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Debugging TCP/IP connections to broadcast devices.

This note describes the first steps in verifying network connection to a device. If you have trouble getting Rascular software to connect to a device, please try the following steps.

STEP #1: "pinging" a device.

Using Windows:  Start/All Programs/Accessories/Command Prompt:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6002]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.
C:\Users\Roddy>


"ping" the device as shown below:-

C:\Users\Roddy>ping 192.168.0.6


You should see something like this, if it's working:-

Pinging 192.168.0.6 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.0.6: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.6: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.6: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.6: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 192.168.0.6:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms


If it fails, you'll see something ike this.

Pinging 192.168.0.32 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.0.16: Destination host unreachable.
Reply from 192.168.0.16: Destination host unreachable.
Reply from 192.168.0.16: Destination host unreachable.
Reply from 192.168.0.16: Destination host unreachable.

Ping statistics for 192.168.0.32:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),


This indicates a fundamental problem with TCP/IP connectivity to the device.

Things to check:-

  • Has a network cable or router failed or been removed/switched off?
  • Is the device switched on and running?
  • Are the PC and device both on the same subnet (e.g. 192.168.0, in the case above),
  • (or, if not, is TCP/IP routing configured correctly to enable communications - ask your IT department)


STEP#2: Access to specific port.

DO NOT BOTHER TO TRY STEP #2 UNTIL STEP #1 IS CORRECT!

Using windows command prompt, attempt to 'telnet' to a specific port.

The port number will vary according to the device - but for Imagestores, it is 5006

C:\Users\Roddy>telnet 192.168.0.6 5006
If it succeeds , the command prompt screen will clear almost immediately . Press CTRL-], the type quit to exit.

If it fails, you'll see (after a long delay) a message like this.
Connecting To 192.168.0.6...Could not open connection to the host, on port 5006: Connect failed
This indicates that the device is not accepting connections on the port specified

Things to check:-
  • Is the device correctly configured to accept connections? (consult the device vendor for details)
  • Is your firewall software preventing the connection?
  • Does you device have the necessary licence from the vendor to accept connections?
  • Have you tried rebooting the device?
  • Are there other systems connecting to the device via this port (some devices may limit the number of simultaneous connections)
  • Did step #1 above really work? Try it again...
 

If both #1 and #2 pass, then contact Rascular for further help. send all available details (software/firmware versions), and - if using HELM - enclose a copy of panel file.