Knowledgebase

Issue:

How to setup a Windows PC to direct connect to the serial interface on the Perle 833RAS, CS9000, and Jetstream using a Dialup PPP connection.

Solution:

Direct Connect

A PPP connection can be made to the 833RAS, Jetstream, and CS9000 products via a direct serial connection with a Windows PC.
This setup is useful if your Windows PC does not have an Ethernet card but requires connectivity to the LAN.

A Null Modem cable will be required to connect the serial COM port of the Windows PC to the serial port of the Perle.
The Perle 833RAS includes one null modem cable (and is purchasable from our Service/Sales Dept. A cable for the other servers will have to be manufactured.

CS9000/Jetstream RJ45 to DB9 null modem cable

 RJ45                        DB9

 DCD 1  -------------------- 1 DCD
                  |
 DTR 3  <------------------- 4 DTR
 DSR 2  -------------------> 6 DSR
 GND 4  -------------------- 5 GND
 TXD 5  -------------------> 2 RXD
 RXD 6  <------------------- 3 TXD
 CTS 7  -------------------> 8 CTS
 RTS 8  <------------------- 7 RTS

833RAS DB9 to DB9 null modem cable

 DB9                        DB9

 RXD 2  ------------------> 3 TXD
 TXD 3  <------------------ 2 RXD
 DTR 4  ------------------> 6 DSR
                     |____> 1 DCD
 GND 5  ------------------- 5 Gnd
 DSR 6  <------------------ 4 DTR
 DCD 1  <____|
 RTS 7  ------------------> 8 CTS
 CTS 8  <------------------ 7 RTS
    

As the Windows PC is normally expecting to communicate to a modem a special Direct Connect modem driver will have to be used to fake out a modem connection (this is not the same as the PC to PC serial connectivity that is included with Windows). There are very few Direct Connect drivers available, two examples are listed below (note Perle does not certify or support these 3rd party drivers) :
http://www.kevin-wells.com/net (Win 9x - included in the installed directory with the Perle 833RAS)
http://www.iready.org/docs/win98ppp (this one will also work with NT and 2000).

Add a modem through control panel and use one of the above INF files to create a Direct Connect modem.

With the 833RAS you must configure the Port with the modem type as Direct.
For the Serial/Console servers, follow the normal instructions for configuring a PPP connection but create a modem with no initialization string.

Ensure that you configure the Null Modem device on the PC with the same communication parameters as the port you are dialing into. With a direct connect the baud rate of the connection must be fixed on both sides.

Create a Dialup Networking connection and select the Direct Connect modem. Configure the modem connection rate to match the baud rate configured on the Perle server's port/line.

You can put in any phone number to dial.

Configure other DUN properties as normal, then dial in.