Using a Name Server/Gateway to Find Student PCs

Question

How do I setup a Name Server/Gateway to Find Student PCs

Resolution

The Ranger Remote Control 'Name Server' or 'Gateway', is provided as an optional installation component. Its purpose is to provide a simple and reliable method of locating and connecting to Student PCs in LAN/Wireless LAN environments.  

Once configured, Student PCs connect to the Name Server on start-up and register their availability and current IP address with the Server.

At the Tutor end, when browsing to locate Students, a search of the Name Server is performed rather than a UDP browse across the network. The Tutor program uses the IP address registered with the Name Server.  The Name Server can be used with all 3 start-up modes.  

The advantages of using a Name Server over traditional Browse options are:  

• Negates the need to browse the network to locate Student PCs.  

• Reduces the time taken to locate Students.  • Reduces the need to configure and maintain broadcast range entries in the Tutor configuration.  

• More reliable connection method in wireless LAN environments. The Tutor uses the current IP address when establishing connections. Avoids problems in Wireless environments where Student laptops change access points and are assigned new IP addresses.  

• Students on different subnets are able to join a published class without having to define additional Browse address information on the Student PC.   

The basic requirements for using a Name Server are:  

• It needs to be installed on a PC that is accessible to all Tutor and Student PCs.  

• It needs to have a static IP address.  

• The Tutor and Student PCs need to be configured to use the Name Server.  

• The Name Server, Tutor PC and Student PC must have a matching Name Server Security key configured.

Instructions

Installing & Configuring a Name Server  

A 'Name Server' or 'Gateway' is designed to run on a machine that is accessible from both the Tutor and Student PCs. It must therefore have a fixed or static IP address.

The Name Server can be installed as a standalone component on the machine you wish to use, or along with other Ranger Remote Control components.  

When performing a Ranger Remote Control installation, select the Name and Connectivity Server component from the Custom Setup screen. You will also need to configure the Server (Gateway) properties.

At the end of the installation the Gateway Configuration dialog will appear or after installation you can launch the dialog by right-clicking on the Gateway icon in the system tray.  

The Gateway/Name Server is configured with the IP Address of the Gateway machine and a Security Key. This same information must also be entered at both the Tutor and Student machine thus validating connections between the various components.  

Once the Tutor and Student connectivity options are set to use the designated Name Server, each time the Student machine starts up, its current IP Address will be registered with the Server. In turn, the Tutor will check the currently defined method for browsing for Students at Start Up but rather than performing a UDP browse of the network it will poll the Name Server to find Students matching the criteria.