ArrowSpan MeshAP 3100 User manual

User Guide
MeshAP 3100
Multi-Radio Wireless Mesh Network
Access Point
ArrowSpan Inc.
4800 Great America Parkway
Suite 238
Santa Clara, CA 95054
USA
V5.0
May. 2009

User Guide - MeshAP 3100 5GHz / 2.4GHz Full Duplex Mesh Network Access Point Table of Contents
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1.....................................................................................................................................................2
Overview.................................................................................................................................................................2
Features...................................................................................................................................................................2
Reliable, Intelligent, High Performance Mesh Network.....................................................................................2
Fully Compatible with Existing Access Servers, Routers, and Gateways.........................................................3
Management and Security.....................................................................................................................................3
Power.......................................................................................................................................................................4
External Antennas..................................................................................................................................................4
Ethernet Port..........................................................................................................................................................4
Metal Enclosure .....................................................................................................................................................5
Outdoor Wireless Benefits.....................................................................................................................................5
Outdoor Wireless Challenges................................................................................................................................5
Product Category and Function ...........................................................................................................................6
Product Model Number Table...............................................................................................................................6
Solution Features and Benefits .............................................................................................................................6
Auto-recovery Auto-configuring mesh .................................................................................................................6
CHAPTER 2.....................................................................................................................................................7
Safety Warnings.....................................................................................................................................................7
Deployment Guidelines..........................................................................................................................................7
Site Survey..............................................................................................................................................................8
Hardware Features................................................................................................................................................9
Package Contents.................................................................................................................................................10
Optional Equipment ............................................................................................................................................10
Avoiding Damage to Radios in a Testing Environment....................................................................................10
Hardware Setup...................................................................................................................................................11
Antennas...............................................................................................................................................................13
Wind Resistance..................................................................................................................................................14

User Guide - MeshAP 3100 5GHz / 2.4GHz Full Duplex Mesh Network Access Point Table of Contents
Deployment Conditions .......................................................................................................................................14
Antenna must be properly Level.........................................................................................................................14
Using the built-in Level to level the unit and Antenna (only when direct connecting omni-directional antenna to
the unit)...............................................................................................................................................................15
MeshAP Node Deployment ................................................................................................................................15
Distance away from the Side of Wall and the Floor.........................................................................................15
Avoid place Node on a Metal Pole...................................................................................................................16
Placing node (Height).......................................................................................................................................16
Antenna Pattern Width.....................................................................................................................................17
Tx Power/Range/Link Speed ..............................................................................................................................17
Long Distance Fade margin ................................................................................................................................18
Fresnel Zone Calculation ....................................................................................................................................18
Default Parameter Setting...................................................................................................................................19
CHAPTER 3...................................................................................................................................................20
Installation Options..............................................................................................................................................20
Installing the MeshAP Access Point on a Pole...................................................................................................20
Installing the MeshAP Access Point on a Wall..................................................................................................22
CHAPTER 4...................................................................................................................................................23
MeshAP Infrastructure .......................................................................................................................................23
Mesh Manager Mode ..........................................................................................................................................23
Station Mode.......................................................................................................................................................24
CHAPTER 5...................................................................................................................................................24
CHAPTER 5...................................................................................................................................................25
Accessing the MeshAP Access Point (Login).....................................................................................................25
Direct Ethernet Connection ................................................................................................................................25
Wireless LAN Access...........................................................................................................................................26
Access MeshAP unit via Mesh Manager’s Topology Page...............................................................................27
Change Login Username/Password....................................................................................................................28
Change Username ...............................................................................................................................................28
CHAPTER 6...................................................................................................................................................30
Mesh Manager Configuration.............................................................................................................................30
Setup Mesh Manager Unit...................................................................................................................................30
Http Port..............................................................................................................................................................32
Https Port ............................................................................................................................................................32
Weight.................................................................................................................................................................32
Mesh ID...............................................................................................................................................................33

