Setting Up the System ConfigurationSetting Up the System Configuration
Choose from any of the four possible system configurations when setting up and installing the TA Instruments Advantage Q Series® system. See the following descriptions for each type:
Configuration #1 (Standard)This standard system configuration (see the figure to the right) involves the connection of all the components (TA Controller PC and Instruments) in a private network environment. In this configuration, the following IP addressing will be used for the TA Controller PC:
IP Address: 172.23.191.X (X = 1-254, non conflicting)
Subnet Mask: 255.255.224.0
This configuration allows the TA Controller PC to be used to access both the instruments and the company network. See the figure below for a schematic of this type of configuration.
TA Controller PC —Controller with 2 NIC Boards. (The two NIC boards should not be set to the same subnet.)
NIC #1 to access the instruments. The following IP addressing will be used on the TA Controller PC: IP Address: 172.23.191.X (X=1-254, non conflicting); Subnet Mask: 255.255.224.0.
NIC #2 to access the company network.
Instrument(s)—The standard IP addressing is used (172.23.191.X).
NOTE: For use with a corporate network: This configuration requires the addition of a second Ethernet card in the controller computer that will be connected to the corporate network. (Only one Ethernet card is supplied with Controllers supplied by TA Instruments.) Each NIC must be on a different subnet.
This configuration allows you to place all of the devices on the company network and then connect the instruments to the controller via a virtual network. See the figure below for a schematic of this type of configuration.
TA Controller PC - Controller with 1 NIC Board with two static IP addresses. ”IP #1 to access the instruments.” IP Address: 172.23.191.X (X=1-254, non conflicting); Subnet Mask: 255.255.224.0. ”IP #2 to access the company network. ”
Instrument(s) – The standard IP addressing is used (172.23.191.X).
All devices are connected to the company network.
This configuration (see the figure below) allows all of the Advantage components to be connected directly to the company network. This configuration is only plausible if your company network addresses are compatible with our class limitations. The Q Series instruments use a real-time operating system that is sensitive to address classes. If your company network uses any of the three blocks of network address reserved for private internets (non-routable) as defined by RFC 1918 certain subnet restrictions apply; the address and subnet mask must define a range of addresses that is entirely within that block of non-routable addresses. If this condition is not met by your company network, then the instruments cannot be set up to be accessible by your entire company network. In addition, the Q Series instruments require the use of a static IP address, they will not work with DHCP.
In this configuration, you must first set up the system like configuration #3 (see above). This will allow you to communicate with the instruments and change their network settings.
