Ewon DNS server feature

This article explains how you can access to your LAN devices through a custom hostname.

 

APPLICABLE PRODUCTS

Ewon Cosy, Ewon Flexy

 

PRE-REQUISITES

Have an Ewon already configured, accessible (locally or remotely) and connected to LAN devices.

Also, your computer must have the IP address of the Ewon as DNS server.

 

IN THIS ARTICLE

This section lists the specific major sections in this article. This could be for example if there are more than one way to solve the problem this lists the different ways and a link to the section describing that particular way.

• INTRODUCTION
• FILE EDITION

 

INTRODUCTION

Once connected to an Ewon Flexy & Ewon Cosy 131, for example through Ecatcher or its IP
network range, you will also have access to all LAN devices plugged in this Ewon (if firewall security in place are ignored).
The LAN devices are reachable through their IP address. But they could also be reachable through a custom hostname that you have defined.
To do so, you’ll have to link the IP address of the LAN devices to a domain. This information is written in a file called “hosts.txt” and is stored in the “/usr” folder of the Ewon device.
This “hosts.txt” file of the Ewon is working in a way very similar to Linux or Windows based platforms are.

This new hostname reference can be used in different ways : 

• To reach your Ewon via a name and not via an IP address.
• Configure a tag with a hostname instead of an IP address.

 

FILE EDITION

To create or edit a DNS entry in the Ewon, you will need to edit the “hosts.txt” file of the Ewon.

Here is the process to create the “hosts.txt” file :

1. On your computer, create a text file named “hosts.txt” and create your custom hostname.
   The syntax is based on the Linux hosts format which can be summarized as :
   Instead of an IP address (e.g.: 192.168.120.242) as canonical hostname, you can type a
   string based value (e.g.: ewon-BE) to reach your LAN device.
2. Start your favorite FTP client software and open a connection to your Ewon.
3. Paste the “hosts.txt" file you just created into your Ewon's usr folder.
4. Open your Internet browser and type the canonical hostname you linked to an IP address.
   In this case, we would type “ewon-BE” as the URL to target (instead of the IP address).

Here is the process to modify the “hosts.txt” file already existing in your Ewon : 

1. Start your favorite FTP client software and open a connection to your Ewon.
2. Browse to the “usr/” folder and edit the “hosts.txt” file with your favorite text editor.
   The syntax is based on the Linux hosts format which can be summarized as :                        
   Instead of an IP address (e.g.: 192.168.120.242) as canonical hostname, you can type a
   string based value (e.g.: ewon-BE) to reach your LAN device.
3. Once done with the edition, save your modification. Make sure your FTP client uploads the
   file back to your Ewon.
4. Open your Internet browser and type the canonical hostname you linked to an IP address.
   In this case, we would type “ewon-BE” as the URL to target (instead of the IP address).

By default, the path to the “hosts.txt” file is at the root of the /usr directory of your Ewon.
To change the path, and so the location where you want to put the file, go to :

Setup > System > Storage > Tabular edition > Edit SYSTEM config.
In this system parameters page, search for the parameter “HostsFilePath” and edit its value.