LANbot: Automatic configuration of Local Area Networks White Paper

Transcription

1 LANbot: Automatic configuration of Local Area Networks White Paper First published in September 2005, latest revision: October 2005 LANbot - Automatic configuration of Local Area Networks 1

2 Global IP Telecommunications, Inc. LANbot: Automatic configuration of Local Area Networks White Paper For the latest information, please see Introduction Network devices are increasingly used at home. The technology that was practically reserved for network experts until the end of the last millennium now spreads at a fast pace because of xdsl, cable modems computers that are equipped with network adapters even with WLAN s. Configuration of a router alone overextends the knowledge of the majority of home users. War drives around office buildings in the cities of Hong Kong (China), Altanta (GA), Chicago (IL) San Francisco (CA) reveal that % of all Wireless LANs are totally unprotected. This proves that even the majority of network experts have difficulties to set up their Local Area Networks properly. It is obviously difficult to resolve conflicts of settings in all the devices that are connected to a WLAN, although all modern hardware devices at least support WEP encryption. A tool that configures a complete Local Area Network would obviosuly be helpful for the majority of amateur even of professional network administrators. A robot that configures a network automatically Global IP Telecommunications has started in December 2004 to program a universal tool that is exactly the solution to the obove outlined problem: A robot that configures a complete LAN containing a number of devices fully automatically: LANbot. Especially home users expect that their computer their home network are easy to configure. LANbot is particularly useful if all network devices are automatically recognized by the software are configured fully automatically without the need for any user interaction. LANbot - Automatic configuration of Local Area Networks 2

3 LANbot makes the same steps as an experienced network administrator A user who has just one computer, a network router that serves as gateway to the internet, a wireless IP phone an extra access point must find a solution to satisfy all the requirements of all his network devices by assigning these requirements to available resources: It should be noted that the IP phone as well as the access point can already be built into the router. Such devices are available on the market. The basic problem although remains the same both host computer the network device must be configured to cooperate. As an example, the firewall internal to the router might block inbound internet traffic on a number of ports thus prevent the user from playing online games, from making voice-over-ip calls from sending files or receiving voice video data in an Instant Messager. LANbot - Automatic configuration of Local Area Networks 3

4 LANbot makes a complex task easy All that almost every computer user wants is to use his hardware software without having the need to study computer science. The average user expects to find a button like the one on the picture below when he opens the parcel which he receives after signing up with an Internet Service Provider or after purchasing additional network equipment. Setup of a network very often implicates that there is no functioning internet connection. It is then particularly difficult to find information about how to set up a computer network. Users are often left to their own devices for most of them it is necessary to ask a friend or their ISP for support. LANbot helps in this critical moment when it even might be unknown if the post office side of the internet connection works, if all cables are OK if the router is free of manufacturing errors. How does LANbot work LANbot discovers the local area network using the http protocol, ftp, UPNP or another stard protocol. As almost 100% of all network devices can be configured with a stard web browser, the software simply emulates web browser interactions with an expert user. The following screenshot shows a web page that has been spidered by the LanbotUtilities.Spider.WebSpider class analyzed, as well as displayed by the LanbotUtilities.Spider.FormObjectBot class: If the computer program can find a corresponding entry for this device in its data base if the required credentials are available, the software can read all settings into two tables one table containing resources the other containing requirements. A resource may be the availability of an ADSL modem requirements are user name password for the ADSL modem functionality. LANbot - Automatic configuration of Local Area Networks 4

5 Data base Detected device Recognized device Resources Requirements After all settings for addressable known devices have been recorded, the program can subsequently compute a configuration for which the total number of collisions mutual exclusions of all combined settings for all network devices is minimum. The program will e.g. open a couple of TCP/IP ports for an IP phone in the firewall thus satisfy the requirement of an IP phone, ports must be open, by making these settings in the router using the resource open ports for a device with a certain IP address. The program will further set up all devices to operate properly with a DHCP server, if present in the LAN. Alternatively it assigns fixed IP addresses to all devices. After optimized settings have been computed, these new settings are transmitted to all network devices that need settings to be updated store them in the network devices. LANbot can additionally do much more The features listed below will successively be implemented into LANbot. Part of the project is Open Source. Programmers, Internet Service Providers, hardware manufacturers skilled programmers are invited to join the community. Basic functionality is being programmed by Global IP Telecommunications, Inc., while all other software s can be programmed by any company or private person who joins the community. Functionality Explanation Project owner Memorization of user names passwords of network devices encryption keys Uniform way to display settings of network devices in one window with dynamically controls created Automatic configuration of network devices requires all credentials to be known to LANbot. LANbot thus stores all sensitive information encrypted. Instead of having to remember different passwords, one password for LANbot is sufficient Settings are displayed in a window containing dynamically created controls dependant on comms that are read from device definition files. These device definition files are stored locally, but can as well be read from a portable storage device or the internet Global IP Tel. Additional notes Core Functionality: Soures will remain undisclosed Core Functionality: Sources will remain undisclosed Device definition files: Open Source. Almost any computer user will be able to write device definition files in XML LANbot - Automatic configuration of Local Area Networks 5

