7
Installation Manual SmartLAN
Configuring a network
Minimum requirements:
• 1 router/modem connected to the Internet. The router/modem must have
"port forwarding" capability in order to route external connections properly;
• 1 SmartLAN connected to the router/modem.
Additionally, a PC with SmartLeague software (for programming purposes)
connected to a SmartLAN (point-to-point connection using twisted ethernet
cable or connected via router).
A good knowledge of networking and TCP/IP protocol is required during the
SmartLAN board configuration and the Internet connection phases:
IP address -
The IP address identifies each peripheral distinctly in the network, for example, each computer
connected in an "office" network or directly to the Internet.
The IP address of the SmartLAN board is "static" and therefore cannot be assigned automatically. You can assign
an IP address (192.168.1.92 at default) from the SmartLAN programming window in the SmartLeague software
application. The PC used when first programming the SmartLAN board must have an IP address in the same
address class 192.168.1.xxx (for example 192.168.1.123).
The initial IP address of the SmartLAN board can be changed at a later time, when the network administrator
provides you with one which increases the network capabilities.
Subnet mask -
This specifies which address class can communicate with the SmartLAN board.
The mask must be provided by the network administrator. It is set at 255.255.255.0 at default, thus allowing
the SmartLAN board to communicate with all the peripherals with class address 192.168.1.xxx.
TCP/IP port -
This identifies a service which a single peripheral in the network can use.
The SmartLAN board uses two TCP/IP Ports:
• The port reserved for web-server access. At default, this parameter is set at 80.
• The programming port (up/downloading). At default, this parameter is set at 5004.
Gateway -
This is the gateway that passes traffic from the local net to the Internet. In a minimum
configuration, the gateway coincides with the router.
The IP address of the gateway must be in the same class as the IP address of the local net (for example:
192.168.1.1).
DNS -
This is a server which translates Internet names into IP addresses (for example: www.google.com in
209.85.129.99). The IP address of the DNS server depends on the Internet-connection provider (Telecom,
Vodafone, etc.), therefore, must be provided by the network administrator.
Configuring a router
External access to the SmartLAN board requires knowledge of the public IP address of the router, assigned by the
Internet-connection provider (Telecom, Vodafone, etc.). This address can be either static or dynamic and effects
connections external to the router:
• Dynamic public IP address connections
After a connection, or at set intervals, the provider may assign a modified public IP address to the router. This
operation hinders external access to the router.
In order to solve this problem, many routers have access to services which link dynamic IP addresses with
Internet names (for example: www.dyndns.com). It is necessary to register with a "dynamic DNS host" and
set up the router with the parameters supplied by the service (for example: user, password, domain, etc.). The
router will update the dynamic IP address periodically with the static name chosen during registration (for
example: http://myhouse.dyndns.org). In this way, it will be possible to communicate with the router by
means of the distinct lpublic IP address.
• Static public IP addresses connections
These are connections to a public IP address that is always the same. In this case, it is possible to
communicate with the router directly using the static IP address or by obtaining a domain (for example:
www.myhouse.com) which can be re-addressed to a static IP address assigned by the connection provider.
Once the external connection with the router is established, it is necessary to forward the incoming connections
to the SmartLAN/G board. The previously configured "IP address" and "Port" parameters allow identification of
these connections. The manufacturer strongly recommends that you contact the network administrator during
this programming phase, in order to avoid IP address conflict.
