my first impressions : installation : fixed ip-address over ethernet

I have my flukso now for more than 2 weeks and these are my suggestions.
I will post one suggestion per topic so people can react

When working over ethernet (not wifi), one cannot enter a fixed ip-address for the device.
The workaround is to make a 'reservation' in the dhcp server.
Although it works, it is not user-friendly. A lot of people don't know how a dhcp server works,
let alone that they know how to make a reservation in a dhcp server.

It would be much better to just let people choose a fixed ip-adress if that want that.

petur's picture

fixed IP is a recipe for disaster, DHCP reservation should be mandatory. I can not count the number of times I have seen people mess up IP address configuration: wrong subnets, address conflicts, you name it.

Another option is to use DHCP without reservation, and provide UPnP/Bonjour service advertising.

carl dewever's picture

Well, most devices on the market let you configure a fixed ip-address.
I think Flukso should do the same
I don't think they should take a standpoint in this dhcp vs fix ip discussion

gebhardm's picture

The capability is already provided through the foundational platform used...
As the FLM is a regular openWRT device with an energy management extension it should be distinguished what "FLM shall provide" and what can be reached using openWRT, thus platform capabilities; with respect to IP configuration refer to http://wiki.openwrt.org/doc/uci/dhcp - to ssh into the FLM should be similar in complexity than choosing, managing and setting a manual IP address - not arguing about "user experience".
IMHO DHCP and the FLM's capability to publish its parameters via Bonjour/mDNS are sufficient for the normal user who is usually overstrained with the vast possibilities where to configure what adjustment.
My personal opinion...

gebhardm's picture

See also: https://www.flukso.net/blog?page=4 (dat: 09/11/2010)

"The Flukso presentation covered two topics: the new Fluksometer v2 hardware and autodetection of Fluksometer sensors in a Javascript environment through Bonjour (Firefox-only for now). The presentation can be downloaded here while the autodetection demo code is available in this Github repository."

and https://www.flukso.net/content/multiple-flm-discovery

carl dewever's picture

All good and well but try to put yourself in the skin of a normal non-tech user...

gebhardm's picture

...that I do, therefore I either use DHCP and don't care or use the given SSH-option after getting myself informed... (+1 on Petur's comment)

carl dewever's picture

My point is : why do all devices (modems, wifi-stations, computers etc...) offer the option to assign a fix ip-address but Flukso does not. Are they all stupid? No. Are you guys stupid? No. They just give the user the option and I think Flukso should do that too.

gebhardm's picture

"Die Gedanken sind frei" - again: Flukso offers this option already through its platform as openWRT contains the capability to also set a fixed IP address; what you request is a corresponding User Interface option/extension that enables the setting of a fixed IP address... With respect to non-tech users I still regard setting a fixed IP address error prone and in times of increasing numbers of devices in a network "last century" ;-)

Halsey's picture

On the FLUKSO I just go to"//192.168.X.X/cgi-bin/luci/network" to get the full OpenWRT LUCI interface, from there you can set a static IP etc etc - easy and no problems!

gebhardm's picture

That would be wonderful; sadly I get on my 2A a /usr/lib/lua/luci/dispatcher.lua:284: No valid theme found - have you set something else beforehand?

gebhardm's picture

Thanks, I am indeed on the newer 232 version; so, what remains is the manual configuration, if wanted...

icarus75's picture

Static IP address configuration on the WAN itf has indeed been removed form the FLM UI since the 23x release. We had several people getting into trouble when they misconfigured their FLM's static network settings. So with a recent FLM firmware you have the option to either use DHCP or use the command line to reconfigure the FLM with a static IP. If you really want to go down that rabbit hole, you should be prepared and able to set up an SSH connection since you're already in 'expert' mode by then.

And because even experts can mess up from time to time, they can use the toggle button to restore networking defaults or even the entire firmware image. See the Fluksometer Manual par 1.2.