Network Utility Help

OMNI Flow Computers, Inc.

 Last updated: Janauary 21, 2019

Network Utility is used to perform operations on OMNI Flow Computers Eth-

ernet Modules. On startup it will search for any modules on the network and
populate a list of the ones found. Modules can also be added by sending a Ping
to a specific address. After a module is present in the list, the IP address can be
changed, new firmware can be downloaded and configuration items in the
module can be changed.

The search feature makes use of broadcast messages using the User Data-
Network Utility Help

gram Protocol (UDP). Within this protocol is a sub-protocol specific to OMNI

Flow Computers Ethernet Modules such as the OMNI 4000/7000 DE Module
and the OMNI 3000/6000 SE Module. Since broadcast messages are not sent
through routers, the search will only see modules connected on the same net-
work.

The Ping feature can be used to reach those units on the other side of a router
and add them to the list. You may also create Ping List which is a list of units to
be automatically pinged during Search. Any units from the Ping List found dur-
ing Search are added to the view list.

It is recommended that downloads are attempted for modules that are on the
local network only. Note: When downloading new firmware, especially when
going back to a previous revision, it is possible that all configuration parameters
will be reset to the factory defaults. This will cause the IP address to be reset to
10.0.0.1. Set the IP Address before attempting configuration or download.

If attempting to configure or download a unit that is not on a user's local net-

work, a warning message is displayed indicating a connection may not be able
to be established. The user can choose whether to continue or not. A list of the
IP Address(es) in use by the PC are displayed to assist the user in determining
which networks are connected.

The program consists of five sections; the menu bar, unit list, status, progress
bar, and IP Address(es) in use by the PC. As items are selected from the menu
and operations performed on a module, feedback will be presented in the
status area. Any function that takes more than a second will make use of the
progress bar.
Network Utility: Network Utility Help

The user can select which modules types are shown in the list. The default module selections on pro-
gram start can be configured in Preferences.

IP Addresses that are duplicated are highlighted in the list and a message is displayed in the status
area.

Topics
Search 4
Setup 5
Ping 6
Set IP Address 7
Download 8
Configure 9
Help 10
Standard Interface 15
Index 22

Clear List

This selection clears all items in the search list.

Clear Status

This clears the status window.

Exit

This will close the program.

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Network Utility: Search

Search
The search feature makes use of broadcast messages using the User Datagram Protocol (UDP).
Within this protocol is a sub-protocol specific to OMNI Flow Computers Ethernet Modules such as
the OMNI 7000 DE Module and the OMNI 6000 SE Module. Since broadcast messages are not sent
through routers the search will only see modules connected on the same network.

The search feature sends a UDP broadcast to a particular port using a protocol that the OMNI Eth-
ernet Modules understand.

Each module responds with information such as the IP address, MAC address, Module Type and
the Ethernet Firmware Revision, Ethernet ID, and Flow Computer Firmware Version (if available).

The list is populated with the modules that respond.

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Network Utility: Setup

Setup
Preferences

Select which modules you would like to display on program start up.

Set up your folder preference for the Configure Session save file. The name of the Configure
session save file is 'Configure_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.txt'. The default folder is the folder
where Network Utility is installed with subfolder 'ConfigLogs'.

Set up your folder preference for the ping list file. The name of the ping list file is "Network Util-
ity.pl". The default folder is the folder where Network Utility is installed.

Log Configure Session

The user has the option to record the Configure session to file when selecting the Configure menu.
This may be useful when capturing configuration screens or when debugging the communications.

To enable this function, select the 'Log Configure Session' item on the menu. When the function is
enabled, there is a check mark next to the item on the menu.

The folder is set up in preferences. The file name is fixed and the current date and time are appen-
ded to the file name. For example, if the session capture began on November 23, 2010 at 5:25:07
pm, the file name would be:

Configure_20101123_172507.txt

A new file is started with each new connection. If debugging and the file reaches a size of 50 MB, the
file is closed and a new file is opened with the new date and time appended.

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Network Utility: Ping

Ping
The Ping feature can be used to reach those units on the other side of a router and add them to the
list.

Ping IP Address

This allows a Ping to be sent to a specific IP address.

This allows you to add a target to the search list that may be on a different sub-network and has to go
through a router.

Setup Ping List

The user can make a list of IP Addresses for the Search feature.

These items may be on a different sub-network and have to go through a router.

The list is saved to file and all IP addresses on the list are automatically pinged during Search. The
ping list file folder is indicated in the Preferences screen and the ping list file name is "Network Util-
ity.pl".

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Network Utility: Set IP Address

Set IP Address
This selection allows the IP address to be changed for the selected target. The new IP Address the
user enters will be pinged to determine if it is already in use.

The following IP addresses are considered invalid:

0.0.0.0
127.0.0.1 (localhost)
255.255.255.255

This makes use of a series of UDP broadcast messages and will not work through routers.

