Omni Flow Computers, Inc.

Date: 06 03 03 Author(s): Phil Cates Version: TB-020101

O mni S
Omni e r i a l / E t h er n e t - M o d b u s M
Serial/Ethernet-Modbus ux M
Mux odule
Module
M odel 6
Model 8-6209: S
68-6209: etup &
Setup & IInstallation
nstallation

Contents
User Manual Reference
This technical bulletin
Scope....................................................................................................... 2
supplements the information Abstract ................................................................................................... 2
contained in the User
Manual, applicable to all Features and Specifications.................................................................. 2
Omni flow computer
firmware revisions. Modbus Support ..................................................................................... 3
Installation .............................................................................................. 3
Omni Serial/Ethernet-
Modbus Mux Module
Quick Installation Reference............................................................................. 3
68-6209: Jumper Settings ................................................................................................. 5
Setup & Installation Address Selection.............................................................................................. 6
All Omni 3000/6000 Flow IRQ Selection.................................................................................................... 6
Computers provide optional
10BaseT Ethernet capability Channel Selection ............................................................................................. 6
via Omni’s proprietary
communication module
Termination Selection ....................................................................................... 7
model 68-6209. Wiring ............................................................................................................... 7
LED Indicators ........................................................................................ 8
Getting Tech Support
RS-232/RS-485 ................................................................................................. 8
Omni Technical support is
available at: Ethernet ............................................................................................................. 8
Phone: (281) 240-6161 Repeater ............................................................................................................ 9
Fax: (281) 240-6162 Configuration .......................................................................................... 9
Technical information is Omni 3000/6000 ............................................................................................... 9
available on our website at: Modbus Mux ................................................................................................... 10
www.omniflow.com
Setting a Temporary IP address ...................................................................... 10
Or send email to:
Configuration Menus ...................................................................................... 12
[email protected]
Configuration Options Menu .......................................................................... 13
Ethernet Parameters Menu .............................................................................. 13
Host Parameters Menu .................................................................................... 15
Repeater Parameters Menu ............................................................................. 17
Security Parameters Menu .............................................................................. 18
System Information Menu .............................................................................. 20
Using Omnicom over TCP/IP............................................................... 21
Windows NT/2000.......................................................................................... 21
Windows 95/98 ............................................................................................... 21

TB-020101A All Revisions 1

Omni 6000 / Omni 3000 Flow Computers Technical Bulletin

Scope
This technical bulletin applies to all firmware revisions of Omni 3000/6000 flow
computers.

Abstract
Omni Flow Computers manufactures a communications module that provides
10BaseT Ethernet capability to existing 3000/6000 Flow Computers. The
module model currently produced is:
68-6209 Serial/Ethernet-Modbus Mux (SE) Module

The SE Module provides two communications channels. One channel is an RS-

232/RS-485 Serial channel and the other is a 10BaseT Ethernet channel.

Features and Specifications

The Omni SE Module provides one RS-232/RS-485 port, one 10BaseT Ethernet
port, one 2-wire RS-485 Repeater port and one RS-232 Configuration Port. The
board can be used with existing Omni 3000/6000 flow computers with no
additional firmware modifications required. This is achieved by the Ethernet
port “emulating” a serial port. Address selection for Serial Module #1 (S1),
Serial Module #2 (S2) or Serial Module #3 (S3) is provided along with the
ability to swap the Serial and Ethernet channels.
Ethernet/Serial The RS-232/RS-485 Serial port is hardware identical to one half the Omni RS-
Terminal Assignments 232-C / RS-485 Serial I/O Module model #68-6205-B and maintains the same
Ethernet and serial signals I/O connector pinout and specifications. It can be configured for RS-232, 4-wire
have fixed terminal
assignments, even when
RS-485 or 2-wire RS-485 communications. The signals always occupy contacts
the function of the two are 1 through 6 of the backpanel terminal strip (see Omni Technical Bulletin TB-
swapped. Serial signals 980503 for additional information).
always correspond to
terminals 1 through 6 and
Ethernet signals always The Ethernet port supports encapsulated Modbus in ASCII or RTU format,
correspond to terminals 7 Modbus/TCP and remote configuration via Telnet. Ethernet signals always
through 12 of the Omni occupy contacts 7 through 12 of the backpanel terminal strip Up to four
backpanel terminal strip.
simultaneous connections are supported along with one Telnet connection.
The Repeater port allows the Ethernet connections to be extended to additional
flow computers or compatible Modbus devices using a multi-dropped 2-wire
RS-485 communication link. Messages are routed to the Repeater port when
they are not destined for the Host flow computer.
The Flow Computer containing the SE Module is referred to as the Host. All
transactions containing the Modbus ID of the Host are routed internally to the
hosting flow computer while all others are routed out the Repeater port. The
Host and Repeater Ports can be accessed simultaneously with complete overlap
of the I/O. The communication parameters, such as baud rate or protocol, do not
need to be the same for the Host and Repeater ports.

