Overview
A description of exactly what we're up to.
Normally, the Make Controller Kit is ready to connect to a router or switch on your local network and communicate with all the devices on it. This is a very flexible option, as you can then communicate with the Controller via a wireless connection to the same network from your laptop, or from any of the other machines that happen to be connected.
However, it's sometimes inconvenient to plug the board into a router, and you'd prefer to simply plug it straight into your computer. You don't get any of the benefits of being on a network this way, but you still benefit from a nice, fast Ethernet connection. This is a guide to set up a direct Ethernet connection between your computer and the Make Controller Kit.
If you have both wired and wireless interfaces, you'll probably want to maintain your wireless internet connection and talk to the Controller on the wired interface. In order to do this, the Controller and your PC must be configured to communicate on a subnet that's not being used by the wireless network. Many networks, and the Make Controller itself, are configured by default to communicate on a subnet in the 192.168.0.xxx address space. If your router is on a different subnet, you just need to make sure that you choose a separate one for the link to your Controller.
The following pages outline how to set this up on Windows and OS X, and lastly the changes you might need to make to the Controller's network settings. *Nix users should be able to get the idea and apply it to their platform of choice.
However, it's sometimes inconvenient to plug the board into a router, and you'd prefer to simply plug it straight into your computer. You don't get any of the benefits of being on a network this way, but you still benefit from a nice, fast Ethernet connection. This is a guide to set up a direct Ethernet connection between your computer and the Make Controller Kit.
Hardware
The minimal hardware you'll need is a normal Ethernet cable - that's it. The PHY chip on the Make Controller does auto-switching so you don't need a crossover cable.Address Configuration
If your PC only has a wired Ethernet interface, you can change the network settings on your PC and be all set to talk to the Controller.If you have both wired and wireless interfaces, you'll probably want to maintain your wireless internet connection and talk to the Controller on the wired interface. In order to do this, the Controller and your PC must be configured to communicate on a subnet that's not being used by the wireless network. Many networks, and the Make Controller itself, are configured by default to communicate on a subnet in the 192.168.0.xxx address space. If your router is on a different subnet, you just need to make sure that you choose a separate one for the link to your Controller.
The following pages outline how to set this up on Windows and OS X, and lastly the changes you might need to make to the Controller's network settings. *Nix users should be able to get the idea and apply it to their platform of choice.
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