Arcwave’s ARCXtend MetroE FX5010 Wireless Plant Extension Solution User Guide P/N: 920-20010-001 Rev. A 100 Albright Way, Suite A Los Gatos, CA 95032 USA, Phone: 408-558-2300 www.arcwaveinc.
About this document This guide is designed familiarize you with the ARCXtend MetroE Wireless Plant Extension solution (WPE) solution and to provide basic instructions on the planning, provisioning, verification, monitoring and expansion of MetroE deployments.
Notices The information in this publication is subject to change without notice. Arcwave shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions nor for any damages resulting from the use of this material. U.S. Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Notification This device complies with part 15 of the U. S.
Table of Contents The ARCXtend MetroE Wireless Plant Extension Solution 5 The ARCXtend MetroE Solutions 10 Planning a MetroE Deployment 12 ARCView Mesh Management Software for MetroE Nodes 14 Installing ARCView 16 Using ARCView 18 Quick Mesh Check 20 Country Code Setting 21 Customizing Your Mesh Network 22 Configuring Individual Nodes 27 Installing Nodes 33 Aligning Nodes 37 Link Verification 38 Retorting Default Settings 44 Appendix A: Arcwave Support 45 Appendix B: FX5010 Technical Specification 46 4 of
The ARCXtend MetroE Wireless Plant Extension Solution The ARCXtend MetroE wireless plant extension solution creates a transparent wireless Ethernet bridge between a cable operator’s fiber network and small and medium-sized business customers’ sites supporting delivery of high value Ethernet services without the delay and expense of a fiber extension.
Ethernet Bridging Protocol The MetroE uses a low-latency; low overhead time division duplexing protocol TDD protocol to achieve a true 32 mbps aggregate Ethernet throughput and 10 mbps symmetric throughput making it an ideal access solution for a typical SMB looking for a lower cost, higher bandwidth alternative to DSL or nxT1 service. It is fully transparent to Ethernet data frames, Layer 2 Control Processing packets and 802.1q Trunking, QinQ (802.1q inside 802.
Mesh Management Using ARCView Software ARCView™ mesh management software provides live monitoring, as well as local and remote management of MetroE wireless mesh networks. The software features an intuitive graphical user interface and provides complete access to all mesh and individual node settings, including security, VLANs, traffic prioritization, radio power controls, and Network Gateway Interconnects.
Traffic Prioritization The MetroE ODU system provides three traffic prioritization levels (Low, Medium, or High) to prioritize traffic on the mesh. This helps ensure that certain types of traffic requiring high throughput or continuous service, such as voice, take precedence over other forms of traffic. Every port on every node on the mesh can be set to any of these three priority levels.
Note: Transmit power control adjustments affect the node radio, so care must be exercised when making adjustments on an existing network, as the reduced power level may cause the node to lose connectivity with other mesh nodes. Note: Adjusting the power incorrectly could have an adverse effect on proper mesh operations. If you are not sure what the power should be adjusted to, it is best to leave it at its default configuration.
The ARCXtend MetroE Solutions FX5010-ODU Point-to-Point Solution The FX5010-ODU is a self-contained weather-protected, strand mountable radio providing a pointto-point wireless Ethernet connection between a fiber plant and a customer Local Area Network. The FX5010-ODU includes an integrated transceiver, 20º directional antenna, 60 to 90 VAC power supply and Power over Ethernet Source (PSE) for powering third-party media converters.
(2) Strand Mount Alignment Brackets Mechanically adjustable horizontal and vertical hub alignment brackets for aligning the hub’s integrated antenna to the desired coverage area. (3) RF W/AC An AC surge protected SCTE compliant female F-type connector for AC power connection to the cable network. The input line power must be between 50 VAC and 110 VAC with a line frequency from 50 Hz through 60 Hz.
