AEI Site Optimization Procedure

Railnet AEI System Site Installation Manual
This chapter explains the APU application software and the procedures for optimizing all AEI system components.

APU Application Software

Local and Remote User Access

There are three types of user access available; local, remote, and network. Local access requires a computer equipped with a standard communications package and a null‐modem cable from the local port of the APU‐102 to the computer. Remote access requires a computer equipped with a Hayes compatible modem and a standard communications package. Telnet connection requires the APU‐102 has network capable hardware and software as well as a valid network path to the APU, via WAN remotely or LAN at the site.

The default communications settings are:

Type	Baud Rate	Word Length	Parity	Stop Bits
Local	2400	8	N	1
Remote	Modems will negotiate best speed	8	N	1
Network	Handled by TCP/IP protocol

Table 3.1: Communications Settings

APU-102 Software Programs

The APU‐102 uses two different software programs. The first is the AEI application software, which runs the APU‐102’s normal functions. Comet Electronics incorporates its standard remote support into this application software. The second is a standalone “fail‐safe” software program, used mainly for recovery and diagnostics. There are various versions of the fail‐safe program depending on configuration of the APU‐102. Mini Remote Support (MRS, Start‐up ROM version 4.1) or ROMSHELL (Start‐up ROM version 5.0+). When the SYS light (LED) is on steadily, the APU‐102 is running the APU application software. When the SYS light (LED) is flashing, the APU‐102 is running MRS/ROMSHELL. With addition of network connections to the APU‐102, NetMRS, a network capable version of ROMSHELL was created. It has all the functions/commands of ROMSHELL, but local, remote, and network connectivity are made using the AEI Application’s parameter set.

AEI Application Software

The AEI application software is the heart of the APU‐102. It is stored on the solid state disk along with the train information. It logs the train axles, correlates the axles into cars, and puts the tags with the cars. It is a multitasking program that allows the system to record a train output to both a remote unit and a local unit at the same time.

When the AEI application software is running, you connect to the APU‐102 via the Front Door. Connecting via the Front Door allows you to define the system parameters and individual session parameters, delete trains, and view the systems log, for example. The Front Door is generally used unless there is a problem with the AEI application software.

Mini Remote Support (MRS) Start-up ROM 4.1 and earlier

Mini Remote Support (MRS, Start‐up ROM version 4.1) is a version of the Comet Electronics Remote Support software. When this program or the APU application software is running (version 4.x only), you can log into the APU site’s Back Door. Logging into the Back Door via the MRS program allows you to dial in to the APU, transfer individual files, and download new code. However, these functions are not menu‐driven. A special communication program, “Remote Support,” is required to connect to an APU‐102 to use MRS’s features. “Remote Support” is only compatible PCs running MS‐DOS and using legacy hardware ports and modems.

The Comet Electronics MRS is programmed or burned into an EPROM at the Comet Electronics facility before the unit is shipped to the customer. The use of the EPROM makes the software uneraseable. The APU‐102 boots to the EPROM first, then looks to see if the APU application software is available. If there is any problem with the APU application software, the APU‐102 loads the MRS program.

Every fifth time the APU hard boots (power reset or watchdog timer reboot), the MRS program is loaded, stays in MRS mode for 20 minutes, then reboots. To force the APU‐102 into MRS mode, press and hold the SYS button, then turn on the APU‐ 102. Hold the SYS button until the SYS LED flashes slowly (about once per second).The EPROM is located on the USSD card and can be identified by the name ʺStart‐ up ROMʺ, version and USSD capacity.

Note: The reboot command (soft boot) from the Front Door (standard AEI application interface) does not increment this counter.

ROMSHELL Start-up ROM version 5.0 or higher

ROMSHELL (Start‐up ROM version 5.0+) replaces MRS. It has expanded functionality compared to MRS listed above, but is accessible with any commercial communication software program. The ROMSHELL interface is detailed in the AEI System Operations Manual.

The EPROM is located on the USSD or PCM‐SSD card and can be identified by the name ʺStart‐up ROMʺ, version and USSD capacity.

NetMRS

NetMRS is a network capable version of ROMSHELL. It is not loaded from the Startup ROM, but is an application running from the XPe kernel on the system’s Compact Flash memory. It has some additional capabilities compared to ROMSHELL, including network connectivity. The NetMRS interface is detailed in the AEI System Operations Manual.

Main Menu Options

There are two APU‐102 Main Menu options, the System Menu and the Supervisory Menu.

The System Menu functions provide accessibility to a wide range of reports and other information that can be generated from the stored data.

The Supervisory Menu provides functions to reconfigure the operational parameters of the APU‐102 as well as clearing the APU‐102 of all trains and status information. The same data is available whether accessing the APU‐102 from a remote site via the modem or on‐site via the local communications port. For detailed information about these menus, see the System Menu and Supervisory Menu sections later in this chapter.

Multiple Sessions

The APU‐102 supports up to ten virtual APUʹs. Each virtual APU, called a ʺsession,ʺ can be configured individually according to the needs of the railroad it supports.

