Mine Site Technologies NS40 I.S. User manual

NS40 I.S. Wireless Network Switch
User Guide
NS40_UG_EN_C

Contents
Revision History............................................................................................................................................7
Contact Information.......................................................................................................................................9
About This Manual......................................................................................................................................11
Chapter 1: I.S. Wireless Network Switch...............................................13
1.1 Hardware Overview...................................................................................................................14
1.2 System Layout Overview..........................................................................................................15
1.3 Connectivity...............................................................................................................................16
1.3.1 Composite Fibre Ports................................................................................................17
1.3.2 Wireless Access Points...............................................................................................18
Chapter 2: Installing I.S. Wireless Network Switches...........................19
2.1 Pre-Installation Planning...........................................................................................................20
2.2 Mounting an I.S. Wireless Network Switch..............................................................................20
2.3 Cables........................................................................................................................................21
2.3.1 Power and Data Cables...............................................................................................21
2.3.2 Coaxial cables ............................................................................................................24
2.4 Antennas....................................................................................................................................26
2.4.1 Antenna Placement and Layout..................................................................................26
2.5 Before Powering Up the I.S. Network Switch...........................................................................27
Chapter 3: Understanding VLANs .........................................................29
3.1 Understanding Trunk and Access Ports.....................................................................................30
3.1.1 Trunk Ports.................................................................................................................30
3.1.2 Access Ports................................................................................................................30
3.1.3 Port Allocation............................................................................................................30
3.2 VLANs and Wireless Networks................................................................................................30
3.3 Native VLAN ...........................................................................................................................31
Chapter 4: Conguration using the Web Interface ..............................33
4.1 Logging onto the Web Interface................................................................................................34
4.2 Conguration Page....................................................................................................................34
4.2.1 Changes Menu............................................................................................................35
4.3 Overview Tab.............................................................................................................................36
4.3.1 Setting the Language..................................................................................................36
4.3.2 Logging out of the Web Interface...............................................................................37
4.4 Status tab....................................................................................................................................37
4.4.1 Viewing System Status...............................................................................................37
4.4.2 Viewing Interfaces......................................................................................................38
NS40 I.S. Wireless Network Switch3Revision C

4.4.3 Viewing Wireless Networks.......................................................................................39
4.4.4 Viewing MAC Address Table.....................................................................................40
4.4.5 Viewing Ports and STP Status....................................................................................41
4.4.6 Viewing AeroScout Status..........................................................................................42
4.4.7 Viewing Routes...........................................................................................................42
4.4.8 Viewing System Logs.................................................................................................43
4.4.9 Viewing Kernel Logs..................................................................................................43
4.5 System tab..................................................................................................................................44
4.5.1 Changing System Settings..........................................................................................44
4.5.2 Changing the System Administrator Password..........................................................44
4.5.3 Managing System Processes.......................................................................................45
4.5.4 Conguring Network Time........................................................................................46
4.5.5 Conguring Location Based Services........................................................................46
4.5.6 Centralised Conguration Management Settings.......................................................48
4.5.7 Backup and Restore Settings......................................................................................49
4.5.8 Upgrading Firmware...................................................................................................51
4.5.9 Changing the Unit Serial Number..............................................................................51
4.5.10 Rebooting the Device...............................................................................................52
4.6 Network Tab..............................................................................................................................52
4.6.1 Conguring LAN Interface Settings..........................................................................52
4.6.2 Conguring Wireless Interface Settings.....................................................................53
4.6.3 Conguring Composite Fibre Ports............................................................................57
4.6.4 Managing Simple Network Management Protocol ...................................................59
4.6.5 Conguring Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol...............................................................59
4.6.6 Dening VLANs........................................................................................................61
4.6.7 Adding Static Routes..................................................................................................63
Chapter 5: Centralised Conguration Management ............................65
5.1 Device Management Overview.................................................................................................66
5.1.1 Site Conguration.......................................................................................................67
5.1.2 AP Cong Templates..................................................................................................67
5.1.3 Access Point...............................................................................................................70
5.2 TFTP Server Overview..............................................................................................................72
5.3 TFTP Parameters.......................................................................................................................72
Appendix A: Troubleshooting Guide ......................................................75
Appendix B: Acronyms.............................................................................77
Appendix C: Composite Cable Testing...................................................79
C.1 Visual Inspection of the Fibre Optic Cable...............................................................................79
C.2 Measuring and Testing for Power Loss.....................................................................................79
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Appendix D: Connecting a PC to an I.S. Wireless Network Switch.....81
Appendix E: Device Discovery.................................................................85
Appendix F: I.S. Wireless Network Switch Reset and Reboot..............87
Appendix G: I.S. Wireless Network Switch Specications...................91
Appendix H: Maintenance Checklist......................................................93
Appendix I: NS40 Regulatory..................................................................95
Appendix J: Warranty and License Agreement.....................................97
J.1 Hardware Warranty....................................................................................................................97
J.2 Software End User License Agreement.....................................................................................97
NS40 I.S. Wireless Network Switch5Revision C

