Subnetting - A Primer; Gateways; Analog And Remote Devices; Ip Addresses And Octets - Extron electronics XTP II CrossPoint 1600 User Manual

Subnetting — A Primer
It is not the purpose of this guide to describe TCP/IP protocol in detail. However, some
understanding of TCP/IP subnetting (a subnet is a subset of a network — a set of IP devices
that have portions of their IP addresses in common) is necessary in order to understand the
interaction of the XTP II CrossPoint switcher and the mail server gateway. To understand
subnetting at the level required to install and operate the XTP II CrossPoint switcher, you
must understand the concepts of a gateway, analog and remote devices, IP addresses and
octets, and subnet masks and octets.

Gateways

The XTP II CrossPoint switcher can communicate with the e-mail server that the switcher
uses for e-mail notification directly (if they are on the same subnet) or the communication
can be routed via a gateway (a computer that provides a link between different subnets).

Analog and Remote Devices

The analog and remote devices are defined from the point of view of the function being
described. In this guide, subnetting is an issue when you are using the controlling PC to set
TCP/IP and e-mail values in the matrix switcher (see
When you are setting up the variables for e-mail notification, which may include subnetting,
the matrix switcher is the analog device and the e-mail server is the remote device.

IP Addresses and Octets

Valid IP addresses consist of four 1-, 2-, or 3-digit numeric subfields, properly called
"octets," separated by dots (periods) (see figure 91). Each octet can be numbered from 000
through 255. Leading zeroes, up to three digits total per octet, are optional. Values of 256
and above are invalid.
Typical IP Address:
Figure 91.
Subnet Masks and Octets
The subnet mask (see figure 92) is used to determine whether the analog and remote
devices are on the same subnet or different subnets. The subnet mask consists of four
numeric octets separated by dots. Each octet can be numbered from 000 through 255.
Leading zeroes, up to three digits total per octet, are optional. Each octet typically contains
either 255 or 0. The octets determine whether or not the same octets of two IP addresses
will be compared when determining if two devices are on the same subnet.
compared between two IP addresses.
Figure 92.
192.168.254.254
Octets
Typical IP Address
255 indicates that this octet will be
Typical Subnet Mask: 255.255.0.0
Octets
Typical Subnet Mask
XTP II CrossPoint 1600, 3200, and 6400 Switchers • Ethernet Connection
Email Settings Page
0 indicates that this octet will not be
compared between two IP addresses.
on page 128).
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