Planning a MetroE Deployment Wireless link planning is essential to the success of any microwave installation and is highly recommended before attempting to install the equipment. In this section we will describe the elements of the MetroE that are relevant to link planning. If the reader is unfamiliar with microwave link planning he/she strongly advised to seek qualified assistance or take a suitable microwave link planning training class.
Radius, R Distance, d 20 feet* 16 feet 11 feet 10 feet 8 feet 6 feet 3 miles 2 miles 1 mile ¾ mile ½ mile ¼ mile * Represent practical limit from strand mount 18 feet above the ground. Link Planning Tools Simple range calculation software is available from Arcwave for calculating operating distances for specific applications and more complex link modeling software is available from third-parties for very accurate link planning and using topographical maps of the area of interest.
ARCView Mesh Management Software for MetroE Nodes The basic ARCXtend mesh network can be installed and operated without external network management or intervention. However, because wireless network connections are invisible, Arcwave provides the ARCView software to provide a graphical view of the mesh topology. ARCView enables users to monitor the network connections and performance, and to customize individual nodes or the entire network. ARCView can be downloaded from the Arcwave website (www.arcwave.
Monitoring the Mesh The Monitor feature of the software allows you to view network statistics to determine if there are any problems with the communications between various nodes on the mesh. For complete information on ARCView mesh management features and more detailed instructions on its operation, install the software from the CD provided in the MetroE package or download the latest ARCView User Guide, available at www.arcwaveinc.com/customer/support_extranet.html.
Installing ARCView The ARCView Mesh Management Software is used to configure and manage a MetroE mesh deployment. It should be installed on a workstation that will be connected to the MetroE mesh as follows: 1. Install the software from the Arcwave website or from the CD-ROM included in the package. 2. Set the workstation’s IP address. 3. Connect the workstation to one MetroE node in the mesh. Workstation Requirements • Operating systems supported: Windows 2000/XP, Linux, Solaris, and FreeBSD.
5. Select the ‘‘I accept the terms of this license agreement button’’ and then click on the Next button to continue. A screen showing the default location for the ARCView software is displayed. 6. To enter a different installation location, type in the path to the desired location or click on the Browse button to select a location. 7. Click on the Next button to install the ARCView software in the location displayed on screen. A screen showing the progress of the installation is displayed. 8.
Using ARCView The initial mesh setup should occur prior to installation. To complete initial setup connect one MetroE node to a wired connection with access to ARCView and place the other node within wireless range as show in the figure below. Verify that the status LED on each MetroE node glows Amber indicating it’s powered and then green indicating it has achieved a valid link status.
Password: arcwave 6. Click on Login. 7. Wait for your computer to connect to the mesh. This may take a few seconds to several minutes, depending on how many nodes are in the mesh. You should see a screen with a list of all of the MetroE ODI units on the mesh. 8. Ensure the MetroE nodes are visible in the Network View or the Inventory screen. The node connected to the ARCView is indicated with a small ‘‘H’’.
Quick Mesh Check The first step after logging into a mesh for the first time is to ensure all of your MetroE nodes are visible to ARCView. This can be verified on the Mesh diagram, or in the Inventory screen. In particular, check the columns of information described below to ensure that all nodes are included. (If the Inventory screen is not displayed, click on the Inventory tab at the bottom of the screen.
Country Code Setting If your mesh has radios which require a country code setting, and the country code has not yet been set, the Set Country Code message will appear. The Country Code settings allow operation at the maximum legal limit for that country; if it is not set, the transmitters operate at very low power and range is limited. Until the Country code is set, the default radio mode is 5.8 GHz DSSS, and the default radio channel is 161. 1. Make sure all radios are visible on the mesh. 2.
Customizing Your Mesh Network There are several mesh parameters which must be specified for correct mesh operation. All MetroE nodes on any given mesh must share the following properties: • IP Address • ESSID • Radio channel • Encryption type and key • Login and password Moreover, any node which has the same settings as other nodes will join that mesh. Thus, if you leave the default settings unchanged, any MetroE node can automatically join your mesh. This can cause problems.
units are restarted. Otherwise click on No and then on Cancel to return to the previous settings. Wireless Settings To set the Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID), Radio mode, and Radio Channel setting click on the Wireless Tab. • The default ESSID is METROE_MESH. You should change it to a more descriptive name. • The Radio Mode is set to 5.725 to 5.850 GHz OFDM. This is the only radio mode FCC approved for operation in the U.S..
