Networking Setup

Revision as of 22:13, 3 January 2009

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

1-2 minutes after you plug Vera in, Vera will try to obtain an IP address (ie Internet Connection) automatically using the WAN port on the back of Vera. If Vera succeeds in getting an IP address and connecting 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 did connect Vera to your DSL or cable modem, but Vera's power light is blinking, first try unplugging the DSL or cablem 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. These types of connections require special information from your internet service provider. To specify these settings follow the instructions below to "Getting to Vera's Setup Page without an internet connection" and then "manually configure Vera's network". Then fill in the top section "How can I connect to the internet" with the settings from your internet service provider. Also, under Firewall choose "Firewall active", and under DHCP choose "DHCP server ON". Then click 'Save & Apply'

Getting to Vera's Setup Page if Vera already has an internet connection

If 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 connect to Vera wirelessly, or can be anywhere else on the home network that Vera is connected to on the WAN port.

Getting to Vera's Setup Page if Vera does not have 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 your getting started guide. Then open your web browser and go to: http://local.findvera.com, or http://192.168.81.1.

Manually configuring your network

Normally Vera will automatically configure the network for you. If you want to manually configure the network, click the Advanced button in Vera's setup page and chose 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 permanently bypassed and Vera will use the network settings you provide. If you want to go back to the automatic network configuration, you have to go back to the factory default settings, which will erase all the configuration changes you made, including setting up rooms and devices. Do this by holding the black 'restore' button on the back of Vera for 5 seconds, or by opening Vera's setup page, selecting 'Advanced', 'Backup & Restore', and clicking the 'Restore Factory Defaults' button.

Common problem: Vera isn't sharing the network connection

When Vera gets an internet connection on 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 setup that is sharing your 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) The 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 true, then that probably means Vera is not sharing your internet connection because Vera thinks you already have a home network setup. 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.

Technical Explanation: How Vera's auto networking works

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 an 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. So, Vera turns on her DHCP server and gives out IP addresses in the 192.168.81 range on the four LAN ports. Vera's firewall is enabled and Vera only accepts connections from the 4 lan ports. One common way that