Forum Discussion
META App failed to load without internet/restricting the use of link cable and screen casting.
Hello,
My team and I are building training simulations for a local college to present to students. Yesterday, we had our first trial run of using the Oculus app, link cable, and Oculus quest 2 to present our "game"/project. The app only responded by saying provide internet and sat on a blank screen. My question: is there a way for the Oculus App to load without internet so we can use the link-cable screen casting without the use of internet? If so, has anyone come across a fix for this issue, as my team will travel to local schools to present our project in hopes for recruiting new students. The lack of the Oculus app loading restricts any further advancement to present this project effectively. I look forward and appreciate any and all assistance on this topic.
- Does the error saying "Provide Internet" only happen in one game/app or in multiple?
The App on the laptop just spins as it tries to load the UI for the app but failed to do so unless I connected to my personal phone hotspot.
- Are you able to access the home screen on the headset?
Yes we can access everything in the headset, but the lack of connection to the app does not allow the link cable to connect.
- Has this app worked in the past?
We had to use a standalone computer as the schools windows security policy prevents it from connecting. The standalone computer would not load the oculus app restrciting the connection needed to connect throught the link cable. Also, Is there any specific security policies that needs to be turned off for the device and app to work effectively as something on my network will not allow air link or cable link to work?
1 Reply
Hi Andrew,
I'm a developer in a VR research and all our desktop apps run on laptops that do not have an internet connection. In fact I tend to tell our research teams to keep both the headsets and laptops off wifi altogether so they don't get updates that might break their app (at least for the duration of the research trial).
The problem with this is that if someone inadvertently allows one of the devices to connect, it can then get an update that makes it incompatible with the other device (i.e. if the headset updates but the laptop's Oculus Home app doesn't, they can stop talking to each other). I had to fix a problem like this just last week and so updated both to the latest available versions (drivers, HMD runtime, etc.) and then I took everything off the network again. I can confirm that Link and the app still worked as expected after going 'offline'.
That seems to imply that your app has some code that is making it require an internet connection before fully initialising. Can you clarify what you mean by "the lack of connection to the app does not allow the link cable to connect". That's unusual. Ignoring your app for a second, you should be able to connect the HMD via Link and get to the grey desktop home environment without an internet connection. Once you see that grey environment you know you're 'Linked' and can then open your app.
So my advice would be.
1. update both headset and Oculus Home (on the laptop) to the latest versions. Then turn off wifi. (You might need to do this at home if the school's web or network filtering prevents a proper update)
2. Open Oculus Home on the laptop then connect the Quest2 using the USB cable, and finally, in the HMD, enable Link (the process is: Connect to PC then Launch) You should then see the grey Home environment.
3. now open your app (run the exe) Oculus Home should remain open (although it can be minimised)
4 if the app load still fails then have a look at your code.
How was the app authored? If you used Unity, create a developer build that opens the console and profiler. You'll probably then see errors in the console that give you a clue as to what's waiting for that internet connection.
