Connecting to a Remote Front Panel that is Hosted Behind a Remote Router
Primary Software: LabVIEW Development Systems>>Professional Development System
Primary Software Version: 8.5
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: N/A
Problem: I have a computer hosting a Remote Front Panel that is connected to the internet through a router, and I want to connect to it from anywhere.
How do I do this?
Solution: Follow these steps to set up your computer and router for this type of connection. The steps are identical if the computer has a wireless connection to the router.
1. From the menu bar select Tools » Options..
- Select the Web Server: Configuration Category and enable the web server by selecting the Enable Web Server radio box. Deselect the Use Default radio box. Specify an unassigned port. A port number above 49000 such as 49123 will work.
2. Fix the computer’s IP address to something in the routers domain (do not
use DHCP which is a typical default). For example if the router’s IP address is 192.168.1.1 then a good address would be 192.168.1.200. This can be configured in Network Connections Control Panel in Windows.
3. Set up the router configuration by logging on to the router. See your router’s manual for how to do this.
- Select port forwarding in the router by range and insure the beginning and ending port values surround the port selected above (beginning and ending values could be 49123).
- Application name is anything you like (only for your reference).
- Select the forwarding IP address to the address of your server computer (i.e. 192.168.1.200).
- Save the settings for the router.
4. Set up your computer’s firewall to allow the computer to be a web server.
- Insure the firewall allows sharing
- For better security limit the firewall sharing to the remote computer(s) IP address(es) in its trusted zone.
5. Get your web server’s IP address
- From your server computer using a web browser browse "http://whatismyipaddress.com/". It will report your web server's current IP address (this can change over time).
6. Get the DNS service for your web server.
- Use a service, such as the free service at "www.dyndns.com" to "catalog" your web server's name.
- Follow their instructions for signing up, selecting your DNS name (might be something like "MyNIWebSite.dyndns.org"), and installing a client application to track your web server's IP in case it changes (some service providers keep your IP address fairly constant, some
don't).
7. Make the Remote Front Panel Connection
- Insure that your web server computer has a LabVIEW VI (such as XXXX.vi) running with the web server enabled (causes web server to start in the background).
- From a remote computer open a blank VI and from the menu bar select Operate » Connect.
- Enter the IP address obtained above in "Get your web server’s IP address"
- OR enter your DNS name (such as "MyNIWebSite.dyndns.org"), if you setup your DNS service as described above.
- Enter the VI's name (such as "XXXX.vi")
- Enter the port (such as 49123)
- Select the Connect button.
Note:
If you are trying to connect to the Remote Front Panel using a web browser follow the same steps but use port 80.
Related Links:
Attachments:
Report Date: 12/10/2007
Last Updated: 03/08/2008
Document ID: 4G9BUHDO
