Configure Ethernet Ports for Devices

Owned by Former user (Deleted)
Last updated: Nov 21, 2017
3 min read

Configuring ports can be done in one of two ways listed below.

Using the Network Manager GUI

Using this method is simpler than modifying the /etc/network/interfaces file, but requires a visual interface to the ECU. In multi-ECU setups see the following section on configuring using /etc/network/interfaces This method should not be used on the Drive PX2. 

  1. Open the Network Connections Screen by selecting the ethernet or wifi symbol in the desktop top toolbar
     or 
  2. Select the interface you would like to change  from the connections screen and select "Edit"
  3. From the "Editing" window select the "IPv4 Settings" tab
  4. From the "IPv4 Settings" tab change the "Method" to "Manual" and "Add" and address to the table below

  5. Put the address you would like to assign to the port into the "Address" cell. Assign a netmask of 16 (255.255.0.0) or 24 (255.255.255.0) depending on the application. Typically 24 is what is required except for connecting to an unconfigured FLIR (PointGrey) camera using FlyCap2 where 16 is required. You can leave the gateway undefined unless otherwise required.


    DO NOT set the IP address of the port to be the same address as any device connected to the port. For typical default IP Addresses see Default Sensor IP Addresses. Subnets and netmasks of devices/ethernet port must match but if the total IP Address is the same there is a conflict and communication will not be able to occur.

Modifying the /etc/network/interfaces File

This method is prone to errors and typically needs a computer restart to function without problems, but is a long time method in linux environments for altering network interfaces.

  1. Find the enumerated interface names by opening a new terminal ( Ctrl + Alt+ t ) and running either ifconfig -a or ip addr show. On Ubuntu 16.04 interfaces are typically named beginning with "enp" on Ubuntu 14.04 they may be named starting with "eth"

    or

  2. Take note of the interface you would like to define and open the /etc/network/interfaces file with root privileges

    gksudo gedit /etc/network/interfaces

    After logging in with the correct password you should be presented with the file to be edited

  3. Add a configuration for the interface following the structure defined below.

    auto <interface name>
iface <interface name> inet static
address <IP Address (192.168.1.100)>
netmask <netmask in IP format (255.255.255.0)>

  4. Restart the ECU for changes to take full effect.