Zero configuration networking allows you to automatically create a network of devices without having to manually configure a DHCP server, DNS services, or network settings for each device that you want to connect to that network.
For Firmware version 4.1 (or newer), you can use zero configuration networking applications to configure network settings for the Network IPS system.
If the Network IPS system does not have an IP address assigned to it, then zero configuration networking uses link-local addressing to create an IP address in a range from 169.254.1.0 to 169.254.254.25. When an IP address is chosen, the link-local process sends out a query with that IP address onto the network to see if the IP address is already in use. If there is no response, the IP address is then assigned to the Network IPS system.
Zero configuration networking implements multicast DNS (mDNS). mDNS allows the Network IPS system to select a domain name in the local namespace and then broadcast that name using a special multicast IP address, allowing other devices on the network to connect to it by name instead of by numbered IP address.
Zero configuration networking enables the Network IPS system to use standard DNS queries to discover devices registered on the network that are broadcasting the services that they provide.
You can use the following zero configuration networking applications with this release of the Network IPS system:
Bonjour is a zero configuration networking application from Apple that allows you to automatically create a network of devices in which hosts and services can connect to one another without requiring any user configuration. The services for each device are automatically registered on the network, and can be discovered by other devices on the network.
If you are using a Windows computer connected to the Network IPS system, you must install the Bonjour plug-in for Windows. See the procedure for Installing the Bonjour plug-in for Windows in this guide.
If you are using a Mac OS computer connected to the Network IPS system, there is no additional configuration needed because the Bonjour service discovery is already built into the Mac operating system.
Avahi is an implementation of zero configuration networking that you use with Linux operating systems. Avahi is installed by default on most Linux systems and can run multicast DNS and DNS service discovery.