setup and testing
We continue the series of articles devoted to Yealink microcellular systems.
First article in the series
Second article in the series
Third article is dedicated to setting up and launching the Yealink microcellular system and includes description of the following stages of work:
VIM installation;
connecting DM to VIM, working with licenses;
connecting base stations;
dividing the system into clusters;
synchronization control;
connection of DECT tubes.
After successful completion of all installation stages, testing must be carried out immediately before launch in order to obtain a stable working solution when the system is put into operation. In the article we will also look at the features of this stage.
I. System setup
So, the base stations are located in their places. What's next?
The instructions below assume deployment of a system with VIM (W90 + VIM). If you are using a system without VIM, go straight to step 6 of the instructions.
Preparing to configure the system
Make sure that the base stations are in place and connected to power and network.
Make sure the base stations and DM are on the same software version. When using VIM, as a rule, there is no need for manual updating – VIM will automatically update the base station and DM software to the required version.
1. Install VIM on a virtual machine
The system image (.ova file) can be obtained by sending a request to support@ipmatika.com.
Install the VMware virtualization platform. Download and deploy the resulting virtual machine image on it. For stable operation of the system, the virtual machine configuration must be as follows:
Essentially, VIM is installed at this point. You can read more about installing VIM in the article on manufacturer's website.
By default, a virtual machine with VIM deployed will obtain an IP address via DHCP. If the IP address is obtained, it will be displayed in the console:
You can now log in to the VIM web interface (default credentials: admin/admin).
2. Switching W90DM to W90+VIM operating mode
Press and hold the button on the W90DM for 5 seconds. All 3 LEDs will flash slowly, indicating that the device is in programming mode. Release the button, and then hold it down for another 4 s – the device will reboot (the ROLE LED will start blinking, the other LEDs will go out).
Important: if migrating from W90 to W90+VIM, the current configuration of handsets and accounts on DM will be saved and transferred to the new system when connecting W90DM to VIM.
3. Connecting multiple DMs to VIM
On DM: go to section Status –> Integrator Config and in the section Integrator IP specify the VIM IP address.
On VIM: go to section DECT Manager –> DECT Manager Registrationsearch for a pending DM by name and click Add DM. Fill in the fields DM ID (DM unique identifier) and Password (DM administrator password).
Confirm your registration by pressing the button OK.
Follow the previous 3 steps for all other DMs.
4. Definition of Master DM
It is necessary to determine which DM will receive the Master DM role. Based on its MAC address, a request file required to obtain a license will be generated.
In the VIM web interface, navigate to the path DECT Manager –> DECT Manager Registration –> Global Settings.
Select which DM will receive the Master DM role, then click Confirmto confirm the changes.
Go to section Security –> License –> Request File –> Export and upload the .req file.
5. Obtaining a license
Create a ticket by sending a request to support@ipmatika.com and attach the .req request file exported at the previous stage.
Get the license file, upload it to VIM under Security –> License –> Import License –> Load License File –> Browse. Click Select file, Uploadand then OK.
Make sure that after importing the license, the number of DMs in the section Security –> License indicated correctly.
6. Registration of base stations
Go to section Base Station –> Base Station Registration. All unregistered base stations that are with DM in the same broadcast network segment and are online will be displayed in this window.
If the base stations and DM are located in different subnets, you must manually specify the DM IP in the base station settings (web interface) in the section Status –> Base Mode.
Configure the connected base station by specifying its name, IP address, cluster, synchronization type and level.
Save the settings and check the availability of the newly connected base station (Base Station –> Connected Base Stations). She must be in the status Active and synced.
7. Setting up clusters
The use of two or more clusters is useful in cases where it is necessary to divide the microcellular system into several smaller subsystems (partially isolated systems, i.e. systems without external synchronization). This may be convenient in the following cases:
the system is spread across several buildings or placed on different, unconnected floors of the building;
you need to configure different types of synchronization for different system segments;
for large systems where 10 levels of synchronization is not enough.
The cluster to which the base station belongs can be selected in its settings (Base Station –> Connected Base Stations –> Cluster).
Note: in a system without VIM, seamless roaming and handover between clusters are not supported.
8. Setting up synchronization within clusters
Exists 3 types of synchronization: DECT, LAN, hybrid (DECT + LAN).
First you need to select a sync wizard. For DECT synchronization, this is a base station of the 1st synchronization level; for LAN synchronization, this is a base station with the LAN Master operating mode. With hybrid synchronization, you must select both a synchronization level 1 base station and a LAN Master.
The location of the LAN Master, as a rule, does not matter – it can be any base station of the current cluster. The synchronization level 1 base station is selected based on the structure of the planned synchronization tree, and is the root in the synchronization structure (that is, its physical location is the center of the tree).
Further synchronization setup involves selecting a synchronization mode for the remaining connected base stations. During LAN synchronization, all base stations in the cluster, except for the LAN Master, will receive the LAN Slave role.
With DECT synchronization, all base stations will receive their own synchronization level, which directly depends on the distance of a particular base station from the synchronization master (base station of synchronization level 1). The number of synchronization levels and whether a specific base station belongs to a specific synchronization level is determined at the radio planning stage.
With DECT synchronization, each synchronized base station must have a direct radio link to the synchronization master, otherwise this base station, as well as all those located behind it, may disconnect from the system. With LAN synchronization this is not required, but to implement the handover function it is required that both base stations be within the range of the DECT handset's radio signal during handover.
Important: you should avoid too many synchronization levels – this may negatively affect the overall stability of the system.
For DECT synchronization within a W90-based system, a so-called automatic synchronization tree is available. The synchronization structure in this case will be determined automatically by the system. This setup option is only suitable for small systems, and after using automatic synchronization, we highly recommend running a system health check.
9. Setting up synchronization between clusters
Inter-cluster synchronization is only available for the W90+VIM system and allows you to implement seamless roaming and handover functions between two clusters in a system with cluster division.
You can read more about cluster synchronization in this article.
10. Creating SIP server templates and registering DECT handsets
The process of registering handsets is described in a separate section. article.
II. Testing and launching the system
Testing may include the following steps:
making a call. Testing internal and external, incoming and outgoing calls.
testing handover within the cluster. It is necessary to make a call and, without interrupting it, move to the service area of another base station or to another cluster of the system (with inter-cluster synchronization configured).
DM and base station redundancy testing (for W90 and W90+VIM). It is necessary to configure redundancy, simulate an emergency shutdown of the main device and make sure that the backup device will begin to control the system, and also return it to the control of the main device after its operation is restored.
Stress Testing. Simulation of situations based on connecting a large number of active handsets to the system or making a large number of short calls.
stability testing. Testing various system operation scenarios over several hours or days.
The system administrator independently decides how exactly to launch the system – without testing or with testing (making sure that all base stations are synchronized and the handsets are connected to the system). Nevertheless, For large systems with complex timing structures, testing is highly recommendedto avoid large-scale failures immediately after launch.
In the next article in the series, we will look at troubleshooting – finding and fixing problems of various types in microcellular systems that are already in operation.
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