Updating the SMILE's SSID

The SMILE out-of-the-box configuration sets the network name (SSID) to SMILE-xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx, where the xx's are the Wi-Fi adapter's MAC address. The default configuration is also non-secure, meaning that anyone can connect to your SMILE if the device is within range.

To change the SSID, use the following commands:

# iwconfig wdev0ap0 essid MyNetworkName
# iwconfig commit

That will change the SSID, but only until the next reboot. To change the values permanenty, you will need to edit the boot time /etc/rc.d/ap8x script. If you look at the script, you will find the following line, which sets the network name:

iwconfig wdev0ap0 essid SMILE-`ifconfig wdev0ap0 | egrep -o '([[:xdigit:]]{2}[:]){5}[[:xdigit:]]{2}'`

You can edit the file to set your own SSID, for example:

iwconfig wdev0ap0 essid MyNetworkName

I have tried to secure the link, for example by using the iwconfig key commands, but was not successful:

# iwconfig wdev0 key 12346F64796D6D6F6A796D6DBF
# iwconfig wdev0 commit
Error for wireless request "Commit changes" (8B00) :
SET failed on device wdev0 ; Invalid argument.

I am getting the same error when trying to iwconfig wdep0ap0 as well.

Ethernet and Wi-Fi Connections

SMILE comes with three network connections: A Wi-Fi adapter and two Ethernet ports. Each of these connections is configured in a different way. We'll start with the Wi-Fi connection.

Perhaps the SMILE's greatest asset is its high-performance Wi-Fi adapter, allowing up to 60 wireless clients (according to the company blurb) to simultaneously connect to the plug. The adapter is configured as an access point with a DHCP server. The Wi-Fi's IP is 10.1.0.1, and it allocates address in the 10.1.0.x network. Initially, the SSID is "SMILE-xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx", where the x's are the adapter's MAC address.

Let's move on to the two Ethernet ports. The first one (eth0) is configured to acquire a dynamic IP address, and should thus be connected to a network that can allocate IP address (i.e., has a DHCP server). Most home routers qualify for that, so you can just connect the plug's eth0 port to one of the router's ports. Finding the plug's eth0 dynamic IP address is a different matter (hint: nmap).

The second port (eth1) has a static address (10.0.0.16). This is your best choice if you just want to connect another computer to the SMILE directly, or you want to use the plug as a server with a fixed IP address. If you just want to connect a PC to the plug with a cable, make sure to set your computer's Ethernet address in the 10.0.0.x network, e.g. 10.0.0.1 or 10.0.0.15.

Note: The SMILE plug's Ethernet connectors are marked 1 and 2 on on the panel. Confusingly, 2 is eth0, and 1 is eth1.