How to communicate with a device that has an assigned “0.0.0.0” IP address?

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I have an piece of industrial equipment that runs on a pretty basic OS called VxWorks. I usually communicate with the system for troubleshooting purposes by setting my IPv4 IP to the same range as the local IP and then running diagnostic software.



A few weeks ago I found that for some odd reason the local IP addreess of the system set itself to 0.0.0.0. Now I want to get into diagnostics to change it but my PC will not permit setting an IP beginning in 0.



Is there any other way to communicate with a device that has a local IP of 0.0.0.0 using a windows PC.



There is no way to reset the device to factory default settings without shipping it back to the manufacturer.










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  • 1




    As others state 0.0.0.0 is not a routable address. Many pieces of software bind to 0.0.0.0 to allow that software to bind to whatever IP address is assigned to the network interface. This makes it easier—for example—to place the device on an DHCP setting and you just connect by getting the devices IP address and that’s that. My big question to you is why you are setting your machine’s IPv4 IP to the same range as the local IP to then running diagnostic software? Makes no sense. You should just get the device’s IP address and connect to that. That said, I have an idea. Posting an answer.
    – JakeGould
    3 hours ago











  • VX Works might not run DHCP and might therefore need a static IP address, something you would have to do internally on VX Works. In addition to that, any software or interfaces on your PC that talk to that VX Works machine would have to know that IP address. You would have to verify that all machines that need to talk to your VX Works machine know its IP address. It might auto-fill, or you might have to enter it manually. The all-0s address works as a default gateway, however, if your VX Works machine and your host it wants to talk to both have that gateway in common.
    – Shankensteinium
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    How were you able to determine that the device is using an IP address of 0.0.0.0? Did you use a piece of software that was able to communicate with the device over the network, or is there a basic Human-Machine Interface (HMI) on the device to show you the IP address? Also, to get the obvious question out of the way, have you tried turning it off and then on again to see if it picks up a sane address?
    – Sam Skuce
    1 hour ago











  • Literally assigning itself address 0.0.0.0 is not possible if it has a standards compliant IP stack. This leaves a couple of options: 1. It shows 0.0.0.0 as a way to signal that it failed to assign an IP address. 2. It has a broken IP stack which somehow managed to assign itself 0.0.0.0. I don't know enough about VxWorks to say which of the two is most likely. If it really has assigned address 0.0.0.0 you'd need a hacked up IP stack to communicate with it. But that will not do much good if it hasn't assigned an address at all.
    – kasperd
    12 mins ago














up vote
5
down vote

favorite












I have an piece of industrial equipment that runs on a pretty basic OS called VxWorks. I usually communicate with the system for troubleshooting purposes by setting my IPv4 IP to the same range as the local IP and then running diagnostic software.



A few weeks ago I found that for some odd reason the local IP addreess of the system set itself to 0.0.0.0. Now I want to get into diagnostics to change it but my PC will not permit setting an IP beginning in 0.



Is there any other way to communicate with a device that has a local IP of 0.0.0.0 using a windows PC.



There is no way to reset the device to factory default settings without shipping it back to the manufacturer.










share|improve this question









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Pablo Gonzalez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 1




    As others state 0.0.0.0 is not a routable address. Many pieces of software bind to 0.0.0.0 to allow that software to bind to whatever IP address is assigned to the network interface. This makes it easier—for example—to place the device on an DHCP setting and you just connect by getting the devices IP address and that’s that. My big question to you is why you are setting your machine’s IPv4 IP to the same range as the local IP to then running diagnostic software? Makes no sense. You should just get the device’s IP address and connect to that. That said, I have an idea. Posting an answer.
    – JakeGould
    3 hours ago











  • VX Works might not run DHCP and might therefore need a static IP address, something you would have to do internally on VX Works. In addition to that, any software or interfaces on your PC that talk to that VX Works machine would have to know that IP address. You would have to verify that all machines that need to talk to your VX Works machine know its IP address. It might auto-fill, or you might have to enter it manually. The all-0s address works as a default gateway, however, if your VX Works machine and your host it wants to talk to both have that gateway in common.
    – Shankensteinium
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    How were you able to determine that the device is using an IP address of 0.0.0.0? Did you use a piece of software that was able to communicate with the device over the network, or is there a basic Human-Machine Interface (HMI) on the device to show you the IP address? Also, to get the obvious question out of the way, have you tried turning it off and then on again to see if it picks up a sane address?
    – Sam Skuce
    1 hour ago











  • Literally assigning itself address 0.0.0.0 is not possible if it has a standards compliant IP stack. This leaves a couple of options: 1. It shows 0.0.0.0 as a way to signal that it failed to assign an IP address. 2. It has a broken IP stack which somehow managed to assign itself 0.0.0.0. I don't know enough about VxWorks to say which of the two is most likely. If it really has assigned address 0.0.0.0 you'd need a hacked up IP stack to communicate with it. But that will not do much good if it hasn't assigned an address at all.
    – kasperd
    12 mins ago












up vote
5
down vote

favorite









up vote
5
down vote

favorite











I have an piece of industrial equipment that runs on a pretty basic OS called VxWorks. I usually communicate with the system for troubleshooting purposes by setting my IPv4 IP to the same range as the local IP and then running diagnostic software.



