User's Manual

20 49-70-020-DOC 21-Sep-10
User Manual
MSTRP Tunnel Readers
4.4.1 getting An ip AddRess using etHeRnet
Here is a general guide to the way Reader network address assignment works:
The Ethernet interface is either served an IP address via DHCP or is assigned a static IP address by the user. If the Reader
is set to use a DHCP assigned address and no DHCP server is available it will automatically use a link local address of
169.254.0.0/16.
The Reader must be powered up with the Ethernet connected to get a DHCP assigned IP address.
By default, the Readers are set to Obtain an IP address automatically, which means they look for a DHCP server. If one
isn’t present, for example when a crossover cable is used to connect to a single PC, the Reader will choose a Link Local
address.
A link local address (also known as Automatic Private IP Addressing - APIPA) is one chosen at random in the range
169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254 with a netmask of 255.255.0.0.
Windows PCs and most other computers by default will use the same system, which allows an ad-hoc network of
computers and Readers to automatically pick unique addresses. This can work for a crossover cable between a single
Reader and a computer or a more complex setup involving multiple Readers and multiple PCs using a normal Ethernet
cable and Ethernet hub/switch.
This system is very good to use because it requires no expertise or intervention from users.
The below process has been discussing automatic address negotiation only.
In order to successfully connect a Reader via a crossover cable follow these steps:
Step 1:
In Windows, open the Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Network Connections window
The PC’s Ethernet connection should be marked as disconnected
Step 2: Plug in the cross over cable. Turn the reader on. The user should instantly see the state of
Ethernet change to
Looking For An Address.
This process may take up to a minute.
Step 3:
Eventually it should go to the state Limited Or No Connectivity. In the desktop icon tray, the
Ethernet will be marked with a yellow triangle.
This means that Windows was looking for a DHCP server, but was unable to nd one, so it used a Link Local address
(169.254.X.X) instead. Even though it looks like an error, this is what we would expect to see.
Step 4:
Left click on the Ethernet connection and look in the Details box on the bottom of the left hand side
panel of the
Network Connections window. You should see the IP address in here.