Configure Network Settings on Raspberry Pi Hardware

You can resolve network connectivity issues by inspecting and editing the IP configuration of the Raspberry Pi™ Ethernet port.

You may need to reconfigure the IP settings if your board:

  • Has unknown IP settings

  • Is unreachable using a network connection

  • Is being moved to a network or direct Ethernet connection that uses static IP settings

  • Is being moved from a network that used static IP settings to one that uses DHCP services

There are several conditions under which networks use DHCP or static IP settings:

  • Use DHCP services — If your board is connected to a network with DHCP services, such as an office LAN or a home network connected to the Internet. DHCP is a network service that automatically configures the IP settings of Ethernet devices connected to a network.

  • Use static IP settings — If your board is directly connected to an Ethernet port on your computer or connected to an isolated network without DHCP services.

To configure the board to use DHCP or static IP settings:

  1. You can use a terminal window after accessing the Linux® desktop. See Access the Linux on Raspberry Pi Using Computer Peripherals.

  2. Display the contents of the /etc/network/interfaces file. Enter:

    cat /etc/network/interfaces 

    If the board is configured to use DHCP services (the default configuration), dhcp appears at the end of the following line:

    iface eth0 inet dhcp

    If the board is configured to use static IP settings, static appears at the end of the following line:

    iface eth0 inet static

  3. Create a backup of the /etc/network/interfaces file. Enter:

    sudo cp /etc/network/interfaces /etc/network/interfaces.backup

    If prompted, enter the root password.

  4. Edit interfaces using a simple editor called nano. Enter:

    sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces
  5. Edit the last word of line that starts with iface eth0 inet.

    To use DHCP services, change the line to:

    iface eth0 inet dhcp

    To use static IP settings, change the line to:

    iface eth0 inet static

  6. For static IP settings, add lines for address, netmask, and gateway. For example:

    iface eth0 inet static

    For static IP settings:

    • The value of the subnet mask must be the same for all devices on the network.

    • The value of the IP address must be unique for each device on the network.

    For example, if the Ethernet port on your host computer has a network mask of and a static IP address of, set:

    • netmask to use the same network mask value,

    • address to an unused IP address, between and

  7. Save the changes and exit nano:

    1. Press Ctrl+X.

    2. Enter Y to save the modified buffer.

    3. For “File Name to Write: /etc/network/interfaces”, press Enter.

    4. The nano editor confirms that it “Wrote # lines” and returns control to the command line.

  8. Reboot the board. In MATLAB® Command Window, enter:

    h = raspberrypi
    h.execute('sudo shutdown -r now')

  9. Test the IP settings by logging in to the board over a telnet session.


You can use the ifconfig command to temporarily change the IP settings. Rebooting the board removes the ifconfig settings and restores the /etc/network/interfaces settings.

To change the IP settings temporarily, open a Linux command line. Enter ifconfig, the device id, a valid IP address, netmask, and the appropriate network mask. For example:

ifconfig eth0 netmask

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