User Guide - MeshAP 3100 5GHz / 2.4GHz Full Duplex Mesh Network Access Point Table of Contents
CHAPTER 7...................................................................................................................................................34
Station Configuration..........................................................................................................................................34
Mesh Link Connection Mode..............................................................................................................................34
Setup Station in Auto Mode................................................................................................................................34
Mesh ID...............................................................................................................................................................36
Connect a MeshAP Station to other Stations/Mesh Managers under Auto Mode...............................................36
Setup IP Address for Station...............................................................................................................................37
Using DHCP mode Setting IP address for the Station ........................................................................................37
Using Static mode Setting IP address for the Station..........................................................................................38
Setup Station in Manual Mode ...........................................................................................................................39
Mesh ID...............................................................................................................................................................40
Connect a MeshAP station to other Stations/Mesh managers under Manual Mode............................................42
CHAPTER 8...................................................................................................................................................45
Managing the Topology of the Mesh Manager unit..........................................................................................45
Accessing the Topology Page.............................................................................................................................45
Topology Tree Expanded....................................................................................................................................45
Managing the MeshAP on the Topology Tree....................................................................................................46
Go back to the Mesh Manager unit.....................................................................................................................47
CHAPTER 9...................................................................................................................................................48
Setup Mesh Wireless (Backhaul)........................................................................................................................48
Backhaul Wireless Channel ................................................................................................................................49
Backhaul Wireless Security.................................................................................................................................49
WPA Wireless Security (Default).......................................................................................................................49
WPA2 key...........................................................................................................................................................49
WPA key.............................................................................................................................................................50
Wireless Diagnostic..............................................................................................................................................50
Local Link Quality..............................................................................................................................................50
Mesh Link Quality ..............................................................................................................................................51
Topology Change Log.........................................................................................................................................52
Radio Self-Test....................................................................................................................................................53
CHAPTER 10.................................................................................................................................................54
Setup AP Wireless................................................................................................................................................54
Wireless Mode......................................................................................................................................................54
802.11b/g Mode ..................................................................................................................................................54
Wireless Channel .................................................................................................................................................54
Changing and modifying the SSID.....................................................................................................................55

User Guide - MeshAP 3100 5GHz / 2.4GHz Full Duplex Mesh Network Access Point Table of Contents
Wireless Security..................................................................................................................................................56
Disable Wireless Security (Default)....................................................................................................................56
Configure WEP Wireless Security......................................................................................................................56
Configure WPA Wireless Security......................................................................................................................58
Configure WPA2 Wireless Security....................................................................................................................58
CHAPTER 11.................................................................................................................................................59
Multiple SSID / VLAN Configuration................................................................................................................59
SSID / VLAN Page.............................................................................................................................................59
Understand SSID “span” and “arrow..................................................................................................................59
VLAN Tag.............................................................................................................................................................60
Access Mode.......................................................................................................................................................60
Trunk and Native VLAN Mode ..........................................................................................................................60
Pure Mode...........................................................................................................................................................61
CHAPTER 12.................................................................................................................................................63
Point-To-Point MeshAP Locator........................................................................................................................63
Using Point-To-Point Station Locator to adjust directional antenna...................................................................63
SNR Color Bar Information................................................................................................................................63
CHAPTER 13.................................................................................................................................................65
Firmware Upgrade...............................................................................................................................................65
Direct Upgrade – Mesh Station...........................................................................................................................65
Known Issues & Solutions..................................................................................................................................67
Firmware Batch Update......................................................................................................................................68
TFTP Update........................................................................................................................................................69
CHAPTER 14.................................................................................................................................................71
Fail-safe/Local IP Address ..................................................................................................................................71
Retrieve ISP Assigned Mesh Manager IP Address under DHCP Mode.........................................................71
Change the Fail-safe/Local IP Address..............................................................................................................72
MeshAP Station Fail-safe/Local IP Address List................................................................................................72
Mesh Manager Fail-Safe/Local IP Address List.................................................................................................72
Clear ARP Table on Laptop or PC......................................................................................................................73
CHAPTER 15.................................................................................................................................................75
SNMP....................................................................................................................................................................75
SNMP Configuration ..........................................................................................................................................75
Trap/Inform.........................................................................................................................................................75
SNMP Community (Work Group)......................................................................................................................76
APPENDIX A .................................................................................................................................................77

User Guide - MeshAP 3100 5GHz / 2.4GHz Full Duplex Mesh Network Access Point Table of Contents
Specification..........................................................................................................................................................77
Wireless...............................................................................................................................................................77
Software Feature .................................................................................................................................................78
Hardware Specifications .....................................................................................................................................79
APPENDIX B .................................................................................................................................................80
Power Consumption and PoE Injector Pin Assignments .................................................................................80
WARRANTY ..................................................................................................................................................81

User Guide - MeshAP 3100 5GHz/2.4GHz Full Duplex Mesh Network Access Point
DOC-6200-0152 - 1 -
IMPORTANT: Information presented are based on information available and they are subject to change without
notice.

