InfiLINK XG Family Product

08

Troubleshooting

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This lesson describes basic troubleshooting actions to be taken in case a problem occurs to the wireless link.

List of possible problems:

  1. No access to the remote unit.
  2. No access to the local unit.
  3. Expected throughput is not met.
  4. No data is being transferred.
  5. Wireless link errors, throughput fluctuations.
  6. Management of the unit is lost.

1. No access to the remote unit

The section describes how to test the link when there are no radio communication and no access to the remote unit, but there is access to the local unit.

Step 1: Local unit check

Check if the radio parameters values of the local unit correspond to the settings from the radio planning stage:

  • Max Distance.
  • Center Frequency.
  • Channel Width.
  • Maximal Transmit Power.
  • Maximal MCS.
  • Frame Period.
  • Node Type.
  • Link ID.

If some parameters have different values, perform the modifications and check the wireless link establishment after unit reboot. In case the wireless link is still down, go on site to the location of the local unit and check the integrity of the RF cables in case of using external antenna. Tighten the connectors and check the antennas, as well. Make sure that the vertical and horizontal RF connections are properly performed.

Step 2: Remote unit check

In case the wireless link is down even if the parameters were set according with the radio planning results and the RF connectivity verifications are completed for the local unit (cables and connectors), go on site to the location of the remote unit. Check the integrity of the RF cables in case of using external antenna. Tighten the connectors and check the antennas, as well. Make sure that the vertical and horizontal RF connections are properly performed. If the remote unit is powered on (else, check the AC power supply, the power supply and the Ethernet cables), check all radio parameters by connecting to it using a laptop.

The values for the following radio parameters must be the same on both units:

  • Short Cyclic Prefix.
  • Downlink Quota.
  • Center Frequency.
  • Max Distance.
  • Frame Period.
  • Channel width.
  • Link ID.

Check the license file in the "Maintenance" page to make sure that configured parameters values are supported by the license (channel width, power level, frequencies, etc.). Perform all needed modifications and check the wireless link establishment after unit reboot.

Step 3: Path profile check

If the wireless link is down after previous steps, check the antennas alliagnment with two teams working simultaneously, one at the remote side and the other one at the local side. Also,redo the radio planning to avoid the situation when coordinates at the initial radio planning stage is different from the current location: huge interferences on the working set of frequencies, Fresnel zone obstruction are possible reasons why the wireless link cannot be established, etc.

Step 4: Report the problem to the InfiNet Wireless support team

If you are unable to identify the cause of the problem, please contact the InfiNet Wireless support team. It is necessary to provide diagnostic card, antenna alignment test results screenshots, the installation points photos, the installation points coordinates.

2. No access to the local unit

There is no access to the local unit.

Step 1: Local unit check

Check the network connectivity between the monitoring server and the local unit. If no connectivity appear, go on site to the local unit location. Check if it is powered on: check the AC power supply, the Ethernet cables/fiber optic and connectors. Check if the local connection works by using a laptop or ERConsole.

If local connection is allowed, after the authentication step in web interface, check the administrative and operational status of the Ethernet/SFP ports. Enable the port if found disabled, check the connectivity matrix and VLAN settings if used. Reboot the unit at the "Maintenance" section.

Step 2:  Report the problem to the InfiNet Wireless support team

If you are unable to identify the cause of the problem, please contact the InfiNet Wireless support team. It is necessary to provide diagnostic card, antenna alignment test results screenshots, the installation points photos, the installation points coordinates.

3. Expected throughput is not met

The wireless link is established but the capacity is less than expected.

Step 1: Local and remote units settings check

Login to both units via web interface, check the availability of the new firmware version. If a newer firmware version is available, proceed with the firmware upgrade in order to benefit of the latest radio features and improvements. Check the license, if the maximum transmit rate, power levels or channel width are limited to lower values in compare with the expected configuration. In the "Switch" section check the rate limit and the port mode. In case of GE connection, if one unit has auto mode enabled and the other has a manual settings, put both units in auto mode. If the rate is lower than the expected one, adjust accordingly or set to "Unlimited".