A few weeks ago I found that for some odd reason the local IP addreess of the system set itself to 0.0.0.0. Now I want to get into diagnostics to change it but my PC will not permit setting an IP beginning in 0.



Is there any other way to communicate with a device that has a local IP of 0.0.0.0 using a windows PC.



There is no way to reset the device to factory default settings without shipping it back to the manufacturer.










share|improve this question









New contributor




Pablo Gonzalez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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I have an piece of industrial equipment that runs on a pretty basic OS called VxWorks. I usually communicate with the system for troubleshooting purposes by setting my IPv4 IP to the same range as the local IP and then running diagnostic software.



A few weeks ago I found that for some odd reason the local IP addreess of the system set itself to 0.0.0.0. Now I want to get into diagnostics to change it but my PC will not permit setting an IP beginning in 0.



Is there any other way to communicate with a device that has a local IP of 0.0.0.0 using a windows PC.



There is no way to reset the device to factory default settings without shipping it back to the manufacturer.







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edited 3 hours ago









JakeGould

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Pablo Gonzalez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Check out our Code of Conduct.







  • 1




    As others state 0.0.0.0 is not a routable address. Many pieces of software bind to 0.0.0.0 to allow that software to bind to whatever IP address is assigned to the network interface. This makes it easier—for example—to place the device on an DHCP setting and you just connect by getting the devices IP address and that’s that. My big question to you is why you are setting your machine’s IPv4 IP to the same range as the local IP to then running diagnostic software? Makes no sense. You should just get the device’s IP address and connect to that. That said, I have an idea. Posting an answer.
    – JakeGould
    3 hours ago











  • VX Works might not run DHCP and might therefore need a static IP address, something you would have to do internally on VX Works. In addition to that, any software or interfaces on your PC that talk to that VX Works machine would have to know that IP address. You would have to verify that all machines that need to talk to your VX Works machine know its IP address. It might auto-fill, or you might have to enter it manually. The all-0s address works as a default gateway, however, if your VX Works machine and your host it wants to talk to both have that gateway in common.
    – Shankensteinium
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    How were you able to determine that the device is using an IP address of 0.0.0.0? Did you use a piece of software that was able to communicate with the device over the network, or is there a basic Human-Machine Interface (HMI) on the device to show you the IP address? Also, to get the obvious question out of the way, have you tried turning it off and then on again to see if it picks up a sane address?
    – Sam Skuce
    1 hour ago











  • Literally assigning itself address 0.0.0.0 is not possible if it has a standards compliant IP stack. This leaves a couple of options: 1. It shows 0.0.0.0 as a way to signal that it failed to assign an IP address. 2. It has a broken IP stack which somehow managed to assign itself 0.0.0.0. I don't know enough about VxWorks to say which of the two is most likely. If it really has assigned address 0.0.0.0 you'd need a hacked up IP stack to communicate with it. But that will not do much good if it hasn't assigned an address at all.
    – kasperd
    12 mins ago












  • 1




    As others state 0.0.0.0 is not a routable address. Many pieces of software bind to 0.0.0.0 to allow that software to bind to whatever IP address is assigned to the network interface. This makes it easier—for example—to place the device on an DHCP setting and you just connect by getting the devices IP address and that’s that. My big question to you is why you are setting your machine’s IPv4 IP to the same range as the local IP to then running diagnostic software? Makes no sense. You should just get the device’s IP address and connect to that. That said, I have an idea. Posting an answer.
    – JakeGould
    3 hours ago











  • VX Works might not run DHCP and might therefore need a static IP address, something you would have to do internally on VX Works. In addition to that, any software or interfaces on your PC that talk to that VX Works machine would have to know that IP address. You would have to verify that all machines that need to talk to your VX Works machine know its IP address. It might auto-fill, or you might have to enter it manually. The all-0s address works as a default gateway, however, if your VX Works machine and your host it wants to talk to both have that gateway in common.
    – Shankensteinium
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    How were you able to determine that the device is using an IP address of 0.0.0.0? Did you use a piece of software that was able to communicate with the device over the network, or is there a basic Human-Machine Interface (HMI) on the device to show you the IP address? Also, to get the obvious question out of the way, have you tried turning it off and then on again to see if it picks up a sane address?
    – Sam Skuce
    1 hour ago











