Preface: This article describes how to set up a direct connection to the machine which omits routers, hubs and switches that can add complexity and may not work even if you are able to ping the machine. If you are connecting your laser through a Router, then this article is not the one you need.

Before we begin, please read the following:

Note/Issue	Illustration
Please also consider reviewing this article if terms like IP, Subnet Mask, Host ID and Network ID seem like a foreign language: Why your IP address matters and describing it in terms that are easier to understand
Your MAC most likely will have only a WIFI connection and will likely not have separate hardwired Ethernet connection built in.  If it does not have a built in Hardwired Ethernet port, then you will need an adapter like this.  This has more than what is required but will have a USB port for your camera if applicable as well as other devices and is powered externally. Not all adapters will work with all MACs, your hardware and OS will vary. Please buy one that will work with your specific machine. Source one locally or through Amazon and install per the manufacturers instructions.
The hardwired Ethernet connection does not need "internet" and neither does the Laser Machine, leave that to your WIFI connection.
If your computer assigns an address like "169.254.xxx.xxx" that is an indication that you have connected a device without a DHCP server present on the Network, you will need to set that connection to manual IP assignment and assign an IP to the PC's Ethernet connection. Typically your router\modem would provide the DHCP server to assign IP addresses to devices but without a router present, you must manually assign the IP.
Cable - The included Ethernet cable will work. You can use longer patch Ethernet cables as well if needed. Ethernet is generally limited to 100meters.  Plug it directly into your computer and directly into the machine, nothing in between (except a USB converter type device) . No need to run it to a router, modem, hub etc.
Find My Laser - The Lightburn function for "Find My Laser" does not work with Ethernet, even if the ethernet is configured. It is a USB only option.
Thunderbolt (R) Bridge connections on your MAC are not the connections to your Thunder Laser Machine. The naming is just a coincidence. Your connection should be something like USB 10/100/1000 LAN or AX88179A

Quickstart Video:

This video is a simple walkthrough of setting up a USB to Ethernet Device, selecting an IP address scheme and setting the IP on your Mac Connection and in Lightburn

Configuration Wizard:

You can try this wizard to guide you through the configuration. 

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If you were unable to connect by using the configuration wizard above, you may proceed with the following setup.

Prework and IP Scheme Selection:

You must complete these steps in order to be able to complete the configuration of the IP properly. If you skip these steps, you will likely have issues. You need to pick out IP's for both your computer, the laser and the one used in Lightburn (matches the laser).

WIFI IP CONFLICT CHECK:

This is an important check. If you assign an address to your machine that is within your WIFI (or another network connections range) then the communication to the machine will likely not work due to how the OS handles the connections.

On your MAC , open up the network preferences window and click on your WIFI connection, it should display the WIFI connection IP on the information to the right for each connection as you click through them. In the example below, the network is 175.0.0.xxx and the MAC is assigned a 175.0.0.01 IP. This user could use the default Laser IP of 192.168.1.100 and set their hardwired Ethernet adapter to 192.168.1.101.  If this user WIFI had an IP of say 192.168.1.34, then we would want to make the hardwired Ethernet Adapter connection to the Laser 192.168.2.101 to avoid a collision with the WIFI (avoid having 192.168.1.xxx for both the WIFI and hard wired Ethernet)

Compare your Internet Network IP:

Use this table to compare your Internet IP to the options shown, then use the IP's listed in to set up your hardwired connection.

If your Internet NW IP is 192.168.1.xxx  (xxx is between 001 and 254)	If your Internet NW IP is anything but 192.168.1.xxx  (xxx is between 001 and 254)
In Step 1: Set the Laser machine IP to 192.168.2.100 In Step 2: Set the computer hardwired Ethernet IP to 192.168.2.101 and subnet mask to 255.255.255.0 In Step 3: the Lightburn target device IP to 192.168.2.100	In step 1: Skip, the default IP is 192.168.1.100 already In Step 2: Set the computer hardwired Ethernet IP to 192.168.1.101 and subnet mask to 255.255.255.0 In Step 3: the Lightburn target device IP to 192.168.1.100

Ok, so you have completed the Prework above, now it is time to do the actual configuration.

Step 1: Setting the Laser Machine IP (Only required if changing from default 192.168.1.100):

Nova\Odin Series Machines:

1. Press the "menu" button on the machine and navigate to the Ethernet IP settings selection. Press Enter.

2. Use the "menu" button to navigate between the IP number boxes. Use the left and right arrows to select a digit and then the up/down arrows to adjust the value.

