Alesis IO2 MIDI issue - not seeing input

I'm using an Alesis IO2 with a Korg Triton Studio.  The Alesis is new, replacing an older Firewire thing.  I'm not seeing MIDI input and am trying to figure out how to trace the signal.
 
The red light on the IO2 lights up red when I plug in the MIDI cable, perma on.  Elsewhere I've read that it should blink when the interface receives MIDI events.  I see no blinking.
 
And then of course I'm getting nothing on SONAR, no indication that it's receiving MIDI events.  I've got to Edit -> Preferences -> Midi -> Devices and enabled the IO2 as an input.  I've restarted SONAR after fiddling with the MIDI device settings.
 
On the track, if I select "MIDI Omni" and hit keys on the Triton I see some very brief blips of the meter clip light (red bar at very top) but don't hear anything from the EZ Drummer soft synth I'm trying to drive. 
 
I've tried selecting various MIDI channels on the Triton and selecting corresponding inputs on the IO2.  I've gone 1 to either side.
 
Should I see a flashing light on the IO2?  Any other ideas as to how I could trace the MIDI signal path to see how far it's getting?
 
Thanks.
 
CAF