"Talk2M Free+" Remote-Access Connectivity Solution For eWON Devices
"Talk2M Free+" Remote-Access Connectivity Solution For eWON Devices
"Talk2M Free+" Remote-Access Connectivity Solution For eWON Devices
Solutions
“Talk2M Free+”
Remote-Access Connectivity Solution
for eWON devices
Purpose:
This document describes how to configure and use a remote-access connection to your eWON, using
the Talk2M Free+ connectivity service.
Pre-requisites:
This document is not a substitute for a sound understanding of the basics of networking.
The steps required to set up a successful “eWON + Talk2MFree+” remote-access connection are
shown on the next page.
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7. Modify the Internet connection settings, of the eWON, to suit the remote site
8. Verify the eWON connection to Talk2MFree+, from the remote site
-------------------------
Step 9 connects the User with the remote site, through the Talk2M Free+ service.
Hardware requirements
In order to follow this guide you will need:
• 1 eWON with VPN capabilities.
eWON 2005CD/4005CD which has 4 x LAN Ethernet ports, plus a WAN Ethernet interface
eWON 2104/4104CD which has 4 x LAN Ethernet ports, plus an integrated ADSL modem
eWON Flexy 102/202 which has 1 x LAN Ethernet and Serial ports , plus 4 extension card slots
eWON Flexy 103/203 which has 1 x LAN Ethernet and MPI ports, plus 4 extension card slots
Note: For available extension cards please visit the Product section of www.ewon.biz.
The best way to upgrade your eWON's firmware is to use the eBuddy software.
Before configuring each eWON device, download the latest version of firmware from the
Internet, to your PC, using the ‘Update eBuddy’ option, in the eBuddy software.
Before you can use the Talk2M Free+ service, for remote access to machines or systems, you will need
to install the eCatcher software (version 4.3.0 or later) on your PC.
Connect your PC to the Internet.
Then download the eCatcher software from the Support section of the eWON website .www.ewon.biz.
Launch eCatcher: you will see the screen below, after installation.
Click on the "Create a Free+ account" link and enter the required values, as shown below.
To check whether the Account name you wish to use is available, use the "check availability" link.
By default, "admin" is configured as the user name of the first created user account.
(it is possible to change this ‘admin’ name, if you wish).
This first User is the administrator for the account and creates all subsequent User names.
(The Free+ service allows you to create multiple users under the same account.)
The next window will allow you to enter detailed information about your company.
Once you are finished, click on the Create button to create your account.
A message indicating that your account was successfully created will be displayed.
Note: In order to complete your account creation, you have to activate it. The activation procedure is
sent to the email address you entered. Please check your emails.
Once your Talk2M Free+ account has been created, you may log in to your account.
Launch the eCatcher software and specify the Username, Password and your Talk2M Account.
Select the Login button.
(Directly after creating your Account, the login information will already be filled in automatically)
Selecting ‘Remember me’ will cause these values to be remembered, each time eCatcher is launched.
Here you can manage all Users and eWONs to your account (Add, Delete, Edit, etc.)
.Here, you are declaring the details of a machine, or site, which will be connected via Talk2MFree+, and
where you will install an eWON device.
(At this stage, your eWON unit is not yet configured.)
On the left side of the eCatcher interface, click on the eWONs button (default view).
To add a new eWON to your account, click on the + icon in the My eWONs list section, as below:
The eWON name and Description on the Talk2M server should be meaningful, in order to allow a User
to uniquely identify the specific remote site/machine. (These can be edited at any time)
--------------------------
--------------------------
------------------------
EWON Flexy All models
• All eWON Flexy models have extension ports and potentially all three different modems can be
installed.
------------------------
For 2101CD, 4101CD and Flexy with 3G GSM card, you have 2 options, depending upon the type of
SIM card. (For details on these modems, please see the support pages of www.ewon.biz).
If you specify a Triggered (GPRS / EDGE / 3G) connection, then you will be asked to specify the phone
number. With an eWON that is not ‘Always-on’, the User needs to send a ‘Wake-Up SMS’ message, to
force the eWON to create a VPN connection to the Talk2MFree+ Server.
(Details of this process can be seen on the support pages of www.ewon.biz).
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After specifying the connection type, click on Next.
Here you can enter additional information concerning your remote connection.
Custom Fields provide a way of categorizing remote sites and / or Talk2M users.
E.g. by machine type, by PLC type, by country, by region, etc.
The Custom Fields are easily set-up in the Talk2M account, in the ‘Account’ area.
Click on Create to add the eWON to the eWON list of your Talk2M account.
The Talk2M Connectivity page opens:
The Talk2M system is very secure. So the VPN security keys and certificates are sophisticated and
complex.
