Getting Started with the Tessel 2

Contributors: D___Run___, rwaldron, lyzadanger, reconbot

Hardware Setup

It's time to get your Tessel 2 set up. The steps we'll walk through now include:

1. Installing the t2-cli software tool
2. Connecting the Tessel 2 with a USB cable
3. Finding, renaming and provisioning the Tessel
4. Updating the Tessel's firmware

Installing the Command Line Tool

You interact with the Tessel 2 using a Command Line Interface (CLI) tool called t2-cli. This tool can be installed using npm (the Node.js package manager, which gets installed automatically with Node.js).

Type the following into your terminal:

npm install t2-cli -g

The -g piece of that command (a flag) is important; this will tell npm to install the package globally, not just in the current project or directory.

The installation will take a few moments, and you will see a bunch of stuff scroll by that looks sort of like this:

Troubleshooting

You're aiming for the LTS (Long-Term Support) version of Node.js, which at time of writing is v4.4.5. Learn more about how to upgrade and manage node versions with nvm.

Setting up your Tessel!

Now, time to get your hands dirty and get things up and running! Connect your Tessel 2 to your computer and give it about 30 seconds to boot up.

Once your Tessel 2 has booted (the blue LED will be steady instead of blinking), type the following command in your terminal:

t2 list

The t2-cli tool will look for connected Tessels. Tessels can be connected by USB or over WiFi, but for now it should spot your single, USB-connected Tessel. You'll see something like this:

Success! You can now communicate with your Tessel 2!

Naming Your Tessel 2

Giving your Tessel 2 a name is not required to use it, but it's fun and friendly. To name your Tessel 2 use the following command:

t2 rename [name]

For example, we renamed our Tessel 2 "Bishop" by typing the following:

t2 rename bishop

The t2-cli tool will respond with the following output:

Double-check it!

t2 list

Connecting Your Tessel 2 to the Internet

If you've ever configured and connected other embedded systems to the internet, the simplicity of this should make you grin.

You'll need to be connected to your local WiFi network first. To connect your Tessel to a WiFi network, type the following command into your terminal:

t2 wifi -n [SSID] -p [password]

Replace [SSID] with the name of your wireless network (careful, it's case-sensitive!) and [password] (well, I bet you can figure that out!).

You'll see some output that looks something like the following:

INFO Looking for your Tessel...
INFO Connected to bishop.
INFO WiFi Enabled.
INFO WiFi Connected. SSID: your-network-ssid, password: your-network-password, security: psk2

That's it -- simple as pie!

You can do a bunch of other stuff with your Tessel and network connectivity. Tessel's website has in-depth documentation on WiFi connection options.

Troubleshooting

Note: Like Kindles and some Androids, Tessel 2s don't play nice with 5GHz WiFi networks.

Provision Your Tessel 2

Your Tessel exists, has a name, and is connected to your WiFi network. The next step is to provision the Tessel. That creates a secure, trusted connection between your computer and the Tessel, whether it's connected by wire or over the air (WiFi). You'll need to do this before you can deploy code to the Tessel.

Type the following command in your terminal:

t2 provision

You'll see something like:

INFO Looking for your Tessel...
INFO Connected to bishop.
INFO Creating public and private keys for Tessel authentication...
INFO SSH Keys written.
INFO Authenticating Tessel with public key...
INFO Tessel authenticated with public key.

Verify it worked:

t2 list

You'll see your Tessel twice! That's because it's connected via USB and WiFi.

INFO Searching for nearby Tessels...
USB bishop
LAN bishop

Great! We have one last setup step.

Update Your Tessel 2

The Tessel community is constantly improving the software and firmware for the Tessel 2. It's likely that in the time between your Tessel 2's manufacture and now, the firmware has been updated. To update your Tessel, type the following command in your terminal:

t2 update

The update process can last some time, so I would recommend a snack break or checking up on some news feeds while this happens. When the update is finished you will get the command prompt back, and you are all ready to go with your Tessel 2!