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TB-020101A Omni Serial/Modbus Mux Module 68-6209: Setup & Installation

The onboard RS-232 configuration port allows local configuration of the

Modbus Mux parameters using a terminal emulator.

Modbus Support
Modbus/TCP Standard Modbus messages encapsulated in TCP/IP are supported in either RTU
More information about the or ASCII format and they may be intermixed. The messages will be converted
enhanced Modbus protocol based upon configuration parameters in the Modbus Mux. Modbus IDs are used
for TCP communications is
available on the Web at: to determine how the messages are routed. If the address matches the one
configured in the Host port parameters it is routed to the Host port. Otherwise,
www.modbus.org
it is routed out the Repeater port. The SE Module also supports Modbus/TCP,
which is an enhanced Modbus protocol used specifically for TCP
communications. The protocol you use depends on the driver supported in your
application program.

Installation
You can install the SE Module in any slot in the flow computer. The slot in
which you installed the module determines the backpanel terminal strip used for
the signals.

Quick Installation Reference

Follow these steps to install and configure the SE module.
Decide which Omni “serial port” you wish the Ethernet module to
occupy.
Set the Address, channel selection, and IRQ jumpers on the SE module.
Write down the six hex digits on the white label on the small plug in card
on the board. This is part of the MAC or hardware address of the
Ethernet module. The first part of the MAC address is always 0090C2.
Set the termination resistors for the RS232/485 serial port for the desired
mode.
Install the Repeater port termination jumpers if it will be the first or last
device on the 485 link.
Install the module in the Flow Computer.
Connect the supplied 10BaseT cable to the terminal strip on the back of
the Flow Computer that matches the slot occupied by the SE module.
Connect the 10BaseT cable to an active network and apply power to the
Flow Computer. The green Ethernet LNK LED should go active. If there
is network activity, the red Ethernet ACT LED will flash.

TB-020101 All Revisions 3

Omni 6000 / Omni 3000 Flow Computers Technical Bulletin

Set the serial parameters in the Flow Computer for the RS232/485 and
Ethernet channels to match the default Host parameters in the Modbus
Mux. If you need to change the default Host parameters, you must also
change the serial parameters for the Ethernet within the Flow Computer to
match the Host parameters.
Set a temporary IP address for the Modbus Mux using the procedure in
the Configuration section or connect a PC to the SE module using a nine-
pin serial cable plugged into the on-board configuration port.
Using Telnet or the serial connection, set the IP address, Netmask and
Default Gateway for the Modbus Mux. Save the parameters.
Go through the Modbus Mux menus and make any other parameter
changes desired. Any “Host” parameters must match the serial
parameters for the Ethernet within the Flow Computer.

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TB-020101A Omni Serial/Modbus Mux Module 68-6209: Setup & Installation

Jumper Settings
Figure 1 is a drawing of the Omni SE Module. The jumper and termination
resistor pack locations are magnified.

JB1 JB2 JB3

-RS485- 232/485
RS485 2WIRE

232/485
UNTERMINATED

-RS232- RS485
232/485 4WIRE TERMINATED

232 / 485

ETHERNET

REPEATER
GRN

GRN

GRN
RED

RED

RED

232/485=A
JP3 JP2

232/485=B
ADDRESS
JUMPER

A1 S1 S2 S3
A1 OUT IN OUT REPEATER
A2 A2 OUT OUT IN TERMINATION
2 3
IRQ

Figure 1. The Omni Serial/Ethernet-Modbus Mux (SE) Module Model

68-6209 showing jumper and termination resistor pack
locations.

