Is it possible to configure the wireless network via the ethernet connection?
A quick search and some messing around suggests you can't. As i seem to be having trouble getting it setup up correctly via my nexus tablet (which is the only wifi device i own) which leads to my 2nd question/issue.
I cant get my yun through the http://arduino.local (it is still on the default name) but i can through the ip address, although im not sure if this is related. it wouldn't be much of an issue except i am trying to write strings to it.
Is it possible to configure the wireless network via the ethernet connection?
Should be, I can ssh into my Yun through the Ethernet connection as well as access the Web configuration panel. Just plug the Yun into your Ethernet router, it should get an IP assigned by the router's DHCP.
A quick search and some messing around suggests you can't. As i seem to be having trouble getting it setup up correctly via my nexus tablet (which is the only wifi device i own) which leads to my 2nd question/issue.
My first generation Nexus can do the same and doesn't find the Zeroconf name, just like you describe. Looks like the Nexus doesn't have Avahi/Zeroconf/Bonjour available. There is a app called terminal IDE that you can ssh into the Yun with, but only by IP not name.
I cant get my yun through the http://arduino.local (it is still on the default name) but i can through the ip address, although im not sure if this is related. it wouldn't be much of an issue except i am trying to write strings to it.
Apple or Linux boxes should be able to use the Zeroconf name in their normal config, in Windows you will have to install the Bonjour software from Apple. It will imply it is for printing services, ignore that, just install and then the xxx.local name will work. Here is a pretty good set of instructions. http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=188101.msg1554795#msg1554795
Notice that any firewalls/antivirii will need to allow port 5353 to be used.