After entering the new values, click on Save to finish. User Accounts Set the Usernames and Passwords for Read-Write User and Read-Only User Access. You can set up two types of access for ARCView users: administrator (‘‘admin’’ or ‘‘Read Write User’’) or guest (or ‘‘Read Only User’’) access. Admins can view and modify (read and write) the mesh configuration, guests can only view the information (read-only). To set up an admin, enter the user’s account information in the Read-Write User fields.
Advanced Settings Multi-hop optimization The multi-hop optimization option increases the overall throughput of the mesh by reducing the amount of contention between radios that are separated by multiple hops. Normally this option should be enabled since most mesh networks will have multiple hops between radios. However, you should disable this mode if you have a fully meshed scenario where all modes connect directly to every radio with a single hop.
After entering the new values, click on Save to finish.
Configuring Individual Nodes Individual nodes can be configured as follows: 4. On the mesh diagram, right-click on the icon of the MetroE node you want to reconfigure. A pop-up menu appears. 5. Select the option you want or click on a blank portion of the mesh to hide the menu. Rename the MetroE Node You can change the factory default node name to something more meaningful: 1. In the mesh view, right-click on the MetroE node icon whose name you want to change. A pop-up menu appears. 2.
3. Enter a new name (up to 32 characters long) and click on the Save button. 4. Repeat the above steps for all of the ARCXtend MetroE radios that you want to rename. MetroE Location Use this option to enter any unique identifying information about the MetroE node, such as its location, a contact person’s phone number, and so on. Enter the Metro Port Configuration You can configure the Ethernet port on each MetroE node. The screen used to configure ports is divided into sections.
To configure a port for a specific speed or duplex setting, select Configure Speed/Duplex. To select a specific speed, click on the Speed drop-down menu. To select a specific duplex option (Half or Full), click on the Duplex drop-down menu. Click on the Save button after all port settings have been properly configured.
1. Click on the File menu and select MAC Filters. A dialog box appears. 2. To prevent access from specified devices (‘‘deny’’), select Prevent Access by MAC addresses in List; to allow access from only specified devices (‘‘permit’’), select Allow Access only to MAC addresses in List. 3. Type in the MAC address for the device you want to either prevent or allow access to the wireless mesh in the MAC address fields. Click on the Add button. The specified MAC address appears in the MAC Filter List box. 4.
Select Transmit Power Level To change the transmit power level of a given node, right click on that node. This will bring up the following Node Summary dialogue box.
You can change the transmit power of the radio to 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% of the approved maximum output power. Use the table below to determine the % attenuation conversion. Drag the slider to select the desired power level and then click on the Save button.
Installing Nodes Strand Mount Bracket Installation The strand mounted MetroE is designed for installation directly onto standard strand wire and comes with the bracket pre-installed onto the unit. A 7/16’’ wrench is the only tool required for mounting and aligning the hub. Attach the bracket to the messenger strand with the two hanger bolts. Position the MetroE’s antenna (located behind the radome) to the azimuth and elevation determined in the wireless link planning process.
To install and align the MetroE: • Loosen the two mounting bolts, B, and slide the bracket over the mounting pipe. Position the MetroE antenna (located behind the radome) to the azimuth position determined in the wireless link planning process and snug the mounting bolts, B. • Loosen the two alignment bolts, A, position the MetroE antenna to the elevation determined in the wireless link planning process and snug the alignment bolts, A.
Strand Mount Deployment Diagram and Material List The diagram bellows depicts a typical network side strand mount deployment using CWDM (Coarse Wave Division Multiplexing) Fast Ethernet media converter to connect to the fiber network. The media converter provides power to the MetroE node.
