Accessibility
From ECCWiki
Contents |
[edit] Getting Started
The BCS has no physical display, as all interfacing with the controller is done through the web interface. Some users are concerned that connecting to the BCS the first time will be a somewhat daunting experience. But after the connection is setup, they rarely have to revisit it. Some network experience is definitely helpful, but this section is meant to help users step by step to interface with the BCS the first time (and every time).
Users have two options to connect to the BCS. The BCS can be networked via a Loacal Area Network (referred to as Networked), or directly connected to a PC without a network (referred to as Direct Connect). It is recommended to connect the BCS to a router, so that it can be accessible from any computer on the network.
[edit] Network Connectivity
By default, the controller attempts to obtain an IP address from a DHCP server (router). After about 20sec, if no DHCP server is found, the board defaults to a static IP address of 169.254.0.63
For both Networked and Direct Connect options, either a straight-though or cross-over Ethernet cable can be used. The BCS has an Auto-MDX feature and the system adjusts automatically, so it does not matter which type of Ethernet cable is used.
[edit] Directly Connected
Attach the Ethernet cable directly from the controller to your PC, and power up the BCS. Type: http://169.254.0.63 into your host's web browser URL line, and you will connect to the unit. Some users may require additional setup if connecting directly, see Additional Network Setup.
[edit] Networked
Attach the Ethernet cable directly from the controller to the router, and power on the BCS. Always connect the Ethernet cable before powering up. As the BCS powers up, the router will assign a unique network address to the BCS in order to identify it on the network. This is the IP address that we will use to interface with the BCS, by typing that address into the address bar of a web browser.
[edit] Finding the BCS's IP Address
[edit] BCS Finder
The BCSfinder Utility broadcasts a special packet on the network, and each BCS responds with its IP address. This address is then displayed in the BCSfinder GUI. This is the easiest way to locate your BCS.
[edit] Router Connections Table
Another method to find the IP address is to log into the router and locate the BCS in the routers 'Connected Devices' list. Most have a default IP of 192.168.0.1 and will require a user and password (default user:passwd is usually admin:admin). In the router's status menu you will see a setup page for Network Settings and a list called -Dynamic DHCP Client List. This will allow you to see all of the attached devices and associated IP addresses on your network. The connected BCS will be listed in this table, identified by its MAC address which is printed uniquely onto each BCS label. Once you locate the BCS's IP address, type it into the URL field on the browser.
| Tip: Another method to find the IP address of the controller is to type in sequential numbers until you find it, 192.168.0.x -- Most home networks only have a limited number of attached devices, so this is typically a fast process. |
| Tip: Routers may change the IP address that they assign to the controller via DHCP over time. This can make it difficult to setup bookmarks. Most routers have a feature that allows them to always assign the the same IP address to a selected device. There is also the option to program the BCS to use a static address. |
| Tip: Use a static IP address when connecting to the BCS over a wireless bridge. See Wireless FAQ. |
[edit] Accessing Remotely
A BCS can be made available to the public internet by configuring your router to allow access to the BCS on your local area network.
[edit] Security Considerations
It is recommended to enable authentication when setting up the BCS-460 for remote access. This provides basic password protection.
[edit] Port Forwarding
By default, the BCS hosts the html user interface from port 80. Most ISPs block port 80, so a higher number port such as 8080 can be used by updating the port in the Ethernet Settings page. After the port is updated, reset the controller for the changes to take effect. Now to access the BCS, enter the IP address followed by :port, for example, 192.168.0.100:8080
Each router is different, but most allow users to setup port forwarding. This will forward traffic on specific ports from the router to an IP address in the LAN.
For example, if you go to http://whatismyipaddress.com/ and find that your external IP address is 69.207.19.56, and you setup your router to forward any traffic to port 8080 to your BCS, which is 192.168.0.100:8080, then visiting 69.207.19.56:8080 with bring up the BCS user interface.
[edit] Dynamic DNS
Most ISPs change assigned IP addresses frequently, which can be an inconvenience. A great free service called Dynamic DNS can provide a static URL that won't change. More information at http://www.dyndns.com