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Omni 6000 / Omni 3000 Flow Computers Technical Bulletin

Address Selection
Depending on the model and firmware revision, Omni Flow Computers can
support up to three Serial Modules. Each Serial Module provides two channels,
which give a total of six communication channels. Jumper settings on the SE
Module select the module address as S1, S2 or S3 (see table below).

Jumper Settings for

Serial Module Address Selection
Module Address
Jumper S1 S2 S3
A1 OUT IN OUT
A2 OUT OUT IN

IRQ Selection
A jumper is provided for selecting the interrupt request (IRQ) level of the
module. IRQ level 2 or 3 can be selected. The jumper should be configured to
use IRQ level 2, unless an SV module is installed in the Flow Computer. If an
SV module is installed, IRQ level 3 should be used.

Channel Selection
An onboard jumper determines which “position” the Serial and Ethernet
channels occupy. If the Serial (RS-232/RS-485) is selected as port A the
Ethernet will be port B. If the Serial channel is selected as port B, then the
Ethernet channel will be port A. This allows the Ethernet channel to occupy any
serial position and work with other communication requirements of the flow
computer. If the module is selected as S1 and a printer is required on serial port
1, then RS-232/RS-485 should be selected for port A and Ethernet for port B.
The standard (default) port assignment for RS-232/RS-485 is PORT-A and
Ethernet is Port-B. These can be swapped by moving the jumper from position
RS-232/RS-485-A to RS-232/RS-485-B.
Port Numbers Assigned to SE Module Addresses and Channels
Module
RS-232/RS-485
Address Channel Selection Modbus Mux Port #
Serial Port #
Selection
S1 RS-232/RS-485 = A 1 2
S1 RS-232/RS-485 = B 2 1
S2 RS-232/RS-485 = A 3 4
S2 RS-232/RS-485 = B 4 3
S3 RS-232/RS-485 = A 5 6
S3 RS-232/RS-485 = B 6 5

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TB-020101A Omni Serial/Modbus Mux Module 68-6209: Setup & Installation

Termination Selection
Placement of resistor packs determines the serial wiring and termination of the
serial port. These are set according to the table below. Jumpers JP2 and JP3
provide termination for the repeater port.

Termination Resistor Pack Placement for Serial Port Configuration

Termination Resistor Packs
Serial Port JB1 JB2 JB3
Configuration Position Position Position
RS-232/ RS-485, RS-232/ RS-485
RS-232 RS-232
4-Wire Unterminated
RS-485, 2-Wire, RS-485
RS-485 RS-485, 2-Wire
Terminated Terminated
RS-485, 2-Wire, RS-232/ RS-485
RS-485 RS-485, 2-Wire
Unterminated Unterminated
RS-485, 4-Wire, RS-232/ RS-485, RS-485
RS-485
Terminated 4-Wire Terminated
RS-485, 4-Wire, RS-232/ RS-485, RS-232/ RS-485
RS-485
Unterminated 4-Wire Unterminated

Wiring
Ethernet/Serial The connections for the RS-232/RS-485 serial port always occupy contacts 1
Terminal Assignments through 6 of the appropriate Omni backpanel terminal strip (see table below).
Ethernet and serial port This is regardless of it being selected as port A or port B.
connections have fixed
terminal assignments,
regardless of which serial
port channel you select.
Omni Flow Computer Terminal Assignments for Serial Pinout
Serial signals always Terminal RS-232 RS-485 4-Wire RS-485 2-Wire
correspond to terminals 1
1 TX TX-B TX/RX-B
through 6 and Ethernet
signals always correspond 2 TERM  
to terminals 7 through 12 of 3 RX RX-B 
the Omni backpanel
terminal strip. 4 GND (Return) GND (Return) GND (Return)
5 RTS (Key Txmit) TX-A TX/RX-A
6 RDY (Ready) RX-A 

The Ethernet (10BaseT) and repeater ports always use terminals 7 through12 of
the Omni backpanel (see table below). A 10BaseT Ethernet cable is provided
for connection to the backpanel. One end is terminated for attaching to the
3000/6000 terminal blocks and the other end has an RJ45 jack. Care should be
taken on the terminal end to keep the + and - wires for TX and RX twisted
together as close to the terminal contacts as possible.

