Remotely Accessing the Switch Soft Front Panel Using a Browser

You can view and control the Switch SFP and debug switch applications remotely using a Web browser. To access the Switch SFP from a client machine, first configure the Web host feature on the server machine.

Configuring the Server

Complete the following steps to configure the Web host feature on the server machine.

1. Run the Switch SFP on the server.
2. Select File»Options to display the Options dialog box.
3. Select the Web Host tab.
4. Click the Enable Web host checkbox.
5. Replace the value of Listen on port number with the TCP port value you want to use.

   Note  If you use a TCP port value other than 80, you must specify the TCP port value on the URL that refers to the server when accessing the Switch SFP from a client machine. For example, if your TCP port value is 8000, specify the TCP port value on the URL as http://ipaddress:8000/SwitchSoftFrontPanel.htm.

After you configure the server, the client can view and control the Switch SFP. If you want to disable control of the Switch SFP and leave only viewing capability from the client, right-click anywhere on the Switch SFP window of the server outside of the access tabs (i.e., the Schematic or Relay tab), and select Regain Control from the shortcut menu. Control of the Switch SFP then returns to the server, and the server is locked. When the server is locked, the client can view the Switch SFP but cannot control it.

To unlock the server, right-click anywhere on the Switch SFP window outside of the access tabs, and select Unlock Control from the shortcut menu. The server is unlocked, and control returns to the client.

Remotely Accessing the Switch SFP

Complete the following steps to view and control the Switch SFP remotely using a browser on a client machine.

1. Launch the default browser on the client.
2. In the URL of the browser, enter the IP address or computer name of the server followed by SwitchSoftFrontPanel.htm, for example, http://ipaddress/SwitchSoftFrontPanel.htm.
   
   

Note  If the LabVIEW Run-Time Engine is not installed on the client, entering the URL prompts you for installation. You can install the LabVIEW Run-Time Engine from the LabVIEW CD or visit the National Instruments Web site to download the latest version. Refer to the LabVIEW Help for more information about the LabVIEW Run-Time Engine.

To close your connection to the Switch SFP running on the server, click the close glyph on the browser window.

Additional Considerations

Only the server window titled Switch Soft Front Panel - Web Host can be remotely controlled. You cannot remotely control new windows created on the server.

The File»New Window menu item does not launch a new window on the client. Launch separate instances of the Switch SFP on separate TCP ports to view multiple windows.

Online help is only available on the server machine.