Frequently asked questions/Ethernet
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Customers using Gumstix OpenEmbedded should go to gumstix.net and the related user wiki
Note: all gumstix verdex motherboards available at gumstix.com are pre-flashed with OpenEmbedded.
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If your question is not in this FAQ, please feel free to ask it on the Mailing list
Where are the manufacturer specs for the SMSC ethernet module?
As of the Spring 2007, Gumstix uses the SMSC LAN91C111 ethernet module for the various 92-pin and 120-pin expansion boards. The manufacturer specs for the SMSC module are posted here.
How does gumstix connect to a network?
There are several ways to connect to a network
- a waysmall computer with bluetooth and usbnet-to-bluetooth
- usbnet over a usb cable
- 10/100 with the gumstix connex platform and either etherstix, netCF, netMMC or netDUO, via a normal RJ45 cable
- wifistix and a connex platform
- gumstix Linux includes a complete TCP/IP stack, and a fully functional PPPd, which will allow a network connection to be established over any of the serial ports.
Is ethernet brought up by default in a netstix computer or 10/100 Ethernet gumstix configuration?
Yes, ethernet is brought up be default on the netstix computer and in any configuration with a 10/100 Ethernet-capable gumstix expansion board, such as a netMMC, netCF, netDUO-mmc or cfstix.
Bringing up ethernet automatically has been the default since rootfs r782 -- to find the latest version of the buildroot, check here.
The netstix computer, and any connex motherboard, comes configured to start the ethernet device and request an IP address from the network via DHCP. You need an active DHCP server on the LAN in order for the ethernet to come up.
If you have a working DHCP server on your LAN and the netstix is not obtaining an IP address from it, then it's possible that the netstix computer is defective. contact sales at gumstix.com.
Once the gumstix has an IP address through DHCP, how does an *incoming* SSH and SCP get setup?
SSH and SCP are already running on the gumstix. They bind to the new bnep0 interface automatically.
The Boa HTTP server is also running by default on the gumstix, as is a Rendezvous announcement service which advertises both the HTTP and SSH ports.
Is there any software change when adding a netDUO, netMMC or netCF board to my connex setup?
You need to upgrade any connex platform to the latest u-boot and root_fs available at sf.net.
Do each of the ethernet-enabled gumstix expansion boards have a power input port for a wall adapter, onboard?
Yes, each ethernet-capable gumstix expansion boards, such as netCF, netMMC and netDUO, has a power input port.
Can I use 802.11 cards, cameras, etc., on your device?
There are no known open-source drivers for either the SD or SDIO specifications that are required to run 802.11b cards, cameras, etc.
Another solution for attaching a camera to the gumstix is to use an ethernet camera, such as the ones that DLink makes, instead of a USB one:
A fairly wide range of specs on the cameras, and not hugely more expensive than USB ones.
Can the waysmall computer connect to 10BaseT?
Yes, connect a waysmall computer to an ethernet network via serial-ethernet running SLIP or use usbnet over the usb port. There are several vendors of serial to ethernet adapters.
The waysmall computer contains one waysmall expansion board and either waysmall original or waysmall STUART. Each of these waysmall expansion boards have two serial ports and one usb client port from which these connections could be made.
Note that the waysmall computer may not connect to 10BaseT via an RJ45 jack as the basix platform inside the waysmall computer cannot attach to a netstix expansion board.
Is 802.11(a), (b) or (g) wireless networking available?
Yes, 802.11(b) or (g) WLAN networking may be achieved using a connex motherboard with a wifistix expansion board.
Click here for product information on the wifistix expansion board.
Should either of the LEDs turn on when an Ethernet cable is plugged in?
The LEDs on the etherstix board will only light when the ethernet cable is plugged in *and* the device is started in linux, by typeing "ifup eth0" at the command prompt.
Can a USB ethernet adapter be used with the gumstix?
No, a USB connector cannot be plugged into the waysmall USB client.
Is a console-st expansion board and a serial null-modem cable needed for console access with any netstix computer or etherstix/netDUO/netCF or netMMC board configuration?
Yes, if you want console access in any configuration, including a netstix computer, then you'll need to get a console-st expansion board and a serial null-modem cable.
Bluetooth and USBnet are started and the ethernet connection is brought up by default on boot.
Note that the tweener board does not fit on a connex when a netDUO board is connected on the other side.
Is additional power needed for any of the netstix line of dual function expansion boards beyond that provided by a single power supply?
No, additional power is not needed. Power supplied anywhere along the common power bus is shared by all connected platforms and boards, including the netstix line of expansion boards.
Can a configuration with a netDUO, netCF or netMMC expansion board be powered via a usb-powered board on the 60-pin hirose connector side?
No, the USB host cannot supply power enough for any of the netstix boards through a usb-powered gumstix expansion board.
Do the ethernet-capable gumstix expansion boards use the same network controller from SMSC?
Yes, the same network controller has been used: the LAN91C111.
Can a connex platform with bluetooth be connected to a cfstix or netCF board for wifi at the same time?
Yes. Using bluetooth on a connex platform with wifi via an optional wifi card on cfstix or netCF works.
Why is the CF adapter on the same side as the RJ45 jack on the netCF expansion board whereas the MMC adapter is on the opposite side to the RJ45 adapter on the netMMC expansion board?
Because the components and the boards "fit better" in each case-- actually much better-- and it is a function of the height of mmc connector vs the height of the cf connector.
What is the part number for the CF connector on the NetCF expansion board?
Gumstix has been using a CF connector from AVX Elco:
AVX 315610050210871+
As of the summer, 2006, Gumstix is using one from 3M.
3M-N7E50-X615XX-20
It is possible to use two netstix boards with one gumstix connex platform?
Not at this time. The netstix boards have just one 92-pin bus header for connection to the connex platform. An appliance having two (2) RJ45 connectors could be built with a netDUO expansion board and a connex, but not more.
What is a tweener expansion board?
The tweener is currently the only expansion board that can sit in between two other boards. The tweener is used on the 60-pin hirose side of a basix or connex.
Can a tweener board be used when a netDUO board is connected on the other side of the connex platform?
No, the tweener board does not fit on a connex when a netDUO board is connected on the other side.