Revision C6NS40 I.S. Wireless Network Switch

Revision History
DateChangeRevision
June 2011User manual for NS40 hardware rev. D and rmware
0.9.36
A
August 2011Revision for rmware 1.2.0B
December 2012Updated for rmware 2.0.8C
Copyright ©2012 Mine Site Technologies Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. Mine Site Technologies Pty Ltd
reserves the right to make changes to specications and information in this manual without prior notice.
Mine Site Technologies Pty Ltd accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions contained in this
manual.
NS40 I.S. Wireless Network Switch7Revision C

Contact Information
AUSTRALIA - Sydney
113 Wicks Road
North Ryde NSW 2113 AUSTRALIA
Tel: [phone]
CANADA - Sudbury
1085 Kelly Lake Road
Sudbury Ontario P3E 5P5 CANADA
Tel: [phone]
CHINA - Hangzhou
4F, Building 1
1413 Moganshan Road
Hangzhou CHINA 310011
Tel: [phone]x206
UNITED STATES - Denver
13301 W 43rd Drive
Golden Colorado 80403 USA
Tel: [phone]
NS40 I.S. Wireless Network Switch9Revision C

About This Manual
This manual describes features and functions of the NS40 Intrinsically Safe Wireless Network Switch. It
provides information about hardware installation, operation, conguration and how to troubleshoot any
issues. You will nd it easier to use the manual if you are familiar with networking systems and have an
understanding of electronics in a network environment.
Conventions used in this manual
This publication uses specic formatting for certain data types. These may differ or appear similar in
certain languages. In this document, they appear as follows:
• User interface elements such as menu options, text elds and buttons look like this.
• Non-interactive elements such as message folders and hardware components look like this.
• Text entered and specic settings or options chosen by the user look like this.
• System messages and output in response to commands look like this.
•References to external documents look like this.
Icons
The following icons may appear in this document to highlight specic information:
Table 1: Icons
DescriptionIcon
The Note icon indicates important or useful
information and references.
Note:
The Important icon contains information to prevent
damage to the product and injury to the user.
Important:
The Caution icon indicates to stop and pay attention
or an action not to be performed.
Caution:
Related Documentation
The following documents, available from MST, include information relevant to the conguration and
operation of the NS40:
•Administration Console User Manual
•MineDash User Manual
Additional Support
For additional support please visit our website: http://www.minesite.com.au/
Note: The information provided in this document ("Information") is presented in good faith and
believed to be correct as at the date of this document. MST makes no representations as to the
accuracy or completeness of the Information. The Information is supplied on the condition that the
recipient will make their own determination as to the suitability of the Information for their purposes
prior to use. Under no circumstances will MST be responsible for any damages whatsoever resulting
from the use of, or reliance upon, the Information.
NS40 I.S. Wireless Network Switch11Revision C

