Communication problems with Chromeleon and HP Jetdirect LAN

[katrinaco]

We have an Agilent 1100 HPLC with PDA that has a jetdirect LAN already installed on it. We have Chromeleon currently controlling the LC.

We note the following problems:

- Connecting all the modules on the control panel is painfully slow.
- Not surprisingly, any command changes (i.e. changing flow rate, etc) take painfully slow to execute. This is frustrating when mobile phase is a precious resource.
- After a run, the software does not initiate injection of the next sample. It continues the same old run after UV acquisition is turned off and the sample run time has clearly ended. There is nothing wrong with the program. We are using the same program file as the other LC's and that is running without a glitch.
- Only the first 5 minutes of the chromatogram is recorded on the report, even when I see peaks generated on the acquisition display.

We suspect that there is a communication issue between the jetdirect LAN card and the chromeleon server. BootIP cannot find the IP address for the LAN. We set the IP address manually. Then tested it by pinging it via the C prompt. No response.

Now, I cannot even connect my modules- Chromeleon is not communicating via LAN.

Anybody have communication issues similar to ours? Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!!!!!

[unmgvar]

katrinaco,

i might be able to help you.
i need to know for that several things first:
what is your Chromeleon version (service pack included)?
what modules of 1100 are you connecting exactely (part number)?
what is the firmware version of the modules?
the PC hardware specs? Windows version? is firewall turned on?
do you connect via HUB?
do you directly connect to the LAN PC card from the agilent?
if directly are you using a cross cable?

can you specify if the problem are since you connected to Chromeleon, if not since when, is it a recent matter?

[katrinaco]

hi unmgvar...

THanks for responding! Answers to your questions:

1. Chromeleon version 6.8 with service pack from Dec. 2008.
2. The modules which won't connect: G1311A, G1315A, G1313A, G1316A, G1322A (all components refuse to go online.)
3. PC hardware specs: Dell Optiplex, Core Duo processor, 1.6 GB RAM, Windows XP, no firewall since it's not connected to any network.
4. It's connected directly from JetDirect card via cross-over cable to LAN Bus. No hub.
5. Firmware versions: not sure. I trust it's properly updated by Dionex when they installed the software last month.

We've just used the instrumentation since the install.

Hope I covered everything!

[DR]

open a command window and enter
ipconfig /all
see if you can find the jetdirect card and if the IP address matches what you had set it to. Since you're having issues pinging it, I suspect that it's dead or has an identity crisis. At least if it's working, you should be able to discern its currrent IP address. The IP address can be manually changed via "gameboy" controller or PC.

PS - this is based on my 1100/Empower & 1100/Chemstation experience - I know nothing about the particulars of Chromeleon.

[katrinaco]

Hi Dr...

So I finally got the IP address set up correctly and verified that the LAN card of the computer and the JetDirect LAN card are in conference. They are because:

1.) BootIP is picking up the IP address of the detector.
2.) When I ping the IP address of the detector on C prompt, I get a response.

Sadly, CHromeleon still won't acknowledge the modules. I keep getting an error message saying something to the effect that the LAN connection cannot found, and that I have to power-cycle the instrument or restart the server or both to establish connection.

[unmgvar]

katrinaco

do you see the modules serial number in the server configuration after installing the driver of the 1100?

BTW the firmware should be done by a agilent tech i think. we are using A.06.04 or 10 version currently for all modules. these are the latest versions, but you can see the older possible in the CM help.

check if your LAN card on the PC is not configured to work at 1000 mb/sec speed. if so then turn it to 100. agilent communication protocols for 1100 system do not support such a high speed

[Vanquish]

Hi,

Please e-mail me at matthew.morse@dionex.com, I'll help you get this resolved.

Matt

[DR]

^very nice of you.

PS - I'm thinking that the IP addresses assigned may not be compatible w/ what Chromeleon will talk to - have had same issue switching 1100s between Chemstation & Empower...

[unmgvar]

DR actually the issue is more with the agilent LAN card for Chromeleon.
if they are old they can use only specific IP adresses.
newer models can get an IP that you decide from the BootP. but sometimes agilent techs when they install the instrument with chemstation they manually set it for a given IP adress, like 10.100.100.10 for example.

[katrinaco]

Thanks so much all for the expert advice. unmgvar, you hit the nail right on the head. we (John, the tech support team-of-1 from Dionex) switched out the jetdirect card with a newer LAN card and it works like a charm. it's still set up direct LAN communication though. we've been running samples without hitches!

and vanquish... thanks so much for the offer to help! I'll take your offer someday when another issue crops up.