In the "Status" section check the CINR and RSSI parameters values:

  • CINR values are significantly differed from the initial, and RSSI values - are not. It may indicate the noise appearance. It is recommended to use the "Spectrum Analyzer" tool to determine the noise level on the current channel and to select a new frequency channel.
  • CINR and RSSI values are significantly differed from the initial. it is required to check the antennas alignment, RF cables condition and obstructions in the first Fresnel zone or line of sight.

Proceed to the "Radio" section and check if the traffic prioritization is enable/disable and frame period value, if it is too small, try to increase it. Set "AMC Strategy" to "normal", "Maximal MCS" – QAM 1024 8/10. Perform the antenna alignment with built-in tool especially in case of low RSSI and CINR values. Clear the statistics on both units and check the throughput again.

Step 2: Check at the units location site

Further actions should be done on the site of units location. Check the Ethernet and SFP connections, as well as the cables integrity. Check the integrity of the RF cables in case of using external antenna. Tighten the connectors and check the antennas, as well. Make sure that the vertical and horizontal RF connections are properly performed. Perform proper antenna alignment on site. If after the alignment the CINR level is still low, It indicates the presence of external interference. Try to use another frequency if available or perform a spectrum scanning.

Step 3:  Report the problem to the InfiNet Wireless support team

If you are unable to identify the cause of the problem, please contact the InfiNet Wireless support team. It is necessary to provide diagnostic card, antenna alignment test results screenshots, the installation points photos, the installation points coordinates.

4. No data is being transferred

The wireless link is established but no data is being transffered.

Step 1: Local and remote units settings check

Make sure that in "Switch" sections of both units the internal port mapping is correct and the traffic flow is enabled between the required ports. Check the administrative state of the GE or SFP port. Enable the port if it was disabled. If the link status is "up" but no packets are received, check the configuration of the equipment which is directly connected. In case of using VLANs, proceed to the "Switch" section and make sure that the VLAN configuration is correct, the specific traffic VLAN ID is allowed to pass through the required ports.

Step 2: Check at the units location site

Further actions should be done on the site of the units location. Check the Ethernet and SFP connections, as well as the integrity of the cables.

Step 3:  Report the problem to the InfiNet Wireless support team

If you are unable to identify the cause of the problem, please contact the InfiNet Wireless support team. It is necessary to provide diagnostic card, antenna alignment test results screenshots, the installation points photos, the installation points coordinates.

5. Wireless link errors, throughput fluctuations

The wireless link is established but there are errors on the wireless link and throughput fluctuations.

Step 1: Local and remote units settings check

Check the rate limit and the port mode in "Switch" sections of both units. In case of GE connection, if one unit has auto mode enabled and the other has a manual setting, put both units in auto mode. If the rate is lower than expected, adjust accordingly or set to "Unlimited".

In the "Status" section check the CINR and RSSI parameters values:

  • CINR values are significantly differed from the initial, and RSSI values - are not. It may indicate the noise appearance. It is recommended to use the "Spectrum Analyzer" tool to determine the noise level on the current channel and to select a new frequency channel.
  • CINR and RSSI values are significantly differed from the initial. it is required to check the antennas alignment, RF cables condition and obstructions in the first Fresnel zone or line of sight.

Step 2: Check at the units location site

Further actions should be done on the site of units location. Check the Ethernet and SFP connections, as well as the cables integrity. Check the integrity of the RF cables in case of using external antenna. Tighten the connectors and check the antennas, as well. Make sure that the vertical and horizontal RF connections are properly performed. Perform proper antenna alignment on site. If after the alignment the CINR level is still low, It indicates the presence of external interference. Try to use another frequency if available or perform a spectrum scanning.

