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How to Connect the Essentials L2 Instrument with Quality Central on a PC

1. Ensure both the PC and the instrument running Essentials L2 are connected so they can communicate on the same network.

HunterLab recommends using Case 1 or Case 2 whenever possible. In these cases, IP addresses are assigned automatically through DHCP, which simplifies setup and reduces the chance of configuration errors. Use Case 3 only when a direct Ethernet connection is required.


Case 1 — when a customer network is available, connect both the PC and the instrument (running Essentials L2) to it. The existing network infrastructure handles IP assignment, so both devices end up on the same subnet automatically. In Essentials L2, Use DHCP for Ethernet is selected by default under System Menu > Instrument Settings > Network Setting.



Case 2 — when no customer network is available, connect both devices to a local switch that has a built-in DHCP server. The switch takes over IP assignment, giving each device an address and allowing them to communicate directly with each other.  In Essentials L2, Use DHCP for Ethernet is selected by default under System Menu > Instrument Settings > Network Setting.



Case 3 — No switch or network in between
Use a direct Ethernet cable connection between the PC and the instrument, with or without an Ethernet-to-USB adapter. On the instrument, go to System Menu > Instrument Settings > Network Setting, clear Use DHCP for Ethernet, and manually enter a static IP address and subnet mask. The instrument IP address should match the PC IP address for the Ethernet adapter except for the last digit. For example, if the PC Ethernet adapter IP address is 169.254.156.11, enter 169.254.156.12 for the instrument and use the same subnet mask shown on the PC.169.254.156.12 for the instrument and use the same subnet mask shown on the PC.


2. When Quality Central opens, the available instruments on the network appear in the instrument panel. You can click on the Filter Icon to filter by Instrument Model. As a default, all models are checks for search. To minimize the instruments view, click the collapse icon.

                     Note: If the instrument is not listed in Quality Central, verify the IP addresses of both the PC and the instrument to make sure they are on the same network. You can also ping the instrument IP address from the PC command prompt to verify that the PC can communicate with the instrument. If the instrument still does not appear, power cycle the instrument and check again.
  1. If an instrument is listed with an IP address and no alert icon, it is ready for first-time connection. Double-click the instrument to connect. An Enter Access Code dialog will appear.


  1. On the instrument running Essentials L2, navigate to SYSTEM MENU → INSTRUMENT SETTINGS → NETWORK SETTINGS.  An access code will be displayed.

 

 

  1. Enter the ACCESS CODE in Quality Central to establish the connection.
Once verified, the connection will be established and the instrument window will open in Quality Central. Each instrument window includes:
        • Workspace/Jobs View – lists all WorkSpaces and Jobs.
        • Measurement View – displays measurements and data views.

Use the collapse icons to hide or show WorkSpace and measurement lists for better data visibility.

Note on the other Status Indicator:

  • If the instrument is not licensed for Quality Central, it will prompt the error when try to connect the instrument.

  • If the instrument is running Essentials L2 earlier than version 2026.1, it will display an alert triangle icon. Update to the latest version from support.hunterlab.com before connecting.


  • If the instrument is listed without an IP address and the sync indicator is grayed out, it means the instrument was previously connected but is currently offline. Only locally saved PC data can be reviewed.
  • If the instrument is listed with an IP address and the sync indicator is green, the instrument is already connected and Quality is synchronized with the instrument.
Keywords: EasyMatch Quality Central; Essentials L2; Connection