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FAQ
Basic Networking:
In the world of PCs and in most cases Mac, TCP and UDP are the most common and used LAN transporting mechanism. On top of TCP or UDP there are a session and a presentation layer for the networking operative systems like NetBios.
LANspectre measures on the following levels:
If for example LANspectre records a PC with the IP-address 192.168.0.1 and the name ANNA, the address number is specified by TCP/IP and the name comes from the NetBIOS-system.
Machine names. LANspectre reads out the MAC-address from every unit connected to the LAN for reporting.It does so for recognizing if any unauthorized PCs are connected to the LAN.
Advantages with LANspectre from a practical view:
- No software to install
- Gets into your pocket (small)
- Easily carried out to missions for measuring obstacles in the LAN.
Naturally, is this solved without LANspectre if the knowledge is extensible in LAN environments.
LANspectre presents the information in an easy and accessible fashion.
Network connections:
1. Question: A LAN connected printer does not show after scan?
Answer: The printer might be connected to a Printer server which in that case is showed. LANspectre shows printers using port 515.
2. Question: Why can not LANspectre function directly connected to the DSL-modem?
Answer: In some cases, will the ISP operator require a MAC-address sent from the Router.
If the ISP has locked on a particular MAC-address, it will take approximately 20 minutes before LANspectre gets a connection. The MAC address is by then locked on LANspectres MAC instead.
Use release command on router if possible.
WAN:
WAN = Wide Area Network.
Connection to the internet supplied by an ISP operator.
1. Question: Why do LANspectre sometimes drop WAN and DNS?
Answer: If the speed is set to Lowest (10Mbps) the Ethernet circuit in the instrument is by definition set to Power save mode. It will by then take up to 4 seconds to start up the circuit.
2. Question: Why can I not access the Time Menu on LANspectre?
Answer: If you not receive WAN OK at start up, LANspectre is not able to reach internet and the initial time-information is received over internet. When you have received this information you can disconnect LANspectre and it will continue to provide correct time information until power off. The reasons for “No WAN” is either configuration problems or that your network does not have an internet connection.
NetBIOS:
NetBIOS is the common protocol (session) for the Windows* world. NetBIOS provides the interface to networking operation for applications.
1. Question: Why are there no computername for the found unit?
Answer: The computer do not broadcast its name. Set NetBIOS on in the TCP/IP settings in the operative system (Windows).
2. Question: Why do strange names on computers or printers show up in the result.
Answer: The settings might be both NetBIOS names as well as a SNMP name.
LANspectre takes them both but chooses SNMP First.
DHCP:
DHCP = Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.
The function is to dynamically give out ip-addresses to different LAN-connected computers, printers and so on. By default LANspectre is set on getting the ip-address from the DHCP.
1. Question: Why does it take so long time to make a scan or why do not all connected items show up?
Answer. The LAN is set up with several subnet masks. LANspectre will first scan its own subnet and then new units appear from other subnets it will start scan their subnets as well. This is an usual way to build up networks today and there may be reasons to consider changes in the architecture. If there are just a few subnets LANspectre will provide you with an accurate result.
2. Question: My computer is not able to find LANspectre?
Answer: If LANspectre shows NO DHCP there may be a conflict with the gateway. In that case set LANspectre to DHCP off and set all the ip’s manually.
LAN:
1. Question: Why do not the server appears as a server?
Answer: A printer connected to the server. The priority for LANspectre is to sort it in as a printer under MISC. The server do not have a NetBIOS-name defined since it’s a Linux/Unix server.
2. Question: Why do LANspectre report two gateways as HTTP-devices under MISC?
Answer: The network has two ISP* ip-addresses assigned. LANspectre defines routers using RIP.
3. Question: What does PING tells me?
Answer: PING tells you that a unit is alive and you can also get the speed of connection with the time it takes to receive the packets you sent. If you feel that the LAN is slow and the result of PING numbers in seconds instead of milliseconds there is something wrong in the LAN.
- Check the scan result if there is something wrong in the ip-settings?
- Check from the other side of the cable if you get the same “slow” result?
- The cable can be electrically perfect but slightly broken packet wise. Check the cable.
- Check the numbers of collisions on the LAN.
Firewalls:
There are a number of firewalls on the market. A firewall can be either a hardware unit or a software running on your local computer. They all differ from each other in settings.
The most commonly used today in the local PC is Microsofts* firewall, included in Win2000* and Windows XP*.
1. Question: Why do not the PCs answer on PING or scan.
Answer: Check the firewall settings if it accepts or allows File & Printer sharing on the PC.
Battery:
1. Question: Why does LANspectre present LOW BATTERY?
Answer: The voltage of the battery is below a safe level. You need to replace the battery.
2. Question: How can I reduce power consumption of LANspectre?
Answer: There are several options to reduce power consumption. Set LANspectre to LOWEST Link speed in <Ethernet> menu, it will not affect performance. Reduce the time for Auto ShutOff in <Setup> menu. There is a Power Save mode in <Setup> menu, by enabling this feature the Ethernet circuit is turned off in some menus and it will cause some delays when changing into menus that needs to start the Ethernet circuits.
3. Question: Are there special actions in LANspectre that consumes more power?
Answer: It is the Ethernet circuit that consumes most of the power and when performing actions like Download of new software, Scan and Ping LANspectre consumes much more power. In a large network with a subnet mask larger than 255 units LANspectre may need to transmit requests for a long time which will consume a lot of power. We recommend you to use a fixed IP for LANspectre in such cases and maybe scan subnets of 255.255.255.000 separately.
