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I have been working on a project that uses Pi Zeros as remote cameras. Recently, I have an application that requires them to be hardwired, so I have been experimenting with the Ethernet over USB function on the Zeros. I have it working on OS X and Linux (Ubuntu).

I followed these steps (not including the static ip): https://learn.adafruit.com/turning-your-raspberry-pi-zero-into-a-usb-gadget/ethernet-gadget

[edit]: Changed to to using the tutorial suggested in the comments, following the Ethernet gadget section. https://www.isticktoit.net/?p=1383

However, I cannot connect the Zeros to a Pi 4 via ethernet over USB. I thought it would be the same process as my Linux computer, but the Pi 4 does not show the usb0 when the Zero is plugged in.

Are there extra steps I need to take to enable the USB interface on the Pi 4? Is there a better tutorial I could be following?

My goal is to plug 4x Zeros in to the Pi 4 via USB and control them through SSH.

Here is the dmesg when I plug the Zero into the Pi4. However the cable was tested on my laptop using the Zero. 

[  176.391762] Under-voltage detected! (0x00050005)
[  182.631705] Voltage normalised (0x00000000)
[  189.081934] usb 1-1-port2: Cannot enable. Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[  189.991993] usb 1-1-port2: Cannot enable. Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[  189.992184] usb 1-1-port2: attempt power cycle
[  191.271930] usb 1-1-port2: Cannot enable. Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[  192.182002] usb 1-1-port2: Cannot enable. Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[  192.182192] usb 1-1-port2: unable to enumerate USB device

After connecting to the power supply that came with the Pi4. It keeps repeating this block, iterating the device number each time.

[  119.141654] usb 1-1.4: new high-speed USB device number 25 using xhci_hcd
[  119.272720] usb 1-1.4: New USB device found, idVendor=0525, idProduct=a4a2, bcdDevice= 4.19
[  119.272736] usb 1-1.4: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
[  119.272750] usb 1-1.4: Product: RNDIS/Ethernet Gadget
[  119.272762] usb 1-1.4: Manufacturer: Linux 4.19.75+ with 20980000.usb
[  119.276883] cdc_ether 1-1.4:1.0 usb0: register 'cdc_ether' at usb-0000:01:00.0-1.4, CDC Ethernet Device, e2:9f:07:61:08:9f
[  119.822601] usb 1-1.4: USB disconnect, device number 25

The pi4 power supply is 5.1V at 3.5A. As of right now I have only attempted to connect 1x Pi Zero.

Rusty
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1 Answers1

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Very late reply, but I have done even more testing and found out more information.

  1. The RPi4 cannot be set up to be an ethernet gadget itself. Originally, I had a chain set up where the RPiZ was plugged into the RPi4, and the RPi4 was plugged into my laptop.

  2. The USB cables must be very good. A cable that successfully creates an ethernet gadget on my laptop and desktop was unable to be used with the RPi4. Changing to a better cable solved this problem.

  3. Working on this now, but the RPi4 appears to only able to handle 1 gadget at a time even though it has multiple USB ports.

Rusty
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