Obviously, the eWON needs to ‘know’ these unique VPN security keys and certificates, in order to make
a successful, secure connection, to the Talk2M Free+ server.
To simplify the process of linking an eWON with the Talk2M Server, eWON have created a user-friendly
method, by which the Talk2MFree+ server can configure the VPN keys and certificates, into an eWON,
using an unique eWON “Activation Code”.
Under the Configure via Activation Key section you will find the Activation Key needed for the eWON.
Click on the Copy to Clipboard icon to copy the activation key into the clipboard of your PC.
Note:
The activation Key method is the recommended method and is most widely used method.
However, you will see that also 2 other configuration methods:
• Configure via eWON Name: During the eWON Talk2M wizard, instead of using the Activation Key
you can also specify the eWON Name and use the user name and password of your Free+
account.
• Configure via SMS: If your eWON has a GSM modem and if the eWON is already configured for
Internet connection, then you can also send an SMS to the eWON containing the activation key.
When eWON receives the SMS, it will then trigger automatically the Talk2M connection wizard and
will configure itself to connect to the Talk2M server.
Disconnect your PC from the Internet and connect your PC to any LAN port of the eWON.
The LAN ports of the eWON are where machine devices (e.g. PLC, HMI, servo, etc) are connected, as
illustrated below, using a 2005CD / 4005CD eWON model.
Flexy models with different WAN extension cards and eWON Cosy will emulate the same behavior as
the diagram below.
WAN
Connection
LAN
connections
WAN
connection
These network settings are configured into each device (e.g. PLC, HMI, servo, etc), using the
appropriate device configuration software.
Note:
If you are configuring an eWON for the first time, we strongly suggest that you read the brief document,
"Quick Start Guide for eWON", which has been shipped with your eWON.
This document shows step by step instructions, to change the IP address of the LAN port of the eWON.
----------------
Connect the machine devices (e.g. PLC, HMI, servo, etc) to any of the LAN ports of the eWON.
Connect your PC to any of the LAN ports of the eWON.
Set the eWON’s LAN IP address, using eBuddy, to suit the IP addresses to be used on the machine
LAN. Please refer to eBuddy Manual for detailed explaination.
Check that the PC can ‘PING’ the eWON and ‘PING’ the other devices on the eWON LAN.
There are two ways to access eWON web-configuration pages:
1. Open a web browser and enter the assigned IP address for the eWON in the search bar.
Sign into the web-configuration using the following default details:
Default Username = adm
Default Password = adm
2. Using eBuddy’s list view double click on the eWON available to browse to the web-
configuration pages. Use the same default details as above.
----------------
The easiest way to configure the Internet connection of your eWON is to use the Internet Connection
wizard.
To open the eWON wizard page, click on Configuration in the toolbar and click on the wizard
icon in the right corner of the window.
Click on the icon next to Configure INTERNET Connection to launch the wizard.
According to your eWON type you have, you will have the possibility to choose between different
connections, depending upon the modem of the eWON, to which you are connected:-
• Modem Connection
• Ethernet WAN connection
• ADSL Modem
You will need the following information, before you can configure the WAN port settings:
o IP address
o Subnet mask
o Gateway address
o DNS address 1
o DNS address 2
NOTE 1:
Initially, you should set up the eWON in your office / workshop / assembly area.
So, these network settings will be settings related to your workshop Ethernet network.
When the eWON is installed on site, these network settings will be related to the Ethernet network at
the installation site (i.e the final customer’s network).
NOTE 2:
The IP address used on the WAN port must be in a different network range to the the IP addresses
used on the LAN
e.g. If the LAN port = 192.168.100.xxx, then the WAN IP must not = 192.168.100.xxx
NOTE 3:
It is generally advisable to use DHCP option for the Ethernet WAN Connection unless all the required
fields are known.
Flexy PSTN
Extension Card
You will need the following information, before you can configure the WAN port settings:-
o ADSL Username
o ADSL Password
o Protocol mode (usually = PPPoA VCMux in the UK)
o VPI value (usually = 0 in the UK)
o VCI value (usually = 38 in the UK)
o ISP DNS address 1
o ISP DNS address 2
NOTE 1:
Initially, you should set up the eWON in your office / workshop / assembly area.
So, these ADSL settings will be settings related to your workshop ADSL line.
When the eWON is installed on site, these ADSL settings will be related the ADSL line at the installation
site (i.e the final customer’s site).
NOTE 2:
It is usual to select “Test online address”, during the Wizard, for the 2104CD / 4104CD / Flexy models.
