Accessing Tempurity Temperatures via the Web

Introduction

The Networked Robotics Tempurity Monitor is designed to be used from any Windows XP computer via downloaded software. In this way access to the temperature histories of monitored devices takes only seconds. To ensure that remote clients can access Tempurity Server data, you must ensure that port 3010 is open on the server's Windows firewall.

Some customers may prefer to use the web to access temperatures. The below are instructions for configuring a host computer running the Tempurity Monitor and the Windows Remote Desktop software, such that access to temperature histories can be achieved through a standard internet browser. This method relies on the characteristics of the Windows operating system.

Definitions :

Tempurity Server – Collects temperatures from the network. A Tempurity Monitor watches temperatures on any Tempurity Server.

Tempurity Monitor – Views temperatures on the Tempurity Server and sets alarm notifications.

Host Computer - Is configured to run the Windows Remote Desktop utility. The Tempurity Monitor will execute on this machine.

Client Computer - Connects to the host computer. Through a web browser, any client will have access to temperatures and alarm notifications.

The Process of Configuration

Configure your host computer to allow users to connect remotely. This machine need not be a Tempurity Server (although it may be) but must be able to execute the Tempurity Monitor software.

Configure IIS (Internet Information Services) on your host computer.
Configure Remote Desktop on the host computer.
Connect to the host computer through a web browser from any other Windows computer. Run the Tempurity Monitor on the host computer.

Limitations

If your host computer is a Windows XP computer you may be limited to one remote web connection at a time. For unlimited connections, the host computer must be running a Windows XP Server operating system.

Configuring your Host Computer

The standard Windows XP installation does not include Remote Desktop Web capability. Remote Desktop Web connection is an optional World Wide Web service component of Internet Information Services (IIS). You will need to install IIS on your system using your Windows XP installation disk to in order to allow your computer to respond to requests from a web browser. Perform the following steps on the host computer:

Open Internet Information Services details (located in Add/Remove Windows Components in the control panel).
In the Subcomponents of Internet Information Services list, click World Wide Web Service details.
In the Subcomponents of World Wide Web Service list, select the Remote Desktop Web Connection check box, and click OK.
Click the Start button and click Run. In the dialog box, type Net Start w3svc and click OK. This temporarily stops the WWW service to keep your system safe while you update it with security patches.

Restart your computer. Turn on WWW service by typing Net Start w3svc.

Configure IIS (Internet Information Services)

These next steps are not to be followed if your host computer also functions as a Web server.

IIS is defined on your computer by the TCP port 80. It is highly recommended (but not required) to change this port address to make it harder for a potential hacker to communicate with your computer.

Open Internet Information Services (located in Add/Remove Windows Components in the control panel).
In the IIS snap in, expand your computer name and websites. Right-click Default Web Site and select Properties.
On the Web Site tab, change the value for your TCP Port with an easily remembered number between 1000 and 65535. You will need to know this TCP Port when you connect to your computer. Click OK.

Configure Remote Desktop

To connect using Remote Desktop, enable remote connections by right-clicking My Computer, selecting the Remote tab, and enabling Allow users to connect remotely to this computer.

In the Select Remote Users window, you can add or remove user accounts that you wish to be able to connect remotely.

Connect to your Host Computer through Remote Desktop

It is now possible for you to connect remotely from a web browser. You will need to know your host computer’s IP address. This can be found by typing ipconfig in the Command Prompt.

Open Internet Explorer, and type http://ipaddress:port/tsweb/. In place of ipaddress and port, enter the ip address and the Remote Desktop network port address of your host computer.
If you are prompted to install Active X control, click yes.
On the Remote Desktop Web Connection page, as shown below, click Connect. It is unnecessary to fill in the “Server” field.

Enter your username and password at the Windows logon prompt, and click OK. You will now see the host’s desktop.

Run the Tempurity Monitor. Enter the appropriate Tempurity Server network address. You now have access to your temperatures through the web as if the Tempurity Monitor client was running on the client machine.

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