There are several methods to determine the IP address configured on a Tekron Clock.
The IP address of the clock may be an assigned address from a DHCP enabled router/switch/server or maybe a static IP address. You can follow this guide here to determine whether your clock is using a DHCP or a static IP.
Method 1
The first method uses the Tekron Configuration Tool. When the "Discover" button is pressed in the Configuration Tool and if a clock is active on the network it will be displayed in the configuration tool.
Follow the steps below to use the Configuration Tool method:
1. Download and save a copy of the Tekron Configuration Tool: Tekron Configuration Tool v4.5.1.0
2. Set the computer to use a static IP address. Follow this guide for how to do this: How to change the IP address of your PC
3. Connect the computer directly to the Tekron clock using an Ethernet cable. Tekron legacy products may require an Ethernet crossover cable.
4. Allow the Tekron Configuration Tool through the Windows Firewall. Follow this guide for how to do this: How to create an exception for the Tekron Configuration Software in your firewall
5. Open and run the Tekron Configuration Tool.
6. Press the “Discover” button. This should print the details of the clock connected, inside the discovery window of the configuration tool. The “Address” column will print the IP address on the clock.
Method 2
One of the easiest methods is to check the IP address configured on the Tekron clock is to use the front panel display. The display screen can be switched by pressing the button located in between the two front panel LEDs. Use the button to switch the display screens until the IP address of the clock is shown.
Note that this method will not work for all Tekron clocks. The table below details the clocks and associated firmware versions that support this method.
Clock Model | Supported Firmware Versions |
TCG 01-G | F2.25r2 and later |
TCG 02-G | F2.25r2 and later |
NTS 02-G | 3.18r4 and later |
NTS 03-G+ | 3.18r4 and later |
NTS 02-E | 3.18r and later |
NTS 03-E | 3.18r and later |
Method 3
This method can be used if the clock does not have a front panel display and/or is unable to be discovered through the Configuration Tool. This method uses third party software to capture network traffic. The instructions below are for using the third-party software Wireshark to check ARP messages from the clock. Please see our disclaimer note here before downloading the software: Third-Party Software Disclaimer.
1. Download and install Wireshark
2. Start a Wireshark capture on the desired network interface. We have a guide on how to do this here: How to run a Wireshark capture.
3. Apply a display filter in the Wireshark capture for ARP messages, using the display filter "arp".
4. Connect the computer directly to the Tekron clock using an Ethernet cable. Tekron legacy products may require an Ethernet crossover cable.
5. Power up the clock.
6. Wireshark should then display the "Gratuitous ARP" broadcast messages from the clock. These broadcast messages state the IP address of the Tekron clock and the MAC addresses.
Method 4
This method can also be used if the clock does not have a front panel display and/or is unable to be discovered through the Configuration Tool. Also note that this method uses the third party software, Wireshark, to capture UDP traffic between the clock and computer.
When using the Tekron Configuration Tool broadcast packets will be sent using the UDP protocol for communication with the clock. When the "Discover" button is pressed in the Configuration Tool, it will send UDP broadcasts across the network. If a Tekron clock is present in the network, it will respond to the UDP broadcasts with the source IP address as the IP address of the clock.
Note that this will not work if the UDP broadcast packets or the clock responses are blocked. These can be blocked by VLAN settings, settings on managed switches/routers or firewalls. To resolve this you will need to create an exception for UDP port 9997.
1. Connect the computer directly to the Tekron clock using an Ethernet cable. Tekron legacy products may require an Ethernet cable. Tekron legacy products may require an Ethernet crossover cable.
2. Download and install Wireshark
3. Start a Wireshark capture on the desired network interface. We have a guide on how to do this here: How to run a Wireshark capture.
4. Apply a display filter in the Wireshark capture for UDP messages, using the display filter "udp.port==9997".
5. Open and run the Tekron Configuration Tool.
6. Press the “Discover” button. Wireshark should then display the UDP broadcast and response messages from the PC and the clock. These broadcast messages state the IP address of the Tekron clock and the MAC addresses.
Method 5
The last method to determine the IP address on the clock is to perform an SNMP discover. This method requires a third-party software to poll the IP address information from the clock, such as SnmpB.
1. Download and install SnmpB software.
2. Run SnmpB
3. Connect the computer directly to the Tekron clock using an Ethernet cable. Tekron legacy products may require an Ethernet crossover cable.
4. Navigate to the "Discovery" tab, and change the "Discovery Range" settings. Ensure that the "IP Networks" option is selected and enter the broadcast IP address (xxx.xxx.xxx.255) in the "To/From Address". Note that you will need to know the sub-net of the interface that you wish to broadcast on.
5. Open the "Agent Profiles" properties box by selecting Options ->Manage Agent Properties...
6. Enable the "SMNPV2" and "SNMPV3" checkboxes. These will display a tick symbol if enabled. Then select "OK".
7. Select "Discover". The SNMP tool will broadcast to all IP addresses on the subnet defined in the "IP Networks" section. It will display the IP address of the Tekron clock.