The network tools provide a range of tools for diagnostics in the router's networks.
Situation
The operating status of a device such as a PLC or an industrial PC in the router's local network is to be monitored. If the device is no longer accessible because it has crashed, for example, a notification should be sent so that the fault on the device can be resolved quickly.
Solution
Set up a regular ping to the device that sends a notification to the operator if a response fails. When the device returns, another “all-clear” notification is to be sent in case the failure is only temporary.
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Router configuration
It is assumed that the router is fully configured for the operation of the application and has a cellular connection that is suitable for sending SMS messages.
Open the user interface of the router: https://insys.icom
Click on the Events → Network tools page under ICMP ping on to add a ping network tool and configure this accordingly:
Description: PLC ping
Target: enter the IP address of the device to be monitored in the local network
Retries: enter the number of retries for which a failed ping is repeated before the connection is considered terminated
Wait time between retries: enter the time in seconds that should pass until the next attempt after a failed ping
Timeout: specify how many seconds to wait for a response before the ping is considered failed
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Click on SUBMIT.
Click on the Events → Contacts page on to add a recipient contact for this notification and configure it accordingly:
Real name: enter a name for the contact
Phone number: enter the mobile phone number for sending the notification
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Click on SUBMIT.
Click on the Events → Messages page on to add a new message for the notification to be sent:
Description: Failure message
Type: SMS
Recipient: select above added contact
Text: enter the text to be sent in case of a failed ping
Modem: select the interface with the LTE modem
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Click on SUBMIT.
Add another message to be sent in case the device responds to a ping again.
Click on the Events → Timer page on to add a new timer for the regular triggering of the ping:
Description: Ping interval timer
Type: Interval
Hours and Minutes: enter the interval for the regular triggering of the timer
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Click on SUBMIT.
Click on the Events → Events page on to add a new event for the regular triggering of the ping:
Description: Send ping
Event: Timer expired
Timer: select above added timer
Action: Start network tool
Network tool: select above added network tool
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Click on SUBMIT.
Create another event to add a new event for the case of a failed ping:
Description: Send failure message
Event: Network tool has finished
Result: change to failed
What is the effect of this setting?
This means that the event is only triggered if the last result of the network tool call was successful and it has failed for the first time.
First execution after reboot does not trigger event:
What is the effect of this setting?
This means that the event is not triggered if there is a change from uninitialised (after a reconfiguration or a restart) to the expected state of the event.
Action: Send message
Message: select above added failure message
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Click on SUBMIT.
Create another event to add a new event for the case of a successful ping.
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Click on SUBMIT.
Activate the profile with a click on ACTIVATE PROFILE .
You have now configured the monitoring of the status of the connected device and the router regularly sends a ping to this device. The first time the status of the ping result changes, it will send an SMS message to the recipient.
Result testing
Disconnect the LAN connection between the monitored device and the router and wait for the next network tool ping. Following the last unsuccessful ping attempt, the router should send the failure message.
Re-establish the LAN connection between the monitored device and the router and wait for the next network tool ping. Following the first successful ping attempt, the router should send the return message.
Troubleshooting
Click on the Administration → Debugging page on OPEN DEBUG TOOLS and send a ping to the address configured in the ping network tool to check the ping manually.