3. Press enter to save the IP setting.

Nova\Odin	Nova\Odin
Press the blue MENU button and then navigate with the Up and Down arrows to Ip Config+ sub menu. Press the green Enter Button	Use the blue MENU button to move between IP boxes. Select each digit in the box with the Left and Right arrows. Set each digit individually with the Up and Down arrows.  Press the green Enter button to save your settings.

Bolt Series Machines:

1. Press the "menu" button on the machine and then press the IP Internet button

2. In the popup, enter your new IP address and press the OK button

Menu Button	IP Internet Button

If your WIFI IP address was in the 192.168.1.xxx range then:	If your WIFI IP address was NOT in the 192.168.1.xxx range then:

Your Ethernet connection settings depending on which option you need based of the IP of:

Note that this is not your WI-FI configuration, do not change your WIFI configuration. You will get booted off the internet and still won't be able to connect to your laser.

Use this option if Laser Machine IP is set to 192.168.2.100	Use this option if Laser Machine IP is set to 192.168.1.100:

Older OS (Your IP settings may vary)	Newer OS (Your IP settings may vary)

When you create a device you can select it as Ethernet and enter the IP. If you need to edit the IP after creation, you can do it from the Edit> Device Settings window in Lightburn.

Device (Laser Profile) IP Setting When Editing/Creating:	Editing an existing IP for a Device (Laser Profile)
Create\Edit the device, select Ethernet and then assign your selected IP, could be 192.168.1.100 (default) or your custom IP like 192.168.2.100	Or check the IP by going to Edit>Device Settings

All done. You should now get a "Ready" status in the Lightburn laser control window. If you continue to have connection issues, be sure to review the information in the above step to make sure you did not miss something small since even a slight error in assigning an IP can cause communication issues. If you need further troubleshooting, see below.

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Troubleshooting Steps:

Please see the below for some steps on troubleshooting your connection.

Basic Troubleshooting:

If the Laser does not connect to your computer, check this list of Common Things Missed

Ethernet Device Selected	USB Device Selected
User has multiple Devices set up in Lightburn but has not selected the correct one in the Lightburn Laser Control Window.  Rename the Device to have "_Enet" in the name so it is easy to select, delete other unused devices vs just naming them all Ruida.	Next to the Device Selection there should NOT be a dropdown for a comm port that usually says "(Auto)"

Kickstart The Communications	Ready in the Lightburn Laser Window
Right Click on the "Devices" button in the laser control window to kickstart the communications, if connected it will say "Ready" above the Pause button

Set the IP Config to Manually	No DHCP With Manual IP
User did not set computer Hardwired Ethernet connection to "Manually", or set the incorrect Subnet Mask or IP Address. Double check your setup to make sure you did not assign the same IP of the Laser to your computer as well. In this example, the Computer is 192.168.1.101 and the machine would be 192.168.1.100	(Subnet mask can be 255.255.0.0 or 255.255.255.0, not 255.255.255.255)

IP Settings between Lightburn and the Machine mismatched:

Lightburn IP Setting of 192.168.2.100	Laser IP set to 192.168.2.100
Must match what is set on the laser	Must match what is set in Lightburn

Physical Cable Connection issue:

Check the cable connection if it is plugged in at both ends and the screen says "Lan Off" . Replace the cable if needed and follow this link to troubleshoot Ruida Communication issues. 

Lan Off (Lower Right Corner)	Lan On (Lower Right Corner)

Check OS Privacy Settings to Allow Local Network Access:

May have to also check these settings here for incoming connections in the Firewall:

And check for Full Disk Access:

Ping the Laser Machine at the IP you assigned to it and verify it replies back:

This can confirm the most basic function of the ethernet connection but does not guarantee communication. Also try pinging with the laser powered off, if the IP you selected still replies, that indicates that another device is using the IP you selected and you need to change the IP.

Further Troubleshooting:

-Plug USB to Ethernet adapter as directly into the computer as possible, eliminating Hubs and other converters

-Try a different computer or adapter

-Turn off WIFI connection for your computer

Duplicate IP Scenario:

A likely scenario is while you were addressing the laser and computer connections, you might have created a "Duplicate IP" scenario where say multiple devices were assigned the same 192.168.1.100 IP address for example. Well, there tends to be a lockout of that IP address so try this.

-Change the Ethernet IP Address again, like add 2 to the last number, make it .103 (was 101)

-Change the Machine IP Address again, like subtract two from it and make it .98 (was 100)

-Unplug the cable from the MAC and Laser, plug the cable back in to both

-Then change the IP's back and then confirm that your Computer and Laser are talking in Lightburn..

If all of the above does not work, please email tech support at support@thunderlaserusa.com with pictures of all the IP configurations discussed in this article and a description of how you are connecting the machine to your computer and network.