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Netlinx connectivity

4 November 2008, 07:35 by Chad Reynoldson

Many times in a corporate setting, it is necessary to merge the isolated A/V control network into the corporate network of the customer. This post is a step by step list to help you make the correct assignments as well as enlighten you to the complexity that it can take on.

You will need to get 2 static IP addresses from the customer’s IT department: one for the netlinx master and the other for the WAP (wireless access point). You should also ask the customer to provide a hostname, subnet mask, and gateway for each of the static IP addresses. Finally, ask the customer for the IP addresses of the DNS servers (up to 3 IPs are supported) as well as a domain suffix (if any).

The touch panels will have dynamic IP addresses and will connect to the netlinx master via it’s static IP entered into the URL list on the touch panel.

Here’s an initial task list to perform for netlinx connectivity. This list assumes the a/v network is initially isolated from the customer’s network (not connected) and there is no DHCP server in the isolated network. If there is a DHCP server in the isolated network, it should be turned off so that the customer’s network will assign dynamic IPs.

Netlinx Master Settings

First you need to configure the netlinx master for a static IP.

  1. Connect your laptop to the netlinx master using a standard null serial cable.
  2. Using hyperterminal:
    1. Connect to the appropriate com port at 38400,N,8,1 with no flow control.
    2. Type “echo on” and enter.
    3. Type “hello” and enter. You should see “how are you doing?”.
    4. Type “set ip” and enter. Follow the prompts below:
      1. Assign the HostName (provided by the customer).
      2. Set the IP type to Static.
      3. Enter the static IP address (provided by the customer).
      4. Enter the subnet mask (provided by the customer).
      5. Enter the gateway IP (provided by the customer).
      6. Verify the settings with a Yes or No.
    5. Type “set dns” and enter. Follow the prompts below:
      1. Enter the domain suffix (provided by the customer).
      2. Enter DNS entry #1 (provided by the customer).
      3. Enter DNS entry #2 (provided by the customer).
      4. Enter DNS entry #3 (provided by the customer).
      5. Verify the settings with a Yes or No.
    6. Type “reboot” and enter.

AMX WAP-250G

Next you need to configure the AMX WAP-250G for a static IP. AMX recommends doing the initial configuration steps with a direct ethernet connection.

  1. Connect a standard ethernet cable from your laptop directly to the WAP.
  2. Assign your laptop a static IP address (try 192.168.1.200).
  3. Using internet explorer, navigate to http://192.168.1.240. This is the default static IP of the WAP.
  4. Login to the WAP using the default username Admin and the default password 1988.
  5. Run through the setup wizard:
    1. You will probably want to keep the mode as AP (access point).
    2. You will set it to static IP and modify it with the static IP (provided by the customer).
    3. You will set the subnet mask (provided by the customer).
    4. You will set the gateway (provided by the customer).
    5. You will set the DNS IP address (provided by the customer).
    6. You will disable the DHCP server. If the control network will not connect to the customer’s network, you may use this DHCP server instead.
    7. You will want to coordinate with the customer’s IT department on the wireless settings to implement. Here are the default settings for VAP #1:
      1. The SSID is defaulted to AMX. You cannot disable SSID broadcast from the wizard, but from the advanced setup.
      2. The wireless security option is defaulted to None. The customer will probably want to change this to WEP or WPA-PSK.
    8. You can configure another VAP #2. The security settings must match VAP #1. AMX suggests restricting VAP #1 for touch panels and let all other wireless devices use VAP #2.
    9. You will need to reboot the WAP for these settings to be applied.

Connect the two networks

Now you should have the static IP addresses assigned to both the netlinx master and the WAP and both units should be rebooted. The remainder of these tasks require dynamic IP addresses assigned by a DHCP server that is provided by the customer’s network.

Now is a good time to reset your laptop from the static IP assigned earlier to configure the WAP. You should also connect to the customer’s network. You may want to use internet explorer and navigate to the static IP addresses previously assigned to the netlinx master and the WAP. This will be a good indication of whether you got it right.

It is time to connect the ethernet switch for the control system to the customer’s network. Again it is important to point out that there must not be any devices in the isolated control network that has a DHCP server installed.

AMX Touch Panel Settings

You need to configure each touch panel with it’s correct device number, set it to DHCP, assign the master connection URL, modify the wireless settings (if any), and configure the G4 Web Control.

All of this is done from the protected setup within the touch panel. The default password is 1988.

  1. Under setup/protected setup:
    1. Enter “Device Number” (see DEFINE_DEVICE section of netlinx code).
  2. Under setup/protected setup/system connection:
    1. Under “IP Settings” – Change DHCP/Static to DHCP.
    2. Under “IP Settings” – Change the HostName to a unique identifier (no spaces or periods). In some cases, you may want the customer to provide the hostname.
    3. Under “Master Connection” – Change Mode to URL.
    4. Under “Master Connection” – Change Master IP/URL to the static IP address of the netlinx master previously assigned.
  3. If this touch panel is wireless, under setup/protected setup/wireless connection:
    1. Under “Wireless Settings” – Change the SSID to your wap settings.
    2. Under “Wireless Settings” – Change the Encryption to your wap settings.
    3. Under “Wireless Settings” – Assign key #1 to your wap settings.
    4. Using the touch panel, verify link quality, signal strength, and data rate of the wireless connectivity. This will give you an indication that your wireless settings are correct.
  4. Under setup/protected setup/G4 web control:
    1. Enable or disable G4 web control.
    2. Assign a user-friendly “Web Control Name” such as Podium Panel.
  5. Reboot the panel and verify it connects to the netlinx master (green connection status under setup).
  6. Repeat these steps for all other touch panels.

AMX NXA-ENET24

AMX sells a very nice managed ethernet switch, the NXA-ENET24. It is intended to be used with an AMX control system that integrates a Max server requiring a gigabit network.

If you have a managed ethernet switch, you are stepping into advanced network setup. This is beyond this basic tutorial. It is recommended that you use this ethernet switch to setup two VLANs. The first VLAN would be used for the control system and the second VLAN would be used for the AV portion of the Max server and clients.

Work with the customer’s IT department

In some customer’s environments, it would be recommended to not take on the tasks listed here. Rather, you should coordinate with the customer’s IT department and work with them on connectivity, leaving all of the setup, configuration, and security to them. After all, it is their network.

I would even ask them to place an ethernet switch in your A/V rack for you to connect to and that they manage. You simply ask them for a single static IP address that you assign to the netlinx master.

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