FLEXNET – FNER Expandable (Modular) Routing Switches – Installation & Operation Manual
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CHAPTER 8: ACCESS CONTROL
ACCESS CONTROL
8. Access Control
FLEXNET defines Access control as: a means to limit the ability of people to mess things up. Our system limits a person’s
access to the system in several ways. One is the factory code needed in order to get to the configuration menu, the second
is locking the keypad, and the third is enabling access control, and creating user accounts and assigning permissions.
Access control for the FNER system is quite simple. There is only one output and 8 different accounts. Simply allow or deny
access to the output for the 8 users.
8.1 Access Control Overview
Access control for users was created for customers who had problems with unauthorized changes occurring to their switch
settings. If this is not a problem, you can simply disable access control in any combination or on all five ports. If access
control is disabled on a communications port, than anyone using that port has the ability to change any setting or the output
connection on the FNER system.
If access control is enabled on a port the user has to login with an assigned name, assigned password, and will be pre
assigned permission to change the output connection or not.
Therefore, if access control is enabled for a port, a user can only change the output if logged in and he has permission from
the Admin to change the output.
8.2 System Access
A FLEXNET matrix is controlled by a standard Universal Control Module (MPC 128). The MPC 128 accepts control commands
from external sources that tell it how to switch the matrix or configure various system options. A standard MPC 128 has four
control ports that will accept commands:
Local:
Front panel keypad and LCD.
Control In:
The “PC Control In” connector. This is typically, where a control computer or PC is connected. The port can
be configured as RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485 and accepts 9600-baud 8N1 data. Command data is sent as an STX/ETX
bounded packet with checksum as defined in the protocol document.
COMM Port:
Ethernet. The exact Ethernet port is user defined with the default Ethernet port set at 9100. It accepts the same
command packet that is used on the serial port. This makes it easy for a single driver to be used for both serial and Ethernet
connections.
Telnet:
Telnet console window. This provides an ASCII interface with a cursor for keyboard entry of commands.
The system is highly flexible and the access control feature can be configured to be on or off for each of the 4 possible control
ports on a control module.
8.3 Port Access Control Enable/Disable
Selecting “3. Access Control” at the Features Menu displays the Port Access Control Enable/Disable screen. Through this
screen, you can designate whether the access control system is on or off (i.e., in effect or disabled) for various control ports.
Note:
The Access Control option only appears in the Features Menu when you are logged in as
the administrator. This is true regardless of whether access control has been enabled for local
control.
To get to the Port Access control Enable/Disable screen from the main menu: key sequence 2, 1, (factory settings code
number + F1), 3, 3
2. System Options
1. Configuration (factory settings code F1)
3.
Features
3.
Access
Control