

                      Release Notes PN 93000501

                           Digi Connect ME

                            82000856_C EOS

                          November 12,  2003


INTRODUCTION

    This is a production release of firmware for the Digi Connect ME.

    The Digi Connect ME embedded device server web and network enables
    products easily without the complexities of extensive hardware and
    software integration. The Digi Connect ME provides powerful
    "plug-and-play", customizable and future-safe features, and
    performance in one of the smallest solutions available.


SUPPORTED PRODUCTS

    Digi Connect ME


ENHANCEMENTS

    The ability to force the ethernet speed to a specific value
    (rather than depending on auto-negotiation) has been added.

    Auto-IP has been added as an IP address selection method.
    See the section "IP ASSIGNMENT NOTES" below for more details.

    Pseudo-modem capability has been added as a configurable
    option for the serial port.

    There are now two choices to use for web-enabled configuration;
    the Java Configuration Applet (previously shipped with the
    unit) and a new embedded web user interface.  The embedded web
    user interface allows the user to configure the unit without
    the need to download a Java Run-time Environment.  The Java
    Configuration Applet is better suited for easy customization.
    If you simply intend to access and configure the unit from a
    web browser, you will want to use the embedded web user
    interface.  If you want to create a custom UI, tailored to a
    specific look and feel, use the Java Configuration Applet.
    See the section "ENABLING THE EMBEDDED WEB USER INTERFACE" for
    instructions on how to enable the embedded web user interface
    as the default.
    
    If you choose to use the Java Configuration Applet you must
    upgrade the applet on your Digi Connect ME to ensure
    compatibility between revisions.  See the section
     "UPGRADING THE CONFIGURATION APPLET" for instructions.

    Added a capability for embedded hosts to soft reset the Digi
    module as well as reset the Digi module configuration back to
    its factory default state via hardware signals.  See the
    section "RESETTING THE UNIT" for details.

    Added the "RTS Toggle" feature to the serial port configuration
    (ability to control the "RTS" signal based on data transmission).

    The web server is now configurable via the command line interface,
    in that it can be enabled or disabled, as well as moved to a
    different TCP port number.  Changing the port number or
    disabling the web server will, as a side effect, cause certain
    applications and applets to stop operating as they expect the
    HTTP service to be at port 80.

    The Digi RealPort service in the firmware has been extended to
    fully support all Digi supported operating systems, not just
    the Windows family of operating systems.


BUG FIXES

    Two conditions were identified in which the unit would reboot
    itself during early initialization as a result of internal
    software conflicts.  These conditions have been eliminated.

    The "Revert to Factory Defaults" feature exposed by the various
    user interfaces have been consolidated so that their effect is
    consistent.

    There were cases in which the serial core would incorrectly
    interpret signals as modem control signals even though the
    user has identified them as GPIO inputs or outputs.  These
    conditions have been eliminated.


KNOWN ISSUES

    If the command line interface is used to disable the
    web server, the encrypted web service (HTTPS) stops
    operating.  They will be made independently selectable
    in a future release.

    When attempting to upgrade the firmware on a unit which
    has password authentication enabled, the initial release
    of the firmware would fail.  This current release
    includes a workaround to this behavior by allowing the
    user to disable passwords during the time period of the
    firmware upgrade.

    If it becomes necessary to DOWNGRADE the firmware from
    version B (or greater) back to version A, it is necessary
    to clear the persistent storage BEFORE downgrading because
    the version A firmware has a defect in the way it handles
    unexpected data in the persistent storage.  Failure to
    clear the persistent storage during a DOWNGRADE to
    A can result in an unusable unit.  The recommended
    procedure, therefore, to preserve as many settings as
    possible during a downgrade is to backup the configuration,
    then clear the persistent storage, downgrade the firmware,
    then restore the configuration.
    
    In order to clear the persistent storage from the CLI
    one can execute the "boot action=factory" command.  The
    only web accessible method for clearing the storage is
    available via the reset functionality in the
    administrative pages at "admin/factory_defaults.htm".

    When attempting to replace files in the file system, simply
    overwrite the existing version of the file rather than deleting
    the file first.  Attempting to delete the file first defeats
    the internal file versioning maintained by the firmware, and
    can confuse your browser's cache.

    For the most consistent experience with the user interface,
    it is suggested that you clear your Internet cache.


DOCUMENTATION ERRATA

    Password authentication can be enabled in this release, but
    authentication is OFF BY DEFAULT.  A security screen has been
    added to the user interface to allow one to enable username
    and password authentication.  When password checking is
    enabled, the user will be challenged when accessing the
    initial screen of the UI, and if the user uses a Digi Device
    Discovery tool.


IP ASSIGNMENT NOTES

    The Digi Connect ME now supports three IP assignment methods:

        * Static IP address

	* DHCP

	* Auto-IP

    If a static address is enabled, it will be used.

    If a static address is not enabled, and DHCP is enabled, the
    unit will use an address supplied by a DHCP server regardless
    of the state of Auto-IP configuration.

