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 GR10.
DNS
DNS stands for “Domain Name System”. This protocol allows the usage of a host name 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 host name of a GR10.
DHCP
DHCP stands 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 host
name. In case of a GR10 this host name is GRxxxxxxx, where “xxxxxxx” has to be replaced by the serial number of
the GR10.
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 host name of the respective
network device. When using a dynamic IP without assigning a host name the IP of a GR10 will frequently change.
This means that the connection settings to connect to the GR10 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 host name can be used for a network device like
a GR10 even when the IP address changes.
Related topics
Use DNS and DHCP to automatically assign a host name and all network parameters to a GR10
Use DNS to assign a host name to a GR10 with static IP
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