Step 3:  Report the problem to the InfiNet Wireless support team

If you are unable to identify the cause of the problem, please contact the InfiNet Wireless support team. It is necessary to provide diagnostic card, antenna alignment test results screenshots, the installation points photos, the installation points coordinates.

6. Unit management is lost

If the management of the unit is completely lost (of the local and/or the remote one), the ERConsole recovery procedure should be used. ERConsole is a software application created to recover or add a new IP-address to the InfiNet Wireless units. Additionally, the ERConsole can be used to reset the InfiNet Wireless units to the factory default configuration.

Software requirements::

It is recommended to turn off any anti-virus or firewall running on your computer and to turn off all the network interfaces, except the Ethernet interface connected to the same broadcast subnet as the Infinet Wireless unit. If no device can be discovered by ERConsole, turn on the firewall, and add an UDP connection port 10009 as an exception. We also recommend to use a simple unmanaged switch as intermediary unit between your PC and the InfiNet Wireless unit. It is essential to reboot the InfiNet Wireless unit each time in order to activate the Emergency Repair Protocol on the unit, therefore the switch would prevent your PC Ethernet interface from flapping up and down. Using Cisco Catalyst switches for unit recoverty is not recommended due to a known issue port mode negotiation delay.

NOTE

ERConsole and InfiNet Wireless units exchange information only during the bootup process, therefore each time you need to read the units-IP address, to add a new IP or to restore to the default configuration, the InfiNet Wireless unit should be rebooted.

Access to the unit recovery

If you have lost management to your InfiNet Wireless unit, proceed as follows:

  • Run the ERConsole.jar application downloaded from our FTP.
  • Connect a network Ethernet cable between the InfiNet Wireless unit and your PC.
  • Turn off the InfiNet Wireless unit and then turn it on in a few seconds.
  • Wait for 30 seconds and the ERConsole screen should receive update from the unit as it's shown in the figure below. The serial number, number of unit reset cycles ("Sequence" field), IP-address, network mask and MAC-adress will be displayed on the screen.

Further recovery depends on whether the IP-address is assigned or not to the unit.

IP-address and net mask are assigned

Configure on your PC an IP belonging to the same network and connect to the unit in order to perform the modifications and checking required. If there is no IP, displayed (0.0.0.0), proceed with the next step.

IP-address and net mask are not assigned

  • Click the "+" button in the ERConsole application and a new window will appear.
  • In the "New task" window, set the additional IP-address and network mask, then click "OK".
  • Turn off and on the InfiNet Wireless unit. Wait for 30 seconds until the IP is assigned.
  • Add an IP-address from the same network subnet to your PC and access the unit. ERConsole will not show newly assigned IP-address.
  • Login to the unit using the new IP. Do not reboot the unit until the new configuration has been saved because the additional IP-address is temporar.

Restore to the factory default settings

In case you need to restore your unit to the factory default settings, proceed as follows.

NOTE

If the management of the unit is lost due to unknown user name or password it can be restored using factory password. Enter the device serial number to the "User name" field and factory password - to the "Password" field.

  • Obtain the factory password. In order to do this, please contact the distributor through whom the unit was purchased, or in case purchasing the unit directly in InfiNet Wireless, send a request to the InfiNet Wireless support team. The request must include the unit serial number and the value of "Sequence" field (if it's non-zero).
  • Obtain the unit IP-address using the ERConsole as described in the section above.
  • Click on the "+" button in the ERConsole application and a new window will appear.
  • Select "Reset configuration" option and enter the factory password to the "Factory password" field, then click "OK". The password must be entered at the same format as it has been got from the distributor or IW support team (with the gaps).

     
  • Turn off and on the unit and then wait for about 30 seconds.
  • The unit will start in a special emergency mode with the IP-address 10.10.10.1 and mask 255.255.255.0.
  • Login to the unit and use "Restore Factory Settings" button on the "Maintenance" section to switch off emergency mode.
  • Set new login and password, then save the configuration and restart the unit.
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