WL IP doesn't transmit to website? RESOLVED!

[d_l]

For whatever reason then, I don't believe the WLIP has an IP.

[m77]

But how would it get an ip address if it is not connected to a network?

When u plug it with a patch back into the network and search for it or "find" then it picks up the ip but cannot connect?

[d_l]

If you "find" on the network, then at least port 22222 UDP packets are not blocked by the network AND the WLIP has an IP.

Then if you can't "find" the WLIP when connected by a crossover cable to just the computer, I don't see how port 22222 UDP would suddenly be blocked which only leaves the conclusion that the WLIP has lost its IP.

I don't know how or why it would have lost its IP. My Envoy wouldn't, unless I pulled the batteries out of it.

[m77]

So it has an ip when I plug it to the network but I can't communicate with it (blocking of port 80?)

If I then take out the network cable, switch off the pc wireless and plug in a crossover from logger to pc I can't even find it?

So it is losing its ip between that movement?

Perhaps I will just have to wait for ports to be opened? when is the best time to contact davis on the phone uk time? I have been on half for ten mins twice now when I tried at around 8pm uk time.

[d_l]

Well my experiments show that the WLIP absolutely needs an IP for it to be found.

So as I explained that finding it on the school's network means that two conditions are satisfied:  the WLIP has an IP and the contact port 22222 UDP is not blocked.  The fact that you can not download data out of the WLIP on the school's network means that port 22222 TCP IS blocked which violates the school's own rules you previously posted as to which ports are allowed and which are blocked.

So is your normal PC a laptop there on the school network?  That is the same PC (laptop) that you used to successfully find the WLIP on the school network?

[m77]

Yes its the same pc. I would have to keep re installing the software on different machines to test it.

[dalecoy]

i have tried ringing Davis but never get through.

i have taken the logger home and tried on my home network and it worked a treat, so i don't think that it is the logger.

I can't really see a light on my PC at all??

(i am using a crossover link)

My analysis is: 

1.  Yes, the logger is probably working fine, and is working as designed, and the software is working as designed.

2.  You don't understand what d_l is telling you (not your fault - you don't have the technical background).  One of the problems with you understanding is that this medium (forum) is not really interactive like a telephone conversation can be.

3.  It is possible that d_l doesn't completely understand everything, although he clearly understands most of it based on his testing. 

I presume you're a teacher.  As an instructor, my experience was that sometimes I couldn't find a way to communicate something to a student.  The solution was usually to get somebody else to use his/her different methods to communicate.  It's not the fault of the student or the teacher.

Perhaps you and d_l can solve the problem - but I honestly think that Davis telephone support would be faster.

[m77]

you are correct, as i stated earlier on this is a massive learning curve and way out of field of expertise!

thanks to everyone for their enormous help so far.

i think that i will give Davis another call tonight (email is too slow and difficult to 'chat' as you said).

if this fails then i guess i will have to lump it and wait for ports to be opened by RM.

A* for enthusiasm 
D- for ability 

[dalecoy]

Just in case:

Technical Support: (510) 732-7814
For answers to technical questions or help with troubleshooting. We are open Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Pacific Time.

[m77]

Bit of a mini breakthrough. A guy from davis rang me at a pre arranged time. He got me to run the network tester thing that records network data. I ran it once when put through a router and secondly through the school lan.
he will analyse the data and get back to me but his initial thought was that the router was not giving the logger a static ip but I may have got that wrong.  

[DaculaWeather]

Ahhh... never thought about that but it makes perfect sense. Davis needs a static IP on the console so they can do address mapping to the correct device though your router. If the address changed for whatever reason, they would no longer be able to find your console.

[d_l]

Ahhh... never thought about that but it makes perfect sense. Davis needs a static IP on the console so they can do address mapping to the correct device though your router. If the address changed for whatever reason, they would no longer be able to find your console.

Davis transmits nothing to the WLIP except the normal response, SYN, ACK, etc., replies to uploaded data packets from the WLIP.  The Davis server knows how get those response packets back to the WLIP just like any other web server knows how to respond to browser requests.  A static IP is not necessary as long as the IP isn't changing right in the middle of an upload.

[DaculaWeather]

Then that doesn't explain why they want a static IP...