4. Question: Why do I need to replace batteries too often even since I followed the hints above?
Answer: LANspectre requires high quality batteries like Duracell Ultra, Maxell Alkaline there are huge differences in the capacity with low quality batteries. Rechargeable batteries for 9V will not provide the quality of power that LANspectre requires, we do not recommend them today. An alternative if your usage of LANspectre requires a lot of power is to buy a battery eliminator for LANspectre PRO that are connected to the top of the instrument. Contact your dealer or www.lanspectre.com to buy.
5. Question: According to the connector for battery eliminator LANspectre requires - (minus) on the center pin of the connector. What happends if + (plus) is connected to the center?
Answer: LANspectre will not work through battery eliminator if not - (minus) is provided on the center pin. It will not hurt LANspectre. Contact your dealer to get a correct battery eliminator.
6. Question: How long would a high quality battery last in continuous operation (Auto-shut-off disabled)?
Answer: Typically when LANspectre us set to Lowest Speed (10 Mbps); 8 hours.
If LANspectre is set to Highest Speed (100 Mbps); 4 hours.
However we definately not recommend to disable auto-shut-off.
Power over Ethernet (POE):
1. Question: Will LANspectre supports Power over Ethernet?
Answer: LANspectre can not use the power provided through the Ethernet-cable in a POE-network.
However POE will not harm LANspectre and you will be able to perform normal operation with power provided from a battery or external DC-adapter.
Download new software:
1. Question: Why can I not DOWNLOAD new software?
Answer: Check if LANspectre has received DNS OK and WAN OK.
Time & Date:
1. Question: Why can I not enter the Time & Date Menu (arrow up from Start)?
Answer: LANspectre fetch time & date from the internet. If LANspectre don’t find a WAN-connection it has no such information to provide. Check on Stat Menu if you have WAN OK.
2. Question: Why can I not get my local time on LANspectre?
Answer: LANspectre was designed to show Central European Time (CET). We will consider to adjust that in future versions.
3. Question: Why do time & date on the database I receive through http shows only “00”?
Answer: See question 1 above.
Scanning:
1. Question: Why do not my server name show up?
Answer: The server might be a Linux/Unix-server without NetBIOS-name.
2. Question: Why do my last scan disappear?
Answer: For every new scan on the same subnet mask the old result will disappear.
3. Question. Why do LANspectre suddenly rescan a LAN (network)?
Answer: A PC on a different subnet mask sends a broadcast that LANspectre picks up an puts in it’s database. LANspectre will then rescan this new subnet.
4 Question: Why are there a lot of data for another network in my instrument?
Answer: LANspectre keep the result from last scan until the button is pressed for a new scan. This allows you to make a scan of a network and bring the result to a better place for further analyze, for instance if you are a consultant you can scan a clients LAN and then bring the result back to your own office.
5. Question: Why do my servers show up as Misc in LANspectre?
Answer: LANspectre sends some questions to the found devices. Based on the response it try to decide what it is. This algorithm is not always able to make the right decision. Various settings in security etc may make it impossible to get the required information. Misc is the default category if we don’t receive better information.
6. Question: Why is the “scan bar” in the Scan menu just running very fast over the display continuosly?
Answer: LANspectre is not able to find anything or may not even have Link (connection to the network)
7. Question: How do I stop the scan that just seems to go on for ever?
Answer: You can stop Scan by pressing right arrow.
8. Question: How do I clear the memory in LANspectre (emptying the database)?
Answer: Every time you press Scan (in Scan menu) you will clear the database. If you want to have an empty instrument you can disconnect the Ethernet-cable and go to Scan menu, pressing Scan and then right arrow to stop this meaningless scan.
LANspectre http:
Question: Why can I not address LANspectre in my browser with the name LANspectre?
Answer: If I get the NetBIOS name on my PC/MAC I am using in the search with LANspectre it should work. But there are several things to check out if it does not work.
- In my PC/MAC configuration under TCP/IP. In the configuration under WINS (Windows Internet Naming Services), is NetBIOS over TCP/IP selected?
- In PC-environment. Click START. Click RUN. Write CMD for running a console window.
In the console write PING LANspectre. If the answer is something outside your LAN IP-address range, e.g. 999.990.99.99 (just an example) the TCP/IP settings in your LAN, is not capable of resolving the name into an internal IP-address.
- If you have placed a short cut on the desktop with the name LANspectre, it collides with the browser.
- If LANspectre do not find DNS at startup in the Start menu it would not recognize “LANSPECTRE” as a URL in the browser. If using DHCP, check DHCP-settings. If using fixed IP on LANspectre check settings in Config IP.
- Use the IP-address LANspectre gets from the DHCP or the static address you give LANspectre. HTTP://192.168.0.35 (example) and LANspectre answers with its homepage. You can find the IP-address for LANspectre in <IP config> menu under “MyIP”.
Display quality:
1. Question: The display is very dark or there is scratches on the display?
Answer: Remove the plastic film that is covering the display when LANspectre is delivered.
2. Question: Why are there no back-lit on the display to enhance visibility?
Answer: Power consumption and battery life is a major issue in this kind of products. Back-lit is power-hungry and to prolong battery-life we decided to not implement that.
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