"Run as startup" is the name of the selection in Build Specifications that we normally use to transfer the LabVIEW code that has been built (on the PC) to the roboRIO.
See "Deploying the Code" here and it describes it:
http://wpilib.screenstepslive.com/s/...p-test-program
If you can ping the roboRIO, then you have basic hardware communication all the way through.
If the Communications light is on then the Driver Station is successfully communicating with the FRC code communications task running on the roboRIO.
The Robot Code light being red means there is no user program running on the roboRIO for the Communications task to talk to. (Maybe because "Run as startup hasn't been used yet).
Nothing will respond until you successfully get your code onto the roboRIO and you get the Robot Code light to turn green.