Troubleshooting Network Ethernet Connection Problems with the Bloodhound
(network) connection issues on the Bloodhound. Here we focus on the RJ-45
jack, the NetBurner Ethernet card, and other general network problems (not
the cellular modem connection).
PRECONDITIONS:
1) In order to make sure the Bloodhound is not using its cellular modem connection
while troubleshooting, make sure to remove the cellular modem antenna
connector from the Bloodhound so it does not obtain a connection through the
cellular network, which can confuse the results below.
2) After removing the antenna, make sure the RSSI is 0%....this is shown in the
lower-right hand corner of the display in the field that is "circulating" through
a number of values.
3) It is VERY valubable to have administrator access to your network router, if
you are using one.
HOW-TO:
1) First, check all your connections. Check the ethernet cable which should be
attached to the Bloodhound RJ-45 network connection, and check the other
end which should be connected to some sort of network device (a router, a
data modem, a network switch, a hub, or some other network device).
2) Check the IP and Port number on the Bloodhound's front panel...it's in the
lower-right hand corner of the display in the field that is "circulating" through a
number of values (as in step 2 in "PREREQUISITES" above). An address of
"0.0.0.0" and port of "23" or "0" indicates you imght have a problem with the
network connection and you should proceed to step 5 below. If you have a
valid IP address and port here, your Bloodhound's network hardware is working
properly.
3) If you are setup to have the Bloodhound connect to the Internet, make sure
you have a valid Internet connection from another computer on the same network
as the Bloodhound. You might even try unplugging the ethernet cable from the
Bloodhound's RJ-45 jack and plugging it into a computer to test that the connection
works end-to-end. To properly test the Internet connection from another computer
surf to something you've never surfed to - many browsers will totally "cache" (save
on local disk) website such as your home page, etc. in order to save time the next
time you go there, so surfing to a completely new location verifies that the Internet
is available.
4) Check and see if this Bloodhound is actively transmitting to iBallRemote.com:
a) Go to http://iballremote.com/
b) Type in your Bloodhound's ID number (located on the display panel, and on a
sticker near the carry handle)
c) Log in to your Bloodhound.
d) Observe specifically the "Real-Time" portion of the iBallRemote screen and make
sure it's updating every few seconds and that it represents (with some lag time)
what you see on the face of the Bloodhound.
e) If it is not the same and it appears the Bloodhound has not been communicating
with the server for some time, this further substantiates a potential network
problem.
5) Look at the network cable on the Bloodhound, and observe where it plugs into your
router or network switch. If the light where the cable plugs in is not flashing, your
Bloodhound is not communicating on the network. If the light is flashing, skip to
step 8 below.
6) Open the Bloodhound's case by removing the 4 screws that are outside of the handles
and gently lifting the lid while tilting it toward you to avoid stressing the electrical
connections toward the front of the panel on the underside.
7) From the outside RJ-45 connector (network) to the internal network card is a short
network cable. Unplug this from the network card and plug your network cable which
runs to your router/modem/hub/switch into this and see if the network port lights
properly.
a) If it lights the network and router/switch/hub light (flickering) where the cable
plugs in, observe the face of the Bloodhound and see if it pulls a valid IP Address
(as in step 2 above). If it does, the problem is in the internal short network cable
or the external RJ-45 port.
b) Get another network cable, replace the internal "short" cable with a regular
network cable, and plug your network cable to which the other end is connected
to your router/switch/hub into it. If the network comes up normally, the problem
is with the short internal cable, and you can either run with your cable attached
to the internal port (lightly closing the lid to avoid pinching and cutting your
network cable), or replace the short cable on the interior of the Bloodhound.
c) If replacing the interior cable in step (b) above does not produce results, but
plugging into the interior port does, the problem is with the external RJ-45
(network) port. Often there is a visible problem that you can detect by shining
a flashlight into the port. If it's an obviously bent pin or similar, you can attempt
to fix it with a pocket knife or a micro-screwdriver.
d) If the problem is resolved in bypassing the external port/short network cable, please
send an e-mail to your supervisor or rig-up personnel and copy
support@iballinst.com so that the proper owner of the unit can annotate
the the support log and have this assembly inspected the next time it comes back
to the shop.
8) If you have administrator access to your router, log into the router and look up the
reserved address table to see if you can see the devices plugged into the router.
If you do not have administrator access, skip to step 9 below.
a) If you see the Bloodhound has pulled an address (EX:192.168.1.3), then open a
web browser (EX: Internet Explorer) and attempt to open a web page using the
address as the web address (EX: http://192.168.1.3).
b) If a web page comes up with the iBall Instruments logo in the upper left, then the
Bloodhound is pulling a proper IP address and the problem exists elsewhere in your
network. Contact your Network Administrator to troubleshoot the issue further as
the problem may involve network firewalls and other configuration issues. See the
"OTHER ARTICLES OF INTEREST" below for an article on network IP addresses and
ports which are important in this case.
9) If your router's port light (where the network cable plugs into the router) and the
Bloodhound's port light (where the network cable plugs into the Bloodhound) is lighted,
but the Bloodhound does not seem to be pulling a port from the router, we need to
check the configuration of the NetBurner network card that is installed in the Bloodhound:
a) Make sure your Bloodhound and the computer on which you are working are connected
on the network (both plugged into a router, for example).
b) Run the Bloodhound_IPSetup.exe program at the following link:
https://iballinst.com/downloads/Bloodhound_IPSetup.exe
c) You will see the following window:
d) Highlight the MAC address that should come up in the right-hand list of the program.
e) Make SURE that all of the entries on the left for IP, Network Mask, Gateway, and DNS
are all "0.0.0.0"
f) Press the "Set-->" button.
g) Reboot the Bloodhound.
h) Check your network connection again and see if a network address comes up on the
front page of the Bloodhound.
10) If your network connection is still not functioning, please contact Bloodhound Support
at support@iballinst.com or Technical support
at 405 570 4449.