Internet from the PC (USB)
Use the PC's internet on the console over the USB cable
With Internet from the PC, the console takes its internet from a computer over the USB cable: the PC shares its own connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and the console gets an address, a route and DNS from it. Handy where there is no Wi-Fi for the console, or on the R36S, whose single USB port then goes to the PC.
While the cable is in use, the console's Wi-Fi stays off. It comes back as you had it when you unplug the cable or leave the mode.
On the console
Open Settings › Network › Network services and, under USB, set USB function (gadget) to Internet from the PC.
- Windows 10 compatibility: leave it off. Turn it on only if an older Windows 10 does not recognise the console (it then uses RNDIS instead of NCM, at a higher CPU cost).
- Address over USB: the address the PC gave the console.
ssh root@that address works from the PC. - Status: Connected to the PC · internet ok once the PC answered; No sharing on the PC · local network only if it did not answer in about 25 seconds. In that case the console keeps the fixed address of the Network mode (
169.254.170.2) and tries again the next time you plug the cable in. Wi-Fi stays off until you unplug the cable (it comes back a few seconds later) or leave the mode: on some R36S clones the USB port and the internal Wi-Fi share the same lines, and turning Wi-Fi on would cut the PC off.
On the PC
Plug the cable in first, so the PC sees the console's network adapter. Then turn on internet sharing to that adapter.
Windows 11 and 10
Open the adapters
Press Win + R, type ncpa.cpl and press Enter.
Share the connection that has internet
Right-click the adapter with internet (usually Wi-Fi) › Properties › Sharing tab. Tick Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection and, under Home networking connection, pick the console's adapter (a new Ethernet with UsbNcm or Remote NDIS in its name). OK.
Reconnect the cable
Windows gives the console an address in 192.168.137.x.
While sharing is on, Windows fixes that adapter at 192.168.137.1. To go back to the plain Network mode, untick sharing first.
Linux (NetworkManager)
In the network settings, open the console's wired connection › IPv4 › method Shared to other computers. Or in a terminal, with the console's interface name from ip link (usually enx…):
nmcli connection add type ethernet ifname enxXXXXXXXXXXXX con-name archr-usb ipv4.method sharedThe console gets an address in 10.42.0.x.
macOS
System Settings › General › Sharing › Internet Sharing: share the connection that has internet to the console's USB adapter, then turn Internet Sharing on. RNDIS does not work on macOS; keep Windows 10 compatibility off.
Credits
The idea comes from raoni07/OTG-Over-Windows and ctgl1987/arkos-usb-network-mode. ArchR's implementation is its own.