Dualog Connection Suite DHCP Server – User Manual

Dualog Connection Suite DHCP Server – User Manual
Author
Vidar Berg / Johannes Walsøe
Date
5. Jan 2012
Description
User manual for setting up and maintaining the Dualog G4
DHCP Server.
Revision Number
1.0 Initial document
2.0 Added changes due to release of Dualog Web4Sea
2.1 Renamed from G4 to Connection Suite
2.2 Revised for Connection Suite 2.24 release
Dualog AS
(Head Office)
Alkeveien 14
N-9015 Tromsø
Norway
www.dualog.com
Dualog Connection Suite – DHCP User Manual
1 Table of Contents
2
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1
3
2.1.1
Requirements .................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1.2
Features ............................................................................................................................................. 3
2.1.3
The DHCP protocol ............................................................................................................................ 3
Configuring the clients ................................................................................................................................... 4
3.1
3.1.1
4
Windows XP ........................................................................................................................................... 4
Configuring Internet Explorer to receive Proxy configuration from DHCP ....................................... 5
Configuring the DHCP Server .......................................................................................................................... 9
4.1
Configuration -> DHCP -> Config............................................................................................................ 9
4.1.1
The DHCP range (The settings to the left) ......................................................................................... 9
4.1.2
The option table – (The settings to the right) ................................................................................. 10
4.2
5
The software .......................................................................................................................................... 3
Configuration -> DHCP -> Lease ........................................................................................................... 11
4.2.1
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 11
4.2.2
Setting a lease to static ................................................................................................................... 11
4.2.3
Deleting a current lease .................................................................................................................. 11
4.2.4
Creating a new lease ....................................................................................................................... 11
Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................................................... 12
5.1
Clients .................................................................................................................................................. 12
5.1.1
The general solution to “all” DHCP problems ................................................................................. 12
5.1.2
My computer tells me I have an IP-address conflict! What is wrong? ............................................ 12
5.1.3
I am not getting configuration from the DHCP Server. ................................................................... 13
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2 Introduction
2.1 The software
The Dualog DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) Server is a tool designed to let you set up and
configure how your ship computer network should look. The purpose of this software is to let IT-administrators
configure all basic network settings onboard ships using the Dualog Connection Suite web-interface.
The DHCP software will make sure your network is consistent; it will make sure you don’t end up with two
computers with the same IP address, and you will always have an up to date list of computer names combined
with IP addresses.
2.1.1
Requirements
-
2.1.2
Features
-
2.1.3
Dualog Connection Suite 2.02 or later
Web-browser that supports Flash (i.e. Internet Explorer 6 or later)
Administrator privileges on all client computers to be configured for automatic configuration.
Fully automatic network configuration controlled through Dualog Connection Suite
Static or dynamic IP addresses using “Obtain an IP address automatically”
Network configuration from shore – even before the computers are on-board
Customizable network range
Support for multiple name servers (and routers)
The DHCP protocol
-
DHCP utilizes UDP port 67 and 68.
DHCP can only be used in IP networks.
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Dualog Connection Suite – DHCP User Manual
3 Configuring the clients
3.1 Windows XP
To set up a windows XP client computer for configuration through the DHCP server, follow this checklist:
1.
This can safely be skipped if you are reconfiguring an already working network.
Make sure the client computer and the DHCP server is in the same network. For example, connected
to the same network switch.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Click “Start” on the client computer.
Click “Control Panel”.
Click “Network Connections”.
Find the network adapter that is connected to the network. It could be called anything, but by default
it is called “Local Connection”.
Right-click the correct network adapter.
Click “Properties”.
In the list “This connection uses the following items”, find and click “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)”.
Please note that it is most often found at the bottom of the list.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Click the “Properties” button. A window called “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties” will pop up.
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10.
11.
12.
13.
3.1.1
Mark off both “Obtain an IP address automatically” and “Obtain DNS server address automatically”.
Click “Ok” in the “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties” window.
Click “Ok” in the “Local Connection Properties” window.
Done, you should now receive configuration from the DHCP Server.
Configuring Internet Explorer to receive Proxy configuration from DHCP
If you have an on-board proxy you want the clients to automatically use, you can set up Internet Explorer to get
the proxy configuration from the Dualog DHCP Server.
1.
2.
3.
Open Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Click “Tools” on the menu bar.
Click “Internet Options”.
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4.
Choose the “Connections” tab.
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5.
Click “LAN settings”.
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6.
7.
8.
Verify that “Automatically detect settings” is checked.
Click “OK” in the “LAN Settings” and then in “Internet Options”.
Done, you must now restart Internet Explorer to refresh the configuration. Please note that it might
take up to 30 seconds the first time you get your configuration automatically.
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4 Configuring the DHCP Server
4.1 Configuration -> DHCP -> Config
4.1.1
The DHCP range (The settings to the left)
4.1.1.1 Activated
This setting turns on and off the DHCP server. After selecting (or deselecting), allow replication time plus up to
2 minutes for update to happen on ship.
4.1.1.2 DHCP server IP
Server IP is the IP address of the network interface on the computer running the DHCP server on which the
server is to be started. If there are two network interfaces on the computer, this field should contain the
address of the one pointing towards the computers that will be configured by the DHCP server.
Note that if the DHCP server is within the range, it will be excluded and not given away to anyone else.
4.1.1.3 Range Start
This is the first IP address available for clients, and the start-point for allocating addresses. Commonly set to
192.168.0.1 or 10.0.0.1
4.1.1.4 Range End
This is the last IP address available for clients. The address entered here will also be available for allocation.
