Although Sixnet ring switches come pre-configured, and are ready to use out of the box (plug and play), users need to occasionally re-configure their switches to enable or disable rings on specific ports of the switch. Configuration involves several possible sections, listed below:
- Introduction to Real-Time-Ring Switches
- Basic Configuration
- Changing the Factory Default Configurations
- Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction to Real-Time-Ring Switches
The following information is contained in the Ring switch user manual, in addition to the information found in this document. The ring switch manual, though specifically written for the SLX-6RS, is applicable to all Ring switch models. It can be downloaded from: Ethernet Switches Software & Firmware
Simply click on the User Manual link on the right side of the page. The following sections are contained in the user manual:
| Section 1 |
General Information |
| Section 2 | LED Indicators |
| Section 3 | Installation |
| Section 4 | Power Wiring |
| Section 5 | Ethernet Wiring |
| Section 6 | Ring Switch Features |
| Section 7 | Ring Configurations |
| Section 8 | Local and Remote Status Monitoring |
| Section 9 | Default Settings |
| Section 10 | Features and Capabilities |
| Section 11 | Technical Specifications |
Basic Configuration
Fault Tolerant Rings
A network backbone wired in a ring type topology is one of the best choices for a fault tolerant network. By default, ring switches are factory preset to have zero, one, or two rings enabled. Factory presetting a ring configuration enables you to skip the step of using the Ethernet Switch Tools utility to enable rings, providing you with the convenience of plug and play operation. Factory presets are indicated in the switch’s part number. The following codes in the part number indicate how many rings have been set:
-D0 = Rings disabled
-D1 = One ring enabled on last two ports (default factory configuration)
-D2 = Two rings enabled on ports 1 and 2 and last two ports
-DC = A user-specified custom configuration has been pre-installed
Changing the Factory Default Configuration
Using the Ethernet Switch Tools Utility to Change Default Settings
To change the ring configuration in the switch, simply launch the Ethernet Switch Tools utility and choose the desired pair of ports for your new enabled ring. The Ring LED is lit if all rings (one or two) that are enabled in the switch have continuous ring integrity. For a ring to function, all switches in the path of the ring must have Real-Time-Ring support. Do not connect rings within rings. Only simple non-overlapped rings are allowed. Two active rings cannot share a network segment. It is possible to join two rings together by configuring two rings in a single switch. The ports used for each ring must be distinct so that no network segment is shared by both rings. See Section 7 of the User Manual for ring wiring examples and guidelines.
To change the configuration of a ring switch, do the following:
1. Go to Ethernet Switches Software & Firmware
2. Click on the Ring Switch Wizard, and then click Run.
3. Follow the rest of the installation instructions.
4. Connect an Ethernet cable from your PC to a non-ring port of the ring switch, for example, Port 3.
5. Open the Ethernet Switch Tools utility and click on Auto Find Switches.
The utility lists the ring switch that you are connected to, as shown below.
6. Click on the switch information in the list to highlight it.
7. Click Add Selected to Project, and then click Close.
8. The ring switch now displays in the Ethernet Switch Tools utility.
9. Click on the switch’s MAC Address, and then click Add New Base Configuration.
10. The General dialog box displays on the screen. Type a new configuration name in the Configuration Name field.
11. In the For use with switch type drop-down list, select the model of the ring switch. Click Next. The Ports configuration window displays on the screen.
12. Click Next. The Rings configuration window displays on the screen.
13. Click on the Enable Ring box(es) to enable rings, and click on the Primary Port and Backup Port fields to change the ring port numbers.
14. Click Next. The Priorities dialog box displays on the screen.
15. Click Next. The Mirroring dialog box displays on the screen.
16. Click Next. The OK Output dialog box displays on the screen.
17. Click Finish to exit the ring configuration and return to the Ethernet Switch Tools utility.
18. Click on the Uses This base Configuration field and select the new configuration name in the drop-down list.
19. Click Load Selected Switch Configuration. The Load complete dialog box displays on the screen.
20. Click OK. Your switch is now configured for the selected rings.
NOTE: The same process can be used to disable all rings on the ring switch to effectively convert your ring switch to behave as an unmanaged switch. You can change any of the other defaults if desired.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I cannot detect any ring switch(s) on my network using the Ethernet Switch Tools utility.
A: Check the following:
- Make sure that you are connected to a non-ring port. For example, Port 3 is usually not configured for a ring.
- If the switch was configured to have a Modbus IP Address through the Ethernet Switch Tools utility, then make sure the PC’s IP Address is on a compatible subnet. For example, if you configure the Modbus IP Address to be 10.20.30.40 with a mask of 255.255.255.0, then your PC should be IP Address 10.20.30.X , mask 255.255.255.0, where X = a number from 0–254 (excluding 40, which is configured for the ring switch).
- Ensure you have the most current version of the Ring switch tools. The current version as of April 2010 is v1.9. The most current version can always be downloaded from: Ethernet Switches Software & Firmware
Q: The Ring LED on my ring switch is flashing. Why is this?
A: Check the following:
- Make sure you are using all of the ports that are configured for a ring. If the ring is broken, the ring LED will flash.
- Make sure the Ring switch is connected to another ring switch or managed switch that is configured for Real-Time-Ring on the ports connected to it.
- Verify that the Ethernet cable works on other ports/devices.
- If the port is a fiber port, verify that you are using the same type of transceivers on both devices and the same type of fiber cable. Refer to the Fiber User Guide for more information on troubleshooting fiber issues.
Q: My ring switch will not power up.
A: Please refer to the Sixnet Power-Up Guide.
Q: My Ring switch is still not working. How can I get it repaired?
A: Please email a detailed description of the model type, date code and/or serial number, and a detailed description of the problem to support@redlion.net
Disclaimer
It is the customer's responsibility to review the advice provided herein and its applicability to the system. Red Lion makes no representation about specific knowledge of the customer's system or the specific performance of the system. Red Lion is not responsible for any damage to equipment or connected systems. The use of this document is at your own risk. Red Lion standard product warranty applies.
Red Lion Technical Support
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