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Network Overview & Tools
Genie_TS_Series GigE Vision Camera
Network Overview & Tools
Genie IP Configuration Mode Details
The following descriptions provide more information on the IP configuration modes supported by
Genie. In general automatic IP configuration assignment (LLA/DHCP) is sufficient for most Genie
installations.
Please refer to the Teledyne DALSA Network Imaging Package manual for information on the
Teledyne DALSA Network Configuration tool and network optimization for GigE Vision cameras and
devices.
Link-Local Address (LLA)
LLA is also known as Auto-IP. It is used for unmanaged networks including direct connections
from a GigE Vision device to a dedicated NIC.
A subnet configured with LLA cannot send packets across routers but only via Ethernet
switches.
LLA is the recommended scheme when only one NIC is connected to GigE cameras. LLA is fully
automatic requiring no user input.
Ensure only one NIC is using LLA on your PC, otherwise IP conflicts will result.
The NIC will automatically assign a random IP address within the 169.254.x.x subnet. The LLA
protocol ensures there are no conflicts with other devices through an arbitration scheme.
The Windows NIC configuration must be set to DHCP (the typical default case) and no DHCP
server must be present on the network. Otherwise, an IP address gets assigned by the DHCP
server. Windows will turn to LLA when no DHCP server answers requests coming from the NIC.
Windows XP takes about 1 minute to obtain an LLA IP address – Windows Vista/7 will take
about 6 seconds. With Windows XP, with no DHCP server involved, the network adapter icon in
the system tray (in Windows XP) typically shows "limited or no connectivity".
This is normal (see Microsoft KB article #892896) and indicates that the network does not have
connectivity beyond routers.
Windows and Genie are still running the DHCP process in the background. If a DHCP server
becomes available on the network, the NIC will get a DHCP assigned IP address for the
connected device but connections on the LLA IP address will be lost. The Teledyne DALSA
Network Configuration Tool can enable the Teledyne DALSA DHCP server on the NIC used for
the GigE Vision network.
Important: If the host system has multiple NIC devices configured with LLA, then the
communication stack cannot accurately resolve which NIC to forward an IP packet on the
169.254 segment. Limit the number of NIC configured using LLA to one interface. It is
preferable that the Teledyne DALSA DHCP server is used instead of LLA mode (see next
section).
Use the Teledyne DALSA Network Configuration Tool to change the Genie from the default
DHCP/LLA mode to Persistent IP mode when required, such as when there are multiple NIC
devices with Genie connected to each. Note that Teledyne DALSA recommends DHCP/LLA as
the mode of operation where a switch is used to connect multiple Genie devices.