TB-020101 All Revisions 7

Omni 6000 / Omni 3000 Flow Computers Technical Bulletin

Omni Flow Computer Terminal Assignments

for Ethernet Pinout
Terminal Signal 10BaseT Cable Color
7 TX- Orange (Orange/White)
8 TX+ White/Orange
9 TX/RX-B (Repeater) 
10 TX/RX-A (Repeater) 
11 RX- Green (Green/White)
12 RX+ White/Green

LED Indicators
Figure 2 is a side view of the SE module showing the LED indicators.

Figure 2. LED indicators of the Omni Serial/Ethernet-Modbus Mux

(SE) Module Model 68-6209.

RS-232/RS-485
RTS (red) : Request to Send. Active when the serial port transmitter is
enabled for sending data.
TX (red) : Transmit Data. Active when data is being transmitted by
the serial port.
RDY (green) : Ready. Used for printers. Active when the device is ready.
RX (green) : Receive Data. Active when data is being received.

Ethernet
ACT (red) : Activity. Active when network activity is detected. Should
flash intermittently as data packets are detected on the
network. They do not have to be destined for the SE
Module.
TX (red) : Transmit Data. Active when the Host port is sending data
back to a network connection.
LNK (green) : Link. Active when a valid 10BaseT network is detected.
This should always be on when connected to a network.

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TB-020101A Omni Serial/Modbus Mux Module 68-6209: Setup & Installation

RX (green) : Receive Data. Active when the Host port is receiving data
from a network connection.

Repeater
RTS (red) : Request to Send. Active when the Repeater transmitter is
enabled for sending data.
TX (red) : Transmit Data. Active when data is being transmitted by
the Repeater port.
REN (green) : Receive Enable. Active when the Repeater’s receiver is
enabled.
RX (green) : Receive Data. Active when data is being received by the
Repeater port.

Configuration
No firmware changes are necessary to use the SE Module in the Omni
3000/6000. However, configuration entries need to be made in the Flow
Computer and in the Modbus Mux portion of the SE module. These
configuration parameters must match for proper operation. If you intend to
install two modules in a fully loaded 6000, you should consult with the factory
to verify PSU requirements.

Omni 3000/6000
In the Omni, configuration parameters should be entered for the serial ports that
the module channels occupy. The serial port numbers depend upon the address
and channel selections made on the SE Module.

Port Numbers Assigned to SE Module Addresses and Channels

Module
RS-232/RS-485
Address Channel Selection Modbus Mux Port #
Serial Port #
Selection
S1 RS-232/RS-485 = A 1 2
S1 RS-232/RS-485 = B 2 1
S2 RS-232/RS-485 = A 3 4
S2 RS-232/RS-485 = B 4 3
S3 RS-232/RS-485 = A 5 6
S3 RS-232/RS-485 = B 6 5

The parameters for the serial port where the RS-232/RS-485 port resides should
be made according to the intended application for that port.
The parameters for the serial port where the Modbus Mux resides need to match
parameters entered within the Modbus Mux module.

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Omni 6000 / Omni 3000 Flow Computers Technical Bulletin

The recommended settings are:

Recommended Modbus Mux

Serial Port Settings
Baud Rate 38400
Data Bits 8
Stop Bits 1
Parity None
Xmit Key Delay 0
Modbus ID 1
Modbus Type 0 (RTU)
Modicon Yes / No
Compatible (according to your
application)
CRC Enabled Yes

Modbus Mux
The Modbus Mux has a separate set of configuration parameters stored in Flash
memory. They are contained on the board so the module will function without
firmware changes in the 3000/6000. These parameters must be set before the
module can operate properly.
The configuration parameters can be changed locally through the on-board serial
port or remotely using any Telnet application. An inactivity timeout of 5
minutes is imposed. If no input is received over the timeout period, any non-
saved parameter changes will be discarded and the password prompt will be
displayed.
The serial port is configured for 9600 baud, 8 bits, 1 stop bit and no parity. A
standard RS-232, 9-pin serial cable can be connected directly from a PC to the
board. A NULL Modem cable is not required.
A separate password may be configured for serial and Telnet access. The
default password is “omni”. Remote configuration access may be disabled by
setting the Telnet port to zero.
Before Telnet can be used to configure the Modbus Mux, the IP address needs to
be set to a value that is compatible with the network you are using. The IP
address has a default of 10.0.0.1. The address can be changed using the on-
board serial configuration port or a temporary one can be set over the network
using commands on a PC.

