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Network configuration options


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#1 wjousts

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Posted 01 November 2011 - 07:28 PM

I have a netduino plus board that I need to send to an off-site colleague. The problem is that he'll need to reconfigure the network configuration on his side since I currently only have a static IP address assigned to my local subnet. What are the options for allowing an end user to change the network configuration? As it is, I guess I could ask them to install the .NET CF just so they could use MFDeploy, but that seems a little overkill. Is there a simpler way? Is there a light-weight network configuration tool for a .NET MF device? If not, what would be involved in writing one? Alternatively, could I parse a file stored on a micro SD card on device start and have the Netduino configure itself that way? Any ideas welcomed!

#2 Chris Walker

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Posted 01 November 2011 - 08:30 PM

Hi wjousts, You can change the configuration on the device using the NetworkInterface classes... You can also make a tool for the PC which changes the network settings on the device. Just grab the source code for MFDeploy from the porting kit, and then use MFDeployEngine directly from your tool. Chris

#3 wjousts

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Posted 03 November 2011 - 03:09 PM

Hi wjousts,

You can change the configuration on the device using the NetworkInterface classes...

You can also make a tool for the PC which changes the network settings on the device. Just grab the source code for MFDeploy from the porting kit, and then use MFDeployEngine directly from your tool.

Chris


Thanks for the feedback Chris. I realized afterwards that you can, in fact, just distribute MFDeploy, it's explained in the REDIST.TXT file which files you actually need and for now, I think that'll do. Of course, I still need my other user to install the Netduino drivers first, so that's a bit of a limitation.

I think in the end, the easiest solution, the one that puts the least burden on the end user, would be to have a config file on the micro-SD card and have the Netduino read it in during it's boot sequence using the NetworkInterface class. This could then be easily changed by popping out the card, insert it in a regular PC and editing the file. The tricky part there, however, is that I can't now hide the whole device in an enclosure. I have to leave access to the micro-SD reader.

#4 wjousts

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Posted 07 November 2011 - 04:31 PM

So looking at the NetworkInterface class, I have a couple of questions (the documentation on Microsoft's site isn't too informative). If I change the network settings during boot up, is it then necessary to force a reboot for the Netduino to pick up the changes (and if so, how do you do that). Second, if I use DHCP, is it necessary to do an explicit RenewDhcpLease? Third, the NetworkInterface class has an option for dynamic DNS, but in MFDeploy, I don't see an option for it. Is it actually supported by the Netduino, or should I just ignore it? And lastly, when configuring the NetworkInterface class, is there a specific order I should set things. For example, obviously if I check (from my config file) whether DHCP should be enabled, I can then skip IP address, gateway and subnet.




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