Chapter
1
I.S. Wireless Network Switch
The Mine Site Technologies Intrinsically Safe Wireless Network
Switch (NS40) consists of a managed bre optic Ethernet switch and
Topics:
•Hardware Overview two 802.11b/g wireless access points. It provides wired and wireless
•System Layout Overview network access in hazardous coal mining environments. The NS40
•Connectivity forms part of the ImPact Intrinsically Safe Communications System,
providing the network infrastructure where voice, tracking, video,
process control and data applications are used to enhance mining safety
and communication.
The NS40 has the following features:
• Four bre optic fast Ethernet ports
• Two 802.11b/g wireless access points
•Powder-coated stainless steel enclosure complying to IP65 standards
• AeroScout Tag reading capability for real time tracking of assets
and personnel
• Composite cabling that incorporates both power and bre optic
connectivity
• Low power design operating from 8 to 15.1VDC for Intrinsically
Safe mining environments
• Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol for network redundancy.
NS40 I.S. Wireless Network Switch13Revision C

1.1 Hardware Overview
The features and functions of the NS40 are illustrated below:
FunctionDescriptionKey
Power and / or bre optic connectivity via composite cable,
bre optic cable or DC power cable.
Composite bre port.1
By default, composite bre port 1 is the upstream port.Composite bre port number.2
The status LEDs indicate the following:
IndicationLED status
Status indicator LED for each
CPU.
3
CPU is not running.Off
CPU is operating.Blinking slowly
CPU is booting up.Blinking fast
Wi-Fi LEDs indicate the following:
IndicationLED status
Wi-Fi indicator LED for each
CPU.
4
Wireless radio is disabled.Off
Wireless radio is enabled.On
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I.S. Wireless Network Switch

FunctionDescriptionKey
IndicationLED status
Transmitting or receiving data.Flashing
The bre port LEDs indicate the following:
IndicationLED status
Composite bre port link /
Activity LEDs.
5
Fibre transceiver is disabled or has not
established a link to the next device.
Off
Fibre transceiver is enabled and has
established a link to the next device.
On
Transmitting or receiving data.Flashing
NS40 mounting point.25mm diameter mounting hole.6
NS40 mounting point.10mm diameter mounting hole.7
RP-TNC jack for connecting an antenna to wireless radio 1.Receive (Rx) antenna port for
wireless radio 1.
8
RP-TNC jack for connecting an antenna to wireless radio 1.Transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx)
antenna port for wireless radio 1.
9
RP-TNC jack for connecting an antenna to wireless radio 2.Receive (Rx) antenna port for
wireless radio 2.
10
RP-TNC jack for connecting an antenna to wireless radio 2.Transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx)
antenna port for wireless radio 2.
11
Protective cap when antenna ports are not in use.Antenna port protective cap.12
Protective arm to lock bre port covers and cable connectors.Composite bre port retention
arm.
13
1.2 System Layout Overview
NS40s are used to form a network system known as the ImPact Intrinsically Safe Communications System.
Each NS40 is placed at a location where data, voice, and tracking applications are required.
An Intrinsically Safe network consists of a number of cells. Each cell consists of:
• A power supply unit (PSU)
• Up to four NS40s
• A pair of antennas for each 802.11b/g wireless access point
• Interconnection cables consisting of power cables, bre optic cables, composite cables and coaxial
cables
• Antenna splitter boxes
• Junction boxes that are used to join composite cable lengths greater than 325m.
NS40 I.S. Wireless Network Switch15Revision C
I.S. Wireless Network Switch

Figure 1: An example of an Intrinsically Safe network
The Intrinsically Safe design of the network requires each cell to be individually powered and that electrical
power must not travel between them. Fibre optic cables is used to connect between cells to provide network
connectivity.
Cells can be connected in a loop conguration to provide multiple redundant network paths to the surface.
The NS40 supports Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP), which monitors these loops and can redirect
data trafc if an active link fails.
1.3 Connectivity
The NS40 has two types of network connections:
• Composite bre ports
• Wireless access points.
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I.S. Wireless Network Switch

1.3.1 Composite Fibre Ports
Each side of an NS40 unit has two composite bre port connectors with a crush protection cover. Each
connector consists of two electrical contacts and a duplex LC single mode optic bre (SMOF) receptacle.
Note: A protective cover or a mating cable connector must be attached to each port to maintain
the IP65 (Ingress Protection) rating of the unit. Leaving a port uncovered whilst an NS40 is operating
breaches the IP65 rating and consequently the Intrinsic Safety Certication.
Each port can be connected in one of the following ways:
DescriptionPort connection
A DC power cable to connect the PSU to the electrical contacts on an
NS40 within a cell. By convention, this cable is connected to port 4.
DC power only connection
A bre optic cable terminated to the bre contacts of the NS40 composite
connector.
Fibre only connection
A composite cable providing bre optic connectivity and power to the
NS40 in a cell.
Fibre and DC power
connection
Fibre optic cabling provides numerous benets over Ethernet cabling, with superior signal integrity and
no signal interference from high powered electronics. It also enables NS40s to be spaced over longer
distances without the distance limitation of Ethernet cabling.
By default port 1 is congured as the upstream port and ports 2, 3 and 4 as the downstream ports. The
difference between upstream and downstream ports is the orientation of the bre that is used for transmitting
data and the bre used for receiving data.
NS40 I.S. Wireless Network Switch17Revision C
I.S. Wireless Network Switch

Due to the difference in the bre orientation, MST composite cable and bre optic cable can only be
connected between ports on NS40 devices marked with a tick in the matrix below.
Port 4Port 3Port 2Port 1
Port 1
Port 2
Port 3
Port 4
1.3.2 Wireless Access Points
The NS40 has two 802.11 b/g radios allowing up to four SSIDs each. Each radio is managed by a CPU
and can be enabled or disabled through the web browser interface. For more information, see Conguring
Wireless Interface Settings on page 53.
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I.S. Wireless Network Switch

Chapter
2
Installing I.S. Wireless Network Switches
This chapter describes mounting and installation of NS40s, antennas,
and connection of cables. Fibre plug assembly and cable termination
are beyond the scope of this manual.
Topics:
•Pre-Installation Planning
•Mounting an I.S. Wireless
Network Switch Important: The electronic components in an NS40 are designed
to be isolated from the enclosure and local electrical earth. This
•Cables
is known as galvanic isolation and ensures there is no current
•Antennas passing between grounds of different potential. In the event of
•Before Powering Up the I.S.
Network Switch a short circuit to earth, galvanic isolation allows all devices
within a cell to be intrinsically safe as there are no loops for
current to ow. Galvanic isolation must always be maintained
in the following manner:
•All NS40 circuitry isolated from the enclosure (and electrical
earth)
• Use of approved Intrinsically Safe Uninterruptible Power
Supply (I.S. UPS)
•All antenna and coaxial cable connections properly insulated.
NS40 I.S. Wireless Network Switch19Revision C

2.1 Pre-Installation Planning
A detailed design study of a mine must be conducted by an MST System Engineer to determine specic
network requirements and design before installation. The following factors help determine network design:
• Wireless coverage requirements of the mine
• Quantity and type of wireless client devices connected to the network
• Wired client devices connected to the network and their location
• Access to Intrinsically Safe power
• Interconnection to the mine's existing corporate network
• Policies for network protocols between networks
• Cabling requirements
• Antenna types to use with each unit, whether antenna splitters are required, and mounting method for
each antenna
• Mounting location and installation method for each NS40.
2.2 Mounting an I.S. Wireless Network Switch
The mounting location of each NS40 should be free from debris, and should not be an obstruction to
vehicles, machinery, vent tubing, piping and cables. It can be mounted horizontally or vertically.
The NS40 has mounting points providing several installation options. The 10mm and 25mm diameter
mounting holes allow the NS40 to be cable-tied to the mesh in a mine tunnel. The 25mm diameter mounting
holes also allow the NS40 to be secured to rock bolts in the mine rock face.
Revision C20NS40 I.S. Wireless Network Switch
Installing I.S. Wireless Network Switches