Trying to connect controller to Laptop

Machines (Original/PRO) How To
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Hey Phillip,

yes, it seems so, on your “arp -a” output, you have your own new Ethernet interface 169.254.3.214, and the subnet 169.254.255.255 (which means due to lack of DHCP, configured as link-local network), but no dynamic address of the Onefinity Controller shows up, but this does not mean the Onefinity Controller isn’t there, it just means your laptop never talked to him.

Since all you have is a standard Windows computer and you have neither network diagnosis tools nor network diagnosis experience, then of course attaching a monitor would be the most simple way to see if your Controller behaves correctly at all. You don’t have a TV with an external HDMI input? And a cable for this?

The test with “arp -a” is no guarantee that all hosts that are present are also listed, it’s just the arp cache listing, which means a list of machines your laptop has been in contact with. Derek suggested yesterday a broadcast ping to your link-local subnet (=your Ethernet Adapter’s network), i.e. to 169.254.255.255, in order to make the Onefinity Controller respond and thus be known to your laptop, but that led to no response, however you don’t know whether the Onefinity Controller is set up to respond to pings.

The reliable method to see if there are hosts on a (sub)net would not be arp, but nmap command, so if I knew you are experienced I would have said that yesterday evening to let run over night a command like this:

nmap -p 22 169.254.0.0/16

which would finally somewhen show up the open ssh port of Onefinity Controller (if the Controller is there). This is what I would I do if I had no other possibility, e.g the host was remote and inaccessible otherways, but with the Controller here on the table, I would also have other possibilities to check it. Especially to simply connect a HDMI Monitor. I don’t know if you are able to install nmap for Windows. nmap is the tool with which you can scan a machine or the whole internet for open (and possibly vulnerable) ports. It can be used to check if your home router is safe towards internet, but it can also be used by intruders.

By the way, now you know why the Buildbotics Controller has a little display on its case that shows its IP address :slight_smile:

Buildbotics_Controller_-_Network_Screen
Buildbotics_Controller_-_Network_Screen708×322 252 KB

– Source: Buildbotics Manual

Note: The Onefinity Controller is a software and hardware fork of Buildbotics Open-Source CNC Controller.

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So my OF monitor is arriving this evening and I’ll give it a shot and hope it works as it’s supposed to. If not I’ll hook up an HDMI screen and try it. I’ll keep everyone informed. You have no idea how much I appreciate everyone’s support. This forum is awesome.

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If you’re not computer savvy, the easiest way to do this would be to pick up an old router off of Craigslist and connect both the controller and the laptop to it (either via ethernet or wi-fi). My local Craigslist has several, starting at $15. Just use your browser to log in to the router’s setup screen, and it will tell you the IP addresses of all connected devices, including the CNC controller. Without a router you’re going to have to bother with manually setting IP addresses on both devices, as folks are describing. In Windows you can do this Network & Internet Settings, without bothering with Command Line stuff. But yes it’s a real pain.

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Well, Good News everyone. The monitor arrived today, plugged it in and it worked like it was supposed to. I need some time over the weekend to get it tweaked and then at some point will need to get help configuring the HP laptop touchscreen as well. I want to thank everyone, including OneFinity Support, for reaching out and spending hours with me to resolve my issue. At this time I am one happy newbie. You all are great.

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Phillip,

I received my X50 Woodworker last month. I just took an Ethernet cable and hooked one end to the port on the back of the controller and the other one to my laptop. Make sure to turn off the wireless switch on your laptop if you’re going to use the Ethernet connection. You might get some help from Dustin Patton on his Youtube channel on how to enable the access point to allow a direct connection. Good luck, I hope this helped.

Dan

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Thank you do much Dan.

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