  • Literally assigning itself address 0.0.0.0 is not possible if it has a standards compliant IP stack. This leaves a couple of options: 1. It shows 0.0.0.0 as a way to signal that it failed to assign an IP address. 2. It has a broken IP stack which somehow managed to assign itself 0.0.0.0. I don't know enough about VxWorks to say which of the two is most likely. If it really has assigned address 0.0.0.0 you'd need a hacked up IP stack to communicate with it. But that will not do much good if it hasn't assigned an address at all.
    – kasperd
    12 mins ago







1




1




As others state 0.0.0.0 is not a routable address. Many pieces of software bind to 0.0.0.0 to allow that software to bind to whatever IP address is assigned to the network interface. This makes it easier—for example—to place the device on an DHCP setting and you just connect by getting the devices IP address and that’s that. My big question to you is why you are setting your machine’s IPv4 IP to the same range as the local IP to then running diagnostic software? Makes no sense. You should just get the device’s IP address and connect to that. That said, I have an idea. Posting an answer.
– JakeGould
3 hours ago





As others state 0.0.0.0 is not a routable address. Many pieces of software bind to 0.0.0.0 to allow that software to bind to whatever IP address is assigned to the network interface. This makes it easier—for example—to place the device on an DHCP setting and you just connect by getting the devices IP address and that’s that. My big question to you is why you are setting your machine’s IPv4 IP to the same range as the local IP to then running diagnostic software? Makes no sense. You should just get the device’s IP address and connect to that. That said, I have an idea. Posting an answer.
– JakeGould
3 hours ago













VX Works might not run DHCP and might therefore need a static IP address, something you would have to do internally on VX Works. In addition to that, any software or interfaces on your PC that talk to that VX Works machine would have to know that IP address. You would have to verify that all machines that need to talk to your VX Works machine know its IP address. It might auto-fill, or you might have to enter it manually. The all-0s address works as a default gateway, however, if your VX Works machine and your host it wants to talk to both have that gateway in common.
– Shankensteinium
2 hours ago




VX Works might not run DHCP and might therefore need a static IP address, something you would have to do internally on VX Works. In addition to that, any software or interfaces on your PC that talk to that VX Works machine would have to know that IP address. You would have to verify that all machines that need to talk to your VX Works machine know its IP address. It might auto-fill, or you might have to enter it manually. The all-0s address works as a default gateway, however, if your VX Works machine and your host it wants to talk to both have that gateway in common.
– Shankensteinium
2 hours ago




1




1




How were you able to determine that the device is using an IP address of 0.0.0.0? Did you use a piece of software that was able to communicate with the device over the network, or is there a basic Human-Machine Interface (HMI) on the device to show you the IP address? Also, to get the obvious question out of the way, have you tried turning it off and then on again to see if it picks up a sane address?
– Sam Skuce
1 hour ago





How were you able to determine that the device is using an IP address of 0.0.0.0? Did you use a piece of software that was able to communicate with the device over the network, or is there a basic Human-Machine Interface (HMI) on the device to show you the IP address? Also, to get the obvious question out of the way, have you tried turning it off and then on again to see if it picks up a sane address?
– Sam Skuce
1 hour ago













Literally assigning itself address 0.0.0.0 is not possible if it has a standards compliant IP stack. This leaves a couple of options: 1. It shows 0.0.0.0 as a way to signal that it failed to assign an IP address. 2. It has a broken IP stack which somehow managed to assign itself 0.0.0.0. I don't know enough about VxWorks to say which of the two is most likely. If it really has assigned address 0.0.0.0 you'd need a hacked up IP stack to communicate with it. But that will not do much good if it hasn't assigned an address at all.
– kasperd
12 mins ago




Literally assigning itself address 0.0.0.0 is not possible if it has a standards compliant IP stack. This leaves a couple of options: 1. It shows 0.0.0.0 as a way to signal that it failed to assign an IP address. 2. It has a broken IP stack which somehow managed to assign itself 0.0.0.0. I don't know enough about VxWorks to say which of the two is most likely. If it really has assigned address 0.0.0.0 you'd need a hacked up IP stack to communicate with it. But that will not do much good if it hasn't assigned an address at all.
– kasperd
12 mins ago










4 Answers
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0.0.0.0 is not a valid IP address. RFC1700 (a) states that 0.0.0.0/8 (0.anything.anything.anything) is reserved as a source address only.



Normally you'll see systems and applications bind ports to 0.0.0.0 which means the port is accessible from any interface.



I'm not familiar with VxWrks but I would assume that there is a way to specify a local IP for interfacing with other computer devices.