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Network Utility: Download

Download
This selection downloads new firmware to the selected target. The user selects the file to download
and enters the password of the selected target. New code is downloaded to the Ethernet Module
only and does not effect the operation of the Flow Computer. Any active Ethernet connections are
terminated.

Caution:

If you are downloading a module that is not attached to the same network as the PC running the pro-
gram, such as connection through a router, it is possible that the module will reset its IP address and
will be unreachable after the download. This will happen if the module resets the configuration to fact-
ory defaults. This can particularly happen when going back in revision and the configurations
between the two revisions are not compatible. It is advisable to always connect to the same network
as the Ethernet Module when downloading new code. If the IP Address resets, you will be able to
change it back to the original using Set IP Address.

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Network Utility: Configure

Configure
Pressing Configure on the menu connects to the selected target and displays a configuration menu
screen. Select a menu from the left hand side. When the menu is displayed, select an item on the
menu from the right hand side to enter a new value.

The user has the option to record the session to file. This may be useful when capturing con-
figuration screens or when debugging the communications. For more information see Log Configure
Session.

After supplying the password, the configuration menus are displayed.

Even though a module shows up on the list, you may not be able to configure it if the IP address is
not compatible with the network it is attached to. A message is displayed to indicate there may be a
problem with the connection. The user can choose whether to continue or not. A list of the IP
Address(es) in use by the PC are displayed to assist the user in determining which networks are con-
nected.

You may not configure a module that is running in bootloader mode.

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 Help

Help Topics 11
Topics Release Notes 12
Check For Updates 13
About Command 14
Network Utility: Help Topics

Help Topics
Use this command to display the opening screen of Help.

From the opening screen, you can jump to step-by-step instructions for using the program and vari-
ous types of reference information.

Once you open Help, you can click the Contents button whenever you want to return to the opening
screen.

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Network Utility: Release Notes

Release Notes
Use this command to display the release notes file in Notepad. The file contains the updates and
notes for each release of the program.

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Network Utility: Check For Updates

Check For Updates

Compares the current running version of Network Utility to the latest version released on the OMNI
web site. A message is displayed to tell the user whether or not an update is available.

Click on the following link and navigate to the download page to obtain updates.

www.omniflow.com

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Network Utility: About Command

About Command
Use this command to display the copyright notice and version number of your copy of the program.

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 Standard Interface

Close 16
Topics Exit Command 17
Maximize Command 18
Minimize Command 19
Restore Command 20
Title Bar 21
Network Utility: Close

Close

Use this command to close the active window or dialog box.

Double-clicking a Control-menu box is the same as choosing the Close command.
Note: If you have multiple windows open for a single document, the Close command on the doc-
ument Control menu closes only one window at a time. You can close all windows at once with the
Close command on the File menu.

Shortcuts
Keys: CTRL+F4 closes a document window
ALT+F4 closes the window or dialog box

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Network Utility: Exit Command

Exit Command

Use the Close command on the application Control menu to end your Program session.

Shortcuts
Mouse: Double-click the application's Control menu button.
Keys: ALT+F4

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Network Utility: Maximize Command

Maximize Command

Use this command to enlarge the active window to fill the available space.

Shortcut
Mouse: Click the maximize icon on the title bar; or double-click the title bar.
Keys: CTRL+F10 enlarges a document window.

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Network Utility: Minimize Command

Minimize Command

Use this command to reduce the program window to an icon.

Shortcut
Mouse: Click the minimize icon on the title bar.
Keys: ALT+F9

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Network Utility: Restore Command

Restore Command
Use this command to return the active window to its size and position before you chose the Maximize
or Minimize command.

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Network Utility: Title Bar

Title Bar
The title bar is located along the top of a window. It contains the name of the application and doc-
ument.
To move the window, drag the title bar. Note: You can also move dialog boxes by dragging their title
bars.

A title bar may contain the following elements:

ApplicationControl-menu button
Name of the application
Maximize button
Minimize button
Restore button
Close

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 About – Module Type

A
About 14
B
Bootloader 9
C
Check For Updates 13
ConfigLogs 5
Configure 2, 5, 9
Configure Session 5
Contact Information 14
D
Download 2, 8, 13
E
Ethernet 2, 8
Ethernet Firmware Revision 4
Index

Ethernet Module 2, 8
Exit 16-17
F
F1 11
Flow Computer 8
H
Help 11-12
I
IP Address 2, 4, 6-9
L
Log Configure Session 5
M
MAC 4
Maximize 20
Minimize 19-20
Module ID 4
Module Type 4

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Index: OMNI Ethernet Modules – Version

O
OMNI Ethernet Modules 2
P
PC 8
Ping 2, 6-7
Ping List 2, 5-6
Preferences 5-6
Program Version 12, 14
R
Release Date 14
Release Notes 12
Reset 2
Restore command 20
S
Search 2, 4, 6
Sending 2, 4
Set IP Address 7
Setup 5
Software Version 12, 14
T
Title Bar 21
U
UDP 2, 4, 7
Updates 12-13
User Datagram Protocol 2, 4
V
Version 12, 14

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