User's Manual

How to Install the ISONAS IP-Enabled Reader-controller 44
3: CONFIGURING THE READER-CONTROLLER’S
COMMUNICATIONS
ISONAS Crystal software communicates to the Reader-controller units over the
organization's data network.
3.1: ETHERNET-BASED TCP/IP READER-CONTROLLERS
There are many Ethernet network topology permutations, too many topologies to
cover in this guide. Here are two common Ethernet configurations used by ISONAS
customers:
 Direct Crystal-Software to Readers: This is the simplest type of network
connection. ISONAS Crystal software runs on a server/workstation that is
connected to an Ethernet network. All the Reader-controllers are also directly
connected to this network.
Addressing: Each reader’s assigned IP address is reachable from the
server/workstation. For example, assume that you are installing three Reader-
controllers. Two are located in your own Austin Texas office, and 1 is located in
the company’s Singapore office. Your networking staff gives you three IP
addresses to use. 205.155.45.130 and 205.155.45.131 for the Readers that
are located in your office. 205.172.37.130 for the reader located in the
Singapore office. As long as the network is configured so your workstation
can reach all three reader-controllers, there is no difference in configuring or
using the three readers.
Here are a couple guidelines to follow to assure that your network’s
configuration will support the ISONAS access system.
1. The ISONAS reader-controller is a standard “network appliance”.
Standard TCP/IP rules apply.
2. For many installations, each reader-controller is assigned a static IP
address. Typically, the network administrator will define what IP
address to use.
3. The reader-controller’s IP Address should be a valid IP address for the
network-subnet that the reader-controller is physically connected to.
4. If the reader-controller’s IP Address must be changed, then the
ISONAS tool “Plug and Play” can be used to reset the IP Address. See
the Crystal Matrix Software Users Guide for more details on using this
tool. Note: Plug and Play requires that the workstation running the
Plug and Play application and the reader-controller be physically
connected to the same network subnet.
5. The host’s IP Address should be a valid IP address for the network-
subnet that the host is physically connected to.
6. If the host and reader-controller are on different subnets, then
network routers must be in-place to enable TCP/IP communications
between the two subnets.
7. One definition of a “Network subnet” is:
 The set of network connections that can communicate with
each other without having to go thru a network router.