WindRiver has a variety of manuals on how to configure the IP setup.






share|improve this answer






















  • If 0.0.0.0 is only valid as a source, then how are ports bound to 0.0.0.0 accessible at all? I'm sure I'm missing a detail but this sounds like a contradiction.
    – Captain Man
    13 mins ago










  • @CaptainMan: You're confusing an aspect of the sockets API with an aspect of the IP protocol. Binding 0.0.0.0 is an API-level thing to accept packets/connections addressed to any locally configured address. It does not involve packets addressed to 0.0.0.0 travelling anywhere at the protocol level.
    – R..
    3 mins ago

















up vote
4
down vote













The 0.0.0.0 IP address is fine but I would guess that something else has changed on the network that device is on to block zero-configuration networking traffic from allowing your diagnostic software to easily connect to that device.



As others, state in their answer 0.0.0.0 is a non-routable IP address that is often used by software to bind on any IP address on all networking interfaces on a device. This basically means:




“Hey I am a piece of software and will accept any connection made to any assigned IP address on the machine I am running on.”




So if the device uses DHCP and gets an assigned address of 1.2.3.4 then you can connect to that device at 1.2.3.4. And if that address changes to 5.6.7.8 the device will happily allow you to connect to it via 5.6.7.8.



So the 0.0.0.0 seems to be something you discovered but is not the cause of the problem. Rather, I’m my opinion, the issue you have is revealed when you state:




“I usually communicate with the system for troubleshooting purposes by setting my IPv4 IP to the same range as the local IP and then running diagnostic software.”




First, that seems odd. Why would you need to change your machine’s local IP address to connect to the VxWorks device? Shouldn’t you just connect directly to the IP address of the device?



Well, when you state this all I can think of is that the device—and the diagnostic software—might operate using some sort of zero-configuration networking setup. Meaning, the device broadcasts on the network, and the diagnostic software is designed to seek out these device broadcasts to help it connect to device without knowing the exact IP address.



This kind of self-configuring network connection stuff is a convenience until it becomes a headache.



My first guess is that you can connect to the device directly if you can determine what IP address it has assigned to it. And thinking even more, I bet that the reason you could connect to it in the past—but not now—might have to do with some networking change that has blocked the ports that device’s zero-configuration networking setup is broadcasting on. What port that may be? Unsure. But if zero-configuration traffic is not being routed through the network, then that is why you can’t connect to the device and the 0.0.0.0 IP address has nothing to do with it.






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    up vote
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    down vote













    0.0.0.0 is an unroutable address. There is no way you can route to it because "it doesn't really exist", or actually, "can exist in too many places".



    It can have slightly different meanings depending if it's a host or a route.



    As a route, which is not applicable in this case, it means "default route" which with no further instruction means either the default gateway, or "any of my routes", or similar to 127.0.0.1



    As a host, then most notably in your case, it is either; as explained on Wikipedia:




    The address a host claims as its own when it has not yet been assigned an address. Such as when sending the initial DHCPDISCOVER packet when using DHCP.



    The address a host assigns to itself when address request via DHCP has failed, provided the host's IP stack supports this.




    Assuming it usually uses DHCP, a couple of things to try, rather than a full reset - 'switch it off & on again' or just unplug the network, wait a minute, plug it back in. It might just ask for a new DHCP address.



    Also, of course, make sure it can actually see its DHCP server.






    share|improve this answer





























      up vote
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      You can trick your PC into thinking that device has a real IP address. But you need the physical address, the thingy with 6 two-hexa-digits fields.
      You do that by adding it to your arp resolution table. In Windows, open a cmd terminal and use arp.



      arp -s <IP address> <physical address>


      Of course, you need an IP address unique and in your network. Otherwise, the stack is going to reroute somewhere else. If you get to this point, you should be able to access the device. The network infrastructure will route according to the physical address.



      In Linux is pretty much the same. Open a terminal, use arp.



      It may not work!! Some devices answer only to their own IP. But I'm guessing it's not your case.






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        4 Answers
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        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

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        active

        oldest

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        active

        oldest

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        up vote
        6
        down vote













        0.0.0.0 is not a valid IP address. RFC1700 (a) states that 0.0.0.0/8 (0.anything.anything.anything) is reserved as a source address only.



        Normally you'll see systems and applications bind ports to 0.0.0.0 which means the port is accessible from any interface.



        I'm not familiar with VxWrks but I would assume that there is a way to specify a local IP for interfacing with other computer devices.



        WindRiver has a variety of manuals on how to configure the IP setup.






        share|improve this answer






















        • If 0.0.0.0 is only valid as a source, then how are ports bound to 0.0.0.0 accessible at all? I'm sure I'm missing a detail but this sounds like a contradiction.
          – Captain Man
          13 mins ago










        • @CaptainMan: You're confusing an aspect of the sockets API with an aspect of the IP protocol. Binding 0.0.0.0 is an API-level thing to accept packets/connections addressed to any locally configured address. It does not involve packets addressed to 0.0.0.0 travelling anywhere at the protocol level.
          – R..
          3 mins ago














        up vote
        6
        down vote













        0.0.0.0 is not a valid IP address. RFC1700 (a) states that 0.0.0.0/8 (0.anything.anything.anything) is reserved as a source address only.



