Why can't I connect a PCD over Ethernet after replacing its Ethernet module?

FAQ #100156

 

Symptom
After exchanging a PCD7.F65x or a PCD with Ethernet port, the communication between PC and PCD doesn't work any more. The same phenomenon can also be observed if the PCD is connected via a router (which also has a table where all IP addresses are listed together with its MAC address).

Reason
IP stations do address each other over its MAC address and not over its IP address. The first time a telegram is sent to a IP address, an ARP (address resolution protocol) telegram is sent which queries the MAC address for the relevant IP address. The destination station will then respond with its own MAC address (which will be stored by the originator of the telegram). After the MAC address has been received once, it will be stored on the originator for future use.
If the MAC address of a device changes, but the IP address remains the same, the originator of the communication (or a router or a switch in-between) needs to refresh its MAC table!  

Solution
To make the PC aware of the new MAC address, the PC needs to delete the MAC entry of the according IP address (for that it qureies it again for the next telegram). This is done automatically by the PC but takes some time.
To force a refresh of the MAC entry of an IP addres, the MAC adress of the concerned IP address in the local PC cache has to be deleted by using the arp command in the Windows Command Prompt. This can be done with the command "arp -d Entry_To_Delete":

The command prompt (screenshot above) can be launched from the Windws Start menu; Select "Execute" and type "cmd".

Short discription of  useful  ARP commands

• arp -a   display the  contents of the local cache
• arp -d   claer all contents of the correspond  IP- Adress
• ARP /?  display all possible parameter of ARP-Command
  

Remark
In case there are routers and switches in-between the PC and the PCD, also their cache needs to be deleted. This can be done by restarting the device.