Setting a Temporary IP address

The SE module is shipped from the factory with an IP address of 10.0.0.1. This
address will need to be changed to one that is compatible with your network

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TB-020101A Omni Serial/Modbus Mux Module 68-6209: Setup & Installation

before the Modbus Mux can be used. A temporary IP address can be assigned to
the SE module by using the following method. No Telnet session to the module
can be in progress at the time and there can be no active Modbus connections.
The MAC or hardware address of the SE module must be known. The MAC
address is a 48 bit number made up of a three byte manufacturer ID and a three
byte device ID. The manufacturer ID for the SE module is always 0090C2 and
the device ID can be found on a white label on the SE module. To find the
device ID, look for a small plug-in board on the bottom right of the SE Module.
On this card is a small white label with bar codes and a six-digit hex number.
This is the device ID. The MAC address is usually expressed by grouping the
digits by two and placing a dash between them. If the device ID is C02D3F,
then the MAC address will be:

00-90-C2-C0-2D-3F

This method uses two utility programs (ARP and PING) on a PC that is
connected to the same network as the flow computer with the SE module
installed. This example uses the MAC address of 00-90-C2-C0-2D-3F and sets
a desired IP address of 200.100.101.13. The MAC address you use will be the
one from your module and the IP will be what you have selected for your
network.
All computers use a table to map IP addresses to hardware addresses for the
network. The values in the table are filled in using an “Address Resolution
Protocol”. The table is referred to as the ARP table. This method sets an entry
in the ARP table and then uses ping to propagate this entry to the SE module.
MAC and IP Addresses Bring up a DOS box on the PC.
The MAC address and IP
address used here are for Ping the address you intend to use to be sure it is not in use by another
example purposes only. device by typing: ping 200.100.101.13 (substitute your desired IP
You must use the MAC
address from your SE address) you should receive timeouts for the pings. If you receive any
Module and the IP address replies then that address is in use and another one should be chosen.
you have selected for your
network. A problem may be encountered when replacing an SE module with a new
module already set to the same IP address or when attempting to set the
MAC Address for Unix new module to the same IP address that was previously in use.
Systems
The example shown is for The ARP table in the PCs, routers, switches and other network devices
Microsoft Windows. On a may already contain a mapping of the IP address to the previous hardware
Unix system, the MAC
address is typed as MAC ID. All TCP traffic for that IP address will be directed to the
00:90:C2:C0:2D:3F. hardware MAC ID of the previous board and will not be seen by the new
module. The solution is to ensure that the IP address is cleared out of the
ARP tables. To do so, bring up a DOS session and type: arp –d IP
address in use. Example: If the IP address is 200.100.101.13 then the
command line would be: arp –d 200.100.101.13
Type: arp –s 200.100.101.13 00-90-C2-C0-2D-3F. This sets up the
ARP table on the computer and associates the IP address with the
hardware address of the SE module.
Type arp –a to verify the entry is correct.

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Omni 6000 / Omni 3000 Flow Computers Technical Bulletin

Type: ping 200.100.101.13 . The first attempt will produce a timeout

while the SE module reconfigures its address. The following attempts
should receive a reply.
If the ping is unsuccessful, especially where routers or switches are
involved, allow sufficient time for the new IP address and MAC ID to be
propagated into the ARP tables of the various routers and switches on the
network and then attempt to ping the IP address again.
Use Telnet to access the configuration menus by typing: telnet
200.100.101.13 . Set the IP address, Netmask, and Default Gateway.
Save the parameters. Any other parameters may be changed and saved at
this time.
Remove the entry in the ARP table by typing: arp –d 200.100.101.13

Once you start getting replies from the ping, the IP address has been accepted by
the SE Module. This IP address is temporary and the SE module will revert to
its previous IP address after 5 minutes unless the IP address is changed and
saved via telnet.

Note: The example shown is for Microsoft Windows. On a Unix system the
MAC address is typed as 00:90:C2:C0:2D:3F.

Configuration Menus
The menus displayed are identical for serial or Telnet configuration (see Figure
3). The menu is divided into two halves. The left hand pane shows the main
Configuration Options and the right hand pane shows the current submenu. The
submenu displayed will depend on which number is selected from the
configuration options. Items in the submenu can be selected by entering one of
the letters. The submenu selections are not case sensitive and will accept upper
or lower case.
When entering a parameter, pressing escape will abort the entry and leave the
parameter unchanged.

