See the separately distributed Virtual Reader User Reference Guide for a
complete description of the Virtual Reader and its operation. The virtual reader is a software program that acts just like a physical reader. It allows you to run the ISONAS Administrative and Monitor program to observe the operation of the system.
PlugNPlay
The ISONAS PlugNPlay program is useful in two different contexts:
1. As an installation aid that will assist with the installation and configuration of ISONAS IP and Wireless IP reader controllers.
2. With DHCP enabled readers, it can be run as a windows service and will automatically update the ISONAS database when the IP Address of a reader controller changes.
The options menu shown above are used to install and uninstall the program as a Windows service. If the program is not running as a service it will automatically bring up the PlugNPlay user interface screen. If it is running as a service the user interface screen is not automatically displayed but may be displayed by selecting the PlugNPlay menu option.
DHCP Enabled Reader Controllers
For PlugNPlay to automatically update the ISONAS database for DHCP enabled reader controllers, the computer where the PlugNPlay program is running must be defined in the network DNS Server with an ALIAS of
SrvrACS
(DNS is not case sensitive). When a DHCP enabled ISONAS reader controller receives its IP address (either on startup or at a later time when the lease in renewed) it will use the DNS service to find the SrvrACS computer. It will then send a UDP message to a specific port at that computer. The message includes both the MAC address and the IP address of the reader controller. The PlugNPlay program listens on that port, and when it receives the message it will update the ISONAS database. If the reader controller is already in the database, the IP address will be updated if necessary. If the reader controller is not already in the database it will be added.
NON DHCP Enabled Reader Controllers
Reader Controllers that are not DHCP Enabled use fixed IP Addresses. The label on the back of the reader controller will show the factory assigned IP address, which is typically set in the range 192.168.1.50 to 192.168.1.150.
It is frequently the case that this IP address has to be changed to conform to local network addressing requirements. PlugNPlay is the tool that is used to make this change BUT PlugNPlay must be running on the same subnet as the reader controllers in order to make the change. The reason for this
requirement is that the technique used is to send UDP Broadcast messages, and those messages are only propagated within the subnet.
When readers controllers are being installed in networks with multiple subnets, it is necessary to preconfigure the units or to temporarily connect a computer to each of the subnets in order to use PlugNPlay to change the IP Addresses. Here is the PlugNPlay user interface screen:
PlugNPlay – AutoFind
The AutoFind function is intended to assist in the initial installation of large
networks. It will automatically run the “FIND” function described below and if new reader controllers are found the AutoFind function will automatically modify their IP Addresses to the next available addresses in the IP Address Pool and
PlugNPlay - Find
Pressing the Find button will cause the PlugNPlay program to search for all devices with MAC Addresses that begin with 00-20-4A which will find all ISONAS IP and Wireless IP readers, (and may find additional devices).
ISONAS devices have a checkmark in the ISONAS Device column. Devices that are out of the addressable range show in red.
PlugNPlay – Manage IP Address Pool
The PlugNPlay program can change the IP address of the selected device. The first step is to use the Manage IP Address Pool button to define IP addresses which will be used for the ISONAS Reader Controllers. Here is the screen that is used for this purpose:
The controls on this screen let you insert, delete or change an individual IP address or to insert a range of IP addresses into the pool.
PlugNPlay – Change IP Address
The second step is to use the drop list control on the main screen to select the desired IP address you wish to assign to the controller and then press the
Change IP Address Button. This will send the commands to the device to change the IP address and then approximately 10 seconds later will automatically repeat the Find. The device will now show with the reassigned IP as below.
Note that for RC-02 and RC-03 reader controllers, it is necessary to specify a password before the IP address can be changed or before other changes can be made to the configuration. The PlugNPlay program will automatically fill in the default password. You may change the password on a reader controller by pressing the Change button beside the password entry field.
The default password is F0F1F2F3
This value is reset if the reset button on the back of the unit is depressed and held for 10 seconds.
PlugNPlay – Add to ISONAS Network
The device can now be addressed. You will note in the screen above that the device shows a X in the Configured column. This means that the device is not currently defined in the ISONAS Access Control network, which is displayed in the tree structure at the right of the screen. Pressing the Add to ISONAS Network button will add it to the ISONAS Network. Devices that are added will be added to a CSUP with the two character ID of “~~”. The initial name for this CSUP will be set to “~Reserved~” but you may change that to anything you wish.
PlugNPlay - Strobe
The final control on the screen is the Strobe button. This button becomes available when you have selected a specific reader controller in the Access Control Network on the upper right side of the screen.
Pressing the Strobe button will start a cycle of alternately flashing the LEDs on the Reader Controller and sounding its buzzer. This will clearly identify the controller and confirm that it is configured and communicating.
PlugNPlay - Configure
If you connect to a device you can go to the Configure tab shown below. (Note: For RC-02 you must have entered the password on the previous screen before any changes will be accepted). On the configuration screen you can change settings for the values shown.
The RC-03 unit can be configured to operate as either a server or as a client. When configured as a server the unit listens on the configured port and waits for
an incoming connection from a host computer. When configured as a client, the unit will attempt to connect to the defined host. The unit uses the following logic to find the server:
If DHCP is available
o Contact DHCP to get an IP address, subnet mask, gateway and DNS address
o If the Remote Host name is specified, get the associated IP address from DNS. Otherwise use the specified Remote Host IP Address
If DHCP is not available but the Remote Host Name is specified, use the DNS IP address to request the address of the Remote Host. Otherwise use the specified IP address of the Remote Host.
The unit will then attempt to connect to the specified port on the Remote Host, and will continue to attempt connection several times a minute until it is
successful.
PlugNPlay - Security
This screen shows some options that apply only to PRC-001B units. These can be used to enable or disable various channels through which the device can be reached and to enable encryption and set passwords.
Caution – you can make it difficult or impossible to communicate with a reader controller if you misuse these controls!
The Encryption option is available for all models of ISONAS reader controllers.
CMLOAD
The CMLOAD program will load microcode into the ISONAS reader controllers. There are three different microcode types.
PIC – for the PIC microprocessor
Freescale – for the Freescale microprocessor
WEB – web pages for direct access (these run in the Freescale processor. Here is the main screen for the CMLOAD program:
Use the controls on the bottom of the screen to select the files that are to be loaded to each controller:
After all the files have been selected, press the Load button on the right hand side of the screen. This will start load processes on separate windows threads. The maximum number of concurrent processes is determined by the Concurrent value set on the lower right side of the screen. Updating of each reader controller is handled by a single thread.
The CMLOAD program will negotiate with CSUP programs if necessary to perform the load. The reader controllers will be “disconnected” from the CSUP,
the load will be performed, and the reader controllers will be reconnected to the CSUP and restarted.
During the actual upload process the reader controllers will not respond to badges or keypad entry. The time required for upload varies and can be slowed by network traffic, but loading all three file types to a single reader controller will typically require less than 5 minutes.
If multiple units are being uploaded, each thread operates independently so the time to load is overlapped.
The CMLOAD program can also be started with a command line parameter “LOAD”. This will cause the program to immediately start the loading process. You can therefore configure the load at your convenience and then use the windows task scheduler to have it start at a later time when the interference with the operation of the doors will be less troublesome.
CCheck
The CCheck program will load data back from selected reader controllers and compare the programming to the host database. The two databases should normally be in sync, but if a reader is offline for some or all of a compile process the two databases can be out of sync. Here is the CCheck screen: