built 10 min verified 723b308 (2026-09-19)

First hour on the mesh

Once the client Wi-Fi has an address, the mesh is already a network. The front desk is http://hello.mesh. Identity is optional.

Status: built.

Step 1: Confirm the address

Do: look at the Wi-Fi details (phone: tap the network name; Mac: ipconfig getifaddr en0; Linux: ip -4 addr).

Expect: something like 10.42.61.23. The router you landed on is 10.42.61.1 — same first three numbers, last number .1.

If not: you are on a different network. Forget it and rejoin the name from Unbox.

Step 2: Open the front desk

Do: in Safari, Chrome, or Firefox, type exactly:

http://hello.mesh

Include http://. There is no public https for this name.

Expect: a page that says you are connected to a named router, with People, Services, and Routers sections. The page refreshes itself.

If not:

• The browser searched — type the full http://hello.mesh.
• "Server not found" — turn off Private DNS / secure DNS. See Troubleshooting.
• Still nothing — open http://10.42.x.1 using the .1 from step 1. Come back to http://hello.mesh before creating an identity; keys made at the numeric address are stored separately.

Step 3: Optional identity

Do: if you want a name other people on this mesh can see, tap Set up your identity and follow Create your identity. Save the 24-word phrase.

Expect: you appear under People. Apps can later ask you to sign in.

If not: skip it. Joining the Wi-Fi did not create an account. You can use internet (when a router has an uplink) and open published services without an identity.

An IdentiKey is not permission to administer routers. House administration is SSH or Lightning Admin, covered in Administer the house.

What "working" looks like

Internet sharing is automatic (gateway=auto). If this box is on a metered or captive network, do not share: see Administer the house.

Next: How the house mesh works.