Specifications

Page 40 DocSTAR Level 2 Service Training Workbook
Figure 3.14 IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol Properties
If you will be using the TCP/IP Network Protocol you will need to obtain some additional
information from the Network Administrator. The most basic component of using TCP/IP
is the IP Address. An IP Address identifies the exact location, on the network, at which
messages to this computer can be sent and received successfully. This is the reason why
millions of PCs on the internet can communicate with each other. An IP Address consists
of 4 Octets separated by periods, for example (120.253.178.98). Each octet has 256
possible values (0-255), however you should avoid using 0 (used for broadcasting) or 255
in any octet of the IP Address. Another basic component is the Subnet Mask. The
Subnet Mask is a mask that, together with the IP Address, identifies which network this
computer is on. For example:
Computer 1 IP Address 150.185.197.34 Subnet Mask 255.255.0.0
Computer 2 IP Address 152.185.243.58 Subnet Mask 255.255.0.0
Computer 3 IP Address 150.185.243.60 Subnet Mask 255.255.0.0
Computer 4 IP Address 150.185.197.78 Subnet Mask 255.255.0.0
Computers 1,3, & 4 are on the same network.
To set up TCP/IP you will have to decide whether you will be obtaining an IP Address
automatically or not. Obtaining an IP Address automatically means you have a Dynamic
IP address, it is usually different every time you log onto the network. If you use a fixed IP
address, that means you have a Static IP address. If you are obtaining an IP address
automatically there must be a server known as the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration
Protocol) server somewhere on the network, usually a Windows NT server with a range of
valid IP addresses to assign to network users as they log onto the network. You must
work with the Network Administrator when this is the case. They may have to make
adjustments to their network for the DocSTAR Host system to join it successfully. If you
are setting a static IP address, then you need to obtain a valid IP Address and Subnet
Mask, for their network, from the Network Administrator. Figure 3.15 shows the basic
TCP/IP properties window. There are some advanced features of the TCP/IP Protocol
that are not usually required on a DocSTAR Host system, however they may be present