Chapter 2. Getting Started with Meteo-42

Table of Contents

2.1. Introduction
2.2. Using Bonjour™ on Windows
2.3. Connecting Meteo-42 via Ethernet to your LAN
2.4. Connecting Meteo-42 to your Windows 10™ PC via point-to-point Ethernet connection
2.4.1. Using link-local connection
2.4.2. Using static IP address
2.5. Connecting Meteo-42 with your Windows 10™ PC via USB
2.5.1. Standard RNDIS USB Driver
2.6. Using Meteo-42 with Linux

2.1. Introduction

Before you start working with Meteo-42, connect the data logger to the power supply. The moment Meteo-42 is connected to the power supply, the lower LED lights turn on and indicate that the Measurement And Recording System (MARS) is booting. Both LEDs turn off, when MARS has successfully started and is running. To access the web interface, the second system Configuration, Evaluation and Communication System (CECS) has to be started. Press the middle button of Meteo-42 and hold it until the display turns on (see Section 1.4, “The Two Systems of Meteo-42”).

In order to access the web interface, it is necessary to establish a TCP/IP connection between the host PC and Meteo-42. There are multiple ways to create this connection:

  1. Ethernet with DHCP: If you connect the data logger to your LAN using an Ethernet cable (see Section 2.3, “Connecting Meteo-42 via Ethernet to your LAN”) and DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), any other device in the LAN (e.g. your PC) will have access to the web interface of the data logger, as long as the CECS is running.

    Figure 2.1. Accessing Meteo-42 via LAN (see Section 2.3, “Connecting Meteo-42 via Ethernet to your LAN”)


  2. Ethernet with link-local or static IP: Here, only a point-to-point connection between the data logger and the PC is established (see Section 2.4, “Connecting Meteo-42 to your Windows 10™ PC via point-to-point Ethernet connection”). The link-local method is recommended.

    Figure 2.2. Accessing Meteo-42 via Point-to-Point Ethernet Connection (see Section 2.4, “Connecting Meteo-42 to your Windows 10™ PC via point-to-point Ethernet connection”)


  3. USB: There are two options, either with a USB 2.0 A to B cable (The same type of cable is typically used to connect a USB printer to a PC) or with a micro-USB cable and activated USB tethering (see Section 2.5, “Connecting Meteo-42 with your Windows 10™ PC via USB”).


    [Important]Important

    If you establish a connection via USB, a driver file might be needed for Windows PCs. The driver file can be downloaded from download.windowsupdate.com. For further details refer to Section 2.5, “Connecting Meteo-42 with your Windows 10™ PC via USB”.

[Note]Note

After having configured Meteo-42 for WLAN, the data logger web interface can also be accessed by using a WLAN USB dongle (see Section 7.8, “Configuring WLAN”).

Figure 2.4. Ethernet / USB ports of Meteo-42L

Picture of Ethernet / USB ports of Meteo-42L

[Tip]Tip

We recommend connecting Meteo-42 via Ethernet to your LAN. It is the easiest method, no additional driver file is needed and updates can be performed immediately.

2.2. Using Bonjour™ on Windows

For Windows Vista™ and later versions, this procedure can be simplified by installing the software Bonjour Print Services for Windows from Apple. It provides automatic resolution of computer host names and the data logger can be accessed via its serial number. Unfortunately, our tests have revealed that this software can cause problems when installed on Windows XP.

After the installation of Bonjour Print Services just type the serial number as follows in your web browser https://Dnnnnnn.local with Dnnnnnn as your data loggers serial number. The untrusted connection alert page will appear and should be accepted as described in Section 2.5.1, “Standard RNDIS USB Driver”.

Figure 2.5. Meteo-42 web interface initial screen

Screenshot of Meteo-42 web interface initial screen by using Bonjour Print Services

2.3. Connecting Meteo-42 via Ethernet to your LAN

In order to connect Meteo-42 with your PC via Ethernet, both devices have to be connected to your local network. Your PC should be connected via LAN or WLAN to your network. To connect Meteo-42 to the network, a standard Ethernet cable is needed. If you have only one Ethernet port in your office, use a switch or a hub to multiply the available Ethernet ports. See Figure 2.1, “Accessing Meteo-42 via LAN (see Section 2.3, “Connecting Meteo-42 via Ethernet to your LAN”)”.

