Qwerk Configuration and Status

The Qwerk has an onboard web site that gives you information about its current status, logs of the events during startup, and access to the network configuration and connection mode settings. This site can be very helpful in troubleshooting the Qwerk's network connectivity.

Accessing the Onboard Web Site Without a Network

The simplest way to access the web site requires a Qwerk with a static IP, a computer with a static IP, and an ethernet cable. Neither the computer nor the qwerk need be connected to a network.

If your Qwerk is running firmware version 2, it will come with a default static Ethernet IP address of 192.168.1.144. If you have changed this, or you have previously enabled DHCP on the Qwerk, you can restore the static IP by using the Restore Defaults routine of the Qwerk Diagnostic Tool.

Qwerks running version 3.x of the firmware default to using DHCP to obtain an Ethernet IP address, but you can put it into static IP mode using the Static IP for Wired Diagnostic of the Diagnostic Tool.

To configure your computer for static IP under Windows, click on the Start button and select the "Settings" >> "Control Panel" item. In the control panel, locate and enter the "Network Connections" icon. Double-click "Local Area Connection". In the list that shows up, select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and click "Properties".

IMPORTANT: At this point, write down your current TCP/IP settings. After you are done configuring the Qwerk, restore these settings or your network connection might not function properly.

Select the option labeled "Use the following IP address". Enter 192.168.1.150 for the IP address, 255.255.255.0 for Subnet mask, and leave the rest blank. Click OK to save the settings.

Your Qwerk and your computer are now ready to talk to each other. Connect them by plugging in the Ethernet cable to the Qwerk's ethernet port (located at the back of the board) and your computer's Ethernet port. Also make sure that the Qwerk's wireless adapter is plugged in (the Qwerk won't actually use it to connect wirelessly, but it must be plugged in for the direct connect to work due to a known bug in the software). Then, power on the Qwerk.

Allow the Qwerk to boot up, which usually takes up to a minute. Then go to your web browser, type in http://192.168.1.144 in the address bar, and hit Enter. Your browser will display the Qwerk's web site.

Accessing the Onboard Web Site With a Network

You can also access the Qwerk's web site whenever it is connected to a network. Just obtain its IP address and enter it into your web browser (this assumes your computer is on the same network, or at least on a network that can access the Qwerk on its network).

Configuring Your Qwerk

The "General Configuration" page (only available in firmware version 3.x) allows you to configure your Qwerk's Samba broadcast name and the connection mode (relay server or direct-connect). The default Samba name is "terkrobot" and the default connection mode is relay server.

The "Wireless Configuration" and "Ethernet Configuration" pages enable you to access your Qwerk's network configuration. The default settings are:

Wireless connection:

Mode: automatic
Max connection attempt time: 40 seconds

Ethernet connection:

IP mode: static for firmware version 2, DHCP for firmware version 3.x
IP: 192.168.1.144
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

You can quickly restore these defaults using the Diagnostics Tool. Refer to the Restore Defaults section of the Diagnostics Tool Manual for details on how to do this.

Full instructions for changing the configuration are provided on the Qwerk web site's configuration pages.

Viewing the Log Files

The Qwerk writes status information to log files as it boots up and searches for a network to which to connect. It keeps a history of the last five logs. To view the logs, first go to the Qwerk web site and the click the "Logs" link in the left frame. The right frame will display the list of available logs. Click the log's name to view it.