Laptop connections

The media server web interface may be accessed through a laptop computer connected directly by an Ethernet cable to the Avaya media server. This topic covers:

Physical connection

To set up a direct laptop connection:

  1. Make sure your laptop meets the hardware and software requirements.

  2. Plug an Ethernet crossover cable into the network interface card (NIC) on your laptop. Crossover cables of various lengths are commercially available. See Crossover Cable Chart for pinout connections.

  3. Connect the other end of the laptop's Ethernet cable to the services Ethernet interface on the back of the S8700 media server. The default for this link is Ethernet interface 1, and is labeled Service.

The services interface should be clearly labeled on the server if it is ever changed from the default Ethernet interface 1. However, changing the default interface will affect certain service procedures, such as Configure Server and Reset to defaults. This interface should not be changed if possible.

  1. If your laptop is already configured with the correct network settings, you can now open your Internet browser and log in.

Laptop tools

The recommended tools for services personnel to effectively use a laptop connection are:

Network settings

To connect a laptop to an Avaya media server using an Ethernet cable, you must set up your TCP/IP properties and Browser properties as described below. General settings and NetSwitcher profiles are also covered.

General settings

On any operating system, the network settings need to reflect the following:

The names of the dialog boxes and buttons vary on different operating systems and browser releases. Use your computer's help system if needed to locate the correct place to enter this information.

NetSwitcher profiles

Avaya service technicians can use the NetSwitcher program to configure alternate network profiles so they can easily connect to a number of different systems. NetSwitcher lets them configure a profile for each type of system, so they can easily access it again in the future without having to reset their TCP/IP or browser settings manually.

This product uses the same access configuration as the Avaya S8100 Media Server with CMC media gateway. If you already have a NetSwitcher profile for S8100 media server, try using that profile first before configuring a new one.

TCP/IP properties

TCP/IP administration varies among Windows systems as described below.

If you use your laptop to access any other Ethernet networks, you should make a note of any IP addresses, DNS servers, or WINS entries that you have to clear. You will need to restore these entries to connect to the other network.

Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0, and Millennium Edition (ME) systems:  

  1. Access the computer's network information. On your desktop:

  2. Select Properties to display the Network dialog box.

  3. Locate the TCP/IP properties as follows:

  4. Select the Properties button. In the TCP/IP Properties box, click the IP Address tab.

  5. Click the radio button to Specify an IP address, and enter the following:

    6. Make a note of any IP addresses, DNS servers, or WINS entries that you have to clear. You may need to restore them later to connect to another network.

  6. Disable DNS services as follows:

  7. Disable WINS Resolution as follows:

  8. Click OK twice to accept the address information and close the Network dialog box.

  9. Reboot the system if directed to do so.

Windows 2000 and XP systems:

  1. Find My Network Places on your desktop, or under the Start menu in XP. Right-click it. Select Properties to display the Network and Dial-up Connections window.

  2. Windows should have automatically detected the Ethernet card in your system and created a LAN connection for you. More than one connection may appear.

  3. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and click the Properties button. The Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties screen appears.

  4. On the General tab, select the radio button: Use the following IP address. Enter the following:

    5. Make a note of any IP addresses or other entries that you have to clear. You may need to restore them later to connect to another network.

  5. Click the radio button labeled: Use the following DNS server addresses. The entries for Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server should both be blank.

  6. Click the Advanced button at the bottom of the screen. The Advanced TCP/IP Settings screen appears.

  7. Click the DNS tab. Make sure no DNS server is administered (the address field should be blank).

If you have to clear any DNS or WINS entries, make a note of them in case you need to restore them later in order to access another Ethernet network.

  1. Click the WINS tab. Make sure WINS is not administered (the address field should be blank).

  2. Click OK. If warned about an empty primary WINS address, click Yes to continue.

  3. Click OK twice to accept the address information and close the TCP/IP and Local Area Connection Properties dialog boxes.

  4. Reboot the system if directed to do so.

  5. From now on,  the Network and Dial-up Connections window should show the status of the Local Area Connection:

Browser properties

Set up your Internet browser to connect to the server directly (through a cable) as follows:

  1. Open your Internet browser.

  2. Make sure you have a direct connection with no proxies as follows:

    3. You may not have to disable using a proxy server if you instruct your browser to not use the proxy server when accessing address 192.11.13.6. Otherwise, you need to remember to turn proxy usage on or off as needed as you move between sites.

  3. You can now  to log in to the server. In the browser's Address (or Location) field, always use IP address 192.11.13.6 when accessing the server from  a directly connected laptop.