The parameters displayed are a copy of the actual System Parameters.

No changes take place until the parameters are saved by selecting *.

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TB-020101A Omni Serial/Modbus Mux Module 68-6209: Setup & Installation

Figure 3. Configuration menu of the Omni Modbus Mux Module.

Version Numbers (v)
The version number (v) that
appears in the top right of
the configuration menus is
the Modbus Mux firmware Configuration Options Menu
version. The actual version
number of your module may
be more recent the one that
appears in the figures of this Submenu Selection
document, which at the time
of its release was v1.07. Entering a number in the range of 1 through 5 will select one of the submenus
for display in the right hand pane of the configuration menu.

Save Configuration
Saves the currently displayed parameters to the System Parameters and re-
initializes the hardware and software affected by the changes. Some parameter
changes may cause connections to be dropped including the current Telnet
session. For example, if the IP address is changed all connections will be
dropped and the new IP address made active. If connected via Telnet the
connection will need to be re-established using the new IP address.

Cancel Changes & Reload

Cancels any changes made and reloads the current active set of parameters. Any
parameter changes made without saving will be lost. All submenu parameters
will be reloaded, not just the submenu currently displayed.

Set Factory Defaults

Reloads all parameters with the defaults set at the factory. All submenu
parameters will be set to defaults, not just the submenu currently displayed.

Ethernet Parameters Menu

Selecting Configuration Option 1 displays the Ethernet Parameters Submenu
(Figure 4). Entering one of the option letters will allow the parameter to be
changed.

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Omni 6000 / Omni 3000 Flow Computers Technical Bulletin

TCP/IP destination endpoints are referred to as “ports” and are entered as

decimal numbers.

Figure 4. Ethernet Parameters Submenu of the Omni Modbus Mux

Module.

IP Address
All devices on a network require a unique IP address. This is the IP address
used for all network connections to the Modbus Mux. The IP address is entered
in dotted decimal notation. The default is 10.0.0.1.

Subnet Mask
IP addresses contain a Network Identifier (netid) a Subnet Identifier (subnetid)
and a Host Identifier (hostid). Subnet masks identify the portion of the address
occupied by the netid and the subnetid. The Subnet Mask is entered in dotted
decimal notation. The default is 255.0.0.0.

Gateway
If a default gateway exists for accessing other subnets, it can be entered here.
The Gateway is entered in dotted decimal notation. The default is 0.0.0.0.

Modbus Port
TCP/IP port number used to communicate with the flow computer using
Standard Modbus encapsulated by TCP/IP. It may be changed to meet any
special needs of your network. Entering 0 for the port number will disable
Modbus connections. This port number must be different from the Modbus/TCP
port number. The default is 6000.

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TB-020101A Omni Serial/Modbus Mux Module 68-6209: Setup & Installation

Modbus/TCP Port
TCP/IP port number used to communicate with the flow computer using
Modbus/TCP. The default is the standard Modbus/TCP port of 502. It may be
changed to meet any special needs of your network. Entering 0 for the port
number will disable Modbus/TCP connections. This port number must be
different from the Modbus/TCP port number.

Telnet Port
Port number used for Telnet connections. The default is the standard Telnet port
of 23. It may be changed to meet any special needs of your network. Entering 0
for the Telnet port will disable Telnet connections and configuration changes
can then only be made through the onboard serial port default.

Message Timeout
This is the time in milliseconds that the Modbus Mux will wait for a complete
message on the TCP connection. It should be long enough to account for any
network delays but shorter than the retry timeout in any application software
used for communications. The default is 1000 milliseconds (1 second).

Inactivity
This is the time in minutes that a connection to the Modbus and Modbus/TCP
ports can remain idle before being disconnected. This does not apply to the
Telnet connection. The default is 15 minutes. Entering 0 will disable the
Inactivity Timeout.

Host Parameters Menu

Selecting Configuration Option 2 displays the Host Parameters Submenu
(Figure 5). Entering one of the option letters will allow the parameter to be
changed.
The Host refers to the internal connection of the flow computer in which the
Modbus Mux is installed. These parameters should match the configuration
parameters in the Omni for the serial port the Ethernet channels occupies

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Omni 6000 / Omni 3000 Flow Computers Technical Bulletin

Figure 5. Host Parameters Submenu of the Omni Modbus Mux

Module.

