https://www.andreagrandi.it/posts/howto-configure-ethernet-connection-ipad-raspberrypi-usbc/

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HowTo

How to configure an Ethernet connection between iPad and RaspberryPi
through USB-C

This tutorial explains how to configure an Ethernet connection
between an iPad and a RaspberryPi using the USB-C port.

Oct 26, 2024

I recently found out (thanks to this article from Juha-Matti Santala)
that not only you can power a RaspberryPi device through the USB-C of
an iPad but that you can also get an ethernet connection through it

Requirements

  * an USB-C iPad (I used an iPad Air 4th gen)
  * a USB-C cable (I used the one that comes with the iPad)
  * a RaspberryPi (you need at least a RPI 4. I used a RPi 5)
  * you already have SSH access to the RaspberryPi (I won't cover
    this part in this tutorial)
  * an updated bootloader on the RaspberryPi (check this
    documentation)

Configuration

 1. Connect to the RaspberryPi using SSH
 2. Become super user on the RaspberryPi: sudo su
 3. Edit /boot/firmware/cmdline.txt and add these options after
    rootwait:

1 modules-load=dwc2,g_ether

 4. Edit /boot/firmware/config.txt and make sure that otg_mode=1 is
    uncommented. Then add this line after the [all] section:

1 dtoverlay=dwc2

 5. Use this command to add a new connection:

1 nmcli con add type ethernet con-name ethernet-usb0

 6. Edit /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/
    ethernet-usb0.nmconnection and make sure you have these settings:

 1 [connection]
 2 id=ethernet-usb0
 3 uuid=<random group of characters here>
 4 type=ethernet
 5 autoconnect=true
 6 interface-name=usb0
 7 
 8 [ethernet]
 9 
10 [ipv4]
11 method=shared
12 
13 [ipv6]
14 addr-gen-mode=default
15 method=auto
16 
17 [proxy]

 7. Edit /usr/local/sbin/usb-gadget.sh and add this:

1 #!/bin/bash
2 
3 nmcli con up ethernet-usb0

 8. Make the file executable:

1 chmod a+rx /usr/local/sbin/usb-gadget.sh

 9. Edit /lib/systemd/system/usbgadget.service and add this:

 1 [Unit]
 2 Description=My USB gadget
 3 After=NetworkManager.service
 4 Wants=NetworkManager.service
 5 
 6 [Service]
 7 Type=oneshot
 8 RemainAfterExit=yes
 9 ExecStart=/usr/local/sbin/usb-gadget.sh
10 
11 [Install]
12 WantedBy=sysinit.target

10. Enable the service using this command:

1 systemctl enable usbgadget.service

11. Reboot the RaspberryPi:

1 reboot

Check the configuration is working

Connect the RaspberryPi to the iPad using the USB-C cable and wait
for it to boot. Once it finishes booting up, open Settings on the
iPad and check if there is an Ethernet section below the WiFi
Connection. If you find the entry, then it means the connection is
successful.

References

This tutorial has been written thanks to this other tutorial https://
github.com/verxion/RaspberryPi/blob/main/
Pi5-ethernet-and-power-over-usbc.md

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