LAN Topologies

Last Updated: 2011-06-23

This topic describes the LAN Topologies supported by the Interactive Functional Test Software and how to choose the LAN topology that is the most appropriate for your situation. This topic also describes how to change the topology that you have selected for your system, should you need to.

LAN Topologies supported by the Interactive Functional Test Software

The LAN topologies supported by the Interactive Functional Test Software are listed in the program itself and can be found in the "Select a LAN Topology" area in the LAN Topology screen of the Configuration tab. Unsupported LAN topologies are grayed out in the program and are not listed here.

The LAN topology that is most appropriate for you depends on how your server is set up. Advantages and disadvantages of each topology is described in the Interactive Functional Test software. To access this information simply select the topology within the software you wish to learn more about.

  1. Server is on a Private Network - the server is a separate PC from the workstation

  2. Non-Shared Server - the server is dedicated to a single workstation.

  1. Access the Internet through a Router - The server has access to the Internet through a router that is connected to the LAN.

  2. Access the Internet through a Workstation - the server has access to the Internet through a workstation, which is connected to the LAN.

  3. No Internet connection.

  4. Shared Server

  5. Wired Server

  1. Access the Internet through a Router

  2. Access the Internet through a Workstation

  3. No Internet connection.

  1. Access the Internet through a Router

  2. Access the Internet through a Workstation

  3. No Internet connection.

Pre-Wizard Tasks

Before clicking this button, select the LAN topology that is most appropriate for your situation. (For more information, see LAN topologies supported by the Interactive Functional Test software.)

This button in the Configuration >> LAN Topologies screen opens the pre-wizard tasks for the LAN topology that you have selected. (Notice the title bar of the pre-wizard tasks matches the selected LAN topology.)

The Pre-Wizards tasks must be completed before you run the wizard. It is recommended that you print them so that you can mark the tasks that you have completed. Once you have completed these tasks, you are ready to run the LAN Topology Setup Wizard.

LAN Topology Setup Wizard

This button in the Configuration >> LAN Topologies screen initiates a LAN Topology Setup Wizard that corresponds to the LAN topology you have selected for your Interactive Functional Test system. The LAN Topology Setup Wizard guides you through and automates many of the setup process needed to configure your system to work properly.

The getting started topic provides instructions for steps that must be performed both prior to and after running the wizard. It is assumed that you have completed the Pre-Wizard Tasks before running the LAN Topology Setup Wizard.

The wizard will guide you through the process of setting up the LAN Topology. IMPORTANT: Read and follow the directions on each step of the wizard carefully. Most setup issues are due to incorrect settings/connections done in the wizard.

Once the wizard has been successfully completed, you will be taken to the Connections Integrity screen within the Configuration tab.

Default LAN Settings

This button in the Configuration >> LAN Topologies screen opens the for the settings for the LAN, router, router and wireless bridge. This button also provides access to the Topology Settings window that contains all IP address settings assigned in the test system as well as all the server settings.

These settings are all configured when the LAN Topology Setup Wizard is successfully completed. It is recommended that you allow the wizard to configure these settings rather than manually setting them.

Changing the LAN Topology after the Wizard has been run

Re-running the wizard to configure your Interactive Functional Test system to a different LAN topology (for example, changing a Shared Server to a Non-Shared Server) will generate an error. This error notifies you that the selected LAN topology is not compatible with the previous topology that selected when the wizard was run. You will not be able to proceed with the wizard and the steps that have been completed up until the error will not be saved.

In order to be able to run the wizard without getting this error, you must remove the existing LAN topology information within the topology file to prevent the compatibility error message from displaying when the wizard is run. To change the file to prevent the LAN topology compatibility error, follow the steps below.

  1. On the Server PC, navigate to C:\Program Files\Agilent\N597X\AppFiles.

  2. Open the file named "N597X Topologies.txt".

  3. Remove all the text that is not commented out with an exclamation mark.

Once the Topology file is changed you can then go back to the Workstation, select the desired LAN topology, and re-run the Wizard.

 

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