Flexy 3G/GSM
Extension Card
Here are values that have been proven to work, from the major UK cellular providers.
NOTE 1:
Initially, you should set up the eWON in your office / workshop / assembly area.
So, these cellular settings will be settings related to the SIM card used in your workshop ADSL line.
When the eWON is installed on site, these cellular settings will be related to the SIM card used at the
installation site (i.e the final customer’s site).
NOTE 6:
It is usual to select “Test online address”, during the Wizard, for the 2104CD / 4104CD / Flexy models.
Once the wizard has completed, eWON should display a message like in the screen shot displayed
below:
The Internet Connection “tick” means that the eWON is correctly configured for an Internet
connection.
The Online IP Check “tick” means that the eWON was actually able to reach an IP address on Internet.
(NOTE: Sometimes online IP check fails. This may not be important, so continue to the next Wizard
anyway).
Detailed information of the use of the wizard can be found in following document: AUG-019-0-EN-
(eWON Configuration for Internet Access Using the Wizard).
http://support.ewon.biz/docs/Talk2M_Free.htm
Now that the eWON is configured to successfully make an Internet connection, you can launch the
Talk2M connection wizard.
This will configure the VPN settings inside the eWON to allow the remote connection using Talk2M
services.
To open the eWON wizard page, click on Configuration in the toolbar and click on the wizard
icon in the right corner of the window.
Click on the Register with Activation Key option and paste in the Activation Key, as copied in the
previous section (Ctrl + V).
Only check this option if you need to specify a Proxy server for the Internet connection.
The eWON will then connect to the Talk2M server, using its unique Activation Key and retrieve the VPN
keys and certificates.
Once this process is complete, the result will be displayed on the Wizard page as shown below.
The Internet Communications settings during testing (e.g. in your office workshop / assembly area) and
on site, will normally be different.
For example:
• The Internet settings for the LAN in your workshop will be different from the Internet settings on
the customer’s site
• In your workshop, the data SIM card used in the eWON will be an O2 SIM card. At the site, the
SIM card to be used will be a Vodafone SIM card
So at the time of installation, it is usually necessary to modify the Internet Communications settings for
the eWON.
Method 1:
To make these modifications, you can re-run the eWON “Wizards” again.
After you chose to re-run the “Internet Connection Wizard”, then it is highly recommended that you also
re-run the Talk2M Connection Wizard.
Method 2:
Alternatively, if the modifications are small (e.g. just modified WAN port settings), it is often quicker and
easier to directly edit the WAN settings, via the ‘System Set-up’ pages under the eWON’s
Configuration tab.
For example:
• To modify just the settings of an eWON’s WAN port, it is easy to edit the settings direct in the
eWON’s Configuration pages, by navigating to…..
System Setup >Communication >Network connections >Ethernet >Eth2-WAN
• For a WiFi WAN card navigate to ….
System Setup > Communication > Networking > Internet >Connection > WIFI – WAN
The network settings for the WAN port will now need to be suitable for the Ethernet network at the
installation site (i.e. the final customer’s network).
You will need to obtain the following network information, from the end-customer, before you
can configure the WAN port of the eWON:
o IP address
o Subnet mask
o Gateway address
o DNS address 1
o DNS address 2
You may also need the proxy Settings for the site, if a Proxy Server is used on the site:
o Proxy Server Address
o Proxy Server Port
o Proxy Username
o Proxy Username
NOTE 1:
The eWON functions as a VPN Router.
The IP address used on the WAN port (customer’s network) must be in a different network range to the
IP addresses used on the LAN (machine network)
NOTE 2:
The final customer will provide an Ethernet cable, to connect the WAN port of the eWON to the site-
network.
Before connecting this cable to the eWON’s WAN port, do the following:
• Connect the cable to the network port of a laptop (PC)
• Change the network settings of the network port to the same settings given to you, for the
eWON (i.e. those mentioned above)
• Run the “Talk2MconnectionChecker” software
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The “Talk2MconnectionChecker” software is used to check that the network settings you have been
given, by the end customer, are correct and that, using these settings, it is possible to reach the Talk2M
server, through the customer’s network.
If all is OK, then the software should give you a display like that shown below.
If all is OK, then the eWON can be given these network settings and should be able to reach the
Talk2M server, through the customer’s network
If any errors occur, then these errors are caused by security restrictions on the customer’s network.
Please see Appendix B for details of these errors and what they mean.
Flexy PSTN
Extension Card
The ADSL settings will now need to be for the ADSL line at the installation site.
