Networking Setup
In general most people who have Vera don't need to know anything about networking and don't need to change any network settings. If you are experiencing difficulties or want to know how Vera's networking works, here is some information.
Getting Vera an internet connection
Within 2 minutes after you plug Vera in, Vera will try to obtain an IP address (i.e. Internet Connection) automatically through the WAN port on the back of Vera. If Vera succeeds in getting an IP address and connects to the network, the power light on the front of Vera comes on solid. If Vera cannot get an internet connection, the power light will blink. Note that you can still use Vera without an internet connection, but certain features, like remote access over cell phones and video archiving, will not work without an internet connection.
If you connected Vera directly to your DSL or cable modem, but Vera's power light is blinking, first try unplugging the DSL or cable modem for 2 minutes, then plug it in and wait a few minutes. If Vera's power light is still blinking that probably means you have a special network setup, such as PPPoE or a static IP address. These types of connections require special information from your internet service provider. To specify these settings, follow the "Getting to Vera's Setup Page Without an Internet Connection" and then "Manually Configure Vera's Network" instructions below. Then fill in the Setup Page's top section "How Can I Connect to the Internet" with the settings furnished by your internet service provider. Also, under Firewall choose "Firewall Active", and under DHCP choose "DHCP Server ON". Then click 'Save & Apply'. (See the IMPORTANT NOTE below.)
Getting to Vera's Setup Page if Vera already has an internet connection
Once Vera has an internet connection (the power light is on solid), you can open any web browser from anywhere on the home network and go to http://findvera.com and click the green 'Setup' button. The computer with your web browser can be connected directly to one of Vera's LAN ports, or it can connect to Vera wirelessly, or be anywhere else on the home network that Vera is connected to through the WAN port.
Getting to Vera's Setup Page without an internet connection
If Vera does not have an internet connection, then you must connect the computer with your web browser to one of Vera's four LAN ports, or connect to Vera wirelessly using the network name (SSID) and password shown on the bottom of Vera and on on the front of the Quick Start Guide. Then open your web browser and go to: http://local.findvera.com
If that fails, try: http://192.168.81.1
Vera's setup page should appear.
Manually configuring your network
Normally Vera will automatically configure the network for you. If you want to configure the network manually, click the Advanced button in Vera's setup page and choose the 'Net & Wi-Fi' option. Set the network the way you want and click 'Save & Apply' at the bottom of the page. Note that once you click 'Save & Apply,' Vera's automatic network configuration will be bypassed and Vera will use the network settings you provide. (See the IMPORTANT NOTE below if you want to do this.)
Common problem: Vera isn't sharing the network connection
When Vera gets an internet connection through the WAN port, Vera decides automatically if you already have a home network setup with another device (a router) that is sharing your internet connection. If Vera decides that you connected Vera directly to your DSL or cable modem, and don't already have a home network setup, then Vera will automatically create a home network for you and share the internet connection that Vera got from your DSL or cable modem. Some DSL or cable modems "trick" Vera into thinking you already have a home network, when in fact you do not. This happens when all of the following are true: 1) You connected Vera's WAN to your DSL or cable modem and do not already have a router. 2) Vera got an internet connection from your DSL or cable modem and you can tell this because Vera's power light is on solid. 3) Other computers in the home that you connect to Vera's 4 LAN ports, or connect to Vera wirelessly, are not able to get an internet connection.
If those 3 things are all true, then that probably means Vera is not sharing your internet connection because Vera thinks you already have a home network. This happens when your DSL or modem "tricks" Vera by acting like a router. This problem is easy to solve. First, unplug the cable going into Vera's WAN port. Wait a few seconds for Vera's power light to start blinking. Now try again to connect your computer to Vera using the 4 LAN ports or with the wireless connection. Open your web browser and go to: http://local.findvera.com, or to http://192.168.81.1. Click the 'Advanced' button, choose 'Net & Wi-Fi'.
Set the following settings:
How can I connect to the Internet? DHCP
Firewall: Firewall active
DHCP server: On
Then click 'Save & Apply'. Reconnect the cable to the WAN port. Wait 30 seconds. Then Vera should share the internet connection with any other PC's and devices connected to Vera's 4 LAN ports, or that connect to Vera wirelessly. (See the IMPORTANT NOTE below.)
I already have a home router (i.e. DHCP server) and don't want Vera to replace my router
Normally this should be handled automatically. You simply connect Vera's WAN port to your existing home network and Vera should automatically detect that you already have a router, and then Vera will automatically turn off Vera's built-in router functions, like firewall and DHCP server, thus becoming a normal network device. You can still find Vera on your home network using the findvera.com web site, and you can connect any network devices to Vera's 4 LAN ports or to Vera's Wi-Fi network, and they will work just fine on your home network, getting an IP address from your existing home router. When you go to the 'Net & Wi-Fi' tab on Vera, you will see the DHCP server is set to "OFF", and the firewall is set to "No Firewall". (See the IMPORTANT NOTE below.)
IMPORTANT NOTE: Vera's automatic network configuration may be disabled
To make Vera as easy as possible for the novice user, Vera will attempt to configure the network automatically for you. This means if you have an existing home router, Vera will work well with it. And if you do not, Vera will assume the role of your primary home router automatically. But, once you go to Vera's 'Net & Wi-Fi' tab and make any changes, then Vera assumes you know what you're doing, and Vera will not again attempt to automatically configure the network unless you reset Vera to the factory default. This means, for example, that if you manually turn off Vera's firewall, and you then put Vera directly on the internet, other people may be able to access your Vera. For most users, we recommend you just leave the network settings alone and let Vera handle everything automatically.
Technical Explanation: How Vera's auto networking works (does not apply to Vera 3)
This paragraph is for advanced users who understand networking concepts. Vera tries to obtain an IP address on the WAN port using DHCP. If Vera gets an internal IP address from another router, namely an address that starts with 192.168., or 172., or 10., then Vera assumes you already have a network router sharing your network connection and a DHCP server giving out IP addresses. So Vera goes into 'switch' mode. This means the WAN port and the 4 LAN ports are bridged, like a normal switch, and Vera's firewall and DHCP server are disabled. If Vera gets a routable IP address (not a 192.168., 172., or 10. address), Vera assumes she is connected directly to your Cable/DSL modem and that Vera should share the network connection for you. In this case, Vera turns on her DHCP server and gives out IP addresses in the 192.168.81.xx range on the four LAN ports. Vera's firewall is enabled and Vera only accepts connections from the 4 lan ports.
Advanced Network Settings
Networking_Setup:Advanced_Network_Setup
