Setting the Showstopper Device IP Addresses
This page covers network configuration and E-Stop Node ID setup for every device in the Showstopper family. Each device is a little different — use the table below to jump straight to what you need.
Showstopper 4 Base & Hubs
Yes — knob menu
No — auto-discovered
Yes — on device
Spikemark Console
No — not needed
No — connects via serial
Yes — in Spikemark
Spikemark Pendant V2
Yes — touchscreen
Yes — Pendant config window
TBD
Showstopper 4 Consolette (retired)
Yes — jog wheel menu
Yes — Consolette config window
Yes — on device
Before you start: Make sure your PC's IP address is set and Spikemark Options is configured correctly. If you haven't done that yet, start with Setting the Computer IP Address.
Showstopper 4 Base and Hubs
The Showstopper 4 Base needs a static IP address to report E-Stop status to Spikemark. The default address is 192.168.10.235. You don't need to enter this address anywhere in Spikemark — as long as the Base has a valid address on the same network and your PC's IP is set correctly in Spikemark Options, Spikemark will find it automatically.
The E-Stop Hub follows the same procedure and the same rule — each Hub needs its own unique address.
Port 5007 must be open in Windows Firewall for Spikemark to communicate with the Base. If Spikemark isn't seeing E-Stop status, check this first. See the Network Quick Start troubleshooting section for details.
Setting the IP Address
1. Open the configuration menu.
Press the knob on the front panel of the Showstopper 4 Base. The knob works like a car stereo — press to click, turn to scroll.
2. Navigate to >SET IP.
Turn the knob clockwise to scroll through the menu until the display shows >SET IP. Press the knob to enter the IP address screen.
3. Navigate to the segment you want to change.
The current IP address is shown with a blinking cursor. Turn the knob to move the cursor across the four segments. The default last segment is 235 — in most cases this is the only one you need to change.
4. Select and change the value.
Press the knob to select the segment. Turn the knob to set the new value. Press the knob again to confirm.
Repeat for any other segments that need to change.
5. Save and exit.
Turn the knob to scroll to OK and press to save the new address and return to the main display.
Changed your mind? Scroll to CANCEL and press the knob to discard any changes.
Setting the E-Stop Node ID
The E-Stop Node ID is separate from the IP address — it's the identifier that tells Spikemark which E-Stop button was pressed when status is reported on screen. Every Showstopper device in your system needs a unique Node ID between 0 and 127. The maximum number of addressable E-Stop buttons in any system is 128.
IP address vs. Node ID: The IP address is how the device communicates on the network. The Node ID is how it identifies itself to the E-Stop system. Both need to be set. They are independent of each other.
1. Open the configuration menu.
Press the knob to open the Showstopper configuration menu.
2. Navigate to >SET BUTTON ID.
Turn the knob clockwise until the display shows >SET BUTTON ID. Press the knob to enter the SET E-STOP ID screen.
3. Select the ID field.
Turn the knob to move the cursor to the NEW ID number field. Press the knob to select it.
4. Set the new ID.
Turn the knob to set the new Node ID value. Press the knob to accept.
5. Save and exit.
Turn the knob to scroll to OK and press to save the new Node ID and return to the main display.
Changed your mind? Scroll to CANCEL and press the knob to discard any changes.
Once Node IDs are set on each device, configure the Showstopper Node Editor in Spikemark to map each ID to a label so you can see which button is active at a glance. See the Showstopper Node Editor for details.
Spikemark Console
The Spikemark Console is the exception on this page — it requires no IP address configuration at all. Unlike every other device in this list, the Console connects to Spikemark via a built-in serial connection rather than Ethernet. There are no addresses to set on the device and nothing to enter in Spikemark beyond clicking Connect.
To connect:
Make sure the Console and the PC are both powered on and the Accessory cable is connected to the Showstopper Base.
Open Spikemark. If the Console doesn't connect automatically, go to Console menu → Spikemark Console (or click the Spikemark Console button in the Control Devices section).
Click Connect. Check Auto Connect so it reconnects automatically on future startups.
That's it. For full Console configuration options see the Spikemark Console documentation.
Setting the Console's E-Stop Node ID
The Console's E-Stop Node ID is set directly in Spikemark — there's nothing to configure on the hardware itself. In the Spikemark Console configuration window, find the Console E-Stop ID field and enter a unique Node ID (0–127) that doesn't conflict with any other Showstopper device in your system.
See the Showstopper Node Editor for details on mapping all Node IDs in Spikemark.
Spikemark Pendant/Spikemark Vantis
The Pendant is the most involved device to configure on this page because addresses need to be set in two places — on the Pendant's touchscreen and in Spikemark. Both must match before the Pendant will connect.
Critical — connect the network cable before powering on the Pendant. If the Pendant powers on without a network connection present, it will fail to initialize the configuration screen and you'll see only a cursor on a black background. If this happens: power off the Pendant, connect the network cable, then power back on.
