Getting WiFi network details
To scan for WiFi networks, use the command sudo iwlist wlan0 scan. This will list all available WiFi networks, along with other useful information. Look out for:
- ESSID:”student”. This is the name of the WiFi network.
- IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1. This is the authentication used; in this case it’s WPA2, the newer and more secure wireless standard which replaces WPA. This guide should work for WPA or WPA2, but may not work for WPA2 enterprise; for WEP hex keys, see the last example http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=wpa_supplicant.conf&sektion=5&apropos=0&manpath=NetBSD+6.1.5 . You’ll also need the password for the WiFi network. For most home routers this is located on a sticker on the back of the router. The ESSID (ssid) for the network in this case is student and the password (psk) is studentPassword.
Adding the network details to the Raspberry Pi
Open the wpa-supplicant configuration file in nano:
sudo nano /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
Go to the bottom of the file and add the following:
network={
ssid=”The_ESSID_from_earlier”
psk=”Your_wifi_password”
}
In the case of the example network, we would enter:
network={
ssid=”testing”
psk=”testingPassword”
}
Now save the file by pressing Ctrl+X then Y, then finally press Enter.
At this point, wpa-supplicant will normally notice a change has occurred within a few seconds, and it will try and connect to the network. If it does not, either manually restart the interface with sudo ifdown wlan0 and sudo ifup wlan0, or reboot your Raspberry Pi with sudo reboot.
You can verify if it has successfully connected using ifconfig wlan0. If the inet addr field has an address beside it, the Pi has connected to the network. If not, check your password and ESSID are correct.
-Plug in the wireless USB hardware, power code and SD card and connect RPI with the iPad
Remote Access
What is VNC?
Virtual Network Computing (VNC) is a graphical desktop sharing system that uses the Remote Frame Buffer protocol (RFB) to remotely control another computer. It transmits the keyboard and mouse events from one computer to another, relaying the graphical screen updates back in the other direction, over a network.
What are the benefits of having a remote access?
You don’t have to connect to the screen of your computer anymore
- No need to switch between keyboard and mouse
- You can use the Internet on the computer contemporary
(BUT the network performance will be slow, and because the IP adress changes every time you still have to connect the keyboard and mouse to figure it out.)
How do you connect?
To connect RPI with the iPad to control the command line…
- Install the app “VSSH lite”
- Connect the iPad with Student Wi-Fi (the same Wi-Fi RPI is connected to)
- Tap “Quick Connect”
- Type in the IP address of your RPI in the Host line (figure out the IP address by typing ifconfig on the terminal of your RPI)
- Tap Connect
- Type in the username “pi” and the password “raspberry” (it will not show when you type the password due to the security system)
To connect graphically …
- Install the app “VNC viewer”
- Install them on to your RPIOn your Pi (using a monitor or via SSH), install the TightVNC package:
sudo apt-get install tightvncserver
Next, run TightVNC Server which will prompt you to enter a password and an optional view-only password:
tightvncserver
Start a VNC server from the terminal: This example starts a session on VNC display one (:1) with full HD resolution:
vncserver :1 -geometry 1920×1080 -depth 24
(If you want to connect to the second iPad type in 2 instead of 1)
- Make sure your iPad is on the same Wi-Fi as your RPI is (Student Wi-Fi)
- Type in your IP address to the app
- Type in the password you set before
- Connect