        Normally you'll see systems and applications bind ports to 0.0.0.0 which means the port is accessible from any interface.



        I'm not familiar with VxWrks but I would assume that there is a way to specify a local IP for interfacing with other computer devices.



        WindRiver has a variety of manuals on how to configure the IP setup.






        share|improve this answer






















        • If 0.0.0.0 is only valid as a source, then how are ports bound to 0.0.0.0 accessible at all? I'm sure I'm missing a detail but this sounds like a contradiction.
          – Captain Man
          13 mins ago










        • @CaptainMan: You're confusing an aspect of the sockets API with an aspect of the IP protocol. Binding 0.0.0.0 is an API-level thing to accept packets/connections addressed to any locally configured address. It does not involve packets addressed to 0.0.0.0 travelling anywhere at the protocol level.
          – R..
          3 mins ago












        up vote
        6
        down vote










        up vote
        6
        down vote









        0.0.0.0 is not a valid IP address. RFC1700 (a) states that 0.0.0.0/8 (0.anything.anything.anything) is reserved as a source address only.



        Normally you'll see systems and applications bind ports to 0.0.0.0 which means the port is accessible from any interface.



        I'm not familiar with VxWrks but I would assume that there is a way to specify a local IP for interfacing with other computer devices.



        WindRiver has a variety of manuals on how to configure the IP setup.






        share|improve this answer














        0.0.0.0 is not a valid IP address. RFC1700 (a) states that 0.0.0.0/8 (0.anything.anything.anything) is reserved as a source address only.



        Normally you'll see systems and applications bind ports to 0.0.0.0 which means the port is accessible from any interface.



        I'm not familiar with VxWrks but I would assume that there is a way to specify a local IP for interfacing with other computer devices.



        WindRiver has a variety of manuals on how to configure the IP setup.







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited 3 hours ago









        JakeGould

        30.2k1092133




        30.2k1092133










        answered 4 hours ago









        Hogstrom

        818116




        818116











        • If 0.0.0.0 is only valid as a source, then how are ports bound to 0.0.0.0 accessible at all? I'm sure I'm missing a detail but this sounds like a contradiction.
          – Captain Man
          13 mins ago










        • @CaptainMan: You're confusing an aspect of the sockets API with an aspect of the IP protocol. Binding 0.0.0.0 is an API-level thing to accept packets/connections addressed to any locally configured address. It does not involve packets addressed to 0.0.0.0 travelling anywhere at the protocol level.
          – R..
          3 mins ago
















        • If 0.0.0.0 is only valid as a source, then how are ports bound to 0.0.0.0 accessible at all? I'm sure I'm missing a detail but this sounds like a contradiction.
          – Captain Man
          13 mins ago










        • @CaptainMan: You're confusing an aspect of the sockets API with an aspect of the IP protocol. Binding 0.0.0.0 is an API-level thing to accept packets/connections addressed to any locally configured address. It does not involve packets addressed to 0.0.0.0 travelling anywhere at the protocol level.
          – R..
          3 mins ago















        If 0.0.0.0 is only valid as a source, then how are ports bound to 0.0.0.0 accessible at all? I'm sure I'm missing a detail but this sounds like a contradiction.
        – Captain Man
        13 mins ago




        If 0.0.0.0 is only valid as a source, then how are ports bound to 0.0.0.0 accessible at all? I'm sure I'm missing a detail but this sounds like a contradiction.
        – Captain Man
        13 mins ago












        @CaptainMan: You're confusing an aspect of the sockets API with an aspect of the IP protocol. Binding 0.0.0.0 is an API-level thing to accept packets/connections addressed to any locally configured address. It does not involve packets addressed to 0.0.0.0 travelling anywhere at the protocol level.
        – R..
        3 mins ago




        @CaptainMan: You're confusing an aspect of the sockets API with an aspect of the IP protocol. Binding 0.0.0.0 is an API-level thing to accept packets/connections addressed to any locally configured address. It does not involve packets addressed to 0.0.0.0 travelling anywhere at the protocol level.
        – R..
        3 mins ago












        up vote
        4
        down vote













        The 0.0.0.0 IP address is fine but I would guess that something else has changed on the network that device is on to block zero-configuration networking traffic from allowing your diagnostic software to easily connect to that device.



        As others, state in their answer 0.0.0.0 is a non-routable IP address that is often used by software to bind on any IP address on all networking interfaces on a device. This basically means:




        “Hey I am a piece of software and will accept any connection made to any assigned IP address on the machine I am running on.”




        So if the device uses DHCP and gets an assigned address of 1.2.3.4 then you can connect to that device at 1.2.3.4. And if that address changes to 5.6.7.8 the device will happily allow you to connect to it via 5.6.7.8.



        So the 0.0.0.0 seems to be something you discovered but is not the cause of the problem. Rather, I’m my opinion, the issue you have is revealed when you state:




        “I usually communicate with the system for troubleshooting purposes by setting my IPv4 IP to the same range as the local IP and then running diagnostic software.”




        First, that seems odd. Why would you need to change your machine’s local IP address to connect to the VxWorks device? Shouldn’t you just connect directly to the IP address of the device?



        Well, when you state this all I can think of is that the device—and the diagnostic software—might operate using some sort of zero-configuration networking setup. Meaning, the device broadcasts on the network, and the diagnostic software is designed to seek out these device broadcasts to help it connect to device without knowing the exact IP address.



        This kind of self-configuring network connection stuff is a convenience until it becomes a headache.



        My first guess is that you can connect to the device directly if you can determine what IP address it has assigned to it. And thinking even more, I bet that the reason you could connect to it in the past—but not now—might have to do with some networking change that has blocked the ports that device’s zero-configuration networking setup is broadcasting on. What port that may be? Unsure. But if zero-configuration traffic is not being routed through the network, then that is why you can’t connect to the device and the 0.0.0.0 IP address has nothing to do with it.






        share|improve this answer


























          up vote
          4
          down vote













          The 0.0.0.0 IP address is fine but I would guess that something else has changed on the network that device is on to block zero-configuration networking traffic from allowing your diagnostic software to easily connect to that device.



          As others, state in their answer 0.0.0.0 is a non-routable IP address that is often used by software to bind on any IP address on all networking interfaces on a device. This basically means:




          “Hey I am a piece of software and will accept any connection made to any assigned IP address on the machine I am running on.”




          So if the device uses DHCP and gets an assigned address of 1.2.3.4 then you can connect to that device at 1.2.3.4. And if that address changes to 5.6.7.8 the device will happily allow you to connect to it via 5.6.7.8.



          So the 0.0.0.0 seems to be something you discovered but is not the cause of the problem. Rather, I’m my opinion, the issue you have is revealed when you state:




          “I usually communicate with the system for troubleshooting purposes by setting my IPv4 IP to the same range as the local IP and then running diagnostic software.”




          First, that seems odd. Why would you need to change your machine’s local IP address to connect to the VxWorks device? Shouldn’t you just connect directly to the IP address of the device?



          Well, when you state this all I can think of is that the device—and the diagnostic software—might operate using some sort of zero-configuration networking setup. Meaning, the device broadcasts on the network, and the diagnostic software is designed to seek out these device broadcasts to help it connect to device without knowing the exact IP address.



          This kind of self-configuring network connection stuff is a convenience until it becomes a headache.



          My first guess is that you can connect to the device directly if you can determine what IP address it has assigned to it. And thinking even more, I bet that the reason you could connect to it in the past—but not now—might have to do with some networking change that has blocked the ports that device’s zero-configuration networking setup is broadcasting on. What port that may be? Unsure. But if zero-configuration traffic is not being routed through the network, then that is why you can’t connect to the device and the 0.0.0.0 IP address has nothing to do with it.






          share|improve this answer
























            up vote
            4
            down vote










            up vote
            4
            down vote









            The 0.0.0.0 IP address is fine but I would guess that something else has changed on the network that device is on to block zero-configuration networking traffic from allowing your diagnostic software to easily connect to that device.



            As others, state in their answer 0.0.0.0 is a non-routable IP address that is often used by software to bind on any IP address on all networking interfaces on a device. This basically means:




            “Hey I am a piece of software and will accept any connection made to any assigned IP address on the machine I am running on.”




            So if the device uses DHCP and gets an assigned address of 1.2.3.4 then you can connect to that device at 1.2.3.4. And if that address changes to 5.6.7.8 the device will happily allow you to connect to it via 5.6.7.8.



            So the 0.0.0.0 seems to be something you discovered but is not the cause of the problem. Rather, I’m my opinion, the issue you have is revealed when you state:




            “I usually communicate with the system for troubleshooting purposes by setting my IPv4 IP to the same range as the local IP and then running diagnostic software.”




            First, that seems odd. Why would you need to change your machine’s local IP address to connect to the VxWorks device? Shouldn’t you just connect directly to the IP address of the device?



            Well, when you state this all I can think of is that the device—and the diagnostic software—might operate using some sort of zero-configuration networking setup. Meaning, the device broadcasts on the network, and the diagnostic software is designed to seek out these device broadcasts to help it connect to device without knowing the exact IP address.



            This kind of self-configuring network connection stuff is a convenience until it becomes a headache.



