trouble finding localnode:8080 after firmware install

per request I have started this as new thread, original post (bottom) and first response are copied below:

Joe, thank you for your response.  the fully qualified domain name yields same error, with Rocket M2 LAN port wired directly to my iMac ethernet RJ45 port, after unplug/close browser/replug/open browser sequence. 

re assumption, no i was not able to connect to the Rocket directly from my iMac desktop using patch between POE LAN and iMac ethernet port. i plugged the POE LAN patch into my home network router, and was then able to see the AirOS page, run u-boot test, downgrade AirOS firmware, rerun u-boot, and install AREDN firmware. i then saw the Rocket MAC address on my router ARP table, but can't get at the localnode page on a browser.

I've only done work with the Rocket so far. I have a nanostation M2 and a nonobridge M3 to set up too, once I figure this out.  unfortunately i don't have a dedicated windows machine, so maybe there are settings to adjust in the parallels virtualization software (that allows me to run windows 10 on my iMac) to allow windows to see the Rocket?

Frank KK6NAN

****************************
repost from general discussion:

Give the fully qualified domain name a try:   http://localnode.local.mesh:8080 .    When ever I use my work laptop, it has policies that spell out domainnames to search through and  it will automatically append my company's domainnames to the hostname.    Maybe there is a similar issue with your setup.

Also, the assumption is this laptop/desktop is connected on the Mesh Node's LAN network and this is not mixed in somehow with the home network.  If default mesh node settings, your windows 10 OS should have received a 10.x.x.x address.

Which device(s) did you load with AREDN firmware?  Is this more than, e.g. a Nanostation and your desktop?  

Joe AE6XE 

Hi, i'm also unable to reach anything at http://localnode:8080.  i have done the following:
- downgraded firmware on my new Rocket M2 to 5.5.11, re-ran u-boot with result = good good
- installed AREDN over AirOS 5.5
- set my pc network interface to DHCP addressing
- steps 3-7 above

... but i get a "this site can't be reached' error, also indicates "localnode's server DNS address could not be found."  ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED

part of this issue may be that i used windows 10 via parallels on my iMac. i was not able to see the initial AirOS page when i had device plugged directly into the iMac ethernet port, but i did see it when i plugged the Rocket LAN port into my home router, which allowed me to proceed to where i am now.  however i can't find an option on the iMac/settings/network windows to "Obtain DNS server address automatically", as indicated in the "Uploading firmware to Ubiquiti" picture/text instructions page. on parallels/windows 10/network connections / properties, IPV4 / properties, the "Obtain DNS server address automatically" button is populated, but after steps 3-7 above i still get "Hmm, we can't reach this page"

Any help much appreciated!!