Troubleshooting Network Communications
Note: Before changing your network configuration, ensure a firewall is not responsible for your communication difficulty by temporarily disabling any active firewalls (Windows Firewall, for example) and checking that the Commtest application 'vbxmanager.exe' has been given permission to access your network (i.e. it has an 'exception' rule applied to it, if using a firewall).
When communicating using either cabled Ethernet (RJ45) or 'Ethernet over USB' (USB), the instrument and the vbXManager program use a default network address to communicate. Normally it will not need to be changed. However, it is possible that this address may interact negatively with other devices on a network. This conflict may result in other network connections being lost while the instrument is connected to your computer. To resolve this conflict, change the Ethernet network settings in the nstrument and vbXManager program.
Notes:
Your changes will only take effect once the instrument hardware has been reset.
If you change the network address you must change it in both the instrument and software so that they can communicate (this does not apply if you are only changing the last digit of the IP address).
Setting the USB Network Address
- From the instrument's Main Menu press
Options then 
Network. - Press
USB then 
to select the Ethernet over USB option. Press 
to confirm. Use the number keys to enter your new USB IP address, netmask and gateway. We suggest accepting the default values as the vbXManager software is configured to use these automatically. Press after you enter each item. - Press
+ 
when prompted. This will reset the instrument hardware and apply your changes. - Connect the Commtest supplied data transfer cable to the USB ports of the instrument and computer. Start the computer if it is not running already and open vbXManager.
- Double-click the instrument from the list of those available.
Note: If you accepted the instrument's default network values then the final step below is not be necessary.
Enter the new IP address into the IP address: field in the USB area. Click Apply to save the change.
Setting the Ethernet Network Address
- From the instrument's Main Menu press Options then Network.
- Press Ethernet. A message will appear asking if you wish to use a DHCP server to assign an IP address to the instrument.
Pressto use DHCP then press + to reset and apply your changes, or;
Press
and enter your new network IP values manually. Press + to reset the instrument
hardware and apply your changes.
Note: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a network protocol that automatically configures TCP/IP networked devices.
Reset Network Values to Factory Default
- From the instrument's Main Menu press Options then Network.
- Press
Factory Default then reset the instrument by holding and pressing . The factory default values are Ethernet IP: DHCP (Auto).
Last Reviewed: 11/Jun/2009 Source: vbBalancer Reference Guide Revision 24 March 2009 - pages 124 - 126