Introduction

With Xandadeck, you have two options for configuring a Player:

• Though the web
• Though the “SETTINGS.txt” configuration file on the SD Card of the Player

If you choose the first option, you have to get your Player online, so that it can connect to the Internet and fetch the new settings you specify.

There are cases where you need to configure the Player manually, through the “SETTINGS.txt” configuration file:

• You want to connect through a WiFi network and there is no option for temporarily connecting it using a cable.
• You need to configure a Proxy server through which the Player connects to the Internet.
• You need to specify static IP configuration (Static IP Address, Netmask, Gateway, or DNS) for your connection.
• You need to specify some other configuration parameter besides networking, but you want to do it offline.

Step by Step Guide

To manually configure the Player, do the following:

1. V E R Y   I M P O R T A N T: Login to your Xandadeck account, navigate to the Monitor in question and specify all settings — If you skip this step, then, when the Player registers, it will fetch the default settings from your Xandadeck account and revert back to the wrong settings, possibly getting the Player offline again! So make sure you do it before manually changing the settings on the Player!
2. If the Player is currently powered-on, disconnect all networks (any WiFi USB adapters or Ethernet cable) and wait 1 minute. Then, disconnect it from power.
3. Remove the SD Card. There is a small slot right next to the Powered On indicator LED. With your fingernail (or a thin, not sharp, object), push the card. It should pop out so that you can pull it off. Make sure you do not use excessive force.
4. Put the SD Card into your computer. You might need a MicroSD-to-SD adapter (usually, computers have standard SD Card slots, not MicroSD). An adapter like that should be included with your SD Card or Player.
5. Navigate to the SD Card. Open the “SETTINGS.txt” file in the SD Card.
6. Change the settings you need. You change the value of a setting by specifying it right after the equals (“=”) sign. Settings are described in detail in the next section.
7. Save the “SETTINGS.txt” file, overwriting the existing file.
8. Use the “Safely Remove SD Card” feature of Windows (or Linux) and, after being notified that you can safely remove the SD Card, wait 10″ and remove the SD Card.
9. Put the SD Card back in your Player. With your fingernail (or a thin, not sharp, object), push the card inwards. When you release it, it should lock into place. If it pops back out, try pushing the SD Card further inwards before releasing it. Make sure you do not use excessive force.
10. Connect the network you require (WiFi or Ethernet, never both). Note that in order for the WiFi adapter to be properly configured, it must be connected to the Player.
11. Power up the Player. Upon starting up, the Player will re-apply all settings found in the “SETTINGS.txt”. It might take a while to apply all the settings, so be patient. The Player should be up and running within 3-4 minutes.

Settings Reference for “SETTINGS.txt”

A detailed reference for all the available settings follows. Note that the section names (denoted by square brackets, e.g. “[SECTIONNAME]”) is important and must be present for the settings below to be recognized and used.

A complete example for “SETTINGS.txt” is also provided further down.

WiFi Network Settings [WIFI]

Example section with dummy settings:

[WIFI]

ipaddress = 192.168.1.200

netmask = 255.255.255.0

gateway = 192.168.1.1

dns = 8.8.8.8

ssid = YourWiFiNetworkName

key = ThisIsTheWiFiPassword
mode = WPA

Configuring the Wireless Network connection

[WIFI]

ssid = YourWiFiNetworkName

key = ThisIsTheWiFiPassword
mode = WPA

Settings:

• ssid: This is the SSID of the Wireless Network, essentially the name of the network. The Player will search and try to connect to the SSID you specify here. If you do not specify an SSID and a WiFi adapter is present, then the Player will try to connect to any open wireless network (“open” means that it does not need a passphrase) it can detect nearby. If it can find more than one network, it will connect to the one with the strongest signal.
• key: This is the wireless network passphrase or key that you must use to secure the network. If you do not specify a key, then the player will assume that the SSID you specified above is an open wireless network (does not need a passphrase).
• mode: This specifies the encryption used by the WiFi network. Valid values are: “WPA” for WPA/WPA2-PSK, or “WEP” for WEP64/WEP128 encryption. If you do not specify a mode, then the default value is “WPA”.

Configuring the Wireless Network static networking

[WIFI]

ipaddress = 192.168.1.200

netmask = 255.255.255.0

gateway = 192.168.1.1

dns = 8.8.8.8

Settings:

• ipaddress: This is the static IP Address for the Wireless Network. If you do not specify a static IP, then automatic IP Address assignment through DHCP is used. If you set this setting, then you must also set the “netmask” setting, or else it is ignored.
• netmask: This is the netmask for the Wireless Network. If you have not specified the “ipaddress” setting, this setting is ignored.
• gateway: This is the network gateway for the Wireless Network. If you have not specified the “ipaddress” setting, this setting is ignored.
• dns: This is the Name Server (DNS Server) for the Wireless Network. If you have not specified the “ipaddress” setting, this setting is ignored. By default, Google’s Public DNS Service is always included in the system’s configuration, to ensure reliability.

LAN Network Settings [LAN]

Configuring the (wired) Ethernet connection

Example section with dummy settings:

[LAN]

ipaddress = 192.168.1.200

netmask = 255.255.255.0

gateway = 192.168.1.1

dns = 8.8.8.8

Settings:

• ipaddress: This is the static IP Address for the Local Network. If you do not specify a static IP, then automatic IP Address assignment through DHCP is used. If you set this setting, then you must also set the “netmask” setting, or else it is ignored.
• netmask: This is the netmask for the Local Network. If you have not specified the “ipaddress” setting, this setting is ignored.
• gateway: This is the network gateway for the Local Network. If you have not specified the “ipaddress” setting, this setting is ignored.
• dns: This is the Name Server (DNS Server) for the Local Network. If you have not specified the “ipaddress” setting, this setting is ignored. By default, Google’s Public DNS Service is always included in the system’s configuration, to ensure reliability.

LAN Network Settings [LAN]

Configuring the (wired) Ethernet connection

Example section with dummy settings:

PROXY]

proxy = 192.168.1.253

port = 3128

username = myproxyusername

password = myproxypassword

Settings:

• proxy: This is the Proxy Server IP address (or hostname, but it’s better to use an IP address to be safe). If you specify a Proxy Server using this setting, then all HTTP and HTTPS communications from the Player will go through the Proxy server. Remember that to use HTTPS, the Proxy must allow the “CONNECT” method.
• port: This is the TCP port number for the Proxy. If omitted, it defaults to 3128. If you have not specified the “proxy” setting, this setting is ignored.
• username: This is the username to be used against the Proxy with HTTP Proxy Authentication. If omitted, no authentication info is sent to the Proxy. If you have not specified the “proxy” setting, this setting is ignored.

password: This is the password to be used against the Proxy with HTTP Proxy Authentication. If omitted, no password is sent to the Proxy. If you have not specified the “proxy” or “username” settings, this setting is ignored.