Agilent CrossLab Start Up Services Agilent Cary UV Networked Workstation 1.6 Software Site Preparation Checklist

Significance of the topic

The Agilent Cary UV Networked Workstation 1.6 Software Site Preparation Checklist defines the technical, network, administrative and procedural prerequisites needed to install, configure and operate the Cary UV Networked Workstation software reliably. Proper site preparation reduces installation delays, avoids data loss, and ensures secure and stable integration of the Cary 3500 spectrophotometer into laboratory IT environments and OpenLab infrastructures.

Objectives and overview of the document

This checklist provides laboratories and IT teams with a concise roadmap of customer responsibilities and system requirements ahead of Agilent installation or upgrade services. It clarifies supported topologies and software versions, hardware recommendations, network and firewall settings, domain and account privileges, backup expectations, and service-delivery constraints (what Agilent will or will not perform during upgrade/installation).

Used instrumentation

• Agilent Cary 3500 UV/Vis spectrophotometer (networked instrument)
• Cary UV Networked Workstation software, version 1.6 (client/workstation component)
• OpenLab server components where applicable: OpenLab Basic Server 2.8, OpenLab Server 2.8, OpenLab ECM XT 2.8, OpenLab Shared Services Server 3.7, and OpenLab ECM 3.6 (with limitations)

Methodology and software / hardware requirements

Key preparatory steps and constraints:

• Confirm availability of computing hardware, network connectivity and physical space; ensure sales orders, software licenses and authorization codes are on hand.
• Install current and supported Microsoft updates and verified Windows version before installation begins; supported OS: Windows 10 (21H2, build 19044) or Windows 11 (21H2, build 22000) or higher.
• .NET frameworks required: .NET 3.5.x, .NET 4.8 Advanced Services, and .NET Core (64-bit) 6.x. System Preparation Tool can add some components.
• Administrative contexts: local Administrator account (or domain user with local admin privileges) required for installation/configuration. Domain-based deployments must be in a Windows domain; workgroup mode is not supported for OpenLab integration.
• Networking: Cary 3500 is a LAN device using ZeroConf (mDNS) for discovery and DHCP by default. Default installation is LAN direct to the controlling PC; direct PC–instrument connection is common. A second NIC or an isolated switch may be required if connecting both instrument and intranet.
• Power management: disable all sleep/power-saving features to avoid data loss or unstable instrument control.
• Backup: customers must identify and implement backup procedures and back up data before upgrades or system changes. Agilent upgrade services do not include backing up, restoring or transferring customer data.
• Upgrade path: only direct upgrade from Cary UV Networked Workstation 1.4 to 1.6 is supported; other upgrade scenarios (intermediate upgrades, OS installs) are not provided in standard upgrade services.

Main results and discussion (key technical points and constraints)

• Supported OpenLab environments: integration requires Cary UV Server Components installed on the Application Server or OpenLab Shared Services Server; the server hostname must be resolvable and a Control Panel administrator login is needed prior to connection attempts.
• Certain OpenLab/ECM features are not supported when using Cary UV Networked Workstation (examples: failover results uploader, enterprise/scalable architectures, cloud storage, some ECM 3.6 services, commercial certificate deployments, sample scheduler, QualA and test services).
• Firewall and antivirus: Windows Firewall can be configured automatically by the installer, but third-party firewalls/AV should be removed/disabled or pre-configured to open the listed ports. The checklist lists required inbound and outbound ports (notably 80, 443, 5353 for mDNS, 3424, 8765, 52088 and other service-specific ports). Opening ports on third-party firewalls is not part of Agilent’s install service—customers should complete this beforehand.
• Network addressing: DHCP is used by default; instruments and PCs should be on the same subnet and ideally the same segment for reliable LAN communication.
• System administration: platform and domain account settings are required (service account or domain admin credentials for certain backend services). For domain authentication, ensure appropriate Active Directory permissions or use of service accounts with non-expiring or annual-expiry credentials.
• Localization and fonts: English OS validated; Simplified Chinese and Japanese supported with required fonts (Microsoft YaHei, Yu Gothic UI).
• Recommended hardware: modern 64-bit PC (example HP z2G9 or equivalent), Intel i5 or equivalent 3.0 GHz 6-core, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, recommended display 1920×1080, USB 2.0 port and a gigabit-capable LAN NIC for instrument control.

Benefits and practical applications of following the checklist

• Minimizes installation delays and rescheduling by ensuring site readiness and correct pre-configuration.
• Reduces operational risk (data loss, unstable control) by specifying power, backup and patching best practices.
• Facilitates secure integration with OpenLab infrastructures and domain authentication while clarifying unsupported configurations to avoid incompatible deployments.
• Helps IT and lab teams plan network architectures and firewall settings to enable instrument discovery, data export and server interactions with minimal troubleshooting during onsite service visits.

Future trends and potential uses

• Greater cloud-native and hybrid deployments are likely, although current release restricts cloud storage and cloud deployment scenarios; future releases may add secure cloud integration, scalable architectures and containerized server components.
• Stronger automation of provisioning (installer orchestration, IaC templates) and improved support for zero-touch deployments in controlled lab environments.
• Improved device discovery and security models to replace or augment mDNS (e.g., secure service discovery mechanisms, certificate-based mutual TLS) aligning with enterprise policies.
• Tighter integration with laboratory informatics (ELN, LIMS) and expanded APIs for automated data ingestion and processing, with enhanced role-based access and audit capabilities to support regulated environments.

Conclusion

Adhering to the Agilent Cary UV Networked Workstation 1.6 Site Preparation Checklist is essential for a predictable installation and stable operation of the Cary 3500 in lab IT environments. Key success factors are validated Windows builds and .NET components, correct domain/admin account setup, network configuration (including DHCP and mDNS), pre-opened firewall ports or disabled third-party firewalls, an approved backup strategy, and awareness of supported OpenLab topologies and feature limitations. Preparing these items prior to the service visit minimizes downtime and allows Agilent to focus on system configuration and user training rather than troubleshooting basic IT readiness.

References

• Agilent Cary UV Networked Workstation 1.6 Software Site Preparation Checklist, Revision A.00, Issued 01 Aug 2025, Document Number D0134269, Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2025
• Associated OpenLab server and administration documentation referenced within the checklist (OpenLab Basic Server 2.8, OpenLab Server 2.8, OpenLab ECM XT 2.8, OpenLab Shared Services Server 3.7, OpenLab ECM 3.6)