Mer/Documentation/USB Networking

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This is a method to use your PC internet connection on your tablet.

This was tried with an N810 with an Ubuntu laptop.

Contents

[edit] Preparation

On host, open (with root privileges) file /etc/network/interfaces and add the following at the end of the lines: 

auto usb0
iface usb0 inet static
      address 192.168.2.1
      netmask 255.255.255.0
      broadcast 192.168.2.255
      up echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward
      up iptables -P FORWARD ACCEPT
      up iptables -A POSTROUTING -t nat -j MASQUERADE -s 192.168.2.0/24
      down echo 0 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward
      down iptables -t nat -F POSTROUTING


(in Mer 0.15testing9, the address line above should be address 192.168.2.14 as Mer is hardcoded to use that as a gateway address)

[edit] Enter rescue mode

Turn your tablet on. As soon as the Nokia screen appears, press the Home button on your tablet and keep it pressed until the Mer screen appears.

Shortly after this screen appeared, the rescue mode will appear. It gives you five choices:

  • Start Mer
  • Activate console
  • Act as an ethernet USB gadget
  • Act as a serial USB tool
  • Reboot

Select the option that says "act as an ethernet USB gadget". A console screen will scroll, then the Mer screen will appear. Connect the USB cable between your PC and the tablet.

[edit] Configure your network interface

On host, open a shell, and type: 

modprobe usbnet
sudo ifdown usb0
sudo ifup usb0

You should get no message from the shell.

[edit] Find your DNS

On host, on Ubuntu, they should be in /etc/resolv.conf.

On the tablet, open the shell, and type 

sudo echo nameserver A.B.C.D > /etc/resolv.conf

Where A.B.C.D represent the figures in your DNS. For instance 208.67.222.222 (public nameserver).

[edit] Test by pinging

On host, open a shell, and type 

ping 192.168.2.2 -c 5

(in Mer 0.15testing9, the address line above should be address 192.168.2.15 as Mer is hardcoded to use that as a device address)

It should return five lines proving that contact was established with the tablet. This means that you are ready to use the internet connection of your computer.

Retrieved from "http://bugs.maemo.org/Mer/Documentation/USB_Networking"