Rooftop Deployment Diagram and Material List The diagram bellows depicts a typical customer side mast mount deployment using a nonpenetrating roof mount kit. The required components are: • Mast Mount, PoE Powered Device ARCXtend MetroE WPE ODU --- Arcwave Model FX5010ODU-VM-PD • Non-penetration Roof Mount.
Aligning Nodes The next step in the installation process is to align the customer-side MetroE node to the plant-side node for maximum signal strength using the RSSI (received signal strength indicator) metric on the ARCView Statistics screen: 1. Connect the mesh to a network containing ARCView. 2. Launch ARCView and login to the mesh network. 3. Right click the network on the Network View. This will launch the Node View screen showing all the MetroE nodes in the network. 4.
Link Verification The final step in the installation process is to verify the performance of the new link using the Statistic screen and an Ethernet traffic generator. To access the Statistic screen, right click on the new node icon. This will bring up the Node Summary dialogue box shown earlier. Left click on Statistics. Using a traffic generator, run traffic across the link and review the results for conformance to your requirements.
Troubleshooting Can’t Establish a Wireless Link between Nodes • The nodes may have different mesh settings. • The Received Signal Strength is not adequate for proper operation or is not above the RSSI Threshold plus the Hsyteresis Window setting. Poor throughput or packet loss The most common problem you will encounter is excessive packet loss also known as dropped packet which can occur in either over the air or on the wired Ethernet portion of the networks.
Possible Causes and Fixes Cause What to look for / What to do Inadequate Receive Signal Strength If the link was working before, check if either of the nodes has been moved throwing off the alignment or if something has been placed or grown into the line of site path. Calculate required Receive Signal Strength for link distance and compare to RSSI value reported by the node.
Ethernet Cabling Check the Ethernet cable connection from the node to the customer premise equipment. The Ethernet cable should be outdoor-rate, shielded and less than 300 feet total from the node to the customer premise equipment. Make sure there aren’t any splices in the cable. Defective Node If nothing else works, try swapping out one or both nodes.
Managing the Mesh Mesh management can be performed using ARCView, ARCView Pro or SNMP. • ARCView allows you to manage a single mesh network and runs locally on you PC. ARCView Pro is a client/ server solution that allows you to manage multiple mesh networks The reader is referred to the ARCView / ARCView Pro User’s Manual for descriptions and operating instructions for both solutions.
Adding New Radios to an Existing Network To ensure secure and reliable communications, all MetroE ODU nodes on the same mesh network must share the same IP address, radio channel, and security settings. Therefore, if you want to add new MetroE ODU nodes to an existing mesh, you must first update their settings to match those of the mesh. After these updates are made, the new nodes can successfully join the mesh. The easiest way to do this is to save the settings from an existing mesh as a backup file.
Retorting Default Settings You can restore your MetroE mode to its factory default settings using the reset application provided on the CD-ROM disc included with your order. To reset the MetroE node to its factory defaults, you must run the rest application within 3 minutes of the MetroE node booting up. 1. Install the rest application on a workstation. If running windows, install 3200factoryreset.exe; if running Linux, install 3200factoryreset.bin. 2.
Appendix A: Arcwave Support Support Extranet As an Arcwave customer, you are entitled to receive free access to our support extranet on our web site, http://www.arcells.com/customer/support_extranet.html. Your sales representative can you provide you with the User Name and Password. Standard Maintenance and Support Agreement All customers are required to maintain maintenance and support agreements with Arcwave for all deployed products.
Appendix B: FX5010 Technical Specification Wireless Interface Frequency Range 5.725 to 5.
VLAN Trunking Only passed 802.1Q tagged packets Class of Service 802.1p, 3 settable levels assignable by port Packet Filters Deny/admit access by MAC address Management ARCView Management Software Client/Server Architecture Windows® 2000/XP, Linux®, Solaris™ and FreeBSD. Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition, version 1.5 or later.
