Sometimes a SwitchDin Edge Controller won't come online by itself — the site network uses static IPs, has MAC address filtering, or the Edge Controller simply hasn't been given the settings it needs. When that happens, you can connect directly to the Edge Controller's own Wi-Fi hotspot and give it the network settings from there.

You'll need the native Stormcloud app on iOS or Android for this. A web browser cannot send the configuration to the Edge Controller — modern browsers block a secure web page from talking to the Edge Controller over an insecure local connection. If you only have a browser, the app will generate a curl command you can run from a terminal instead, but the native app is far easier on site.

Before you start

The Edge Controller's hotspot turns on automatically five minutes after it loses internet connectivity. You'll usually see a red light LED1 in this state. If the Edge Controller has only just been powered up or unplugged, give it those five minutes before you go looking for the hotspot.

Step 1: Check the Edge Controller's status

After you scan or enter the Edge Controller ID, the app checks whether the Edge Controller is online. This uses AWS IoT, which can take a minute or more to notice an Edge Controller coming online or going offline — so the status you see may lag reality slightly.

Step 2: Start the network setup

If the Edge Controller isn't reachable, you'll see this screen with two choices.

Check Again re-runs the status check. Worth trying once if you've only just connected the Ethernet cable, since the delay above means it may be online already.

Set Up The Edge Controller's Network begins the hotspot process. Choose this if you know the site needs specific network settings, or if checking again hasn't helped.

Step 3: Join the Edge Controller's Wi-Fi

The app shows you the Edge Controller's hotspot name and password. You have two ways to connect:

Join Edge Controller Wi-Fi Automatically lets the app do it for you. This is native-app only.

I've Joined Manually is for when you've connected through your phone's Wi-Fi settings yourself, using the name and password shown.

Step 4: Approve the connection

On iOS you'll be asked to allow Stormcloud to use your location — this is required for the app to manage Wi-Fi connections — and then to confirm joining the Edge Controller's network. Accept both.

Your phone will lose its normal internet connection while it's joined to the Edge Controller's hotspot. That's expected. iOS or Android may warn you the network has no internet access — stay connected anyway.

Step 5: Wait for the app to reach the Edge Controller

The app tests that it can communicate with the Edge Controller over the hotspot. If this fails, you'll still continue to the configuration screen — but check that your phone is actually joined to the Edge Controller's hotspot and not an adjacent network before going further.

Step 6: Enter the network configuration

At the top you'll see live status for each of the Edge Controller's network interfaces, including whether each one is up or down, its IP address and its MAC address. Use this to confirm the cable is actually in the port you think it's in:

• eth0 is the Edge Controller port marked ETH2, 

•  eth1 is the Edge Controller port marked ETH1 

Select an interface to expand it and set its addressing. Both Ethernet interfaces use DHCP by default.

Choose Static IP when the site has no DHCP server, uses MAC filtering, or requires a fixed address — you'll need the address including its prefix, written like 10.16.24.115/24, along with the gateway. 

There's also a Shared mode, used when a device such as an inverter or meter plugs directly into the Edge Controller and needs the Edge Controller to hand it an address. 

DNS servers sit under Advanced Settings and are best left empty unless the site specifically requires them.

When you've entered the settings, tap Save & Apply.

If you get it wrong, the Edge Controller recovers on its own. A configuration that leaves the Edge Controller unable to reach the internet is automatically rolled back to the previous working settings after five minutes. You can also use Reset to default in the interface menu to put a port back to its factory state.

For the full detail on this panel — VLANs, NTP servers, disabling unused ports — see Site Configuration for v4 Edge Controllers.

Step 7: Disconnect

Once settings are applied, the app prompts you to leave the Edge Controller's hotspot so your phone can get back on the internet and check whether the Edge Controller came online.

Disconnect from the hotspot, then tap the button to continue.

Step 8: Wait for the Edge Controller to come online

The app polls for 15 minutes (or until it comes online) while the Edge Controller restarts its networking on the new settings.

You may need to power cycle the device during this time, so that the network changes are applied.

If it comes online, you're done — continue to claiming the Edge Controller to a site.

If it times out, you'll be returned to the earlier screen and can try again. Check the physical connection first, then the settings you entered.

A safety net worth knowing about: if the configuration you applied stops the Edge Controller reaching the internet, it will revert to its previous settings after five minutes. So a wrong subnet or gateway won't strand the unit — but it does mean you may see it come back on the old configuration and wonder why your change didn't stick.