1. Home
  2. Embedded Programming
  3. Plug and play embedded web server

Plug and play embedded web server

I'm helping with an embedded device with a web server. The device will be a commercial/consumer item, and that has me concerned, so I would appreciate comments from those of you that have done this.

As you know, the ip address has to be set first (along with subnet & gateway). Most consumers expect to plug a cat. 5 cable into a computer or hub and immediately point the browser to the device and use it. Well, tcp/ip doesn't work like that, even if dhcp is used. So the trend I'm seeing is for a setup program to find the device and allow device configuration through it. Kind of defeats the purpose of the web server, and requires a program for Win, Mac, Linux, etc. Is there an easier way?

I don't want to see the product offered with dip switches (disaster) or a serial port (too much bother).

One other issue I'm concerned about is getting back to the default factory settings. Most devices offer the ability to go back to the defaults, but what happens if that page is p/w protected and the customer forgets the p/w (seen this problem with bios settings)? I don't want to see the customer open the box, but it may not want to provide an easy to use reset button due to security concerns. Any suggestions?

Thanks, Dave

Reply to
Dave Boland
Loading thread data ...

I'm not sure the IP issue is avoidable. You at least need to be on the same subnet (hopefully an RFC 1918 subnet, i.e. 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x) for the device to be routable at all, whether manually or via a setup program. Your customer may be using a different subnet to the default. And a DHCP approach would have to co-exist with any other DHCP controllers already present.

The usual strategy is "hold a button down for 5s at power-up". Alternatively, a "secret" key combination might do. You could maybe also offer telnet/ssh access with a "factory" password. However any security system that persists through customer customisation will be, by definition, poor security.

HTH, and suspect it doesn't ;(.

Steve

formatting link

Reply to
Steve at fivetrees

What's wrong with using a configuration program?

Again the configuration program.

Reply to
FLY135

How about:

Combined with the Rendezvous plugin for IE.

Robert Swindells

Reply to
Robert Swindells

[...]

Axis makes a device that might be used this way. See

formatting link

I have an Axis 83 device here on my desk and it's been quite reliable.

For the Axis device, all settings are done via web browser. I have used Opera, Netscape and Lynx on Linux and Internet Explorer under Windows to access the configuration and had no problems under any of those.

Ed

Reply to
Ed Beroset

Thanks to all of you for some very good ideas. It is appreciated.

Some have asked why not just go ahead and write the setup program. The answer is that I don't think writing the program is the hard part. It is supporting all of the platforms that will be costly. No one has any current Mac, Sun, HP-UX experience.

Dave,

Dave Boland wrote:

Reply to
Dave Boland

You can setup the IP address using broadcast UDP connection: open an UDP socket on the webserver, and run a Java applet on computer which will connect to the UDP port using broadcast address. As long as they are in the same LAN they can be connected together. The Java applet should be designed to have a GUI which will let you change IP address, mask or whatever you want.

Adrian

Reply to
Adrian Bica

ElectronDepot website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.