BooTP Helper Device

[TimWilborne]

So I buddy of mine has been developing this device and sent it to me to evaluate. It takes the place of the software we use to assign Ethernet addresses during startup of a BooTP enabled device.

It is extremely easy to use, took me about 5 minutes to learn. I am seeing it being advantageous to maintenance personnel who have been trained in the basic upload/download of programs but may not dabble enough in Ethernet to understand MAC addresses and BooTPs.

Also on top of assigning IP Addresses, it seems to be able to read the IP Address of anything. Just the other week I went into a plant and no one had any idea what the IP Address was of a PLC. I could have quickly plugged this device in and read the IP Address. Perhaps a tool like this would be good for me to carry also

Actually when I say read the IP Address of anything that seems to include other Ethernet devices such as computers, wireless adapters, etc.

Who else would find a product like this useful?

Below is the picture of the prototype. It is not for sale.

 

[abwiz]

Seems pretty slick. I could see this being very useful in the field. What are the physical dimensions? Does it run on batteries?

Good post.

 

[TimWilborne]

It is currently 6-1/4 x 3-1/4 x 1-1/4 but once the circuitry is finalized he may reduce the size of the case

It runs on two AA batteries

 

[moltra]

looks good to me, I can see a lot of use in it.

 

[MartB]

I'd buy one! Especially if it comes in at under $100

I can see lot's of uses, and not only in a controls capacity.

 

[TimWilborne]

I'd buy one! Especially if it comes in at under $100

I can see lot's of uses, and not only in a controls capacity.

What uses are you seeing for it?

Thanks
TW

 

[MartB]

What uses are you seeing for it?

Thanks
TW

If I'm 'sniffing' an unknown network to see what addresses are used/available. I was also wondering if would report duplicate addresses?

I have friends who work in I.T. and from conversations that I have with them in the past, I'm almost positive that they would be interested in a product like this.

 

[panic mode]

detecting of IP address of unknown device is great feature.
one of our customer received couple machines using PowerMacs nutrunner (Atlas Copco) and one of the drives didn't have expected IP address. it took them a while to figure it out.

 

[geniusintraining]

I showed it to my IT department... for what its worth, they said they would buy one.

I think its very good, as other have said it could save the head scratching

I wonder how it works...does it ping at random? until it gets a reply, like a decoder

 

[TimWilborne]

Sorry so late with the response. I emailed the developer and it looks as though this is possible. Here is the response I got

I guess I can easily add this feature:
- Detected IP list

I designed device to work on point to point connection, not over a network.
So only one IP address will show up on the LCD
Without any changes, if connected to a network switch, it will read all ARPs but display only the last one received.
So it will be simple thing to do to save all ARPs (IP/MAC) and display them as a list (IP only).
User can scroll through the list of IPs and display a selected MAC/IP summary by pressing "Enter".

Also this listen can be done as a background task to collect all ARPs while connected.
I don't see any need to save this list to EEPROM, it will be empty on power up.

 

[mrtweaver]

I talked to our IT staff and they and I agree this would be a great tool. Contact when you get a price.

Sorry so late with the response. I emailed the developer and it looks as though this is possible. Here is the response I got

 

[TimWilborne]

MartB - The "Read All IP Address" feature is not going to work very reliably. Mainly, what if a device is shutdown when you read the IP Addresses. It will show as a spare. Let's just stick to the point to point version for now

 

[rdrast]

I'd buy one just for the single-cable bootp. It's just annoying to me to have to use my laptop to set a device address by bootp. Or re-assign an address before plugging one into the field (prevents network problems from duplicate IP's in the lab and on the floor).

 

[MartB]

MartB - The "Read All IP Address" feature is not going to work very reliably. Mainly, what if a device is shutdown when you read the IP Addresses. It will show as a spare. Let's just stick to the point to point version for now

Fair enough, I see your point about having a device shutdown, I was just thinking out load really.

I'd still buy one though

 

[TimWilborne]

Fair enough, I see your point about having a device shutdown, I was just thinking out load really.

I'd still buy one though

Please continue to think out loud. Everyone's imput is very important since this product is in the developmental stages