How To Use Web Remote Feature if Test Set's IP Address Keeps Changing?

When accessing VeEX test sets over LAN with dynamic IP (DHCP), you may be able to access it using a standard web browser and an easy-to-remember Local Host URL

When using the Web Remote control and Web Access features to conveniently control and monitor one or more VeEX test sets from the comfort of an office desk, using a web browser for long term applications, users may find out that the assigned dynamic IP address could change from time to time. This is due to the IP Lease settings on the local network. That is, entering the last know IP address would no longer work after the IP lease gets renewed (e.g., the http:/192.168.33.235/ the browser remembers would no longer work). This could turn even more inconvenient when users are operating test sets located at a remote location, via VPN, since one can't just go and check the new IP address being displayed at the bottom-left corner of test set's screen.

Luckily, if the network has a local DNS, Bonjour, Samba, or even WINS/NetBIOS, server, users may be able to assign a unique local URL to the test set. That way, one can enter the same local host name all the time and the network would resolve the test set's current IP address. An added advantage: Those user-defined host names can be easier to remember than IP addresses.

For example, one can assign the myrxt.local name to a test set and use it in the URL field of the browser, to connect to the test set (instead of typing its current IP address) and let the network resolve its current IP address.

If the test set supports the Network Host Name feature, go to >Tools >Utilities >Settings >More >Remote Access and edit the .local name in the Network Host Name Field, using the keypad, and then press the green Apply button. 

Once that's done, users can just enter the .local host name in the browser's URL field, followed by a backslash (e.g., myrxt.local/). 

  • By default, the name consists of the product prefix and its serial number. This user-defined field will reset back to the default name after upgrading the platform's system software. Keep this in mind when performing remote software upgrades via web browser. (In the examples above, it would revert to RXT012450.local)
  • It is recommended to keep the entire .local name under 16 character (9 user definable + 6 ".local") to maintain backward compatibility with older WINS/NetBIOS systems. (e.g. 123456789.local/ or RnD_Lab01.local/)

Note: Not all VeEX test sets support the Network Host Name feature.

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