User Guide - MeshAP 3100 5GHz/2.4GHz Full Duplex Mesh Network Access Point
DOC-6200-0152 - 2 -
Chapter 1
Overview ArrowSpan’s multi-radio mesh access point extends hotspot coverage using dual 802.11a
wireless technology as a backhaul connection between mesh access points, and uses one
802.11b/g as a client connection.
The MeshAP 3100 is designed for maximum performance, scalability, and ease of use. The
MeshAP 3100 is ideal for long distance point to point and point to multipoint mesh
solutions and offers full 802.11b/g client compatibility and mesh network protection with
user defined Mesh ID. The multiple wireless path design for both backhaul and user traffic
eliminates adjacent AP signal interference and provides zero performance degradation.
Features
•Dual Radio Backhaul, Single Radio Client AP access
•Backhaul Encryption: 128bit AES
•Client AP Encryption: WEP, WPA, WPA2
•Full VPN compatibility
•Support 802.1Q VLAN and priority QOS
•MAC address access control lists
•Distance configuration for reliable and high performance wireless mesh link
•Signal locator to support high gain antenna point to point setup
•Secure local and remote configuration via HTTP and HTTPS
•Web (HTML) Browser-based management tool supports both http and https
•Support SNMP for 3rd party management software and own NMS
•Network and client monitoring and statistical capture features
•Full 802.11b/g client compatibility
•Layer 2 fast packet switching support
Reliable, Intelligent, High Performance Mesh Network
•Patented Auto-discovery, auto-configure, and auto-healing POP (Predictable Optimum
Path) mesh routing algorithm

User Guide - MeshAP 3100 5GHz/2.4GHz Full Duplex Mesh Network Access Point
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•Multiple wireless path design for both backhaul and user traffic eliminates adjacent AP
signal interference and provides zero performance degradation
•Best network throughput via layer 2 fast switching and bridging from AP to AP to
support real time video, voice, and data applications
Fully Compatible with Existing Access Servers, Routers, and
Gateways
•Transparent to layer 3 and up protocols, fully compatible with existing network
equipment
•Directly connects to existing Routers, Gateways, or APs through 10/100 Ethernet
•Fully compatible with commercial available VLAN Ethernet switch
Management and Security
•GPS Receiver (optional) provides physical location information of each MeshAP,
simplifies maintenance task and adds a new potential of location related services
(outdoor version only)
•Web Based HTML browser management interface
•Supports WEP, WPA, MAC filtering, and dynamic-key 128-bit AES encryption security
across wireless mesh network
•Unique mesh network protection with user defined Mesh ID

User Guide - MeshAP 3100 5GHz/2.4GHz Full Duplex Mesh Network Access Point
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Figure 1-1
MeshAP 3100 Full-Duplex Wireless Mesh Network Access Point
Power ArrowSpan’s MeshAP outdoor access point receives power from the POE (Power over
Ethernet) power injector. It uses an external 48-VDC power module and injects the DC
voltage into the Ethernet cables to power the outdoor access point. Pin 4, 5, 7, and 8 are
power pins.
External Antennas
ArrowSpan’s MeshAP access point is designed for use with an external 2.4GHz antenna
with an N-type male connector, and two external 5GHz antenna with an N-type male
connector.
Ethernet Port
ArrowSpan’s MeshAP access point is able to link to your 100BASE-T Ethernet LAN
through the optional power injector. The Ethernet cables are used to supply inline 48-VDC
5GHz
Uplink
Antenna
5GHz
Downlink
Antenna
2.4GHz
AP (to Client)
Antenna