Part 1: Set the IP Address on the Pendant
Once the Pendant boots up it will display the configuration screen automatically.
The configuration screen shows four fields:
Spikemark IP
192.168.10.245
Must match your PC's actual IP address
Pendant IP
192.168.10.250
The Pendant's own address — must be unique on the network
Subnet Mask
255.255.255.0
Leave as default unless your network requires otherwise
Port
8080
Leave as default — only change if directed by support
Tap a field to select it (the screen is touch-sensitive), or use the touchpad on the included Bluetooth keyboard. You can scroll through values with the jog wheel or type directly with the keyboard.
Changes are not saved until you press Connect — so make sure all values are correct before connecting.
Part 2: Set the Pendant IP Address in Spikemark
1. Open the Pendant configuration window.
In Spikemark, go to Pendant menu or click the Pendant button in the Control Devices section.
2. Enter the Pendant's IP address.
Enter the same IP address you set on the Pendant itself (e.g., 192.168.10.250). Confirm the Spikemark IP shown here matches your PC's address. If it doesn't, check File → Spikemark Options.
3. Enable the Pendant and connect.
Make sure the Pendant is set to Enabled in Spikemark, then press Connect on the Pendant's touchscreen. The display will switch from the configuration screen to the operating interface once the connection is established.
E-Stop Node ID
Set the e-stop Node ID on the configuration screen. Select the Node ID text box and enter the Node ID.
Showstopper 4 Consolette (Retired)
Note: The Showstopper 4 Consolette is a retired product. Documentation is maintained here for existing users. For new installations, the Spikemark Console is the current replacement.
The Consolette requires an IP address set on the device and the same address entered in Spikemark. The default address is 192.168.10.254.
A reboot is required after changing the IP address. After you press OK to save, the Consolette will prompt you to reboot now or postpone. The new address will not take effect until the reboot is complete. Choose reboot now unless you have a specific reason to postpone.
Setting the IP Address on the Consolette
1. Open the Settings Menu.
Press the jog wheel on the front of the Consolette. The status display will show the Settings Menu — a scrollable list of configuration options.
2. Navigate to SET IP ADDRESS.
Rotate the jog wheel to scroll through the menu until SET IP ADDRESS is highlighted. Press the jog wheel to select it.
3. Select and change the segment.
The current IP address is shown with a cursor. Rotate the jog wheel to move the cursor to the segment you want to change. Press the jog wheel to select it. Rotate to adjust the value. Press the jog wheel again to confirm.
Repeat for any other segments that need to change.
4. Save and reboot.
Move the cursor to OK and press the jog wheel to save. The Consolette will prompt you to reboot — select Reboot Now. The new IP address will be active once it restarts.
Changed your mind? Move the cursor to CANCEL and press the jog wheel to discard changes.
Setting the Consolette IP Address in Spikemark
Once the Consolette has rebooted with its new address, enter the same address in Spikemark's Consolette configuration window. For step-by-step instructions see Connecting the Consolette to Spikemark.
Setting the Consolette's E-Stop Node ID
The Consolette's Node ID is set from the same Settings Menu as the IP address.
1. Open the Settings Menu.
Press the jog wheel on the front of the Consolette to open the Settings Menu.
2. Navigate to SET BUTTON ID.
Rotate the jog wheel to scroll through the menu until SET BUTTON ID is highlighted. Press the jog wheel to enter the SET E-STOP ID screen.
3. Select the ID field.
Turn the jog wheel to move the cursor to the NEW ID field. Press the jog wheel to select it.
4. Set the new ID.
Turn the jog wheel to set the new Node ID value (0–127, unique across your whole system). Press the jog wheel to confirm.
5. Save and exit.
Move the cursor to OK and press the jog wheel to save. Move the cursor to CANCEL to discard any changes.
6. Exit the Settings Menu.
Scroll to the bottom of the Settings Menu and select EXIT.
Troubleshooting
Spikemark isn't seeing the Showstopper Base. Confirm Port 5007 is open in Windows Firewall and that the Base's IP address is in the same 192.168.10.___ range as the PC. The Base is auto-discovered — you don't enter its address in Spikemark, but the PC's IP in Spikemark Options must be correct for discovery to work.
The Pendant shows only a cursor on a black screen. The network cable wasn't connected before power-on. Power off the Pendant, connect the cable, then power back on.
The Pendant configuration screen shows the right addresses but won't connect. Make sure the Pendant is set to Enabled in Spikemark before pressing Connect on the Pendant screen. Also confirm the Spikemark IP address on the Pendant matches your PC's actual address — not a leftover default.
The Consolette's new IP address isn't working after saving. The Consolette requires a full reboot to apply a new IP address. If you chose to postpone the reboot, the old address is still active. Power the Consolette off and back on to complete the change.
Two devices have the same IP address. Both will fail to communicate reliably. Take one offline, assign it a unique address, and verify connectivity before bringing both back online.
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