IP address configuration tutorial

An Alicat device with Ethernet-based protocols has an IP address to distinguish it from other devices on the network. This can be set either as a static address, or an address determined by a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server. The front panel accessibility for this feature makes it possible to change your Alicat IP address without additional software.

See below for instructions on changing an IP address from your Alicat front panel.

Video tutorial

Video transcript

“Hello my name is Michael Whiteside. I am an applications engineer here at Alicat Scientific. In this video, I am going to be showing you the various ways to set an IP address on the front display of an Alicat device. Now let’s get started!

Alicat devices configured with EtherNet/IP or other EtherNet based industrial protocols will require an IP address in order to distinguish the device from other devices on the network. To adjust these settings, we will go into “MENU” (bottom right button), “ADV SETUP” (bottom middle button), and “COMM STATUS” at the top here (top middle button). We see it is configured for EtherNet/IP and it is currently waiting for the network, as it has not been connected to a PLC or a computer.

With that being said, we can still adjust the address source at the top here (top left button). We see we have three sources: static address, DHCP server, as well as web server configuration. We first start with static address, hit “SET” (bottom right button). We can define a subnet mask at the top here (top middle button) and confirm that. Then we can assign a static IP address (top right button), and we will hit “SET” (bottom right button).

Now changing the address source to DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) will allow the device to accept to accept a dynamic IP address using DHCP. Changing the source to our last source here, web server configuration, will allow the device to communicate over the Alicat embedded web server to adjust the IP address as well as other configuration settings. This can be done by simply typing in the existing IP address into a web browser.

That is how you adjust your IP address as well as communication settings on an Alicat device.”

Step-by-step instructions (front panel)

IP Address

Press the bottom right, “MENU”, button to open the menu.
Press the bottom middle, “ADV SETUP”, button to open the Advanced Setup Menu.
Press the top middle, “COMM STATUS”, button to open the Communication Status Menu.
Press the top left, “ADDR SOURCE”, button to open up the Address Source Menu.
Use the up and down buttons to select your desired address source.
Press the bottom right button for “SET” selection.

Static Address

Press the top middle, “SUBNET MASK”, button to open up the Subnet Mask Menu.
Use the up, down, and select digit buttons to enter in your desired subnet mask.
Press the bottom right button for “SET” selection.
Press the top right, “SLAVE ADDR”, button to open up the Slave Address Menu.
Use the up, down, and select digit buttons to enter in your desired IP address.
Press the bottom right button for “SET” selection.

Note: The “SUBNET MASK” and “SLAVE ADDR” menus are only available when the address source is set to “Static”.

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