Audience
This article is for developers who would like to install the Bluetooth server software developed by Same Day Rules that automates updating the wireless network interface settings on the Raspberry Pi.
Motivation
Configuring the wireless interface on a newly deployed Raspberry Pi typically involves: 1) modifying system files on the Pi’s SD card prior to installation, 2) connecting to the Pi via a monitor/keyboard and manually modifying system files, or 3) some other mechanism that requires relatively low-level access to and detailed knowledge of the Linux operating system. On the Raspberry Pi, the wireless network is often managed via changes to the WPA Supplicant system file that specifies network connection parameters.
Same Day Rules provides server and client applications that configure the WPA Supplicant wireless interface (e.g., wlan0) of Linux-based systems such as the Raspberry Pi using a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connection. The server software accepts standard WPA Supplicant parameters from the client and applies those parameters to the WPA Supplicant system file on the server device. It then reconfigures the interface using those parameters. The client software allows the user to customize the wireless interface settings and then apply them to the server device over Bluetooth. The user does not have to manually modify the server operating system files or physically attach (cables) to the server device to connect to the wireless network.
This approach benefits product developers who supply the Raspberry Pi or similar Linux-based processing systems as part of their product line as the end user does not have to manually modify system files in order to connect the product to their home wireless network. The developer installs the server software on the Raspberry Pi, and the user installs the client software on their home computer – the user then runs the client software to connect the Raspberry Pi to their wireless network.
Server Software
The Bluetooth server software as well as detailed instructions describing how to install the software is located on the Same Day Rules GitHub repository.
Client Software
The Bluetooth client software is available both on the Microsoft Store as an installable package and on the Same Day Rules GitHub repository. There is also a blog post that gives detailed instructions on the use of the client software.