To see that Meteo-42 has been connected successfully, use the buttons on the data logger to navigate through the menu. In the CommunicationDevicesLAN menu you can find a list of connections, which displays all available connections. If eth Activated is displayed, the connection has been successfully established.

By opening this menu item (click on the right button of the data logger keyboard), you can browse for the connection properties such as IP address, which was automatically assigned to the data logger by DHCP server. To access the web interface, start your web browser. Enter https:// and the IP address shown in the data logger display, e.g. https://192.168.12.30.

[Tip]Tip

We recommend using Mozilla Firefox as your web browser to access Meteo-42. Other modern web browsers, including mobile web browsers, should work as well, but are not systematically tested by Ammonit.

After entering the address in your web browser, a confirmation prompt may appear. Click I understand the risks and press Add Exception.

Figure 2.6. Firefox Connection Untrusted alert page

Screenshot of Firefox Untrusted Connection Page

In the next step download the certificate by clicking on Get Certificate and Confirm Security Exception to access the Meteo-42 web interface. In order to save the exception Permanently store this exception should be checked.

Figure 2.7. Add Security Exception

Screenshot of Mozilla Firefox Add Security Exception page

[Important]Important

In order to prevent misuse of the certificate, Ammonit deliberately did not store the security certificate on each data logger. After downloading the certificate, its validity can be verified.

Figure 2.8. Meteo-42 web interface initial screen

Screenshot of Meteo-42 web interface initial screen with Ethernet connection

[Important]Important

In order to use all functions of the web interface, activate JavaScript and Cookies in your web browser!

Go to Chapter 3, Login at Meteo-42 to proceed with the configuration.

2.4. Connecting Meteo-42 to your Windows 10™ PC via point-to-point Ethernet connection

In order to connect Meteo-42 with your Windows 7™ PC, an Ethernet cable is required. No additional driver file is needed for a direct point-to-point connection via Ethernet. See Figure 2.2, “Accessing Meteo-42 via Point-to-Point Ethernet Connection (see Section 2.4, “Connecting Meteo-42 to your Windows 10™ PC via point-to-point Ethernet connection”)”.

Before you connect the devices, Meteo-42 has to be configured to use either a link-local connection or a static IP address. The former is much easier to use, because it does not involve any manual configuration of the PC, if it has the standard configuration of obtaining an IP address automatically.

2.4.2. Using static IP address

To use a static IP address, you need to configure both, your PC and the Meteo-42. To configure the PC, open the Network and Sharing Center in the Control Panel of your computer and click on LAN Connection (see Figure 2.10, “Network and Sharing Center of Windows 7™”). In most cases, the link-local connection Section 2.4.1, “Using link-local connection” is preferable.

Figure 2.10. Network and Sharing Center of Windows 7

Screenshot of the Network and Sharing Center of Windows 7™

To configure the LAN connection, click on Properties (Figure 2.11, “LAN Connection Status”) in the LAN Connection Status window.

Figure 2.11. LAN Connection Status

Screenshot of LAN Connection Status

Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and open the Properties of the Internet protocol as shown in Figure 2.12, “Properties of LAN Connection”

Figure 2.12. Properties of LAN Connection

Screenshot of LAN Connection Properties

Choose Use the following IP address and enter the following IP address 192.168.40.1 as shown in Figure 2.13, “Properties of Internet Protocol”. By pressing the TAB button the Subnet mask will be filled automatically. Save the configuration with OK.

[Important]Important

If you do not have the rights to configure the settings, contact your system administrator.

Figure 2.13. Properties of Internet Protocol

Screenshot of Internet Protocol Properties

After having configured the LAN connection, connect your PC with your Meteo-42 using a standard Ethernet cable and switch on your Meteo-42 by pressing the middle button of the keyboard.

In the next step the Meteo-42 has to be configured for the static IP point-to-point Ethernet connection. Open the CommunicationDevicesLANEthernet menu and select Ethernet (Offline). Move to Method and press the right button and afterwards the up and down buttons on the Meteo-42 keyboard until Static IP is displayed.

Figure 2.14. Meteo-42 display with activated link-local connection

  IP / Netmask      
  DNS Servers       
  Routes            
> Method: Link-local

Open your browser, e.g. Mozilla Firefox. When you are using a Mac or a Linux computer, or when you have installed Bonjour on a Windows PC, you can just enter https://Dnnnnnn.local in the URL field of your web browser.

