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Configure Host Computer for Ethernet-Based USRP Radio Connection

These sections guide you through the instructions to configure a host computer for an Ethernet-based radio (N200, N210, X300, USRP2™, X310) connection using the installer. To run the installer, see Install Communications Toolbox Support Package for USRP Radio.

Note

If you are using a USB-based radio connection, see Configure Host Computer for USB-Based USRP Radio Connection.

Host Computer Ethernet Options

The Ethernet connection is often referred to as a network connection. You can use either an integrated network interface card (NIC) with a Gigabit Ethernet cable or a USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet adapter dongle. This connection is necessary for transmitting data, such as an FPGA or firmware image, from the host computer to the radio hardware. It is also necessary for sending and receiving signals to and from the radio hardware.

To have simultaneous internet access in the absence of a wireless connection, the host computer must have two Ethernet connections. If the host computer has only one Ethernet connection available, see Using One Ethernet Port.

Configure Ethernet Connection Using Installer

Unless otherwise noted, the installer instructions for configuring the Ethernet connection between the host and radio is the same for Windows®, Linux®, and Macintosh computers.

  1. To have the installer guide you through the setup of the host-to-radio Ethernet connection, select Ethernet-based radio, and then click Next.

    Select ethernet-based radio option

  2. To have the installer configure the host-to-radio Ethernet connection, click Next on this screen. If your computer has only one NIC, see Using One Ethernet Port.

    If you do not have a radio connected to the host computer, see Configure Network Interface Using Installer with No USRP Radio Connected.

    Connect N-series or X-series radio to the Ethernet port. If you do not have a radio connected to the host computer, select the checkbox saying I want to configure by computer's network interface manually.

  3. Confirm that the Detection Result field lists the IP address of the configured radio. To configure the Ethernet port of your host computer to which radio is connected, click Next.

    Detect radio

  4. If the FPGA image of your radio is not compatible with the software version being installed, click Update FPGA Image of Detected Radios to update the radio FPGA image. After updating the image or to skip updating the image, click Next to continue.

    Check FPGA image of the USRP radio. If the FPGA image of your radio is not compatible with the software version being installed, click on Update FPGA Image of Detected Radios option.

  5. This step applies for Windows only.

    If FastSendDataGramThreshold is not defined in the Windows registry, the installer prompts you to set it to the value recommended by the USRP™ hardware driver from Ettus Research™. To set FastSendDataGramThreshold to the recommended value, click Next.

    If you see a dialog box asking Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?, click Yes to continue. If you see a dialog box from the Registry Editor asking Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?, click Yes to continue.

    This step applies for Windows only. Set the FastSendDatagramThreshold value recommended by the UHD.

  6. This step applies for Linux only.

    Ettus Research recommends setting the maximum buffer sizes for net.core.rmem_max, net.core.wmem_max, and real-time scheduling as indicated. To use these recommended values, click Next

    These changes are not persistent. To retain these settings in your account, see Make Changes Persistent on Linux.

    This step applies for Linux only. Set the Linux system parameters.

  7. After enabling your Ethernet-based device, you can confirm the host-to-radio communication link by testing the radio connection. For details, see Test USRP Radio Connection.

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