Compex Config.pdf

White Paper:

uConfig

(Universal Configurator)

Overview

uConfig is a feature that provides the

ability to directly access web-configurable

Ethenet devices without the need to know

absolute IP addresses.

“Web-based” Configuration

The same problem had existed for a longer

time with Ethernet switches. Switches were

becoming increasingly complex, as features

such as tagged VLAN were added. Earlier

methods of configuration involved the use of a

serial port on the switch and using either an

ASCII terminal or a PC with a TELNET-style

program, and then entering complex

command strings. As hardware costs declined,

it became feasible to use better methods.

Today, most corporate (i.e. high-feature)

Ethernet switches use a “web-based”

configuration method. In brief, this means that

the switch includes a number of configuration

screens defined in html together with a small

built-in web-server. The screens enable the

easy entry of information to configure the

device. The device has an IP address pre-

allocated, which may be used to activate the

menu system from any web browser.

In 1998, Compex , who were one of the

leaders in low-cost gateways, introduced the

concept of “web-based” configuration into the

NetPassage series of routers and gateways.

This enabled consumers to easily configure

their NetPassage Internet Gateways via

setup screens.

A de-facto industry standard developed to use

the IP address 192.168.168.1 to activate the

configuration screen on an Ethernet device.

Figure 1 shows how the IP address may be

simply keyed in to the url within a browser.

The feature is standard on all Compex

devices that feature web-based

configuration.

Introduction

Local area networking, mainly via Ethernet,

has been rapidly growing in popularity over

the last several years and many consumers

now have simple networks in their homes. In

addition, devices such as Broadband Modems

frequently use Ethernet to connect to a PC

even if no other networking is required. A

typical product that combines both of these

growth areas is the home “Broadband Internet

Gateway” – a device that enables several PCs,

some of which may be wireless, to share a

high-speed Internet connection as well as local

resources such as printers and files.

These devices need some configuration in

order to be tailored to the particular

environment. Looking back several years, this

configuration was a complex process,

requiring above-average knowledge of

networking, which was a major reason why

the devices were not popular with consumers!

White Paper: Compex uConfig

January 2003

Figure 1: Using a specific IP address to access

an Internet Gateway

In a corporate environment, the situation is

more complex, since there are likely to be

many devices on the network, each with their

own configuration page IP address.

In each of these cases “finding” the device

may be difficult!

uConfig to the rescue!

Compex recognised these potential stumbling

blocks to quick and easy web-based

configuration of network devices. The solution

- beautiful in its simplicity - combines the

flexibility of html access together with a single,

consistent and easy point of access.

uConfig is a small program, distributed with

every Compex switch, router and wireless

access point that uses web-based

configuration. It may be run directly from the

product CD or installed on the user’s PC for

later access.

When uConfig is loaded, a screen similar to

Figure 2 is shown. The screen is divided into

three sections. The top section shows the

Ethernet adapter that is accessing the network

devices and the middle portion shows the

routing table associated with the Ethernet

adapter.

In the lower window, a list of all uConfig-

compatible devices on the network is shown.

The user may highlight the device that they

desire to configure then click on the “Open

web” button.

This will then load the user’s default browser

at the correct IP address for the device

(reagardless of how the computer’s TCP/IP

There are several advantages to the use of

web-based configuration. It may be made very

easy to understand for an inexperienced user,

particularly when entering names, passwords

etc. In corporate environments, with multiple

configurable devices, a big benefit for both

manufacturers and network administrators is

that all of the configuration is held in one

place. These devices normally have

upgradeable firmware, enabling new features

to be added and the firmware now contains

both the new feature and the html screens

needed to configure it, thus simplifying the

process.

Not always so simple!

Even this simple solution may occasionally

create difficulties! Consider:

• A new user whose TCP/IP properties may

not be set up correctly to enable access to

the default address (for example, if a user is

adding an Internet Gateway in-between an

existing Ethernet modem and the PC). In

such cases there may be a conflict with a

fixed IP address or the subnet mask on the

computer.

• A “complete newbie” who is uncomfortable

with entering a 12 digit direct IP address as

an url.

• A user who has not done a configuration for

a long time and has forgetten the default IP

address (and lost the manual!)

• An administrator who has changed the IP

address due to network conflicts and no

longer has a record.

Figure 2: The uConfig screen, selecting the

device

White Paper: Compex uConfig

January 2003

properties are set), and configuration

continues.

This is especially useful in a corporate

environment where there are multiple network

devices deployed. The uConfig program will

facilitate an easy access to the configuration

web page of various networking devices.

Another advantage of uConfig is that the

window provides a quick summary of the

uConfig-enabled network devices for easy

reference.

In addition, uConfig reduces the need to

modify the computer’s TCP/IP configuration to

access various types of devices that may have

a different management IP address. uConfig

markedly reduces the difficulty and confusion

when configuring these devices.

Figure 3 shows a typical NetPassage

configuration screen (note that uConfig

access is stated at the top-left of the screen).

Summary

uConfig is a simple and timely solution to

starting web-based configuration of network

devices such as switches, routers and wireless

access points without the need to know the

management IP address.

The feature is standard on all Compex

devices that feature web-based configuration

and existing products may have their firmware

upgraded (see www.cpx.com for more

information).

uConfig and UPnP

There is a new Microsoft initiative known

as UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) which

defines a unified structure with which

compatible devices can be remotely

configured. In this respect, it may appear

that uConfig is redundant. However

UPnP and uConfig are really for

different purposes.

UPnP is designed for devices to be able

to “discover” each other on the same

network (not necessarily Ethernet) and

then send low-level configuration

information. XML is used to express the

information passed between the devices.

These XML codes include manufacturer-

specific information, a list of any

embedded devices or services as well as

URLs for control, eventing and

presentation. A control point is usually

required to configure these parameters

in the UPnP architecture where it can

send an action request to a device. This

information exchange between the UPnP

control point and the device will alter the

configuration and performance of the

device. For example, a network game

program that is UPnP capable will

instruct an uPnP compatible router to

open the appropriate ports in order for

the game to be played behind the router.

So the two systems are similar in that

they enable a system to “discover” the

compatible devices in the network.

However, uConfig serves as a quick

access to the web-based configuration

interface of the device and does not

configure the device itself. Also,

uConfig , because of its simple purpose,

is the same utility regardless of the

device from which it is pulling the

configuration interface. This is unlike

UPnP, which has different definitions for

different classes of devices. Close

compliance of both the UPnP control

point and devices to the UPnP

specification is necessary for it to work.

Figure 3: Browser configuration after uConfig

White Paper: Compex uConfig

January 2003

“Under the Hood”

How uConfig Works

uConfig does not attempt to configure the network device. It solely addresses the issue of allowing

the users to have a faster access to the web-based management interface of the network device for

further configuration.

For uConfig to work, a uConfig agent has to be embedded in the network device. When the

uConfig program is activated, it will broadcast a UDP request data packet to the network. Network

devices that have the embedded uConfig agent will response to this request and reply with an

“Acknowledge" data-stream. This data-stream comprises the network device management IP address

together with a network identifier. This information will be stored and then presented via the uConfig

display.

To access the web-based management interface of the network device, simply select the network

device on the screen and click on the ”Open Browser” radio button. The uConfig program will

immediately amend the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) table and add the network device’s

management IP address to the ARP table. This will “deceive” the network device into assuming that

the workstation belongs to the same network and thus bring up the web-based management

interface for configuration.

White Paper: Compex uConfig

January 2003

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika: