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Configure network of an embedded device

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Nowadays many Internet connected embedded devices are controlled by an 
external proprietary cloud service (for example Sonoff[1] or Shelly[2]). 
The installation in the final destination is very simple to the end user 
that ignores completely all the technical issues:

1. connect the device to the local Ethernet network (WiFi is slightly 
more complex)
2. pair his mobile app to the device (QR code or serial number)
3. start configuring and using

Most probably the device works with DHCP client enabled, hoping to find 
a DHCP server on the network and receive a suitable IP address to make 
outcoming connection to the Cloud server. This happens in 99.99% of 
cases and the user is super happy.

In other situations, if the gadget features a small/big display, the 
advanced user could enter a network configuration menu and set the 
desired configuration (DHCP or fixed IP address). This happens for 
desktop PCs or tablets or similar gadgets (even if the user keeps most 
of the time the DHCP default configuration).

I'm designian't beng a small embedded device that hasn't a display and c 
controlled by a cloud system. It will be controlled on the local network 
through a simple web browser pointed to the IP address of the gadget. 
Indeed, a web server runs in the device.

I'm thinking to start with a fixed IP address, for example 
192.168.1.123. In 90% of cases the IP address can be used immediately 
(written on a label on the gadget or in the quick start guide) and the 
user could access the web page pointing the web browser to 
192.168.1.123. In cases where the local network isn't 192.168.1.x, the 
user should use a PC configured temporarily with a compatible IP address 
(192.168.1.124), access the web page and change the network configuration.

The problem happens when the user wants to install several devices on 
the same network, for example 10 devices. Even if the network is 
compatible (192.168.1.x) with the default fixed IP address 
(192.168.1.123), he should connect one device at a time and change its 
configuration before connecting another device to avoid IP addresses 
conflicts.

So I'm wondering if there's a standard or quasi-standard way to manage 
network configuration of devices on the same LAN.

The situation isn't so uncommon. IPCams are network oriented devices 
that can be controller by a Cloud service from the manufacturer, but 
mainly from a web page. It usually happens that more than one IPCam are 
installed on the same LAN.

For example, Dahua IPCams usually start with the fixed IP address 
192.168.1.108. They have a software (Config Tool) that can be used[3] to 
manage network configuration of multiple IPCams, even if they are 
installed at the same time with the default IP address 192.168.1.108.

Is it a proprietary solution that uses only Ethernet frames (MAC 
addresses) and not IP packets? Is it a well known protocol that I don't 
know?



[1] https://sonoff.tech/
[2] https://www.shelly.com/en-gb
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIiI1BIHfms

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Configure network of an embedded device pozz <pozzugno@gmail.com> - 2023-09-05 10:37 +0200
  Re: Configure network of an embedded device Dimiter_Popoff <dp@tgi-sci.com> - 2023-09-05 13:43 +0300
    Re: Configure network of an embedded device Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2023-09-07 11:03 -0700
  Re: Configure network of an embedded device Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2023-09-06 21:56 +0100
    Re: Configure network of an embedded device pozz <pozzugno@gmail.com> - 2023-09-07 09:54 +0200
      Re: Configure network of an embedded device Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2023-09-07 19:40 +0100
        Re: Configure network of an embedded device Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2023-09-07 13:19 -0700
        Re: Configure network of an embedded device Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2023-09-07 13:30 -0700
          Re: Configure network of an embedded device Dimiter_Popoff <dp@tgi-sci.com> - 2023-09-08 00:14 +0300
            Re: Configure network of an embedded device Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2023-09-07 14:31 -0700
              Re: Configure network of an embedded device Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2023-09-07 14:34 -0700
              Re: Configure network of an embedded device Dimiter_Popoff <dp@tgi-sci.com> - 2023-09-08 00:53 +0300
                Re: Configure network of an embedded device Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2023-09-07 15:21 -0700
                Re: Configure network of an embedded device Dimiter_Popoff <dp@tgi-sci.com> - 2023-09-08 02:05 +0300
                Re: Configure network of an embedded device Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2023-09-07 16:55 -0700
                Re: Configure network of an embedded device Dimiter_Popoff <dp@tgi-sci.com> - 2023-09-08 04:26 +0300
                Re: Configure network of an embedded device Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2023-09-07 18:57 -0700
          Re: Configure network of an embedded device Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2023-09-08 10:17 +0100
            Re: Configure network of an embedded device Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2023-09-08 03:20 -0700
  Re: Configure network of an embedded device Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2023-09-07 10:57 -0700
    Re: Configure network of an embedded device pozz <pozzugno@gmail.com> - 2023-09-08 09:41 +0200
      Re: Configure network of an embedded device Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2023-09-08 03:50 -0700
        Re: Configure network of an embedded device pozz <pozzugno@gmail.com> - 2023-09-08 13:56 +0200
          Re: Configure network of an embedded device Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2023-09-08 09:45 -0700
            Re: Configure network of an embedded device George Neuner <gneuner2@comcast.net> - 2023-09-08 16:50 -0400

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