Modifying your current setup for ethernet

Editing comms database settings for Ethernet

Symbian platform stores many communication settings in its communications database. This database is used both in the emulator and real devices. It is primarily used by the communication subsystems within Symbian platform.

The comms database is made up of a number of tables. Several tables are required to connect the emulator to the Internet via ethernet.

Edit your current comms database as described below. The CED and CEDDUMP tools should be used to securely modify comms database entries; see Comms database configuration tools.

LAN Bearer table

The LAN bearer table contains information about physical connections to networks. The start of the LAN bearer table is indicated by the text [LANBearer]. It may be followed by a number of connections. One may be suitable for the emulator, otherwise add a new connection in a new ADD_SECTION...END_ADD section.

If you are using Symbian platform with the EKA1 kernel then there should be a connection like the one below:

ADD_SECTION
    Name=EKA1 Emulator Ethernet
    Agent=nullagt.agt
    IfName=ethint
    LDDFilename=ethercard
    LDDName=Ethercard
    PDDFilename=etherwins
    PDDName=Ethercard.wins
    PacketDriverName=EtherPkt.drv
    LastSocketActivityTimeout=-1
    LastSessionClosedTimeout=-1
    LastSocketClosedTimeout=-1
    FIELD_COUNT=11
END_ADD

If you are using EKA2 kernel then there should be a connection like this:

ADD_SECTION
    Name=EKA2 Emulator Ethernet
    Agent=nullagt.agt
    IfName=ethint
    LDDFilename=enet
    LDDName==Ethernet
    PDDFilename=ethernet
    PDDName=Ethernet.Wins
    PacketDriverName=EtherPkt.drv
    LastSocketActivityTimeout=-1
    LastSessionClosedTimeout=-1
    LastSocketClosedTimeout=-1
    FIELD_COUNT=11
END_ADD

The Symbian platform version number will tell you which kernel you are using. Version 7 or less indicates EKA1. Versions 8.0 and 8.1 are written with a letter after them. An 'a' indicates EKA1 and a 'b' indicates EKA2. Versions 9.0 and later are EKA2. The version number is commonly available in /epoc32/data/BuildInfo.txt.

LAN Service table

The LAN Service table contains address information. The start of the LAN service table is indicated by the text [LANService]. This may be followed by address information for one or more networks. You will need information for each network to which you want to connect.

• Ethernet with dynamic IP address

  Use this when your network uses DHCP. It allows the network to automatically allocate an IP address for the emulator every time it connects. Your network administrator will tell you whether you can use DHCP.

  In the [LANService] table, make sure there is a ADD_SECTION...END_ADD section in the table identical to the following. In particular, set the IpAddrFromServer and IpDNSAddrFromServer fields to TRUE, and set the two ConfigDaemon fields as shown in the following:

  ADD_SECTION
      Name=Ethernet using DCHP
      IfNetworks=ip
      IpNetMask=
      IpGateway=
      IpAddrFromServer=TRUE
      IpAddr=
      IpDNSAddrFromServer=TRUE
      IpNameServer1=
      IpNameServer2=
      ConfigDaemonManagerName=NetCfgExtnDhcp
      ConfigDaemonName=DhcpServ
      FIELD_COUNT=11
  END_ADD

  Note: before v9.0, the value of ConfigDaemonManagerName was ConfigDaemonManager.

• Ethernet with static IP address on networks without DHCP

  This describes how to set all your network settings manually. This will be necessary on networks that do not use DHCP. If your network uses DHCP then you can still set your settings manually if you wish.

  In the [LANService] table, make sure there is a ADD_SECTION...END_ADD section in the table similar to the one below:

  • Set the IpAddrFromServer and IpDNSAddrFromServer fields to FALSE, and leave the two ConfigDaemon fields empty

  • Set the fields in the following table to suitable values:

    Field	Description
    IpAddr	IP address
    IpNetMask	IP subnet mask
    IpGateway	Gateway IP address
    IpNameServer1 and IpNameServer2	Primary and secondary DNS server addresses

    Your network administrator may be able to supply you with an IP address. It must be in the same range of addresses as the other computers on the network, and it must not be in use already.

    For the other parameters, you can normally use the same values that Windows uses on your PC. To show Window's configuration, type the following from a command prompt:

    ipconfig /all

  Here is an example table:

  ADD_SECTION
      Name=Ethernet Static IP
      IfNetworks=ip
      IpNetMask=255.255.255.0
      IpGateway=10.23.162.254
      IpAddrFromServer=FALSE
      IpAddr=10.23.162.200
      IpDNSAddrFromServer=FALSE
      IpNameServer1=10.16.59.515
      IpNameServer2=10.23.58.12
      ConfigDaemonManagerName=
      ConfigDaemonName=
      FIELD_COUNT=11
  END_ADD

• Ethernet with static IP address on DHCP networks

  This describes how to choose your own IP address, but to set all the other network settings (subnet mask, gateway and DNS servers) automatically when you connect. Your network must use DHCP for this.

