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+--- Thread: 3 Network Ports possible on NIOT-E-NPI3-51-EN-RE? (/thread-192.html)
Answer - yulian - March-28th-2018
We are currently testing if the NIOT-E-NPI3-51-EN-RE is suitability for some projects. We need 3 LAN ports.
The first Ethernet port is no problem. But we need two more ports. First one of the two Fieldbus ports (IN CH0) running with your docker image hilschernetpi / netpi-netx-ethernet-lan fine. Is it possible to use the third port (OUT CH1) as a separate LAN adapter also?
An additional device entry /dev/spidev0.1 did not succeed.
Answer - Armin@netPI - March-28th-2018
Yes this is no problem.
I made an example container here https://hub.docker.com/r/hilschernetpi/netpi-netx-ethernet-lan/ that turns the industrial ethernet controller in a standard 2-ported and switched ethernet internet interface.
Along with the container a link on Docker hub links you to the source code of the container. There you can see how to enable this possibility in terms of firmware and driver.
Answer - yulian - March-28th-2018
Hi Armin, thanks for your Reply.
As i described above i tested these image before i posted my question here.
But i only see eth0 and cifx0. And also i see that both ports of netx51 answeres to the same ip from cifx0.
My hope was to get 2 extra NICs so i can use eth0, cifx0 and eg. cifx1 and that it's possible with some configuration things. I looked into the Dockerfile, entrypoint.sh and cifx0daemon.c but i have no idea what's to do coming an solution closer.
Answer - Armin@netPI - March-28th-2018
Hello Yulian,
I am sorry to say that the both network ports driven by industrial network controller netX51 are switched always.
This is why you see the single communication interface X = cifX0 sharing a single IP address.
You have no chance to create three network ports of netPI RTE 3.
Answer - yulian - April-3rd-2018
Hello again and thanks for your reply.
Is it possible to integrate a third network port with the expansion slot/module?
I know thats not an mini PCIe Interface, only the Slot. But see you any chance that it can be happen?
Answer - Armin@netPI - April-3rd-2018
With a third network port you mean a third and independent network port with a separate IP address I suppose?
The expansion port is not able to driver an additional ethernet network port. But you are correct that indeed this expansion slot is based on a minPCI express socket but we are just using the connector cause it is so smart and delivers enough pins. But there aren't any pins to drive an Ethernet port.
Answer - yulian - April-3rd-2018
Ok, so in conclusion the only way is to use an USB-Ethernet Adapter.
Not very nice but a way.
To make clear why i'm sitting on that third NIC-Port:
i will use the little nice Box as a network monitoring proxy. But there are operating, automation and profinet networks and i'm willing to scan all three.
Answer - Armin@netPI - April-3rd-2018
But any USB to Ethernet adapter your are referencing needs a kernel mode driver on the linux host. For example for my Levono Thinkpad USB to Ethernet adapter not even a linux driver exists. It is made for Windows use cases only. netPI by default does not support drivers for USB to Ethernet adapters.
So you cannot include a third USB-Ethernet Adapter in netPI's infrastructure as you intend it.