Regarding both range start and range end; the address ending with 255 and ending with 0 are both reserved,
and thus will not be part of the range, even if asked to be.
4.1.1.5 Netmask
Netmask for the DHCP server must be the same as on the interface put into DHCP server IP. Most commonly
255.255.255.0
4.1.1.6 Lease Time
This is the time (in seconds) clients are allowed to hang on to their lease without concerns. Most clients
(Windows XP included) will try to refresh after half of the lease has passed.
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4.1.2
The option table – (The settings to the right)
4.1.2.1 Introduction
This table contains extra information that can be configured for the clients. By ‘extra’ here, it is simply meant
that DHCP clients will accept not receiving the extra information – it does NOT mean that clients will be
working without it.
At least one DNS server and one Router should always be configured. Please note that not all operating
systems care about all settings given by the DHCP server. This applies in particular to Time Server and MTU
settings.
4.1.2.2 Router
This is the IP address of the gateway/router. If set up accompanied by DuaCore Pro, this should be the address
of the computer running DuaCore Pro.
As many routers as required can be added, but it is not recommended to add more than one, as the clients are
free to choose which one they want to use.
4.1.2.3 DNS Server
This is the IP address of the name server. If set up accompanied by DuaCore Pro, this should be the address of
the computer running DuaCore Pro.
If used with DuaCore Pro, only the address of DuaCore Pro should be in the table, if not; feel free to add as
many as needed. The one added last will be the primary name server on the clients.
4.1.2.4 Domain Name
This is a string that contains the connection-specific domain name suffix. If you set this to dualog.net and try to
connect to a local computer “fileserver”, the name will be transformed into “fileserver.dualog.net”.
4.1.2.5 Time Server
Here you can enter one or more IP addresses to NTP time servers, for example a local windows 2003 server. By
using this, the operating system will try to receive the current time and date from this/these server(s).
4.1.2.6 MTU Interface
This entry lets you set the Maximum Transmitting Unit for the clients. Valid entry is number between 0 and
65536. Please note that Ethernet (the network type you probably use) only supports up to 1500, and IP
requires at least 68. Use with care.
4.1.2.7 Same MTU in subnet
This entry specifies whether or not the operating system can expect all subnets connected to the client’s
subnet to have the same MTU as the client. Valid values are 0 for no and 1 for yes. Use with care.
4.1.2.8 Proxy autoconfig
To be able to let Internet Explorer automatically detect the Dualog Web4Sea proxy in the network this entry
can be used. This is a string, and it should typically be configured to:
http://<IP-of-Connection-Suite>:3000/proxyautoconfig
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4.2 Configuration -> DHCP -> Lease
4.2.1
Introduction
The lease tab is the overview of your network. Here you will find (grayed out) all the computers that have
received their configuration from the DHCP server. This is also the place where you can add new leases (for
example if you have a new computer being shipped out to the ship and you want to set up the IP address
beforehand.
4.2.2
Setting a lease to static
By setting the static flag for a lease, you specify that it should never change. This really means never, even if
you try to release the configuration from the client, it will always receive the same configuration the next time
it connects. A static lease will never be deleted by clean-up tasks, even if it hasn’t been renewed (used) in
years.
4.2.3
Deleting a current lease
As the system admin you have the opportunity to delete leases from the table. This is in general a very bad
idea; because it leaves the DHCP server with the impression that the IP address is no longer in use, while the
client who got the address allocated might have days left of the lease.
If this is attempted, and another client is given the IP address before the lease is released by the previous
owner, you will get an IP conflict. This is not as bad as it sounds, but the DHCP server will mark off the address
as being unavailable, and not release it again until the DHCP range is filled up.
Please note that if an IP conflict arises, performing the repair-operation as described in 5.1.1 will fix the
problem for the clients, as the clients will be given new, unused IPs.
4.2.4
Creating a new lease
By clicking “new” you get the opportunity to create your own lease. This is done by filling in hostname (case
sensitive), MAC address and an IP address. Please note that you are allowed to add IP addresses outside of the
range. As soon as the lease has been allocated for the first time, you will notice that the “lease start” field
contains a date and a time. At this point, you can be sure that the new lease is in use, and the computer using it
is active and operational.
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5 Troubleshooting
5.1 Clients
5.1.1
The general solution to “all” DHCP problems
Windows XP
Click “Start “Control Panel”, “Network Connections” and find your network adapter.
-
Double click your network adapter. (It is often called “Local connection”)
Click the “Support” tab.
-
Click the “Repair” button.
Done.
5.1.2
My computer tells me I have an IP-address conflict! What is wrong?
If a computer on your network is manually configured to use an address in the DHCP range, the
operating system of your computer will detect this, and mark it off as a conflict. This can also happen if
a lease is manually deleted in the graphical user interface. To resolve the issue, try solution 5.1.1
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5.1.3
I am not getting configuration from the DHCP Server.
If you are not getting configuration info from the DHCP server, there are some possible reasons:
1.
2.
3.
Before anything else, try the solution in 5.1.1
You are not connected to the same network as the DHCP server. Connectivity can be validated by
setting a manual IP address that resides in the DHCP range and try to send a ping to the DHCP
server.
The DHCP server is out of IP addresses in its range. Use the graphical user interface to make sure
there is room for all your equipment. Remember that network printers and disk drives might also
take up a spot in the range.
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