What to do if the Android Students are not found by a Tutor Console browse at startup

This article applies to NetSupport School version 15.00. For information relating to version 14.00 and below, click here.

When attempting to browse and connect to a classroom of NetSupport School Android Students without using the Name and Connectivity Server component, you may find in certain environments no students are found.

When a Name and Connectivity server is not being used, the Tutor Console will perform a UDP broadcast on its local subnet to locate the Android Students matching the student selection method (room name, browse prefix etc.).

In certain wireless environments, it has been noted that UDP broadcasts can be suppressed preventing the Students from being found or the Students may be located on a different subnet to the Tutor Console and therefore are not detected using the default Tutor Console configuration.

Below are details on how to resolve each of these scenarios that may prevent the Tutor Console from locating the Android Students when performing a browse:

Wireless environments where UDP broadcasts have been suppressed
If this has been encountered it is recommended to either:

Enable UDP broadcasting for port 5405 within the wireless environment
The Tutor Console performs the UDP broadcasts on port 5405 to locate the Students, enabling this port in the wireless environment will prevent the browse from being suppressed, allowing the Tutor Console to locate the Android Students using the default browse method.

Note: We also recommend enabling UDP broadcasts on port 5421, as the Tutor Console Show feature uses this port by default. If this is suppressed, it will revert the show to normal mode.

Implement the Name and Connectivity Server
Configure both the NetSupport School Tutor Console and Android Students to connect to the Name and Connectivity Server. For instructions on how to do this see:

https://www.netsupportschool.com/nss-pdfs/Using-a-NetSupport-Name-and-Connectivity-Server.pdf

Alternatively, if the above options are not possible, you can configure the Tutor machine to use the alternative method of scanning an IP address range to locate the Android Students.

1. Click Options in the Tutor Console and select Network Settings from the drop-down menu.
2. Select Network and Wireless Settings.
3. In the Browsing section, select Settings.
4. Click Add followed by Advanced.

5. Select Address Range and enter the ‘from’ and ‘to’ IP address range used by the Android devices.
   Note: There is a maximum IP range size of 254 addresses; if your range spans more IP’s, you can enter multiple ranges.
6. Save the changes by clicking the OK buttons and restart the Tutor Console when prompted.

The Tutor Console will now scan the IP address range(s) entered to look for Student’s and not use the UDP browse function.

Android Students located on a different subnet to the Tutor Console
If this has been encountered it is recommended to either:

Configure the NetSupport School Tutor Console to browse additional subnets 
You can browse the additional subnets where the Android Students are located. To add the additional subnets when performing a browse:

1. Click Options in the Tutor Console and select Network Settings from the drop-down menu.
2. Select Network and Wireless Settings.
3. In the Browsing section, select Settings.
4. Select Add.
5. Add your local subnet’s broadcast address, e.g. 10.0.0.255
6. Click OK.
7. If required, enter additional broadcast address ranges if you have Android Students on different subnets.

Note: To calculate the required broadcast address to enter for your Android Students, click here.

Implement the Name and Connectivity Server
Configure both the NetSupport School Tutor Console and Android Students to connect to the Name and Connectivity Server. For instructions on how to do this see:

https://www.netsupportschool.com/nss-pdfs/Using-a-NetSupport-Name-and-Connectivity-Server.pdf