PortServer Front Panel

The front panel of the PortServer terminal server has ten LEDs, two seven-segment alphanumeric displays, and two pushbuttons with a left and right arrow.

The pushbuttons can be used to:

Select diagnostic tests. See Running PortServer Diagnostics and Running PortServer II Diagnostics.
Reset the PortServer to the factory defaults. See Resetting a PortServer to Factory Defaults.
Select a port to monitor for EIA-232 serial activity.

The two-digit alphanumeric display is used to list error messages and inform the user of test or activity status.

The ten LEDs have different meanings, according to the testing or display mode that the PortServer operating system is in.

SEND (Serial Activity)

You can monitor a port’s activity by pressing either pushbutton when AC is shown on the alphanumeric display. The display will then show the port number being monitored; depress the same pushbutton repeatedly until the port you wish to monitor is displayed.

The LED indicators provide EIA-232 line status information (similar to a breakout box) and EIA-232 flow control information. The ten LEDs then give information related to the labels on the top ("SEND"): TD, RD, RTS, CTS, DSR, DCD, DTR, RI, OFC and IFC. The first eight correspond to activity of that EIA-232 signal on the port being monitored. OFC stands for Output is Flow Controlled; IFC stands for Input is Flow Controlled.

ETHERNET (Ethernet Activity)

When EA is shown by the alphanumeric display, the row of ten LEDs gives Ethernet information as follows:

Signal Category	LED	Active or "Lit" Signal Means
Serial	TD	Data has been transmitted on any of the serial lines.
Serial	RD	Data has been received on any of the serial lines.
Twisted Pair	LG	A good physical connection to the PortServer exists. LG stands for "Line Good."
Twisted Pair	POL	Polarity is backwards. While the PortServer hardware fixes this, it indicates that the twisted pair wiring has been installed with the wires transposed.
Receive	CS	Carrier Sense. This LED blinks when the PortServer hardware senses the Ethernet carrier.
	RX	A packet has been received by the PortServer.
	ERR	A network error on a packet has been received (CRC, Frame, FIFO overrun, etc.).
	OVF	An overflow condition has occurred. This occurs when packets come faster than the PortServer hardware can process them.
Transmit	TX	The PortServer hardware is transmitting a packet.
Transmit	COL	A collision has occurred on the network (any collision—not necessarily on packets destined to or originated by the PortServer devices).