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Set up your IXrouter

  • Updated

The IXrouter is the hardware component which enables you to remotely access your PLCs, HMIs and other devices.

This article shows you how to set up your IXrouter. After your IXrouter is set up you will be able to access and manage your IXrouter on the IXON Cloud.

Prerequisites

The steps to follow in order to set up your IXrouter are:

Create a configuration file

First step is to create a configuration file on the IXON Cloud that will tell the IXrouter to what company it belongs and how it's connected. Most input fields will be pre-filled, based on standard use cases, so for most users all the fields can be left untouched. The next steps show you how to create a configuration file.

  • Go to [Tools]HandIcon1.pngin the main menu and press [Start configuration]HandIcon2.png.

1_Start_configuration.png

  • Confirm your company name, press [Next], and select your connection type.

Connection types

  • Wired networkHandIcon1.pngusing Ethernet cable.
  • Wireless networkHandIcon2.pngusing a Wi-Fi signal.
    Required info: network name (SSID) and  password.
  • Cellular networkHandIcon3.pngusing a 3G/4G enabled standard SIM card (size 2FF).
    Required info: provider's APN (access point name) and SIM card's PIN code.

Wi-Fi network

Note that the IXrouter can't connect to a Wi-Fi network if it requires you to log in to a webpage or accept their terms of use first. Please use another Wi-Fi network if possible.
  • After choosing the connection type, you can generally leave the default DHCP settings and press [Next]. If you need to set a static IP address, you can do so by pressing [Show more]HandIcon.png. View our static WAN IP address-article for more information.

  • Next you'll enter a unique IP addressHandIcon1.pngfor your IXrouter and press [Next]HandIcon2.png. This needs to share the subnet of your PLC/HMI but cannot match their IP address! The subnet in the example below is "192.168.140", where the last figure ".1" can vary anywhere from 1 to 254 as long as it's different from the PLC/HMI.

LAN/WAN conflict

The LAN subnet (machine network, i.e. 192.168.140) needs to differ from the WAN subnet (company network). More information can be found here.
  • Press [Next] to finish your configuration file.
  • Press [Download] and place the file in the root directory of the USB flash drive, not in a folder.

File name

It is essential that the file is named "ixrouter.conf", without any added characters or numbers.

Register your IXrouter

Once the configuration file is placed on a USB flash drive, you can start registering your IXrouter. The next steps show how to register your IXrouter. 

  • Connect your IXrouter to the internet.
    • Wired connection: Connect the "internet" port on the IXrouter to your company network.
    • Wireless connection: Make sure to be in range of the Wi-Fi's access point.
    • Cellular network: Make sure the SIM card has sufficient internet credit, make sure that it is activated (contact your provider if necessary), and insert the 3G/4G standard SIM card (2FF) before you power on the IXrouter.

Sim_cards_format.jpg

Antenna connector

The 4G models have 2 SMA connectors for your cellular antenna. The one closest to the power connector is the MAIN and the other connector is the DIV. Always connect an antenna to the MAIN. Connecting an antenna to the DIV is optional.
  • Power on your IXrouter using a 12-24 VDC power supply.
  • Insert the USB flash drive containing the configuration file into the IXrouter's USB port.
  • Wait around 2 minutes for the IXrouter to configure and register itself.

ACT LED status

The IXrouter's ACT LED should blink blue quickly shortly after inserting the USB flash drive, indicating that the IXrouter is (re)configuring itself.

If this hasn't happened after 1 minute, please check that the file is located in the root directory of the USB flash drive and that the file name is exactly "ixrouter.conf". Try a different USB flash drive if the problem persists.

View our LED Status article for details on the other ACT LED status messages.

Once your IXrouter shows a constant blue light it's registered on the IXON Cloud.

Closest IXON server

The IXrouter connects to the closest IXON server, based on its location. The location is determined based on its IP address, this is called GeoIP. You can overrule this by manually entering a location and then turning its VPN connection off and back on.

Remove the USB drive once the IXrouter is registered

When you make changes in the configuration after the initial configuration and the USB drive with the "ixrouter.conf" file is still in the IXrouter, the IXrouter will reboot itself to the old configuration after a temporary power disconnect.

Activate your IXrouter

After a successful registration of your IXrouter a yellow bar will pop up in the [Devices] page. The next steps show how to activate your IXrouter.

  • Go to [Devices]HandIcon1.pngin the main menu. You will find a yellow bar at the top in your device list stating "New device". 
  • Press the yellow barHandIcon2.png, select [Activate]HandIcon3.png, and name your device as you see fit.

5_New_device_activation_route.png  6_Device_activated.png

Info

The first number and figure combination "C0:D3:91:31:46:41" is the MAC address of your IXrouter. The second number "16055202" is the serial number of the IXrouter.

Next step

The IXrouter is now set up and activated. You can now connect to your machine.