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How to get a headless Apache server to join a wireless network

Started by John Speth October 3, 2017
On 06.10.2017 г. 10:57, Boudewijn Dijkstra wrote:
> Op Thu, 05 Oct 2017 13:35:37 +0200 schreef Dimiter_Popoff <dp@tgi-sci.com>: >> On 04.10.2017 &#1075;. 10:39, Jack wrote: >>> On Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 10:39:12 PM UTC+2, John Speth wrote: >>> >> I have seen many wifi modules lately and _still_ none which will accept >> IP traffic without enforcing its tcp layer on its host. Anyone any luck >> with that? They all must have a layer even below IP, looking pretty much >> like Ethernet - that would be best of course. >> But none I have seen document (or perhaps even do not expose to the >> interface) these layers. > > Here are a few: > > https://www.segger.com/products/connectivity/embosip/add-ons/wifi-support/wifi-modules/ > > >
Thanks, but I saw no documentation of the interface to the host at all. Dimiter
On 10/3/2017 1:39 PM, John Speth wrote:
> Hi- > > My request takes me way outside my knowledge area so please pardon my > poor vocabulary. > > I'm working on a headless wireless Apache server device (no mouse, > keyboard, or display).&nbsp; I need a way to externally make it join a > network.&nbsp; Externally means some software entity that does not initiate > the connection process from within the device.&nbsp; That software entity > could be a phone or PC app. > > I'm looking for a way that a first time user of the device can get it > connected to his WiFi network.&nbsp; I suppose that would have to be the > process of identifying the network to join and then entering the network > password. > > Can anyone think of some ways it can be achieved? > > Thanks - John
Thanks everyone for the helpful comments. I have a few good ideas to research. I recently acquired a Nest cam and I like the method it uses to bond to the user. What happens "under the covers" is guesswork but the process is pretty simple. The user plugs it into USB and is presented with a readonly USB mass storage device which contains an installation program. The program takes the user to a web site where the bonding process is completed with web based wizard managed from Nest. That's the point at which the user selects a network and enters the password. Other application specific setup follows. Once the bonding is completed the camera works from WiFi only. JJS
Den tirsdag den 3. oktober 2017 kl. 22.39.12 UTC+2 skrev John Speth:
> Hi- > > My request takes me way outside my knowledge area so please pardon my > poor vocabulary. > > I'm working on a headless wireless Apache server device (no mouse, > keyboard, or display). I need a way to externally make it join a > network. Externally means some software entity that does not initiate > the connection process from within the device. That software entity > could be a phone or PC app. > > I'm looking for a way that a first time user of the device can get it > connected to his WiFi network. I suppose that would have to be the > process of identifying the network to join and then entering the network > password. > > Can anyone think of some ways it can be achieved?
what I've seen people do with ESP8266 wifi modules is that if it isn't connected to a network it will switch to AP mode and serve a webpage with a list of available networks to choose from and store for the the next boot
Op Fri, 06 Oct 2017 12:39:14 +0200 schreef Dimiter_Popoff <dp@tgi-sci.com>:
> On 06.10.2017 &#1075;. 10:57, Boudewijn Dijkstra wrote: >> Op Thu, 05 Oct 2017 13:35:37 +0200 schreef Dimiter_Popoff >> <dp@tgi-sci.com>: >>> On 04.10.2017 &#1075;. 10:39, Jack wrote: >>>> On Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 10:39:12 PM UTC+2, John Speth wrote: >>>> >>> I have seen many wifi modules lately and _still_ none which will accept >>> IP traffic without enforcing its tcp layer on its host. Anyone any luck >>> with that? They all must have a layer even below IP, looking pretty >>> much >>> like Ethernet - that would be best of course. >>> But none I have seen document (or perhaps even do not expose to the >>> interface) these layers. >> >> Here are a few: >> >> https://www.segger.com/products/connectivity/embosip/add-ons/wifi-support/wifi-modules >> > > Thanks, but I saw no documentation of the interface to the host at all.
