Network Technology And Protocol Overview - Leica GR10 Operational Manual

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Network technology and protocol overview

This section explains some of the networking technologies and protocols which are used by the receiver.
DNS
DNS stands for "Domain Name System". This protocol allows the usage of a hostname rather than only using the IP address to
register and access a network device within a computer network. However, the IP address can still be used to access the
network device.
A DNS server is needed within a network in order to use the preconfigured hostname of a GR/GM Series.
DHCP
DHCP is short for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. This protocol allows a dynamic assignment of network configuration
parameters of a new network device which is added to a computer network. If a DHCP enabled network device is connected to
a LAN it can query the DHCP server to assign valid values for IP address, default gateway, subnet mask and other parameters
which are needed to be properly registered within the network. DHCP reduces system administration workload, allowing
devices to be added to the network with little or no manual intervention.
As a result, directly after connecting it the network device can be accessed straightaway by a preconfigured hostname. In case
of a GR/GM Series this hostname is GRxxxxxxx or GMxxxxxxx, where "xxxxxxx" has to be replaced by the serial number of the
GR/GM Series.
Dynamic vs. static IP address
Network devices may have a permanent, so called "static", IP address or they may have a changing so called "dynamic" IP
address. Usually static IP addresses are more expensive than dynamic addresses. If only a dynamic address is available then
DHCP should be used in order to always have the same hostname of the respective network device. When using a dynamic IP
without assigning a hostname the IP of a GR/GM Series will frequently change. This means that the connection settings to
connect to the GR/GM Series would have to be updated each time the IP address has changed (e.g. once per day).
When DHCP and DNS servers are available within a LAN the same hostname can be used for a network device like a
GR/GM10 even when the IP address changes.
Related topics
Use DNS and DHCP to automatically assign a hostname and all network parameters to a GR/GM Series
Use DNS to assign a hostname to a GR/GM Series with static IP
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