You will need to obtain the following information, from the final end-customer (or provider of the
ADSL line), before you can configure the Internet Connection:
o ADSL Username
o ADSL Password
o Protocol mode (usually = PPPoA VCMux in the UK)
o VPI value (usually = 0 in the UK)
o VCI value (usually = 38 in the UK)
o ISP DNS address 1
o ISP DNS address 2
Flexy 3G/GSM
Extension Card
You will need to obtain the following information, regarding the cellular SIM card to be used in
the eWON, at the final installation site, before you can configure the Internet Connection :-
o Access Point Name (APN)
o APN Username
o APN Password
o SIM PIN (normally not used)
NOTE 1:
These cellular settings will be related to the SIM card used at the installation site (i.e. the final
customer’s site).
When the Wizards have been successfully run on the final installation, it is possible to verify that the
eWOn is successfully connected to the Talk2MFree+.
The eWON will be given a VPN IP address, which can be seen by navigating to the Diagnostic pages in
the eWON
Main Menu > Diagnostic > Status > Status (bottom left corner)
The ‘VPN Allocated IP’ address is the address given to the eWON, by the Talk2MFree+ server.
Now that the eWON is configured to connect to Talk2M, we can utilise the remote connection to the
eWON.
Log into your eCatcher Free+ account and display the Device Window (default view).
Any eWON unit which have been correctly configured and are connected to the Internet should now be
displayed as “Online”, with a green tick in the status column.
This means that the eWON has established a VPN connection with the Talk2M server.
In the eWON list, identify the eWON, to which you want to make a remote connection.
To establish the remote connection using this eWON, double-click the online icon or select the eWON
device from the list and click on the Connect button displayed in the eWON list menu.
eCatcher will now establish the VPN connection to the Talk2M server.
To display the eWON Web page, click on the eWON’s name link in the Active Connection section, as
displayed in the following picture.
Your Web Browser should show up displaying the eWON Web pages using the VPN IP address of the
eWON.
Once you finished your remote connection, click on the disconnect button in the Active connection
section. This will close the VPN connection with the eWON.
Probably the primary purpose of using an eWON is to connect to some ‘target’ device(s), located
behind the eWON, at the remote site.
There are 2 methods to achieve this:
• Configure the IP address of the eWON as the Gateway IP in the target Ethernet device(s) (this
is the preferred method, since it follows the standard rules of networking)
• Use the eWON ‘Plug-n-Route’ facility
Plug’n Route
Since eWON firmware version 6.2s0, the Plug'n Route function automatically routes the connected
Ethernet devices. So no gateways IP is required on the Ethernet device behind the eWON.
The Plug'n Route function is automatically activated when the Talk2M wizard is executed.
You can enable / disable the Plug'n Route feature in the eWON setup page as shown below:
Configuration> System Setup > Communication > Network Config > Routing
In the eWON Properties window, you will see the eWON Name, Description, Custom Fields, plus the
eWON’s LAN (Remote Connection) settings.
The IP address displayed here must correspond with the LAN IP address of your eWON on site.
To change the Remote Connection settings, click on the Modify button on the top of the page.
Once the modification is finished, click on the OK button which is displayed on the bottom of the
window when in edit mode.
If your computer connects to the Internet, through a Proxy server, you will need to enter the Proxy
settings, in the eCatcher software.
Before logging in, click on the Settings menu, displayed on the bottom of the eCatcher login window.
As seen in the page below:
Click on the Modify... button on the right of the zone to edit the connection type.
The “Talk2MconnectionChecker” software is used to check that the network settings you have been
given, by the end customer, are correct and that, using these settings, it is possible to reach the Talk2M
server, through the customer’s network.
If any errors occur, then these errors are caused by security restrictions on the customer’s network.
These ports need to be open, in an outbound direction, through the customer’s network / firewall.
See Appendix F, for full details of ports and IP addresses used by the Talk2M Free+ solution.
Please see the screen grabs on the following pages. These shows the effects upon a
Talk2MconnectionChecker test, when various ports are blocked, in an outbound direction.
Errors = None
Warnings = None
Errors
= UDP connection not possible
Warnings = None
NOTE: UDP is blocked, but this will not stop a healthy Talk2M connection
Errors = None
Warnings
= PING timeouts to Talk2M Servers
NOTE: PING packets do not get through, but this will not stop a healthy Talk2M connection
Errors
= UDP connection not possible.
Warnings
= PING timeouts to Talk2M Servers
NOTE: UDP is blocked, but this will not stop a healthy Talk2M connection
NOTE: PING packets do not get through, but this will not stop a healthy Talk2M connection
Errors
= TCP connection exception : Network is unreachable
or
= TCP connection exception : as.pro.talk2m.com
Warnings = None
The LAN ports of the eWON are where machine devices (e.g. PLC, HMI, servo, etc) are connected, as
illustrated below, using a 2005CD / 4005CD eWON model. This same configuration can be reproduced
using Flexy 201 with an Ethernet or WiFi WAN extension card or Flexy 202 / 203 with an Ethernet or
WiFi WAN extension card and external Ethernet switch.
