Super Easy…Direct Network Connection

In an attempt to make the whole direct connection process a little easier, I’ve provided some quick scripts for switching the settings.

NOTE:

The direct connection script assumes that your Network Adaptor on your PC is usually set to AUTO – see the other Direct Network Connection pages for details on how to check this.

Also, it is recommended if you change any settings on your PC, that you take detailed notes, so you are able to undo them (including IP address and gateway settings).

The settings:

We will be able to set-up and switch between three configurations.

1. Auto DHCP – cmdline.normal

This is the standard settings for networking.  By default (if you’ve not changed it anywhere else) this will allow you to simply connect a network cable to a home network and use it (assuming it does that normally).  The Raspberry Pi will automatically be given an IP address by the network.  To connect using SSH you will need to know this IP address (or you might be able to use the hostname (default: raspberrypi)).

1. Direct – cmdline.direct

This setting forces the Raspberry Pi to have a fixed IP address (default: 169.254.0.10) which when connected directly to another computer, should allow a direct network link.  To connect using SSH, just use this IP address 169.254.0.10 (assuming your network adaptor is set to auto/DHCP).

1. Internet Connection Sharing – cmdline.internet

This setting requires some additional configuration, as when you enable ICS to share the internet from one network device (i.e. Wifi) to another (i.e.Wired) it will provide a suitable address for the device to use.  The Raspberry Pi will need to have its own IP address set in the same range (i.e. 1st 3 numbers matching) AND the IP address of the shared connection (i.e. the address of the Wired adaptor).

A note for N.O.O.B.S. users:

Users of NOOBS (the New Out Of the Box Software) will have a slightly different SD-Card structure.  The NOOBS system (once installed by running on a Raspberry Pi the first time) will create multiple partitions on the SD-Card (typically 4 for a single OS install).  You will need to run the NOOBS setup on your Raspberry Pi before the boot partition (which contains the CMDLINE.TXT is created).

Unfortunately, Windows is only able to see the partition which has the NOOBS recovery system on it.  This means if you use NOOBS you can no longer change the CMDLINE.TXT file for the Raspberry Pi by plugging in your SD-Card and changing the files in Windows.  You will still find the /boot/CMDLINE.TXT on the Raspberry Pi in the same location, so you can still use the same scripts for that when running the Raspberry Pi.

If you REALLY need to change the CMDLINE.TXT using windows (because you don’t have another screen/keyboard), then you can use a Linux Live CD or a Virtual Machine to read the SD-Card and change the CMDLINE.TXT as required.

Alternatively, if you have a spare SD-card you could set that up with a normal image to use a direct connection and modify the NOOBS card by using a SD-card reader on the Pi (find the card located in the /mnt/ folder).

Installing and using the scripts:

On windows:

If you’ve not already put the files on the SD-card:

1. Download the following zip file (https://www.dropbox.com/s/dhwiezm275zuxvk/pihw-directnetwork.zip) and unzip it to your SD-card – you end up with a single folder called “network” and this must be located on the SD-Card itself.   The “network” folder should now contain the scripts and files (around 9 files currently).

Once the files are on the card:

1. Ensure you update the cmdline.internet file if you intend to use this (see below).
2. Depending on the setting you require, run one of the WINset–.bat files within the network folder.  NOTE: It may require you to “Run as administrator” – on the right-click menu (if executable files are blocked from being run on external media).
3. Safely Eject the SD-Card from Windows Explorer.
4. For Direct or ICS: Connect the Network cable DIRECTLY between the RPi and the PC.
5. Ensure you put your SD-Card back in.
6. Power up the RPi.
7. Use Putty SSH to connect using the IP address set in the files (Direct IP address is a default of 169.254.0.10).
8. If you have problems, you may need to disable the PC’s WIFI initially (to stop Putty trying to use that for the connection).  You can re-enable it after.

On the Raspberry Pi:

If you’ve not already put the files on the SD-card:

1. Download the files using the following command: 

wget https://www.dropbox.com/s/dhwiezm275zuxvk/pihw-directnetwork.zip

1. Extract the files to the /boot directory:

sudo unzip pihw-directnetwork.zip -d /boot/

1. Optional, remove the zip file (no longer needed):

rm pihw-directnetwork.zip

Once the files are on the card:

1. Ensure you update the cmdline.internet file if you intend to use this (see below).

2. To switch IP address settings:

. /boot/network/switchip.sh

1. If you change the setting, you will need to reboot to apply the change:

sudo reboot

Internet Connection Settings – cmdline.internet:

NOTE: You MUST update this file with the settings that get given to your PC’s network adaptor AFTER ICS is enabled.

ICS is still experimental – I will update these instructions if found to work.

1. You will need to enable ICS on the connection with your internet connection (the WIFI) and link it to your direct connection to the RPi (the Wired connection).  You will then need to take a look at the Wired Connection’s settings (which will have changed to allow ICS to work).

2. Change the ip= part of the file as follows:

ip=A.B.C.10::A.B.C.D (where A.B.C.D is the PC’s network LAN adaptor settings (AFTER ICS is enabled)).  The A.B.C parts must match!

Where A.B.C.10 is RPi address and A.B.C.D is PC address – which the Raspberry Pi will use as its internet Gateway.

Note:

These setting may change when you change networks or next time you enable ICS (so ensure you double check if you have problems that the adaptor setting hasn’t changed).

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Please let me know how well this works for you in the comments below.  Thank you!