At the bottom of each module tab there is a 'Vendor link' with documentation and reference designs. -- (Remove the obvious prefix to reply privately.) Gemaakt met Opera's e-mailprogramma: http://www.opera.com/mail/
On 18.10.2017 &#1075;. 13:31, Boudewijn Dijkstra wrote:
> Op Fri, 06 Oct 2017 12:39:14 +0200 schreef Dimiter_Popoff <dp@tgi-sci.com>: >> On 06.10.2017 &#1075;. 10:57, Boudewijn Dijkstra wrote: >>> Op Thu, 05 Oct 2017 13:35:37 +0200 schreef Dimiter_Popoff >>> <dp@tgi-sci.com>: >>>> On 04.10.2017 &#1075;. 10:39, Jack wrote: >>>>> On Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 10:39:12 PM UTC+2, John Speth wrote: >>>>> >>>> I have seen many wifi modules lately and _still_ none which will accept >>>> IP traffic without enforcing its tcp layer on its host. Anyone any luck >>>> with that? They all must have a layer even below IP, looking pretty >>>> much >>>> like Ethernet - that would be best of course. >>>> But none I have seen document (or perhaps even do not expose to the >>>> interface) these layers. >>> >>> Here are a few: >>> >>> https://www.segger.com/products/connectivity/embosip/add-ons/wifi-support/wifi-modules >>> >>> >> >> Thanks, but I saw no documentation of the interface to the host at all. > > At the bottom of each module tab there is a 'Vendor link' with > documentation and reference designs. > > >
Of course I followed these links. No module which would do IP (or below) packets documented, nothing different from what I have seen over the past 5-10 years. But this brings me to another thought. Since so many make wifi modules just to sell their tcp stack the lower level can't be that hard to do, has here anybody been dealing with the raw radio interface of these things? Dimiter ====================================================== Dimiter Popoff, TGI http://www.tgi-sci.com ====================================================== http://www.flickr.com/photos/didi_tgi/
On Monday, October 9, 2017 at 9:47:45 AM UTC-7, John Speth wrote:
> On 10/3/2017 1:39 PM, John Speth wrote: > > Hi- > > > > My request takes me way outside my knowledge area so please pardon my > > poor vocabulary. > > > > I'm working on a headless wireless Apache server device (no mouse, > > keyboard, or display).&nbsp; I need a way to externally make it join a > > network.&nbsp; Externally means some software entity that does not initiate > > the connection process from within the device.&nbsp; That software entity > > could be a phone or PC app. > > > > I'm looking for a way that a first time user of the device can get it > > connected to his WiFi network.&nbsp; I suppose that would have to be the > > process of identifying the network to join and then entering the network > > password. > > > > Can anyone think of some ways it can be achieved? > > > > Thanks - John > > Thanks everyone for the helpful comments. I have a few good ideas to > research. > > I recently acquired a Nest cam and I like the method it uses to bond to > the user. What happens "under the covers" is guesswork but the process > is pretty simple. The user plugs it into USB and is presented with a > readonly USB mass storage device which contains an installation program. > The program takes the user to a web site where the bonding process is > completed with web based wizard managed from Nest. That's the point at > which the user selects a network and enters the password. Other > application specific setup follows. Once the bonding is completed the > camera works from WiFi only. > > JJS
Sound like a reasonable setup. OTOH, i recently got a WiFi ON/OFF switch that is not. I rented the switch from a company in China. Since it is useless without their server, i don't really own the hardware. I have to download their app and connect to their server. Press a button on the box and syncing the IP of the box and my app. Then enter my WiFi code on their server. BIG RED SECURITY RISK: 1. They got my email address, even though it's for junk mail only account. 2. They got my WiFI code and my IP address. 3. They got a box behind my firewall with 1 and 2. Just using it for testing and disable it soon.