  Note: Some DHCP servers do not support this configuration. Before using it, please ensure that your network's DHCP server supports the 'INFORM' message.
  In the [LANService] table, make sure there is a ADD_SECTION...END_ADD section in the table similar to the one in the following:

  • Set the IpDNSAddrFromServer fields to FALSE and set the two ConfigDaemon fields as shown in the example below

  • Set the IpAddrFromServer to TRUE and set IpAddr to an IP address for the emulator. Your network administrator may be able to supply you with an IP address. It must be in the same range of addresses as the other computers on the network, and it must not be in use already.

  Here is an example table:

  ADD_SECTION
      Name=Ethernet Static IP
      IfNetworks=ip
      IpNetMask=
      IpGateway=
      IpAddrFromServer=FALSE
      IpAddr=192.168.20.13
      IpDNSAddrFromServer=TRUE
      IpNameServer1=
      IpNameServer2=
      ConfigDaemonManagerName=NetCfgExtnDhcp
      ConfigDaemonName=DhcpServ
      FIELD_COUNT=11
  END_ADD

  Note: before v9.0, the value of ConfigDaemonManagerName was ConfigDaemonManager.

Internet Access Point table

In the previous two sections you created a physical connection in the [LANBearer] table for either the EKA1 or EKA2 kernel, and you created your network's address information in the LAN Service table. Now you must link the two together in an Internet Access Point (IAP). The combination of the two is all the emulator needs to connect to the network.

The IAP table defines a number of IAPs. You must ensure that there is one suitable for the emulator on your network. The start of the IAP table is indicated by the text [IAP]. After this there will be a number of sections defining IAPs. If there is not a suitable IAP already then you must create one similar to the following:

[IAP]
ADD_SECTION
       Name=Emulator Lan IAP
       IAPService=2
       IAPServiceType=LANService
       IAPBearer=4
       IAPBearerType=LANBearer
       IAPNetwork=1
       IAPNetworkWeighting=0
       Location=1
       FIELD_COUNT=8
END_ADD

In each IAP, the IAPBearer and IAPService parameters define the sections to link. You need to enter a number in each of these fields:

• Go to the LAN Service table and find the address information for your network. It will be in an ADD_SECTION...END_ADD table entry. Count the number of table entries from the beginning of the table until you reach your entry. Enter this number in the IAP's IAPService field.

  Note: the first entry in the table is number one, not zero.

• Repeat the same for your network connection in the [LANBearer] table, entering the number into the IAPBearer field of the IAP.

The example above links the second network address section in the LAN Service table with the fourth physical connection in the [LANBearer] table.

Copy the rest of the fields as shown above.

Connection Preferences table

The Internet Access Point (IAP) table defines a number of method to connect to networks and the Internet. When a phone or the emulator wants to connect to a network, the Connection Preferences table defines how a IAP is chosen.

The start of the connection preferences table is indicated by the text [ConnectionPreferences]. After this there will be a number of sections defining your preferences.

You have two options:

• Ask which IAP to use each time you connect

  If the table contains a section like the one below then Symbian platform will ask you to choose an IAP before it connects. A dialog box will be displayed allowing you to make your choice. This is useful if you often connect to more than one network.

  You can ignore the BearerSet and IAP fields, but you must copy the others as shown:

  ADD_SECTION
      Ranking=1
      Direction=OUTGOING
      DialogPref=PROMPT
      BearerSet=LAN
      IAP=1
      FIELD_COUNT=5
  END_ADD

  Note the Ranking=1 field. This indicates that this is the highest priority connection preference.

  Any sections with Ranking=0 are ignored. Think of setting Ranking=0 as 'commenting out' a connection preference.

• Always connect with the same IAP Define the IAP to use

  You can define the default IAP in the connection preferences table. When Symbian platform wants to connect, it always uses the IAP that you define here. No dialog box will appear on screen and you will not be able to choose an IAP before you connect.

  This is useful when you always connect to the same network.

  Add a section to the table like this:

  ADD_SECTION
      Ranking=1
      Direction=OUTGOING
      DialogPref=DONOTPROMPT
      BearerSet=LAN
      IAP=1
      FIELD_COUNT=5
  END_ADD

  where the IAP field must be set to the desired IAP number. In this example we connect to the first IAP, which is the first ADD_SECTION...END_ADD after the text [IAP]. Copy the other fields as shown.

  You can specify a second, backup connection preference. If the first connection attempt fails then the backup connection is tried. Define a backup connection in a section similar to the following:

  ADD_SECTION
      Ranking=2
      Direction=OUTGOING
      DialogPref=DONOTPROMPT
      BearerSet=LAN
      IAP=3
      FIELD_COUNT=5
  END_ADD

  Note the Ranking=2 field. This indicates that this is the second highest priority connection preference after the section with Ranking=1. Any sections with Ranking=0 are ignored by Symbian platform.