Current versions of the AEI application include a new feature, NetMenu. It allows multiple devices to be accessed via one external connection. You may be presented with a menu BEFORE actually connecting to an APU. NetMenu is detailed later in this text. When accessing the site, the first question the APU‐102 software asks is which APU session you want to access. Each session has its own password protection, just like each physical APU would. (See Passwords.) Once you gain access to a session, any parameters you change affect only that session.

Each session on the APU‐102 is capable of reporting consist and maintenance reports to the host of your choice. Sessions can be configured for different purposes. For example, a customer may set up Session 1 for standard consist and maintenance reporting to its normal host system, then configure Session 2 to report different types of information (such as scale reports) to other facilities on the railroad. This often happens when the host system to which the AEI reports are sent cannot handle the type of data the other facility needs.

Each session uses the same tag information but is completely independent when formatting and transmitting the information. The owner of the APU‐102 is responsible for the initial setup of each session, while the session owner has the ability to customize the individual session. After you select a session, password entry is required.

Passwords

Comet Electronics delivers the systems with default passwords set up in the APU‐ 102. Both the System Menu and the Supervisory Menu are password protected. Also, a password is available for each session’s host interface. The System and Supervisory passwords are only visible under the Supervisory Menu display of the site parameters where separate password fields are maintained. Each session is independent of one another, so passwords for one session would not be available to other session users. The System Menu and the Supervisory Menu require different passwords from the host system. The following are the APU‐102 default passwords:

Default Passwords
System Menu	Supervisory Menu
SECRET	SUPER

Table 3.2: Default Passwords

Inactivity Time-outs

There are numerous inactivity timeouts built into the APU‐102. Their purpose is to remind the user that action has not been taken for a particular amount of time or to log the user off in case the user has forgotten to do so. At the Session Select menu, the APU‐102 pauses for three minutes. The APU‐102 then beeps and redisplays the Session Select menu. This represents one timeout period. The following table demonstrates how time‐outs work:

Screen	Number of 3-minute inactivity time-outs allowed	Result
Session Select Menu	3	APU-102 logs user off.
Password	2	Returns to Session Select menu screen.
System Menu	1	APU-102 logs user off and returns to Session Select menu screen.
Supervisory Menu	1	Returns to System Menu screen.

Table 3.3: Inactivity Time-outs

On-line Help

3 APU-102 logs user off.

2 Returns to Session Select menu screen.

1 APU-102 logs user off and returns to Session Select menu screen.

1 Returns to System Menu screen. Table 3.3: Inactivity Time-outs

Throughout the user command interface in the System Menu or Supervisory Menu, you may type a command followed by <?> to display available information about the command. If you do not remember the command, enter <?> at the command prompt and the software shows what commands you can currently use. Example: Typing <D><?> describes the Directory command and any options available with that command.

Command Formats

When entering commands in a string, always type a comma between them.

Example: To use the Check Tag Sequence (CT) command to verify that Reader0 and all antennas for a particular site are working correctly, enter CT,0,* for the command string. (Check Tag hardware required.)

System Optimization

System Power On Checks

Power on the APU-102 to make sure the Search LEDs are operational. They should come on when power is applied and turn off once the APU-102 has initialized completely (approximately 45 seconds).

Local Connection

Laptop Computer Connections

1) Connect DB9F-DB25M RS232 null modem cable (or modem cable with null modem adapter) to serial port 1 or 2 of laptop computer and the local port of APU-102 located on the bottom of the APU-102.

2) Turn on laptop computer with any communications software that supports ANSI terminal emulation installed on computer.

3) Set communications parameters to 2400 baud, no parity, 1 stop bits, 8 data bits, no flow control. You are now ready to enter the Front Door of the APU-102.

Note: The local port on the APU may be configured differently depending on the customer’s operating standards. Set the communication program on your computer to match.

4) Select terminal emulation mode and press <Enter>. The APU application software prompts you to log in.

Log On To the APU-102

1. After connecting to the APU-102 through either the local or remote port (modem), press
  <Enter> to activate the Session Select menu screen.

1. Comet Documentation 2. Inactive Session, Not Available for Selection 3. Inactive Session, Not Available for Selection 4. Inactive Session, Not Available for Selection 5. Log Off Select the Appropriate Session # ( 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 ) Session #: _

Options 1 ‐ 4 on this menu represent the four available sessions in the APU‐102. Option 5 logs you off the Session Select menu and, if accessed through the remote port, disconnects the modem. Additional sessions only appear if configured. If more than 4 sessions are active, “X” will logoff.

2) To log on to a session, enter the number corresponding to the desired session. The APU-102 will request the password for the session.

3) Enter the correct system password. The system and supervisory password fields are a maximum of six ASCII, printable characters.

NOTE: Versions after 5.0 have a password limit of seven characters.

As the password is entered, an asterisk (*) displays where you type the character. After the correct system password is entered and accepted, the Logon menu displays and the cursor flashes at the APU102XP: Main prompt with the current session number.