1. A method for performing operations over a network on at least one stainer of a plurality of stainers connected in a LAN, comprising: establishing a network connection with the at least one stainer in the LAN; sending commands to the at least one stainer over the network connection; and receiving responses corresponding to commands sent to the at least one stainer over the network connection, wherein the operations performed over the network on the at least one stainer include running diagnostic tests and retrieving diagnostic information, and the diagnostic information is used to automatically schedule service on the at least one stainer, if the diagnostic information indicates that such service is needed.