6 Installation communication software hardware Discovery configuration communication software hardware of of Search, display installation of the cheapest service provider of a communication or network service (xdsl, VoIP, etc.) Automatic configuration of the host PC Automatic configuration of Pocket PCs other computers that are connected to the LAN. Unconfigured devices can alternatively be configured via Activesync, USB stick data transfer, etc. Integration of Instant Messaging /or telephony into LANbot Providing LANbot on any kind of network device as a resource that is e.g. available for download from the http or ftp server on network device Installation of softphones, instant messaging software network hardware (routers, IP phones, etc.) Configuration of base functionality, but also the configuration of services that are free of charge or that require payment. LANbot could e.g. sign a user automatically up with a number of free VoIP services in order to enable users to receive calls from within any of the available networks Integrated or callable search engine e.g. to find the cheapest telephony provider to a certain destination. A network router with PPPoE capability can be configured to different services, depending on the time of day or special offers of certain providers. Configuration of network adapter, firewall, internet options, etc. Configuration of network adapter, firewall, internet options, etc. for all computers in a LAN. Configuration will be executed by LANbot running on all computers. Data exchange through USB sticks, Bluetooth, ActiveSync or the LAN. Pocket PCs similar devices may run a LANbot client that only collects information about settings, transfers data through almost any kind of storage device or connection applies settings that have been computed by a master LANbot running on just one or a small number of computers in the network. Call sales or Call support via VoIP or some other telephony service LANbot will be shipped with network devices. Users will be able to install LANbot from there or even use LANbot from a network device (the network device could e.g. provide a remotely accessible drive so that every computer on the LAN has access to LANbot).. One or a small number of partners will be selected by Global IP Tel. for each geographic region.. Core Functionality: Sources will remain undisclosed Base Functionality: Soures will remain undisclosed Configuration of services: can create software Configuration of services: can create software can create software can create software can create software can create software Conclusion LANbot introduces key functionality which greatly eases use of networking hard- software for end users by automating configuration that otherwise requires expert knowledge. It is the only tool that helps during the phase when an internet connection is being set up. In this critical moment users are otherwise left to their own devices. What LANbot does: - Provide users with help of a (virtual) expert LANbot - Automatic configuration of Local Area Networks 6

7 - Greatly reduce support calls - Bring Local Area Network technology to all levels of users - Offer additional features that can potentially bind users to one service provider, but that can also provide more freedom to users, e.g. by automatically signing up with different communication services - Make the Digital Home possible Project status as of October 2005 Project started: Topics: Computer Network, LAN, WLAN, VoIP, Autoconfiguration Development Status: First project parts are ready (Automatic detection of LAN devices, base concept of autoconfiguration classes) Intended Audience: ISPs, Hardware manufacturers, Developers, End Users, System Administrators License: Single volume licenses. License fee is reduced to 50% for companies actively supporting development. Patent situation: Patent pending Operating System: MS Windows (2000/XP/2003 Server - Win98/ME/NT4 compatibility is design goal) Programming Language: C# Translations: English (Software will initially support English, French German language) User Interface: MS Windows For more information: This is a preliminary document may be changed substantially prior to final commercial release. This document is provided for informational purposes only Global IP Telecommunications makes no warranties, either express or implied, in this document. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. The entire risk of the use or the results of the use of this document remains with the user. The example companies, organizations, products, people events depicted herein are fictitious. No association with any real company, organization, product, person or event is intended or should be inferred. Complying with all applicable copyright laws is the responsibility of the user. Without limiting the rights under copyright, no part of this document may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), or for any purpose, without the express written permission of Global IP Telecommunications. Global IP Telecommunications may have patents, patent applications, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property rights covering subject matter in this document. Except as expressly provided in any written license agreement from Global IP Telecommunications, the furnishing of this document does not give you any license to these patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property Global IP Telecommunications, Inc. All rights reserved. Microsoft, the Office logo, Outlook, Windows, Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S.A. /or other countries. Company product names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. LANbot - Automatic configuration of Local Area Networks 7