If you have an official Sony™ Network adaptor, and you intend to use SMS to play media files stored on a network, you will need to assign an IP address and subnet to the PS2. Chances are you'll want this in a semi permanent set-up, so this section helps you pick settings that will be compatible with your home network.

IP configuration data for SMS is stored in mc0:/SYS-CONF/IPCONFIG.DAT. (not CONFIG.DAT). Note that the two files are seperate. SMS will not look for settings in mc0:/BxDATA-SYSTEM/CONFIG.DAT.

To set the IP address for your PS2, you will need to create a file named IPCONFIG.DAT (e.g. using notepad) and it should have just one line of text:

      <ps2_ip_address> <ps2_subnet_mask> <ps2_default_gateway>
    

If you created a CONFIG.DAT file in the Chapter 2, Installation section, you can use the same file, but remember rename it to IPCONFIG.DAT. Once you have created this file, you must copy it to your PS2, into the location mc0:/SYS-CONF/IPCONFIG.DAT. You can do this using the FTP technique described in the installation section.

If you are using uLaunchELF as your boot browser, it's easy to configure your SMS IP settings. Just use the boot browser's Network Settings option to change the settings with your D-Pad. There's no need to create an mc0:/SYS-CONF/IPCONFIG.DAT file manually.

You'll need to choose an IP address for your PS2 that is different from the IP address of any other node on your network, but on the same subnet as your PC. You will have to turn DHCP off on your PC, and use a manual (or static) IP configuration. SMS cannot autoconfigure it's IP address from a DHCP server (see DHCP FAQ.

2.6.1.1.  Example configuration 1

This configuration is for a PS2 and PC connected directly with a crossover cable, or for both connected to a network switch. There is no internet gateway device to connect to, so the gateway is set to the IP address of the PC.

PS2 Settings	PS2 IP Address:	192.168.0.2
	PS2 Subnet Mask:	255.255.255.0
	PS2 Default Gateway:	192.168.0.1
	mc0:/SYS-CONF/IPCONFIG.DAT
PC Settings	PC IP Address:	192.168.0.1
	PC Subnet Mask:	255.255.255.0
	PC Default Gateway:	192.168.0.1

2.6.1.2.  Example configuration 2

Here is the configuration I use at home. Both PS2 and PC are on the same 192.168.2._ subnet, and my internet access point / router is at 192.168.2.1.

PS2 Settings	PS2 IP Address:	192.168.2.22
	PS2 Subnet Mask:	255.255.255.0
	PS2 Default Gateway:	192.168.2.1
	mc0:/SYS-CONF/IPCONFIG.DAT
PC Settings	PC IP Address:	192.168.2.23
	PC Subnet Mask:	255.255.255.0
	PC Default Gateway:	192.168.2.1

Warning

If you are connected to the internet via the same network that you are using to connect to your PS2 be very careful when you change your PC's IP settings. You must make sure that your PC is set to be on the same subnet as your access point/router (i.e. the first three numbers of the PC IP address are the same as the access point/router), and that the PC Default Gateway remains the same (this will normally be the IP address of your access point. Failure to do this may break your internet connection. If you are not sure what you are doing, please make a note of your starting settings by typing ipconfig /all at the command prompt.

SMS general configuration information is stored in mc0:/SMS/SMS.cfg. This file is written by the application when you save the configuration data, and is not designed to be edited by hand. You do not need to create this file. SMS will create the file when you save the configuration from within SMS (see configuration menu in usage section).