Problem connecting z21 to laptop to update

[Midnight-Freight]

I'm trying to establish a connection between my laptop and z21 start to update the firmware but can't get them to communicate. I've followed the instructions in the manual to set the IP address but keep getting the "Could not communicate with digital switchboard" error whenever I try to connect. My laptop is quite old and slow but is running Windows 10. So far I have:

 

Established a wired internet connection to my router so know the cable and ethernet port are working

 

Tried disabling Windows defender and checking the z21 programme is allowed through the firewall

 

Lan port on the z21 is showing a green light

 

Checked for Windows updates and updates for the ethernet controller

 

Tried to ping the IP address but get no response

 

Checked network settings, the laptop recognises that an unknown device is connected

 

I'm not sure if there's more to setting up a static IP connection than what's in the z21 instructions and I've missed something but any suggestions welcome.

Edited October 22, 2023 by Midnight-Freight
Spelling mistake

[WIMorrison]

Have you confirmed that the firewall is not blocking the access?

 

yiu need to have port 21105 open to 192.168.0.111 and your laptop address needs to be in the range 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.253.

 

try disabling the firewall and see if it connects - only takes 5 mins so very little threat window.

[Midnight-Freight]

4 hours ago, WIMorrison said:

Have you confirmed that the firewall is not blocking the access?

 

yiu need to have port 21105 open to 192.168.0.111 and your laptop address needs to be in the range 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.253.

 

try disabling the firewall and see if it connects - only takes 5 mins so very little threat window.

Thanks for your response. I had already tried disabling the firewall and have checked it's not blocking it. Autoconfig

IP address of my laptop is 169.254.127.89 is that ok or do I need to disable autoconfig?

I'm not sure what to check regarding port 21105?

Edited October 22, 2023 by Midnight-Freight

[Kaput]

You'll need to give your laptop an IP address in the same range as the Z21.

 

 

[WIMorrison]

1 hour ago, Midnight-Freight said:

Thanks for your response. I had already tried disabling the firewall and have checked it's not blocking it. Autoconfig

IP address of my laptop is 169.254.127.89 is that ok or do I need to disable autoconfig?

I'm not sure what to check regarding port 21105?

 That is a MS generated IP address that occurs when the laptop is not connected to a network that issues up addresses.

 

if you are just using a direct cable between the laptop and z21 then change the laptop address to 192.168.0.100 and you will be able to connect

[Midnight-Freight]

Ok, I'd sort of come to the same conclusion after a bit of reading. I've changed the IP address to the one above but every time I try to ping the z21 IP address it comes back as destination host unreachable. Maybe my laptop is just too old (about 12 years) to be compatible

 

[jpendle]

To make sure that you've changed the address on your laptop to 192.168.0.100 ping that instead.

ping 192.168.0.100

You should get an immediate response, if you don't look at your laptop settings again.

Don't forget that to change your laptop's address you'll need to turn of DHCP and tell it to use a fixed address.

 

FWIW this is nothing to do with the age of the laptop.

 

Regards,

 

John P

[Midnight-Freight]

48 minutes ago, jpendle said:

To make sure that you've changed the address on your laptop to 192.168.0.100 ping that instead.

ping 192.168.0.100

You should get an immediate response, if you don't look at your laptop settings again.

Don't forget that to change your laptop's address you'll need to turn of DHCP and tell it to use a fixed address.

 

FWIW this is nothing to do with the age of the laptop.

 

Regards,

 

John P

Yes I get an immediate response doing that

[WIMorrison]

Reset z21 to defaults - hold down button on front until the blue light changes purple and let it go then try again

[Midnight-Freight]

54 minutes ago, WIMorrison said:

Reset z21 to defaults - hold down button on front until the blue light changes purple and let it go then try again

Already tried that to no avail. I'll try a new ethernet cable tomorrow, although mine appears to work one of the connections isn't great.

[WIMorrison]

when you put the static ip address into the laptop did you also include the subnet mask (255.255.255.0) and the default gateway (192.168.0.111)?

 

 

[Midnight-Freight]

Well I'm not sure what I had done wrong but went over everything again and double checked all settings and it's now connected. Will have a play around with it later. Thanks for all the help.

[Flashman116]

I have just had a similar issue as Midnight Freight when my z21 froze during a firmware update.  The box was showing a blue and green led and i had lost wireless connectivity.  Working through advice from Roco, borrowing an ancient Windows laptop and the very helpful advice from this thread I am now up and running.  Thanks to all.