70072-0170-04 TECHNICAL NOTE 12/2007 TCP/IP Network Connectivity and ION Meters This technical note describes how PowerLogic ION8800, ION8600, ION7550 and ION7650 meters are able to interact with several types of external servers that are commonly deployed on TCP/IP networks: BootP Server DNS Server SMTP Server In This Document Automatic Network Configuration................................ 2 Using a BootP Server................................................... 2 Domain Name Resolution (DNS)................................. 4 Network Time Synchronization (NTP).............................. 5 Email (SMTP)............................................... 6 Sample Applications.......................................... 7 Local Area Network (LAN) Application.................................. 7 Wide Area Network (WAN) Application (Modem)......................... 8 Wide Area Network (WAN) Application (Cable/DSL)...................... 9 PowerLogic, ION, ION Enterprise, MeterM@il, WebMeter and Modbus are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Schneider Electric. Electrical equipment should be installed, operated, serviced, and maintained only by qualified personnel. No responsibility is assumed by Schneider Electric for any consequences arising out of the use of this material. 2007 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. www.powerlogic.com Additional Information Your meter s technical documentation ION Reference WebMeter Internal Web Server Feature technical note MeterM@il Internal Email Client Feature technical note
Automatic Network Configuration TCP/IP Network Connectivity and ION Meters Automatic Network Configuration ION8800, ION8600, ION7550 and ION7650 Ethernet meters have several configurable parameters that are used in TCP/IP communications, such as IP address, default gateway, subnet mask, DNS server, etc. These parameters can be set manually (via the meter s front panel, the meter s Network Setup web page or ION software) or assigned automatically to the meters via a BootP server. NOTE BootP is available for certain firmware versions only. Some ION7550/ION7650 meters (firmware version 350 and later) also come preconfigured with IP addresses automatically assigned from the factory. The default IP address is 172.16.xxx.xxx, where the last two bytes of the address (decimal) match the last two bytes of the meter s MAC address (hex). This ensures unique IP addresses. For example: MAC address = 0060780112DC 12 (hex) = 18 (decimal) and DC (hex) = 220 (decimal) Default IP address = 172.16.18.220 To learn how to configure meter network settings manually with the meter s front panel, refer to your meter s Installation Guide and your meter s User Guide. To learn how to configure meter network settings manually with the meter s Network Setup web page, refer to the WebMeter Internal Web Server Feature technical note. Using a BootP Server BootP (Bootstrap Protocol) is a protocol that automatically configures a device s (e.g. meter) network settings without user involvement. The BootP server is managed by your network administrator, who allocates the meter IP address and other network settings to the BootP server. When this is completed, and the meter is powered up, the BootP server automatically assigns the IP address and other network settings to the meter. When the meter is in BootP mode, it does not require a manual re boot for an IP address change. Since most power meters cannot be easily re booted on demand, the meter is factory configured to poll the BootP server every eight hours for an IP address. If the IP address is changed on the BootP server, then the meter obtains the new address at the next polling interval. Preparing the BootP Server to automatically configure network settings 1. Set up the BootP server on the same Ethernet network as the meter. Follow the documentation packaged with the BootP software for the correct installation. 2. Enter the meter s Ethernet MAC address in the BootP database. Page 2 2007 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.
TCP/IP Network Connectivity and ION Meters Using a BootP Server 3. Allocate these settings to the meter Ethernet MAC address: meter IP Address Subnet Mask (if the network is subnetted) Default Gateway (if the network has a default gateway) SMTP Mail Server Address (if the meter will send email) NOTE When the meter is in BootP mode, you must configure the network settings in the BootP server. Otherwise, those settings are NOT updated on the meter. BootP mode prevents you from changing network settings through the meter s front panel, or via ION software. Preparing the meter to use BootP Depending on your meter and meter firmware version, BootP may be enabled by default. You can enable BootP with the meter s front panel or with ION software. 1. Set the IP Boot Option setup register in the Ethernet Comm module to BootP. 2007 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. Page 3
Domain Name Resolution (DNS) TCP/IP Network Connectivity and ION Meters Domain Name Resolution (DNS) A DNS (Domain Name System) server is used to resolve a domain name to a corresponding IP address. If a meter is configured to use a DNS server by specifying the IP address of the DNS server to the meter, then the meter can access other network resources (e.g. NTP and SMTP servers) by domain name rather than by IP address. Preparing the meter to use DNS Configure the following registers in the meter s Ethernet Comm module: Register Name Type Description Notes Primary DNS Server String Setup This register specifies the IP address of the primary DNS server that the meter sends name queries to. This value must be an IP address in the format aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd. Domain name resolution is required if a fully qualified domain name has been entered for either the SMTP server address or the NTP server address. Use the front panel, ION Setup, Designer or a web browser. Secondary DNS Server String Setup This register specifies the IP address of the secondary DNS server that the meter sends name queries to. This value must be an IP address in the format aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd. Domain name resolution is required if a fully qualified domain name has been entered for either the SMTP server address or the NTP server address. Use the front panel, ION Setup, Designer or a web browser. Page 4 2007 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.
