Connecting Stacks to Ethernet
Welcome to Interstacks! This quick start guide will walk you through the process of connecting your stack to your Ethernet network using our online configuration tool.
Note: If the network you are connecting to uses a firewall, your stack can be prevented from accessing the internet even when connected to your network. Consult your IT administrator for assistance.
Before you begin
Please gather the following items in a convenient location:
Your preassembled stack and power cord
A USB-A to Mini-USB cord
A PC or laptop with internet access
An Ethernet cable
You will also need to have the Ethernet settings that your network uses on-hand during setup. Ask your IT network administrator to confirm the information below, and document it for future reference.
Note: Choosing automatic DHCP means your stack will automatically complete all other fields. If you choose to use static DHCP, your IT administrator must ensure that no other devices are using the IP address below.
- DHCP Setting (1 for automatic, 0 for static IP)
- DNS Address 1
- DNS Address 2
- IP Address
- Router Address
- Subnet Mask
Connect to your stack
- Plug in your stack’s power supply. It takes five to ten seconds for the stack to boot up.
- Connect your stack’s Base module to your PC using the USB-A to Mini-USB cord.
- Ensure you are using a Microsoft Edge or Chrome browser window, and click here to launch the Stack Configuration Tool.
- Click the ‘Connect to stack’ button, and select the stack you wish to configure to load in your stack’s current settings
You now have direct edit access to your stack. Please review the primary buttons and their functions below before proceeding.
Disconnect:
Disconnect from the stack.
Save Changes:
Save the currently entered settings to the stack.
Refresh editor:
Refresh the information panel with the currently saved settings.
Reset:
Force reboot the connected stack.
Note: Please proceed carefully and double-check for typos while directly editing your stack’s settings.
Configure Ethernet settings for DHCP 1 (automatic)
If your Ethernet network is set to DHCP 1, look in the stack editor window for the section called ‘stack configuration’ and click the green plus icon to add a new property.
In the text field that appears, type ‘eth.dhcp’ without quotes, and click the green button to add the property to your stack.
Hover to the right of the ‘eth.dhcp’ property you created to reveal the green ‘edit’ icon, and click it to begin editing the property’s value.
Enter the value 1, and click the green checkmark icon to confirm your change. This is the only property you will need to create and edit for automatic DHCP configuration.
Click the ‘Save Changes’ button to send your changes to the stack, and the click the ‘Disconnect’ button to disconnect from your stack. Be sure to disconnect the USB cable between the stack and your computer, then cycle power on the stack by unplugging the power cord for a few seconds.
Configure Ethernet settings for DHCP 0 (static IP)
If your Ethernet network is set to DHCP 0, look in the stack editor window for the section called ‘stack configuration’ and click the green plus icon to add a new property.
In the text field that appears, type ‘eth.dhcp’ without quotes, and click the green button to add the property to your stack.
Follow this process until you have added each of these properties to your stack:
- eth.dhcp
- eth.dns_address_1
- eth.dns_address_2
- eth.ip_address
- eth.router_address
- eth.subnet_mask
Proceed to configure your stack as follows, using the instructions and animated guide below:
- Hover to the right of the ‘eth.dhcp’ property to reveal the green pencil icon, and click it to begin editing.
- Change the value to 0, and click the green checkmark icon to confirm your change.
- Referring to the network settings provided by your administrator, enter the corresponding value for each other property listed above. Take care to double-check for typos.
- When each of the six properties has been filled out correctly, click the ‘Save Changes’ button to send your changes to the stack.
- Click the ‘Disconnect’ button to disconnect from your stack. Be sure to disconnect the USB cable between the stack and your computer, then cycle power on the stack by unplugging the power cord for a few seconds.
Verify your Ethernet connection
Note: If you are setting up multiple stacks in one sitting, clear your browser cache before each stack to avoid overwriting a stack with properties from the previous session.
- To confirm that your changes were saved, open a private browser window (incognito mode) or clear your cache and navigate to the configuration tool.
- Click ‘Connect to Stack’ and select the stack from the list to load in your stack’s current settings.
- Confirm that each property value matches the network settings provided by your administrator.
- Click ‘Disconnect’, unplug the USB cord from the computer, connect your ethernet cable to your stack, and cycle power on your stack.
- To confirm that your stack is connected, check the LED in the corner of your Ethernet block after about 30 seconds.
Intermittent green and orange flashing indicates that your Ethernet block is connected and communicating with your network.
A repeating orange / red pattern indicates a problem. Reconnect to your stack using the previous instructions and re-enter your Ethernet network settings, being cautious of typos.
Confirm that data is flowing
Log into your MyStacks.interstacks.com account and confirm that data is flowing from your stack to your dashboard. If this is your first time logging in, you can follow our step-by-step tutorial on dashboard creation and adding your first data widget.
Check the sensors and accessories support pages for installation tips and wiring guides.
For additional technical support, please contact us at info@interstacks.com with a description of your issue.