            My first guess is that you can connect to the device directly if you can determine what IP address it has assigned to it. And thinking even more, I bet that the reason you could connect to it in the past—but not now—might have to do with some networking change that has blocked the ports that device’s zero-configuration networking setup is broadcasting on. What port that may be? Unsure. But if zero-configuration traffic is not being routed through the network, then that is why you can’t connect to the device and the 0.0.0.0 IP address has nothing to do with it.






            share|improve this answer














            The 0.0.0.0 IP address is fine but I would guess that something else has changed on the network that device is on to block zero-configuration networking traffic from allowing your diagnostic software to easily connect to that device.



            As others, state in their answer 0.0.0.0 is a non-routable IP address that is often used by software to bind on any IP address on all networking interfaces on a device. This basically means:




            “Hey I am a piece of software and will accept any connection made to any assigned IP address on the machine I am running on.”




            So if the device uses DHCP and gets an assigned address of 1.2.3.4 then you can connect to that device at 1.2.3.4. And if that address changes to 5.6.7.8 the device will happily allow you to connect to it via 5.6.7.8.



            So the 0.0.0.0 seems to be something you discovered but is not the cause of the problem. Rather, I’m my opinion, the issue you have is revealed when you state:




            “I usually communicate with the system for troubleshooting purposes by setting my IPv4 IP to the same range as the local IP and then running diagnostic software.”




            First, that seems odd. Why would you need to change your machine’s local IP address to connect to the VxWorks device? Shouldn’t you just connect directly to the IP address of the device?



            Well, when you state this all I can think of is that the device—and the diagnostic software—might operate using some sort of zero-configuration networking setup. Meaning, the device broadcasts on the network, and the diagnostic software is designed to seek out these device broadcasts to help it connect to device without knowing the exact IP address.



            This kind of self-configuring network connection stuff is a convenience until it becomes a headache.



            My first guess is that you can connect to the device directly if you can determine what IP address it has assigned to it. And thinking even more, I bet that the reason you could connect to it in the past—but not now—might have to do with some networking change that has blocked the ports that device’s zero-configuration networking setup is broadcasting on. What port that may be? Unsure. But if zero-configuration traffic is not being routed through the network, then that is why you can’t connect to the device and the 0.0.0.0 IP address has nothing to do with it.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited 58 mins ago

























            answered 2 hours ago









            JakeGould

            30.2k1092133




            30.2k1092133




















                up vote
                3
                down vote













                0.0.0.0 is an unroutable address. There is no way you can route to it because "it doesn't really exist", or actually, "can exist in too many places".



                It can have slightly different meanings depending if it's a host or a route.



                As a route, which is not applicable in this case, it means "default route" which with no further instruction means either the default gateway, or "any of my routes", or similar to 127.0.0.1



                As a host, then most notably in your case, it is either; as explained on Wikipedia:




                The address a host claims as its own when it has not yet been assigned an address. Such as when sending the initial DHCPDISCOVER packet when using DHCP.



                The address a host assigns to itself when address request via DHCP has failed, provided the host's IP stack supports this.




                Assuming it usually uses DHCP, a couple of things to try, rather than a full reset - 'switch it off & on again' or just unplug the network, wait a minute, plug it back in. It might just ask for a new DHCP address.



                Also, of course, make sure it can actually see its DHCP server.






                share|improve this answer


























                  up vote
                  3
                  down vote













                  0.0.0.0 is an unroutable address. There is no way you can route to it because "it doesn't really exist", or actually, "can exist in too many places".



                  It can have slightly different meanings depending if it's a host or a route.



                  As a route, which is not applicable in this case, it means "default route" which with no further instruction means either the default gateway, or "any of my routes", or similar to 127.0.0.1



                  As a host, then most notably in your case, it is either; as explained on Wikipedia:




                  The address a host claims as its own when it has not yet been assigned an address. Such as when sending the initial DHCPDISCOVER packet when using DHCP.



                  The address a host assigns to itself when address request via DHCP has failed, provided the host's IP stack supports this.




                  Assuming it usually uses DHCP, a couple of things to try, rather than a full reset - 'switch it off & on again' or just unplug the network, wait a minute, plug it back in. It might just ask for a new DHCP address.



                  Also, of course, make sure it can actually see its DHCP server.






                  share|improve this answer
























                    up vote
                    3
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    3
                    down vote









                    0.0.0.0 is an unroutable address. There is no way you can route to it because "it doesn't really exist", or actually, "can exist in too many places".



                    It can have slightly different meanings depending if it's a host or a route.



                    As a route, which is not applicable in this case, it means "default route" which with no further instruction means either the default gateway, or "any of my routes", or similar to 127.0.0.1



                    As a host, then most notably in your case, it is either; as explained on Wikipedia:




                    The address a host claims as its own when it has not yet been assigned an address. Such as when sending the initial DHCPDISCOVER packet when using DHCP.