Otherwise, just enter https://192.168.40.40, where 192.168.40.40 is the preconfigured IP address of each Meteo-42 data logger.

Afterwards a confirmation prompt appears. Click I understand the risks and press Add Exception as shown in Figure 2.15, “Mozilla Firefox Connection Untrusted Alert Page”.

Figure 2.15. Mozilla Firefox Connection Untrusted Alert Page

Screenshot of Mozilla Firefox Untrusted Alert Page

In the next step download the certificate by clicking on Get Certificate and Confirm Security Exception to access the Meteo-42 web interface. In order to save the exception, Permanently store this exception should be checked.

Figure 2.16. Add Security Exception

Screenshot of Add Security Exception Page

After confirming the certificate, the Meteo-42 login page is shown. Use your login details (Meteo-42 certificate) to enter the web interface. To proceed with the configuration, go to Chapter 3, Login at Meteo-42.

Figure 2.17. Meteo-42 web interface initial screen

Screenshot of Meteo-42 web interface initial screen with Ethernet connection

[Tip]Tip

By using this point-to-point connection (without Internet access), the modem connection can be tested, e.g. sending emails via modem.

[Note]Note

Do not forget resetting the LAN configuration on your PC (Internet protocol properties) and enabling DHCP on Meteo-42 (if needed).

2.5. Connecting Meteo-42 with your Windows 10™ PC via USB

Meteo-42 requires a standard RNDIS USB driver. You can download it from download.windowsupdate.com.

[Tip]Tip

You can also connect Meteo-42 to your tablet PC or smartphone by using a micro USB cable as shown in Figure 2.3, “ Accessing Meteo-42 via USB-B (see Section 2.5, “Connecting Meteo-42 with your Windows 10™ PC via USB”)”. In doing so, you can easily connect to the data logger for maintenance reasons in the field or for performing updates using the tethering function of your mobile device (see also Section 4.4.1, “Upgrade using a Smartphone”).

2.5.1. Standard RNDIS USB Driver

Unpack the file 20342322_4b9970e3174b23b5cb2371af0837f939a71271ea.cab, downloaded from download.windowsupdate.com by double-clicking on the file icon, then mark both contents, right-click and select then Extract....

Figure 2.18. Unpack Windows Driver Software

Unpack Windows Driver Software

Now you have two files, rndis.cat (Security Catalogue) and RNDIS.inf (Setup Information). The former is the digital signature by Microsoft, the latter is the actual device driver file.

Figure 2.19. Select Installation of RNDIS Driver

Select Installation of RNDIS Driver

You probably get the following security warning, which you need to confirm by clicking on Open:

Figure 2.20. Confirm Security Warning

Confirm Security Warning

Finally, confirm the success dialog, by clicking on OK:

Figure 2.21. Confirm Operation Successful

Confirm Operation Successful

The local connection can be established now by plugging in the USB cable. An IP address is automatically assigned to the data logger, which can be found on its display in the menu CommunicationDevicesLANUSB under IP/Netmask. To start using Meteo-42, type the address in your web browser, e.g. https://169.254.12.25/. The address always starts with 169.254, the remaining part is random.

[Tip]Tip

We recommend using Mozilla Firefox as your web browser to access Meteo-42. Other modern web browsers, including mobile web browsers, should work as well, but are not systematically tested by Ammonit.

[Important]Important

In order to use all functions of the web interface, activate JavaScript and Cookies in your web browser!

After entering the address in your web browser, a confirmation prompt may appear. Click I understand the risks and press Add Exception.

Figure 2.22. Firefox Connection Untrusted alert page

Screenshot of Firefox Untrusted Connection Page

In the next step download the certificate by clicking on Get Certificate and Confirm Security Exception to access the Meteo-42 web interface. In order to save the exception, Permanently store this exception should be checked.

Figure 2.23. Add Security Exception

Screenshot of Mozilla Firefox Add Security Exception page

[Important]Important

In order to prevent misuse of the certificate, Ammonit deliberately did not store the security certificate on each data logger. After downloading the certificate, its validity can be verified.

Figure 2.24. Meteo-42 web interface initial screen

Screenshot of Meteo-42 web interface initial screen with USB connection

2.6. Using Meteo-42 with Linux

Recommended is any up-to-date Linux distribution with installed Network Manager. Configure the RNDIS/Ethernet Gadget to use link-local and connect the Meteo-42 with the PC. You should be able to access the Meteo-42 with your web browser now.