Serial Device

Use this dialog to specify serial port driver settings.

param

Restart port if driver error detected

Check this field if DNC-Max should attempt to automatically restart the port if a driver error is detected.

param

Auto start offline ports

Check this field if DNC-Max should monitor serial ports that are offline, and automatically start the port when the serial port becomes available.

This is useful if the serial port is on a network hub that might be powered off when DNC-Max is started, or if the serial port is on a USB device that might be disconnected.

param

Refresh port

Check this field if DNC-Max should check the serial port when a ping fails.

While DNC-Max is checking the port, no data can be received from the CNC. The time it takes to check the port depends on the serial hardware, but typically from 2-30 seconds.

param

Refresh interval (minutes)

Use this field to specify how often DNC-Max should check the status of the serial port.

While DNC-Max is checking the port, no data can be received from the CNC. The time it takes to check the port depends on the serial hardware, but typically from 2-30 seconds.

param

Max port close time (secs.)

Use this field to specify the maximum port close time.

Use this option if the port hangs when stopping, something that is usually caused by a problem with the driver.

To disable this feature specify 0.

Do not use this feature unless there is a problem stopping the port.

param

Ping device at a regular interval

Check this field to 'ping' a network device at a regular interval (30s-90s).

param

Check serial port if ping fails

Check this field if DNC-Max should check the serial port when a ping fails.

While DNC-Max is checking the port, no data can be received from the CNC. The time it takes to check the port depends on the serial hardware, but typically from 2-30 seconds.

param

Log error when ping fails

Check this field to add an error to the port log when a ping fails.

If you don't check this field, and info message is logged.

param

Limit connection load

Check this field to limit the TCP/IP connection load.

When this option is checked the number of simultaneous connections is limited to the 'Max TCP/IP connections per second' specified in the server configuration.

When using XP SP2 or newer this option should be checked, and the max connections in the server should be set to 8.

Some serial devices uses 2 connections per port, in this case the max connections should be set to 4 in the server.

param

Ping before connecting

Check this field to limit the TCP/IP connection load by pinging the device before attempting to open the COM port.

If the device does not respond to a ping message no attempt is made to open the port.

param

Port address

Use this field to specify the name or IP address of the device to ping.

param

Serial Booster

Use this field to activate the 'Serial Booster'.

The Serial Booster can increase the transfer rate from DNC-Max to the control, especially when using network serial ports.

Using this option can create flow control problems, and should only be used if you are experiencing performance problems.

param

Read block size

Use this field to specify the serial read block size.

Normally you should not change this setting unless instructed to do so by CIMCO Support!

Direct TCP/IP connection

param

Device type

Use this field to select the device type.

param

Device address

Use this field to specify the IP address or hostname of the device.

param

Port

Use this field to specify the port number on the device.

Example: On a 4 port device, the ports are numbered 1-4.

param

Enable FIFO

Check this field to enable the FIFO buffer.

Do not enable the FIFO buffer is you are experiencing flow control problems.

param

Restart device when restarting port

Check this field to restart the device. It takes 2-10 seconds longer to re-start the port when this option is selected, and the device will normally beep. DNC-Max will automatically attempt to restart the device if a problem is detected, so normally you don't need to check this option.

Do not check this option on devices with more than one port!

param

Attempt auto re-connect

Check this field to have DNC-Max attempt to re-connect without restarting the port when a problem is detected with the device.

param

Log device problems in port log

Check this field to log a error in the port log when a problem is detected with the connection to the device.

param

Enable debug information

Check this field it device debugging information should be added to the port debug log.

Only check this field if instructed to do so by CIMCO support.

Leaving this field checked will impact the communication speed.

param

Do not read device info

Check this field if DNC-Max should not attempt to get the model and firmware info from the device.

Check this option if you are having trouble connecting to a device.

param

Ping before connecting

Check this field to limit the TCP/IP connection load by pinging the device before attempting to open the COM port.

If the device does not respond to a ping message no attempt is made to open the port.

param

Restart device when refreshing

Check this field to restart the device when refreshing the port.