    If a static address is not enabled, and Auto-IP is enabled,
    it will be used to generate an address ONLY if DHCP is
    disabled, or if DHCP is enabled and a DHCP server has not
    responded to the DHCP query.  If both are enabled, Auto-IP
    has assigned an address, and then a DHCP server responds, the
    Auto-IP address will be discarded and the DHCP address will
    be used.


RESETTING THE UNIT

    One feature introduced in the "C" revision of the Digi Connect
    ME firmware is an enhanced ability for an embedded host system to
    both soft reset the unit as well as reset the unit to its
    factory defaults.

    Both functions may be invoked via manipulation of pin 20
    on the ME module's header:

        * If the module is running (i.e. more than a few
          seconds after power on), holding pin 20 low for
          a second and then raising it will soft reset
          the unit

        * If pin 20 is held low for more than 10 seconds
          from the power on or release from hard reset
          of the unit, and then raised, it will reset
          the unit to its factory default state

    In either case, the action takes effect when the
    pin is raised (reset released).


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

    The configuration save and restore tools will save every
    configurable parameter (including IP configuration) except
    for those related to password authentication.


ENABLING THE EMBEDDED WEB USER INTERFACE

    The embedded web user interface is ALWAYS available at the
    following URL:

        http://ip-address-of-device/home.htm

    It is also available as the default configuration interface
    at the following URL IF an "index.htm" file is not already
    present in your unit's filesystem:

        http://ip-address-of-device

    If your unit contains the Java Configuration Applet and associated
    index.htm file in the file system, the Java Configuration Applet is
    the default web user interface for the product.  If you would like to
    use the embedded web user interface instead simply remove the index.htm
    file as follows:
    
    1. Access the administration web interface by entering the
       following URL in a browser's URL window:
       http://ip-address-of-device/admin/administration.htm 
    2. Select File Management under the Administration menu
    3. Check the check box adjacent to the file, index.htm
    4. Click the delete button
    
    The Java Configuration Applet may remain in the unit's file system
    without affecting the embedded web user interface.  If you would like
    to use the Java Configuration Applet as an alternative, simply upload
    the index.htm file as a file with an alternate name (e.g. applet.htm).
    You would then be able to use the Java Configuration Applet by accessing
    the following URL: http://ip-address-of-device/applet.htm


UPGRADING THE CONFIGURATION APPLET

    Prior to upgrading the configuration applet, you may need to
    remove the existing files.  The main reason for this is that the
    earliest version of the applet used different filenames than
    newer versions.  If you are simply uploading newer versions of
    files with the same name, it is not necessary to first delete
    the files.

    Removing the existing files:

    1. Access the administration web interface by entering the
       following URL in in a browser's URL window:
       http://ip-address-of-device/admin/administration.htm 
    2. Select File Management under the Administration menu.
    3. Check the check box adjacent to the files you wish to
       remove.
    4. Click the delete button.
    
    You must load the jar and HTML files onto the device (this
    only has to be done once). When executed, the configuration
    applet will connect back to the device it was loaded from.

    Loading the updated configuration applet files:

    1. Access the administration web interface by entering the
       following URL in in a browser's URL window:
       http://ip-address-of-device/admin/administration.htm
    2. Select File Management under the Administration menu.
    3. Click Browse. Locate and select the common.jar file
       then click Open.
    4. Click Upload.
    5. Click Browse. Locate and select the configapp.jar file
       then click Open.
    6. Click Upload.
    7. Click Browse. Locate and select the index.htm file
       then click Open.
    8. Click Upload.
    9. Click Browse. Locate and select the config.ini file
       then click Open.
   10. Click Upload.
   11. Click index.htm to run the configuration applet from
       the device (to access the applet directly use the URL
       http://ip-address-of-device/index.htm). 

HISTORY

    82000856B
    
        "Reverse Telnet", i.e. making a telnet connection to a serial
        port, has been added, including RFC 2217 support.
    
        A command line interface has been added, accessible via telnet
        to the standard telnet port (23).
    
        The ability to autoconnect to a remote device via telnet has
        been added.
    
        The autoconnect feature has been extended to allow one to
        autoconnect based on an arbitrary pattern string.
    
        TCP socket connections now can be given a configurable
        idle timeout for connection closure.
    
        The "alarm" functionality has been extended to allow one to
        generate email when pattern strings are present in the data
        stream.
    
        LPD server support has been added.
    
        "Socket ID" support (the insertion of a static identifier
        string into the first transmitted data packet for a TCP
        socket session or into every datagram carrying data for a
        serial port over UDP) has been added.
    
        The serial over UDP functionality has been extended to
        allow 64 destinations per serial port.
    
        We have updated the Configuration Applet to support these
        features.  You must upgrade the applet on your Digi Connect
        ME in order to configure these new features from the UI.
        See the section, UPGRADING THE CONFIGURATION APPLET, for
        instructions.
    
        CPU utilization reported by the web/applet interface is now
        more representative of the average utilization of the system.
    
        The serial over UDP functionality now correctly handles IP
        broadcast addresses as valid UDP destinations.
    
        The interface now automatically reboots after reverting to
        factory defaults, as it previously implied it would.
    
    82000856A

        Initial Release.

