Modifying the Config File

BKeyport

@jimb If you’re thinking you’re FUBAR, you can always boot a fresh image (Raspberry Pi Imager, preferably, other methods available, search for Raspberry Pi Recovery Mode)

If you do build a new image, take a look at the advanced options in the Imager - You can pre-set things that’ll make life a ton easier - like hostnames, SSH availability, username/passwords, etc. Make sure to have the newest version of the imager, and it’ll remind you to look at the settings every time, rather than have it be a different workflow.

That being said, if you just need to dump Magic Mirror, delete the directory tree and start over - using Sam’s exceptional script this time to set it up. Good chance that gets it going.

What I do personally, is use combinations of SAMBA, Geany, VNC & SSH to get everything up and running fully remote, but that’s a bit advanced - Geany is on the Pi desktop, so if you want to try to use that to edit your config files, great, makes it so much easier.

sdetweil

@BKeyport don’t edit ON the pi, use Winscp or Bitvise SSH clients, then you can use your pc editor and keyboard, mouse… and double click to edit, and still have a terminal window via ssh…

one the wall enclosed, or just developing, its exactly the same. and you can multiple systems open at once…

I use Notepad++ or VisualStudio code…
then u have brace matching and indentation matching… REALLY makes life easier…
AND you can use your PC browser to access MM on the pi, so its all right there… laptop, desktop doesn’t matter…

bitvise also has a server side(pc) file manager window so you can drag/drop files in either direction (altho you dont usually need to.)…

all my scripts work thru ssh, MM runs there too… and you can use pm2 just like always…

BKeyport

@sdetweil Fair enough, I was applying a bit of KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) suggesting at least initial edits can be done locally - don’t want to overwhelm.

sdetweil

@BKeyport I know, but learning all the commands, keyboard, gui tools, menus, settings, etc, is overwhelming for many people.

jimb

Sam, I’m trying to get to the point where I can copy/paste the config where you can take a look at it. It’s been 45 years since I looked at Unix, never Linux.

IP Config from the OS prompt on the Pi yields -
“Link/loopback 'all zeros…”
“inet 127.0.0.0/8 scope host lo”
NOT a valid IP address, it should be in the range of 192.168. x.x

hostname command from the Pi gives “rutspi” which is the hostname I assigned as it was building.

sdetweil

@jimb if that is the only ip address, then it is not on your wifi or Ethernet networks.

127.0.0.1 is the fake internal only network

BKeyport

sounds to me like too much tinkering got the network FUBAR.

I’d reset and start over, personally.

jimb

Sam, from the Pi I can use the browser to get to the Internet so it has an IP address. I can ping Google from it, too. At this point I think the best thing would be for me to start over with a fresh installation. I don’t want to be a PITA here!

sdetweil

@jimb not a PITA. just odd that ip addr didn’t give u all adapters info

bhepler

@jimb said in Modifying the Config File:

IP Config from the OS prompt on the Pi yields -
“Link/loopback 'all zeros…”
“inet 127.0.0.0/8 scope host lo”

This should be the first entry of three in the response when you enter ip addr. The next entry should be your ethernet port, and the final entry should be your wireless LAN. My suggestion is to try this on your pi: ip addr | grep inet

Secondly, when Sam told you to switch on SSH, did you go into the config app and do it? You can get to it from the desktop but the fastest way is to type sudo raspi-config and then navigate to “Interface Options”->“SSH”. Make sure it is enabled.