Selecting Internet Protocol (IP) Addresses

The Q Series™ instruments use the operating system VRTX. This operating system has certain restrictions on IP addressing and non-adherence to these restrictions will cause the instrument to be non-operational. If this should occur, the instrument’s IP address can be set back to the default IP address [172.23.160.31] by pressing [STOP] [STOP] [START] [STOP] on the instrument’s touch screen. Another limitation of the VRTX O/S is that the instruments are incapable of doing Classless Inter-Domain Routing, which results in the subnet being enforced by class. Listed below are the ranges of the IP addresses for each class as specified by the IANA.

Public IP Class Addresses

• Class A addresses:  1.x.x.x thru 127.x.x.x

• Class B addresses: 128.x.x.x thru 191.x.x.x

• Class C addresses: 192.x.x.x thru 223.x.x.x

• Class D & E addresses: 224.x.x.x and up are special purpose.

Private IP Class Addresses

• Class A Private addresses:  10.0.0.0 thru 10.255.255.255

• Class B Private addresses: 172.16.0.0 thru 172.31.255.255

• Class C Private addresses: 192.168.0.0 thru 192.168.255.255

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When configuring multiple IP addresses on the same NIC, or multiple addresses on multiple NICs, no two different subnets can include the same host address. For this reason, it is recommended that different classes be used whenever possible.

1. When assigning controller and instrument IP addresses in the Class A range:

1. Use IP = 10.0.0.1 to 10.255.255.254, (Private use range).

2. Subnet must be = 255.0.0.0.

3. The last octet of a controller or instrument's IP address cannot be 0 or 255.

4. IP addresses used on controller and instrument must be within the same subnet.

2. When assigning controller and instrument IP addresses in the Class B range:

1. Use IP = 128.0.0.1 to 191.255.255.254

2. Subnet must be = 255.255.0.0

3. The last octet of a controller or instrument's IP address cannot be 0 or 255

4. IP addresses used on controller and instrument must be within the same subnet

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Exception:

When assigning IP addresses from 172.23.160.1 thru 172.23.191.254 it is preferable to use a subnet mask of 255.255.224.0

3. When assigning controller and instrument IP addresses in the Class C range:

1. Use IP = 192.0.0.1 to 223.255.255.254.

2. Subnet must be = 255.255.255.0.

3. The last octet of a controller or instrument's IP address cannot be 0 or 255.

4. Preferred range is 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.255.254 (Private use range).

5. IP addresses used on controller and instrument must be within the same subnet.

4. After setting IP addresses on controllers or instruments, "pinging" the address (e.g., 'ping 172.23.184.3') instantly tells you whether or not basic connectivity has been established.

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