WAN
Connection
LAN
connections
WAN
connection
Use the table below to plan and record the network settings of your LAN devices
Device name/ type LAN IP address Subnet mask Gateway
eWON N/A
Installation laptop EWON’s IP address
EWON’s IP address
EWON’s IP address
EWON’s IP address
EWON’s IP address
EWON’s IP address
EWON’s IP address
These settings will be given to you by the IT / network engineers at the installation site
You will need the following information, before you can configure the WAN port settings:
o IP address
o Subnet mask
o Gateway address
o DNS address 1
o DNS address 2
Use the table below to record the WAN port settings for your eWON device.
EWON WAN port setting Value
IP address =
Subnet mask =
Gateway =
DNS1 =
DNS2 =
You may also need the proxy Settings for the site, if a Proxy Server is used on the installation
site:
o Proxy Server Address
o Proxy Server Port
o Proxy Username
o Proxy Password
Use the table below to record the Proxy settings for your eWON device.
EWON Proxy setting Value
Proxy Server Address =
Proxy Server Port =
Proxy Username =
Proxy Password =
The LAN ports of the eWON are where machine devices (e.g. PLC, HMI, servo, etc) are connected, as
illustrated below, using a 2104CD / 4104CD eWON model. This same configuration can be reproduced
using Flexy 201 with a PSTN extension card or Flexy 202 / 203 with a PSTN extension card and
external Ethernet switch.
WAN
Connection
LAN
connections
WAN
connection
Use the table below to plan and record the network settings of your LAN devices
Device name/ type LAN IP address Subnet mask Gateway
eWON N/A
Installation laptop EWON’s IP address
EWON’s IP address
EWON’s IP address
EWON’s IP address
EWON’s IP address
EWON’s IP address
EWON’s IP address
You will need to obtain the following information, regarding the cellular SIM card to be used in
the eWON, at the final installation site, before you can configure the Internet Connectione :-
o ADSL Username
o ADSL Password
o Protocol mode (usually = PPPoA VCMux in the UK)
o VPI value (usually = 0 in the UK)
o VCI value (usually = 38 in the UK)
o ISP DNS address 1
o ISP DNS address 2
Use the table below to record the Cellular settings for your eWON device.
The LAN ports of the eWON are where machine devices (e.g. PLC, HMI, servo, etc) are connected, as
illustrated below, using a 2101CD / 4101CD eWON model and an additional Ethernet switch. This same
configuration can be reproduced using Flexy 201 with a 3G/GSM extension card or Flexy 202 / 203 with
a 3G/GSM extension card and external Ethernet switch.
WAN WAN
Connection connection
LAN
connections
Use the table below to plan and record the network settings of your LAN devices
Device name/ type LAN IP address Subnet mask Gateway
eWON N/A
Installation laptop EWON’s IP address
EWON’s IP address
EWON’s IP address
EWON’s IP address
EWON’s IP address
You will need to obtain the following information, regarding the cellular SIM card to be used in
the eWON, at the final installation site, before you can configure the Internet Connectione :-
o Access Point Name (APN)
o APN Username
o APN Password
o SIM PIN (normally not used)
Use the table below to record the Cellular settings for your eWON device.
1) Access Server:
Address: as.pro.talk2m.com (92.52.111.210)
Protocol and port: HTTPS (port 443)
2) VPN servers:
Protocol and port:
- either UDP port 1194
- either TCP port 443
If the Internet connection is established through a Proxy server, then eCatcher will use the TCP
protocol.
Important: Since eCatcher 4.1, when eCatcher connects through a Proxy server, it will use the
hostname (and not the IP address) to connect to the VPN server.
The Proxy should allow outbound connections on Port TCP 443 to hostname: *.talk2m.com.
1) Access Server:
Address: as.pro.talk2m.com (92.52.111.210)
Protocol and port: HTTPS (port 443)
2) VPN servers:
Protocol and port:
- either UDP port 1194
- either TCP port 443
If the Internet connection is established through a Proxy server, then eCatcher will use the TCP
protocol.
Important: Since firmware 6.4s6, when eWON connects through a Proxy server, it will use the
hostname (and not the IP address) to connect to the VPN server.
So the Proxy on local site should allow outbound connections on Port TCP 443 to hostname:
*.talk2m.com.
No need to encode all Talk2M VPN server IP addresses on the Proxy server.