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Configuring New Networking Equipment
If you plan to run an event using Cheesy Arena and your own networking equipment (instead of renting from Team 254), this page explains how to configure it.
You can run a scrimmage or offseason event with any off-the-shelf WiFi router; all robots will connect to the same SSID and all driver stations on the same wired network, instead of being isolated to their own virtual networks as is the case at an official event. Follow these basic steps:
- Configure the router to assign DHCP addresses in the 10.0.100.x range, with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.
- Configure any SSID and WPA key on the router, and connect all driver stations to Ethernet ports on the same physical network.
- Read this guide from WPI on how to set up the FRC Radio Configuration Utility to program robot radios at such an event.
- Ensure the Cheesy Arena server is configured to have a static IP address of 10.0.100.5.
- You must assign the driver station a static IP address 10.xx.yy.5 with a subnet mask of 255.0.0.0. Detailed instructions are found here.
Note: chances are your WiFi router/AP won’t have enough ports to connect everything so you’ll want an unmanaged switch. We used this one without any issues.
Two specific pieces of networking equipment are needed to implement the setup described in Advanced Networking Concepts:
- A Vivid-Hosting VH-113 access point (supported in 2024+) or Linksys WRT1900ACS access point (not supported starting in 2025)
- A Cisco Catalyst 3500-series Layer 3 managed switch (Chezy Champs uses the WS-3560G-48TS-E)
The access point is readily available from multiple vendors, and the switch is end-of-lifed and can be obtained relatively inexpensively from sources such as eBay.
While only the Linksys AP model noted above is known to work well with the Open Mesh robot radios and this network model, for the switch equivalent results can most likely be obtained with other Cisco models and versions of IOS but not exactly the same. The important requirements for the switch are that it support VLANs and inter-VLAN (Layer 3) routing.
- Flash the AP firmware with the VLAN variant of OpenWRT provided by FIRST
- NEW IN 2024: Install the HTTP API on the AP by following the instructions at https://github.com/patfair/frc-radio-api.
(Because I wasn't able to get the above to work.)
- Download latest verion of OpenWRT from www.openwrt.org. I used this: OpenWRT for WRT1900ACS
- Once that is flashed and working you can use the admin page on the device (192.168.1.1) to upload access_point_config.tar.gz as a configuration (not firmware)
Note: if the AP doesn't boot, don't panic. The AP keeps a backup image of the factory firmware/previous working. You can reset it by: turning the AP off. Then turn it on and wait 3 seconds, then turn it off. Do this 3 times in a row. Then turn it on for the 4th time and the AP will boot off the other firmware.
- Replace the switch startup configuration with switch_config.txt
I have a mostly working version of a config file for a Cisco 3850 48 port. Once I figure out the last issue (Internet uplink) I will share it. If you need it ASAP feel free to message me on CD (hollisms). The robot part is all working and I'm bridging out to the Internet from the FMS until I have time to go back and find my mistake.
Consult the specific device's documentation for the factory-default IP address and login credentials. See Default IP Addresses and Credentials for these values after loading the Cheesy Arena configuration.