[m77]

Sorry guys can't contribute to this conversation but I will feedback any response I get so we all find out a little bit more about the ip logger.

[m77]

Oh, apart from the fact that I am sure he said about it losing its ip when I was trying to create a local link via the router rather than when and I was trying to upload to the davis website. 

[dalecoy]

Bit of a mini breakthrough. A guy from davis rang me at a pre arranged time. He got me to run the network tester thing that records network data. I ran it once when put through a router and secondly through the school lan.
he will analyse the data and get back to me but his initial thought was that the router was not giving the logger a static ip but I may have got that wrong.  

Perhaps he just said that the school router (lan) wasn't giving the logger any ip at all?  [Not "static", just "any"]

I think I suggested, back somewhere, that I've seen school LANs that would not issue an IP except to devices that they recognized (by MAC address).  Which prevents you from plugging in just anything to the school LAN.  Great security. 

[m77]

And he also mentioned a dhcp switch on the router . . . . . ? ? ? ?

[d_l]

I think I suggested, back somewhere, that I've seen school LANs that would not issue an IP except to devices that they recognized (by MAC address).  Which prevents you from plugging in just anything to the school LAN.  Great security. 

... but that's not the case here.  Muppet has previously "found" the WLIP on the network and I've shown that the WLIP can't be found unless it has an IP.

I don't think the Davis tech's can solve this unless they have some network analysis tool's Muppet can use to collect more info that they haven't previously made public, e.g. IP and port scanners and the like.

[m77]

Dalecoy he definitely made that comment when he saw the data from the router test that was not on the school network.
When the logger is on the network and I search for it I do get an ip address that is the same every time, its just that I can't connect to it.

[dalecoy]

Dalecoy he definitely made that comment when he saw the data from the router test that was not on the school network.
When the logger is on the network and I search for it I do get an ip address that is the same every time, its just that I can't connect to it.

OK, just for grins:  what is the IP address of the WeatherLinkIP when it is connected to the school network, and what is the IP address of your computer when it's connected to the school network?

[m77]

Should I be ok to publish that data on the internet?

I tried browsing for the WLip address but it just times out if that helps?

[dalecoy]

Should I be ok to publish that data on the internet?

I tried browsing for the WLip address but it just times out if that helps?

I was interested in trying to determine if there is some addressing impediment to communication (on the school network) with the WLIP. 

That depends (mostly) on the IP address of your computer, the IP address of the WLIP, and the subnet mask (on your computer).

 It's good to be wary of posting stuff, so if you are, you can get those three pieces of data and then ask somebody in the school who is a nerd/geek/whatever.  [Just the two IP addresses might be enough information.]

[d_l]

Dale, there shouldn't be any networking routing problem if Muppet's computer can find the WLIP. The discovery and reply packets would be reaching their endpoints correctly.

[dalecoy]

Dale, there shouldn't be any networking routing problem if Muppet's computer can find the WLIP. The discovery and reply packets would be reaching their endpoints correctly.

I agree.  On the other hand, we don't know why it doesn't work.  In other words - it should work but it doesn't. 

So, whether it should be or "shouldn't be"  isn't the question.

We have no real idea of how the WeatherLink software operates, nor how the WeatherLinkIP firmware operates.

OK, I'll accept your statement that there are no networking routing problems.  So, nevermind what the IP addresses and subnet mask are.

[d_l]

Right now, my best assessment is that something on the network or in the computer itself is blocking the TCP communication packets, but not the UDP discovery packets on port 22222.  Muppet could run something like Angry IP Scanner to scan port 22222 to confirm my suspicions; however, I've been hesitant about suggesting that even though Angry IP is pretty simple to use and shouldn't be beyond Muppet's abilities, but the administrators might take a dim view of that software's use on their network.

But then again, they shouldn't say port 22222 is unblocked when it appears to be.

Edit: I have about a dozen Wireshark captures of the traffic between my WLIP, my Meteohub, and my computer. Most of these were collected while I was trying to debug the timing of the Meteohub's communications with the WLIP for Meteohub firmware improvements. I think I have a fair idea of how the WLIP communicates, but I also know I don't understand the school's network or their security measures.