The VectorStar VNA supports Ethernet 10/100 BASE-T. The instrument is connected directly to the LAN via the rear panel RJ-45 Ethernet Port using a standard CAT-5 Ethernet cable.
The MS4640A Series VNAs can also be controlled remotely across a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type 2 network by a PC equipped with a USB control application using the rear panel USB Control Port.
The general requirements for manual Ethernet LAN configuration are discussed in the sections below.
Note
This section is provided for general information about manually configuring an Ethernet connection and does not apply to USB networking. Consult your local network administrator for the exact requirements and settings that are required for your network installation.
TCP/IP General Requirements and Settings
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is a network protocol. In the Windows operating system, TCP/IP is automatically installed and in most cases, installation, configuration, and communication are transparent to the user.
In a TCP/IP network, you must provide IP addresses and other information to clients. Clients may also require a naming service or a method for name resolution. The TCP/IP protocol setup requires the following information:
• IP Address
Every device in a TCP/IP network requires an IP address that consists of four numbers, each between 0 and 255, separated by periods. For example: 128.111.122.42 is a valid IP address.
• Subnet Mask
The subnet mask distinguishes the portion of the IP address that is the network identification (ID) address from the portion that is the station ID address. When the subnet mask 255.255.0.0 is applied to the IP address above, it would identify the network ID address as 128.111 and the station ID address as 122.42. All stations in the same Local Area Network (LAN) should have the same network ID, but different station IDs.
• Default Gateway
A TCP/IP network can have a gateway to communicate beyond the LAN identified by the network ID. A gateway is a computer or electronic device that is connected to two different networks and can move TCP/IP data from one network to the other. A single LAN that is not connected to other LANs requires a default gateway setting of 0.0.0.0. The default gateway setting for the VectorStar MS4640A Series VNA is 0.0.0.0. If your network has a gateway, then the default gateway would be set to the appropriate value of your gateway.
• Hardware Address (MAC Address)
An Ethernet address is a unique 48-bit value that identifies a network interface card internal to the VNA to the rest of the network. Every network card has a unique Ethernet address permanently stored into its memory.
• TCP/IP Port Number
Reports the currently used TCP/IP port number with Port #5001 set as the default. In general, it should not be changed. If the port number is changed, do not change it to 5000 as that port is used by VXI-11. Ports below #5000 are generally reserved for other services and devices. Custom settings generally should use settings of #5001 and higher.
• Network Interface Setup
TCP/IP connectivity requires setting up the parameters described at the beginning of this section. You may need to contact your network administrator or refer to your network documentation for further assistance. The following procedure is a general overview of how to set up a general LAN connection on both the VNA and the remote machine. The actual menus and sequence may vary.
Default Plug-and-Play Configuration
The Windows operating system comes pre-configured and ready to plug into and connect with an existing Ethernet network. The Ethernet network must provide DNS/DHCP and be configured with a gateway.
Connection can also be made to a USB network. USB networks are typically auto-detecting without the need for configuration; however, a special USB network cable (described below) is required.
The required PC-to-Instrument USB 2.0 networking cable (also called a USB-USB cable, USB networking cable, or USB bridge cable) has a small electronic circuit module in the middle of the cable that allows the PC and the VectorStar VNA to talk to each other at 480 Mbps. The PC-to-Instrument USB cable is user-provided and does not come with the VectorStar VNA.
Warning
Using the wrong type of USB-USB cable can result in damage to the PC and/or VectorStar USB ports and/or power supplies. Do NOT use a so-called “USB A/A” cable that is similar to a serial port cross-over null-modem cable.
For Ethernet connection, connect the VectorStar VNA to the network with an Ethernet cable between the VNA rear panel RJ-45 Ethernet Port and your local network port. For USB networks, use the USB network cable defined above between the VNA rear panel USB Type 2 Port and your local network hub.
VectorStar VNA Network Connection
1. Ethernet Port – Rear panel Ethernet RJ45 (f) port or USB Type 2 connection
2. Ethernet CAT-5 RJ-45 or USB cable from LAN (Local Area Network).
Windows will automatically detect the network settings and configure the network connection.
Manually Configuring TCP/IP Ethernet LAN Settings
To see the current network settings for your VectorStar VNA, with the VectorStar Application Software running, navigate to the Network Interface (Network Interf.) menu as follows:
• MAIN | System | SYSTEM | Ntwk Interface | NTWK INTERFACE
NETWORK INTERFACE (NETWORK INTERF) Menu
The top eight (8) display buttons provide information for the current network settings. Changes to these settings must be made through the Microsoft Windows configuration utilities by clicking Network Connections.
The Network Connections dialog box shows the current available local networks and provides access to various network configuration utilities and setup wizards as follows:
Windows NETWORK CONNECTIONS Dialog Box
• A link to the Create a new connection wizard
• A link to the Network Troubleshooter wizard
• If connected to one or more networks, a link to each network name is provided with links to the settings of each connection
Note
You may need to consult your network documentation or network administrator for assistance in manually configuring your network setup. The Network Connections Help system provides information related to computer networking. If an Internet connection is present, links to Microsoft and other URLs are also provided.
