Ethernet configuration
To use Ethernet communications, you must configure your device’s IP settings.
You need to enter network information for any Ethernet servers used by the device (for example, a DNS or email server). Contact your network system administrator for your IP address and other Ethernet network configuration values.
Note: For meters that do not have a display, you must connect your meter directly to your computer to set a unique IP address for each device or configure the meter to use a DHCP server to acquire IP addresses.
It is recommended that you test your communications with the meter after changing any communications-related settings (for example, communicating with the meter using the fully-qualified domain name if using DNS or with assigned addresses after these are provided by the DHCP server). In addition, make sure that any software or other devices communicating with the meter are using the new settings.
Initial Ethernet configuration versus changing existing Ethernet settings
There are two scenarios when configuring your meter’s Ethernet communications settings: initial configuration and changing the existing addresses when the meter is in use.
- Initial configuration: Configure your device’s Ethernet settings manually using the display or by connecting your meter directly to your computer and using a web browser to access the device’s webpages. Alternately, you can connect your meter to the network and configure it to use a DHCP server to acquire an IP address.
- Changing existing IP settings: After the meter’s Ethernet port is configured and connected to the LAN, you can use ION Setup to configure meter settings, in addition to using the display or meter webpages.
Note: It is recommended during initial configuration that you use a connection method other than the one you are trying to configure. For example, if you are configuring DHCP IPv4 settings, connect to the meter using the IPv6 Link Local address or a serial connection. This allows you to configure the meter without being disconnected.
In either case, modify your meter’s Ethernet settings to those provided by your network system administrator before connecting the device to your local area network (LAN).
IP address format and ranges
When you set your meter’s IPv4 or IPv6 addresses, make sure you use the correct format and valid ranges.
| Protocol | Format |
|---|---|
| IPv4 | 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255 |
| IPv6 | :: to FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF:FFFF The double colon indicates that gaps are filled with zeroes to make the IPv6 address the correct length (32 hexadecimal numbers) |
All meters ship from the factory with the IPv6 global address and IPv6 gateway undefined (set to “::”). To communicate with the meter using IPv6 outside the local network, you must configure these settings manually or use DHCP to assign the addresses to the meter. Within the local network, you can use the meter’s IPv6 Link Local address.
IP addresses and network port numbers
To specify a port for an outgoing IP address, append a colon then the port number to the end of the IP address. For IPv6 addresses, enclosed the address in square brackets then add the port number. For example, to specify the default port for SFTP (port 22):
- IPv4: 169.254.0.10:22
- IPv6: [FE80::260:78FF:FE04:5943]:22
Configurable Ethernet settings
Note: Some additional Ethernet settings are available in the Advanced Ethernet menu in ION Setup and on the meter webpages.
“W” indicates the setting can be configured (written) while “R” indicates it is read-only.
| Setting | Display | ION Setup | Webpages |
|---|---|---|---|
| IPv4 address | W | W | W |
| IPv4 Subnet mask | W | W | W |
| IPv4 Default gateway | W | W | W |
| IPv4 Assignment Mode (DHCP/Stored) | W | W | W |
| IPv6 Assignment Mode (DHCP/Stored) | W | W | W |
| Ethernet Device name | R | W | W |
| Domain name | R | W | W |
| IPv6 enabled | W | W | W |
| IPv6 Link Local Address | R | R | R |
| IPv6 global address | R | W | W |
| IPv6 gateway | R | W | W |
| Ethernet Rx timeout | — | W | W |
| Modbus TCP timeout | — | W | W |
| Modbus gateway | — | W | — |
| MAC address | R | R | R |
| Ethernet primary DNS | R | W | W |
| Ethernet secondary DNS | R | W | W |