Writing Your Own Software

The IT Temperature Monitor Model E Thermometer is running an internal web server, listening for TCP/IP HTTP /GET requests on Port 80. The IT Temperature Monitor responds to three different URL requests:

/index.html: This is the main index page that returns an HTML-formatted web page that contains the temperatures of all connected probes. This index page also details information about the IT Temperature Monitor…such as manufacturer, serial number, unit, and probe names.

/temp: This request will return an HTML-free web page, consisting of a simple ASCII string of pipe-delimited data. The data will be in the format of

"PROBE1_NAME|TEMP|PROBE2_NAME|TEMP…"

This URL is typically used by OEM’s who are packaging the IT Temperature Monitor for use with their software and need an easy and efficient way to get at the probe temperature data. This URL is also handy for those wishing to write their own software interface to simply and quickly obtain the temperatures and incorporate them into their existing Network Management Software. Here’s an example:

Probe 1| 74.5|Probe 2|35.5|Probe 3| 79.0|Probe 4| 54.4

/config: This request will return an HTML-free web page, consisting of a simple ASCII string of pipe-delimited data. The information contained in this string of data will include configuration information about the IT Temperature Monitor…such as serial number, unit & probe names, and model number. Here’s an example:

E6D2L0T01|ETemp|Model E4|4|1|Probe 1|2|Probe 2|3|Probe 3|4|Probe 4

To query the IT Temperature Monitor from within your own software, you will need an understanding of TCP/IP Sockets and the HTTP protocol. Consult the documentation of the specific programming language for details. After successfully initializing and opening up a TCP/IP socket to the IT Temperature Monitor, you will be able to communicate with it using the HTTP Protocol. To request the /temp URL simply send the following string

"GET /temp "

Using the Telnet command is a convenient way of retrieving data from the IT Temperature Monitor. To do this, open a telnet session to the IT Temperature Monitor unit’s IP Address on Port 80. For example, if the IT Temperature Monitor was configured on IP 192.168.2.101, you would send the following command:

telnet 192.168.2.101 80

If successful, you will be able to send command directly to the IT Temperature Monitor. Recall that one such command is /temp:

GET /temp HTTP/1.0

…followed by the ENTER key twice.

This will return a non-HTML ASCII, pipe-delimited string…just as it would if you were to open your web browser and type

http://192.168.2.101/temp

in the URL box.

Here’s an example of a return string:

Probe 1| 71.3|Probe 2|34.5|Probe 3| 77.0|Probe 4| 52.3

If you are having difficulties or need further help, send an email to support@openxtra.co.uk. Be sure to include your phone number in case a technician needs to call you.