configuration. In addition, you can save the active configuration into the current configuration database (in flash memory) so that the changed settings will be available after reboot/restart.

When the iNS/3000 & ixNS/3000 product is delivered, the current configuration database contains factory default settings. In addition, a factory default configuration database (a copy of the current configuration database) is stored in flash memory. The factory default configuration database is stored as a backup configuration which can be restored into the current configuration database if necessary. If the iNS/3000 & ixNS/3000 product encounters an error condition while loading the current configuration database into the active configuration, it will load the factory default configuration database into the active configuration instead, in order to complete the boot. The status LED will flash alternately yellow and green to indicate that a problem occurred and the factory default configuration was loaded.

Changing Settings

The configuration settings can be changed:

• using a web browser to connect to the IP address of the iNS/3000 & ixNS/3000 product; or
• for Windows users, using the NativeCOM port redirector software developed by Systech and provided free of charge with the iNS/3000 &ixNS/3000 family.

At any point, you can restore the factory default configuration settings.

Settings

Some of the commonly changed configuration items are.

Passwords

Networking

• Internet address
• Subnetwork mask
• Default route list
• Host name list
• Domain name
• DNS server list

Asynch Serial Ports

• Service definition
• Speed
• Character length
• Stop bits
• Parity
• Input flow control
• Output flow control
• Inactivity timeout

Possible Configurations

• NativeCom
• Reverse telenet
• Raw TCP Connection
• Terminal dedicated to a host

Automatically connects a terminal to a host located anywhere on the network. Useful for applications that require a user's terminal to communicate with one and only one host computer, perhaps running a specialized application program.

• Dial-in modem for telnet

Can dial-in and automatically start a telnet session.

• Dial-out modem (rtelnet)

Can access the modem for dial-out using telnet or using a reverse telnet connection and application program, such as terminal emulator, tip, cu.

• Printing to a serial port

Using either NativeCom or LPD