Baud Rate
Baud rate configured for the serial port in the Omni. It can be set to19200 or
38400 depending on other system requirements. The Default is 38400 and is the
recommended setting. Note: The baud rates of 19200 and 38400 are mutually
exclusive for the RS-232/RS-485 port and the Host port. If the Host is set to
38400 then 19200 cannot be used on the RS-232/RS-485 port.

Data Bits
Data bits can be selected for 7 or 8 data bits. This must match the corresponding
parameter in the Omni. The default is 8. This is the recommended setting.

Stop Bits
The Stop Bits can be selected for 1 or 2. If two stop Bits are selected the parity
will be set to none. This must match the corresponding parameter in the Omni.
The default is 1 and is the recommended setting.

Parity
The parity may be selected to be None, Even or Odd. Even and Odd Parity can
be used only with 1 Stop Bit. This must match the corresponding parameter in
the Omni. The default is None and is the recommended setting.

Modbus ID
Modbus ID of the Host serial port. It is used to determine if messages are sent
to the Host or sent out the Repeater port. It must match the corresponding
parameter in the Omni for proper operation. The default is 1. It can be changed
to any valid Modbus ID. This address will not be accessible on the Repeater
port.

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TB-020101A Omni Serial/Modbus Mux Module 68-6209: Setup & Installation

Protocol
This is the protocol expected by the host serial port. It can be set to Modbus
RTU or Modbus ASCII. It does not determine what protocol is used over
TCP/IP. The messages will be converted if required. It must match the
corresponding parameter in the Omni. The default is Modbus RTU and it is the
recommended setting.

Initial Delay
This is the time in milliseconds that will be waited for a response from the Omni
before freeing up the serial port for other connections. The default is 200 ms
and it is the recommended setting.

Char Delay
This is the time in milliseconds that will be waited between characters from the
Omni before freeing up the serial port for other connections. The default is
20ms and it is the recommended setting.

Repeater Parameters Menu

Selecting Configuration Option 3 displays the Repeater Parameters Submenu
(Figure 6). Entering one of the option letters will allow the parameter to be
changed.
The Repeater port is used to ‘extend’ the Ethernet connections to other Omni
Flow Computers or compatible Modbus devices using a 2-wire multi-dropped
RS-485 connection.
Any transaction that is destined for a Modbus ID that does not match the Host
configuration is routed out the Repeater port.

Figure 6. Repeater Parameters Submenu of the Omni Modbus Mux

Module.

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Baud Rate
Baud rate used by the repeater port. The choices are 9600, 19200 and 38400. It
should be set as high as possible. The default is 38400.

Data Bits
The Repeater port can be selected for 7 or 8 data bits. The default is 8.

Stop Bits
The Stop Bits can be selected for 1 or 2. If 2 stop Bits are selected the Parity
will be set to none. The default is 1.

Parity
The parity may be selected to be None, Even or Odd. Even and Odd Parity can
be used only with 1 Stop Bit. The default is “None”.

Protocol
This is the protocol used over the Repeater Port. It can be set to Modbus RTU,
Modbus ASCII or Modbus Mixed. It does not determine what protocol is used
over TCP/IP. The messages will be converted if required. When set to Modbus
Mixed, the messages are sent as received with no RTU/ASCII conversion. The
default is Modbus RTU.

Initial Delay
This is the time in milliseconds that will be waited for a response before freeing
the repeater port for other connections. The default is 200 ms.

Char Delay
This is the time in milliseconds that will be waited between characters on the
Repeater Port before freeing it for other connections. The default is 20ms.

Security Parameters Menu

Selecting Configuration Option 4 displays the Security Parameters Submenu
(Figure 7). Entering one of the option letters will allow the parameter to be
changed.
This submenu allows parameter changes that determine who has access via the
network.
Passwords are case sensitive. When changing a password parameter it can be
cleared by entering ‘return’ at the Password: and Verify: prompt.

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TB-020101A Omni Serial/Modbus Mux Module 68-6209: Setup & Installation

Figure 7. Security Parameters Submenu of the Omni Modbus Mux

Module.

