Other host administration tools

Other host administration tools

Following, is a list of some of the other NiagaraAX tools that are available for host administration tasks.

Platform Services

This service allows access from a running station–in other words, from the station's perspective on its host platform. Unlike the various other platform views, a platform connection is not needed to access the platform services. Instead, you need only a standard station (Fox) connection. Platform services do not provide the full set of functions available in Workbench, as when you have a platform connection. For example, you cannot install or upgrade software, or transfer stations and files. However, a number of important configuration views for the platform are made available under a station's PlatformServices.

Included under PlatformServices are a TcpIpService and LicenseService, providing station (Fox) access to dialogs used in platform views, for instance the TCP/IP Configuration dialog box. These services support installations where all configuration must be possible using only a browser connection (and not Workbench connected to the JACE's platform daemon). Also included under PlatformServices, for any QNX-based JACE, is a serial port and power monitoring service.

System shell

Any QNX-based JACE (JACE-2, -4, and -5 series) has a “system shell,” providing low-level access to a few basic platform settings. Using a special JACE power-up mode, you can access this system shell using a serial connection to the JACE's onboard RS-232 port. Typical usage is for troubleshooting. However, in the case of IP address mis-configuration, you may need to use this shell in order to regain access to the unit.

Tip: Depending on your preference, as an alternative to reconfiguring your PC's IP address in Windows (to initially connect to a new JACE), you may wish to use the serial system shell to set the JACE's IP address. If done as the first step, afterwards you could connect normally (Ethernet/IP) and perform all other NiagaraAX software installation/platform configuration using Workbench and the Commissioning Wizard. This method would save you from having to re-configure your PC's IP address settings in Windows: first to connect to the JACE as shipped from the factory, and then back again to its original settings.

Serial tunneling

A NiagaraAX station running one or more serial-based drivers can provide “tunneling” access to its connected devices. This allows you to use a vendor's Windows serial-based application (via the serial tunnel client) to perform device-specific operations. Examples include application downloads or other device configuration.

The tunneling client is separate from NiagaraAX Workbench–meaning that you can install it on various PCs, as needed. The key advantage is that serial tunneling requires only a standard IP connection (to the station), yet provides access as if the client PC was attached to the target serial network via a physical COM port, for example RS-232.

Note: No special licensing is required to use tunneling features in NiagaraAX.