TCP/IP Network Connectivity and ION Meters Network Time Synchronization (NTP) Network Time Synchronization (NTP) NTP (Network Time Protocol) is a protocol that synchronizes computer clock times in a network. Preparing the meter to use NTP Configure the following registers in the meter s Clock module: Register Name Type Description Notes Enable NTP Time Sync Enumerated Setup This register enables NTP time synchronization when set to Yes, and disables it when set to No. Default setting is No. NTP Time Sync Interval Numeric Setup This register specifies the frequency at which the meter attempts to time synchronize via NTP. Values between 60 seconds and 1 year are acceptable. Default is 1 day (86,400 seconds). Configure the following registers in the meter s Ethernet Communication module: Register Name Type Description Notes String Setup Use this register to specify the IP address of the NTP server that the meter synchronizes its clock to: This value can be either an IP address in the format aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd or the fully qualified domain name of an NTP server (for example, ntp.domainxyz.com). Maximum 80 alphanumeric characters, dot and dash allowed. You cannot change this register using the front panel (use ION Setup, Designer or a web browser). If you enter a fully qualified domain name for the NTP server you must also specify a DNS server. 2007 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. Page 5
Email (SMTP) TCP/IP Network Connectivity and ION Meters Email (SMTP) SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is a TCP/IP protocol that sends and receives email. Preparing the SMTP Server See the MeterM@il Internal Email Client Feature technical note for more information. Preparing the meter to use SMTP Configure the following registers in the meter s Ethernet Comm module: Register Name Type Description Notes SMTP Connection Timeout Numeric Setup This defines the time period the meter will wait when establishing a connection to an SMTP server: The default setting is 60 seconds, which is sufficient time if the SMTP server resides on your local network. If the SMTP server is accessed using a dial-up connection, you should increase the SMTP Connection Timeout value to allow the meter sufficient time to establish the connection. SMTP Server String Setup This register specifies the IP address of the email server that the meter sends outgoing email to: This value can be either an IP address in the format aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd or the fully qualified domain name of an SMTP server (for example, smtp.yourcompany.com). Maximum 80 alphanumeric characters, dot and dash allowed. You cannot change this register using the front panel (use ION Setup, Designer or a web browser). If you enter a fully qualified domain name for the SMTP server you must also specify a DNS server. SMTP Port Number 1 Numeric Setup This register specifies the TCP/IP port the meter uses to communicate with the SMTP server. Default is 25. You cannot change this register using the front panel (use ION Setup, Designer or a web browser). 1 This register is only available on some meter models and firmwares. Check your meter s technical documentation for details. Page 6 2007 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.
TCP/IP Network Connectivity and ION Meters Sample Applications Sample Applications s can be configured in a variety of different network applications/ situations. Local Area Network (LAN) Application The is located on the same LAN with all the other network components. DNS Server dns.company.com IP 1.2.3.4 meter1.company.com IP 1.2.3.5 ION Enterprise Server ione.company.com IP 1.2.3.6 Ethernet Workstation work1.company.com IP 1.2.3.10 SMTP Mail Server mail.company.com IP 1.2.3.8 time.company.com IP 1.2.3.7 In this example, the meter s network settings are configured for use with an ION Enterprise server. Component Configuration Manual network configuration: IP address = 1.2.3.5 DNS server = 1.2.3.4 SMTP server = mail.company.com NTP server = time.company.com ION Enterprise Server IP address of meter = 1.2.3.5 2007 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. Page 7
Wide Area Network (WAN) Application (Modem) TCP/IP Network Connectivity and ION Meters Wide Area Network (WAN) Application (Modem) The is located on a remote LAN, while the SMTP, NTP and DNS servers are on the Internet. Ethernet Telephone Line Internet SMTP Mail Server mail.isp.com IP 9.8.7.4 meter1.company.com IP 1.2.3.2 Firewall Dial-on-Demand Router router.company.com IP 1.2.3.1 ISP Modem time.isp.com IP 9.8.7.5 DNS Server dns.isp.com IP 9.8.7.6 In this example, a dial on demand router is used to access the Internet (and the servers situated there) via telephone when required. Generally, the meter in this example would only access the Internet to send data (perform a data push ). Component Configuration Manual network configuration: IP Address = 1.2.3.2 DNS Server = 9.8.7.6 SMTP Server = mail.isp.com = time.isp.com Page 8 2007 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.
TCP/IP Network Connectivity and ION Meters Wide Area Network (WAN) Application (Cable/DSL) Wide Area Network (WAN) Application (Cable/DSL) The is located on a remote LAN, while the SMTP, NTP and DNS servers are on the Internet. Ethernet Internet Internet SMTP Mail Server mail.isp.com IP 9.8.7.4 meter1.company.com IP 1.2.3.2 Firewall Cable/DSL Router IP 1.2.3.1 ISP Modem time.isp.com IP 9.8.7.5 DNS Server dns.isp.com IP 9.8.7.6 In this example, a cable/dsl router is used to access the Internet (and the servers situated there). The meter in this example has constant access to the Internet to send or receive data. Component Configuration Manual network configuration: IP Address = 1.2.3.2 DNS Server = 9.8.7.6 SMTP Server = mail.isp.com = time.isp.com 2007 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved. Page 9