Serial Password
If a password is entered here, it will be required when using the local serial
configuration port. (It may be cleared by hitting return for the password and
later verification). If cleaned no passwords will be required. The default
password is omni (lower case). The passwords are case sensitive. If you have
forgotten your password, contact Omni technical support for the procedure to
recover it.

Telnet Password
This is the Password required when performing remote configuration using
Telnet. The password can be cleared and if cleared, no password will be
required. The default password is omni (lower case). The passwords are case
sensitive. To disable Telnet access set the Telnet port to 0 (zero) instead of the
standard default of 23.

TCP/IP Password
This is a password required for any connection to the Modbus or Modbus/TCP
port numbers. An Omni “Password Needed” exception code (5) will be returned
for any transaction until the password is written to data location 4850. If
cleared, no password will be required. The password is cleared by default.

IP Filter & Filter Mask

Connections to the Modbus and Modbus/TCP ports can be limited to an
individual IP address or a range of IP addresses. The mask determines which
bits are significant when testing the address. If the IP Filter is set to 0.0.0.0, it
will be disabled.

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MAC Addresses
Media Access Control (MAC) addresses provide the highest level of security.
Connections can be limited to a list of hardware Ethernet addresses. This limits
access to a particular machine. If they are set to zeros they will be disabled. The
entry can be set to zero by entering a single zero otherwise enter the 12 hex
characters.

System Information Menu

Selecting Configuration Option 5 displays the System Information Submenu
(Figure 8). These items are displayed for information only. No changes are
possible.

MAC Address
The MAC address shown in
this figure is an example
only. The actual MAC
address is specific to each
module.

Figure 8. System Information Submenu of the Omni Serial/Ethernet-

Modbus Mux (SE) Module.

MAC
The Media Access Control (MAC) is the hardware Ethernet address of the
Modbus Mux. It is specific to each board.

Con
Shows the IP address of all Modbus or Modbus/TCP connections along with the
TCP/IP port to which it is connected. The port number can be used to tell if the
connection is Modbus or Modbus/TCP.

Telnet
Shows the IP address of the user currently connected via Telnet.

Last Telnet
Shows the IP address of the last Telnet session.

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TB-020101A Omni Serial/Modbus Mux Module 68-6209: Setup & Installation

Using Omnicom over TCP/IP

Serial/IP Software
Version 2.3.1 Omnicom does not support TCP/IP directly but it can be used with “Serial Port
Omni discovered a problem Redirector” software to communicate with the Modbus Mux. The redirector
in Serial/IP Version 2.3.1, will “capture” serial port communications and route them over TCP/IP to a
which was corrected by
Tactical Software. An
defined IP address and TCP port.
updated version is available
on the Tactical Software The suggested software to use is Serial/IP from Tactical Software. The software
Web site. You must may be downloaded for trial and purchased at www.tacticalsoftware.com.
download and install
Version 2.4 or above.

Windows NT/2000
Under Windows NT and Windows 2000, any version of Omnicom is compatible
with Serial/IP. Omnicom is selectable for serial ports 1-4. Use Serial /IP to
redirect a serial port in that range, configure with the IP address and TCP Port
assigned to the Modbus Mux and set for “Raw TCP Connection”.

Windows 95/98
Under Windows 95 or 98 Serial/IP can only redirect communications when the
serial port is opened with an INT/14 driver. This requires a revision 73.15 or
above Omnicom. The latest version can be downloaded from
www.omniflow.com. To activate the INT 14 driver, select "TCP/IP 98" for
"Comm Media" on the "Start Comm" menu.

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Omni 6000 / Omni 3000 Flow Computers Technical Bulletin

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v1.07 Removed Modbus Delay parameter. Added the ability to set a

Temporary IP address using arp and ping on a PC so serial
connection is not required. Change the default Netmask to Class
A 255.0.0.0.

v1.08 Added ICMP Handler and fixed the handling of unknown

Modbus function codes so they fall through untouched. Added
tcp_tick in handlers to detect if a socket is closed in the middle
of a transaction. Added ‘exit’ on the serial and telnet menus.

v1.09 Added keepalive to detect dropped connections when the

inactivity timeout is set to zero. Added a ‘Reset’ on the serial
and telnet menus to reset the ethernet board via telnet.

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