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Configure Network Settings on Gumstix Overo Hardware

You can configure the IP settings of the Overo® hardware by running Linux® shell commands directly on the Overo hardware. Doing so allows the board to communicate over the network to which it is connected.

To inspect and reconfigure the IP settings on a board that already has the new firmware, follow the procedure in this section.

To configure the IP settings while you are replacing the firmware on your Overo hardware, see Replace Firmware on Gumstix Overo Hardware.

You may need to reconfigure the IP settings if your board:

  • Has unknown IP settings

  • Is unreachable using a network connection

  • Is being moved to a network or direct Ethernet connection that uses static IP settings

  • Is being moved from a network that used static IP settings to one that uses DHCP services

There are several conditions under which networks use DHCP or static IP settings:

  • Use DHCP services — If your board is connected to a network with DHCP services, such as an office LAN or a home network connected to the Internet. DHCP is a network service that automatically configures the IP settings of Ethernet devices connected to a network.

  • Use static IP settings — If your board is directly connected to an Ethernet port on your computer or connected to an isolated network without DHCP services.

To configure the board to use DHCP or static IP settings:

  1. Open a serial command-line session, as described in Open a Serial Command-line Session with Gumstix Overo Hardware.

    Alternatively, you can use a terminal window after accessing the Linux desktop as described in:

  2. Display the contents of the /etc/network/interfaces file. Enter:

    cat /etc/network/interfaces 

    If the board is configured to use DHCP services (the default configuration), dhcp appears at the end of the following line:

    iface eth0 inet dhcp

    If the board is configured to use static IP settings, static appears at the end of the following line:

    iface eth0 inet static
  3. Create a backup of the /etc/network/interfaces file. Enter:


    If prompted, enter the root password (default: root).

  4. Edit interfaces using a simple editor called nano. Enter:

    sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces
  5. Edit the last word of line that starts with iface eth0 inet.

    To use DHCP services, change the line to:

    iface eth0 inet dhcp

    To use static IP settings, change the line to:

    iface eth0 inet static
  6. For static IP settings, add lines for address, netmask, and gateway. For example:

    iface eth0 inet static

    For static IP settings:

    • The value of the subnet mask must be the same for all devices on the network.

    • The value of the IP address must be unique for each device on the network.

    For example, if the Ethernet port on your host computer has a network mask of and a static IP address of, set:

    • netmask to use the same network mask value,

    • address to an unused IP address, between and

  7. Tell nano to exit and save the changes:

    1. Press Ctrl+X.

    2. Enter Y to save the modified buffer.

    3. For "File Name to Write: /etc/network/interfaces", press Enter.

    4. The nano editor confirms that it "Wrote # lines" and returns control to the command line.

  8. Reboot your board for the settings to take effect:

    sudo shutdown -r now
  9. Test the IP settings by logging in to the board over a telnet session.

    Note:   You can use the ifconfig command to temporarily change the IP settings. Rebooting the board removes the ifconfig settings and restores the /etc/network/interfaces settings.

    To change the IP settings temporarily, open a Linux command line. Enter ifconfig, the device id, a valid IP address, netmask, and the appropriate network mask. For example:

    ifconfig eth0 netmask

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