Chromatography Forum

I recently started a new job in a company that has a 6850 GC hooked up to a computer (Windows XP) via ethernet cable. The GC software used is Chemstation 2003. I'm told that the GC was working fine a few weeks prior to when I started. However, it doesn't work anymore because the computer doesn't seem to recognize that the GC is plugged into it.

When I open Chemstation, it says "6850GC not found! Check that 6850 GC is currently configured."

Any suggestions as to likely reasons for the bad connection would be appreciated. Thank you.

Is it possible, that you have to use BootP Server to give the GC an IP Adress?

Can you ping it from the cmd line of your computer? If you cannot, then you have a networking issue. If you can, then you need to make sure the IP address in Chemstation is correct. If both of those hold up, then you start looking at the Chemstation software and what may have changed around that.

Best regards,

AICMM

No I can't ping it, so I guess it's a networking issue. But the ethernet cord runs directly from the GC to the computer. It's a simple set-up. What networking issue might it be?

Make sure you are using crossover cable otherwise it would not ping....


FUR

I shouldn't have to use a BootP Server for the model of GC I have. I checked the instructions for LAN setup to confirm this.

Since it worked before, I would assume that it's a crossover cable, but I'm not positive. Do crossover cables have any features that a regular cable wouldn't so that I can see the difference visually?

The info if it is crossover or a patch cable should be written on the cable itself.

If not: Usually this shouldn't be a problem, PC Network Cards nowadays are able to work with both.

What is the IP adress of your GC, PC and which IP-Adress is set in the Configuration Editor?

Are the settings of the Subnet Mask also ok?

Thanks - I checked and it does say it's a crossover cable on it.

The IP address of the GC, PC, and Configuration Editor are all the same: 10.001.001.101. The subnet mask values are also the same.

I've tried to ping it from the command prompt several times, but it says "Destination host unreachable" every time. I don't understand why there's no communication.

Shouldn't the IP address of the PC and GC be different. eg :
PC IP address: 10.1.1.100
Instrument 1 IP address: 10.1.1.101
Instrument 2 IP address: 10.1.1.102

and so forth.

Yes, there is (one of) the network issue(s).

Every network component needs its own unique IP, but they should only differ at the last number. The subnet mask in contrast should really be the same. (Usually 255.255.255.0)

To complete nick576's post:

In the Configuration Editor you have to use the Adress of the GC, not the PC!

Change the IP of your PC to the adress nick576 wrote and check again if the IP adress of the GC and the one you use in the Configuration Editor are the same.

Then try to start the Chemstation again.

Thanks for the info. I fixed the IP address as instructed and rebooted. Unfortunately, it didn't solve the problem.

At this point, I'm not sure what the next step is. Maybe put in a new network card and see if that fixes it?

Connect the PC to a network, disable the manually set IP and look if it gets a connection. If yes - then there is nothing wrong with you network card.

I think it's more likely that you still have a faulty configuration.

You still can't ping your GC, right?

If I were you, I would try to set the IP via BootP.

Therefore look there:

https://www.chem.agilent.com/Library/us ... -90329.pdf

Page 18.

If it is not to much effort, you could take a few screenshots of IP configuration of the PC, the Configuration Editor and a picture of the IP config of the GC.

Or - a maybe better solution - ask you system administrator, he/she should be able to eliminate network issues.

Is your firmware on your 6890 GC current, if not, try flashing with the latest. Also replace your LAN cable with new one and make sure when you plug the cable on your GC the LED on the back of the GC should flash, if not then there is a problem with your LAN card on your GC?

FUR

I confirmed that the network card on the PC works. I'll try to send pictures when I can, but I set the IP addresses as instructed. Still doesn't work.

I'm pretty sure the LAN card I have doesn't support BootP. The control panel discussed in those instructions doesn't come with this GC. I have the type where you hold down the "load" button and then set the IP address manually.

It's a 5890, not a 6890, for whatever difference that makes. I'm going to try to get a different cable and see if that makes it work, though I think that's a long shot. Until I get photos, any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Pretty sure 5890 needs GPIB, and cannot do LAN.