                    The address a host assigns to itself when address request via DHCP has failed, provided the host's IP stack supports this.




                    Assuming it usually uses DHCP, a couple of things to try, rather than a full reset - 'switch it off & on again' or just unplug the network, wait a minute, plug it back in. It might just ask for a new DHCP address.



                    Also, of course, make sure it can actually see its DHCP server.






                    share|improve this answer














                    0.0.0.0 is an unroutable address. There is no way you can route to it because "it doesn't really exist", or actually, "can exist in too many places".



                    It can have slightly different meanings depending if it's a host or a route.



                    As a route, which is not applicable in this case, it means "default route" which with no further instruction means either the default gateway, or "any of my routes", or similar to 127.0.0.1



                    As a host, then most notably in your case, it is either; as explained on Wikipedia:




                    The address a host claims as its own when it has not yet been assigned an address. Such as when sending the initial DHCPDISCOVER packet when using DHCP.



                    The address a host assigns to itself when address request via DHCP has failed, provided the host's IP stack supports this.




                    Assuming it usually uses DHCP, a couple of things to try, rather than a full reset - 'switch it off & on again' or just unplug the network, wait a minute, plug it back in. It might just ask for a new DHCP address.



                    Also, of course, make sure it can actually see its DHCP server.







                    share|improve this answer














                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited 3 hours ago









                    JakeGould

                    30.2k1092133




                    30.2k1092133










                    answered 4 hours ago









                    Tetsujin

                    14.9k53159




                    14.9k53159




















                        up vote
                        2
                        down vote













                        You can trick your PC into thinking that device has a real IP address. But you need the physical address, the thingy with 6 two-hexa-digits fields.
                        You do that by adding it to your arp resolution table. In Windows, open a cmd terminal and use arp.



                        arp -s <IP address> <physical address>


                        Of course, you need an IP address unique and in your network. Otherwise, the stack is going to reroute somewhere else. If you get to this point, you should be able to access the device. The network infrastructure will route according to the physical address.



                        In Linux is pretty much the same. Open a terminal, use arp.



                        It may not work!! Some devices answer only to their own IP. But I'm guessing it's not your case.






                        share|improve this answer










                        New contributor




                        Gabe Mizuka is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.





















                          up vote
                          2
                          down vote













                          You can trick your PC into thinking that device has a real IP address. But you need the physical address, the thingy with 6 two-hexa-digits fields.
                          You do that by adding it to your arp resolution table. In Windows, open a cmd terminal and use arp.



                          arp -s <IP address> <physical address>


                          Of course, you need an IP address unique and in your network. Otherwise, the stack is going to reroute somewhere else. If you get to this point, you should be able to access the device. The network infrastructure will route according to the physical address.



                          In Linux is pretty much the same. Open a terminal, use arp.



                          It may not work!! Some devices answer only to their own IP. But I'm guessing it's not your case.






                          share|improve this answer










                          New contributor




                          Gabe Mizuka is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                          Check out our Code of Conduct.



















                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote









                            You can trick your PC into thinking that device has a real IP address. But you need the physical address, the thingy with 6 two-hexa-digits fields.
                            You do that by adding it to your arp resolution table. In Windows, open a cmd terminal and use arp.



                            arp -s <IP address> <physical address>


                            Of course, you need an IP address unique and in your network. Otherwise, the stack is going to reroute somewhere else. If you get to this point, you should be able to access the device. The network infrastructure will route according to the physical address.



                            In Linux is pretty much the same. Open a terminal, use arp.



                            It may not work!! Some devices answer only to their own IP. But I'm guessing it's not your case.






                            share|improve this answer










                            New contributor




                            Gabe Mizuka is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.









                            You can trick your PC into thinking that device has a real IP address. But you need the physical address, the thingy with 6 two-hexa-digits fields.
                            You do that by adding it to your arp resolution table. In Windows, open a cmd terminal and use arp.



                            arp -s <IP address> <physical address>


                            Of course, you need an IP address unique and in your network. Otherwise, the stack is going to reroute somewhere else. If you get to this point, you should be able to access the device. The network infrastructure will route according to the physical address.



                            In Linux is pretty much the same. Open a terminal, use arp.



                            It may not work!! Some devices answer only to their own IP. But I'm guessing it's not your case.







                            share|improve this answer










                            New contributor




                            Gabe Mizuka is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.









                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer








                            edited 1 hour ago









                            JakeGould

                            30.2k1092133




                            30.2k1092133






                            New contributor




                            Gabe Mizuka is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.









                            answered 1 hour ago









                            Gabe Mizuka

                            211




                            211




                            New contributor




                            Gabe Mizuka is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.





                            New contributor





                            Gabe Mizuka is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.






                            Gabe Mizuka is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.




















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