Serial communication - ICX-AlphaCom

Serial communication using Moxa NPort converter

In case there is a need for serial communication between the ICX-500 and a remote application, an external Ethernet to Serial Converter is required.

This article describes how to use the Ethernet to Serial Converter NPort 5230 from Moxa to achieve serial communication with the ICX-500.

This article is also applicable to AlphaCom XE systems The serial (RS232) port in the ICX-500 is a console port used for debugging purposes only, and cannot be used for any applications

Configure for serial port based communication

License requirements

The ICX-500 requires the ILI-IF Interface Enabling License (P/N 1002602400) to enable serial port based communication. The ILI-API Licenses contain the ILI-IF license.

Configuration of the ICX-500

In AlphaPro, Exchange & System > Serial Ports:

1. From the list box select the Driver/protocol you want to use, and select Change.
2. Enable the data link, and set "Port Type" = TCP/IP Client
3. Enter the IP Address of the NPort device, and the TCP Port number to use for the communication between the ICX-500 and the NPort device. The same TCP port number must also be configured in the NPort device.
4. Enable TCP Keep Alive to keep the connection established even if there is no traffic on the link
5. Enable Connect at AlphaCom Startup

IF "ACDP Link" was chosen as driver/protocol, you also need to select "Link Type", enable "Broadcast" and enter a "Destination" name (free text)

Configuration of data Link

Configuration of NPort 5230

• Install NPort Administrator on your Windows laptop. Download the setup program from Moxa’s support website (https://www.moxa.com/support/), and run the installation.
• Run NPort Administrator when the installation has been completed.
• In NPort Administrator, click Search to search your LAN for NPort devices. When your NPort unit appears in the search results, you may click Stop to end the search. You may also wait a few more moments for the search to complete. Since the Search function searches by MAC address and not IP address, all NPorts connected to the LAN will be located, regardless of whether or not they are part of the same subnet as your laptop.

Select Search to discover NPort devices on the LAN

• Before configuring the NPort, you will need to unlock the NPort first. Right-click the unit in the Configuration screen and select Unlock in the pop-up menu. Enter password moxa (default).

Unlocking the device

• Now right-click your unit in the Configuration screen and select Configure in the pop-up menu.
• In the Configuration window, select the tab Network, and Modify the IP address and other network settings as required.

Network settings

• In the Configuration window, select the tab Operating Mode, enable Modify. Highlight Port 1 (= RS232) (or Port 2 = RS422/485), and select Settings. Set Operation Mode = TCP Server Mode, and select which TCP port to use for the communication between the ICX-500 and the NPort device.

Setting port 1 to TCP Server mode, using TCP port 4001

• In the Configuration window, select the tab Serial, enable Modify. Highlight Port 1 (= RS232) (or Port 2 = RS422/485), and select Settings. Set the communication parameters are required by the remote application.

Setting communication parameters on port 1