Sierra Wireless AirLink ES Series Installation manual

AirLink ES Series
Hardware User Guide
4116746
Rev 4

Preface
Rev 4 Aug.15 3
Important
Notice Due to the nature of wireless communications, transmission and reception of data
can never be guaranteed. Data may be delayed, corrupted (i.e., have errors) or be
totally lost. Although significant delays or losses of data are rare when wireless
devices such as the Sierra Wireless modem are used in a normal manner with a
well-constructed network, the Sierra Wireless modem should not be used in
situations where failure to transmit or receive data could result in damage of any
kind to the user or any other party, including but not limited to personal injury,
death, or loss of property. Sierra Wireless accepts no responsibility for damages
of any kind resulting from delays or errors in data transmitted or received using
the Sierra Wireless modem, or for failure of the Sierra Wireless modem to
transmit or receive such data.
Safety and
Hazards Do not operate the Sierra Wireless modem in areas where blasting is in progress,
where explosive atmospheres may be present, near medical equipment, near life
support equipment, or any equipment which may be susceptible to any form of
radio interference. In such areas, the Sierra Wireless modem MUST BE
POWERED OFF. The Sierra Wireless modem can transmit signals that could
interfere with this equipment.
The driver or operator of any vehicle should not operate the Sierra Wireless
modem while in control of a vehicle. Doing so will detract from the driver or
operator's control and operation of that vehicle. In some states and provinces,
operating such communications devices while in control of a vehicle is an offence.
Limitation of
Liability The information in this manual is subject to change without notice and does not
represent a commitment on the part of Sierra Wireless. SIERRA WIRELESS AND
ITS AFFILIATES SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ANY AND ALL
DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, GENERAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL,
PUNITIVE OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUE OR ANTICIPATED PROFITS OR REVENUE
ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE ANY SIERRA WIRELESS
PRODUCT, EVEN IF SIERRA WIRELESS AND/OR ITS AFFILIATES HAS BEEN
ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR THEY ARE
FORESEEABLE OR FOR CLAIMS BY ANY THIRD PARTY.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall Sierra Wireless and/or its
affiliates aggregate liability arising under or in connection with the Sierra Wireless
product, regardless of the number of events, occurrences, or claims giving rise to
liability, be in excess of the price paid by the purchaser for the Sierra Wireless
product.

AirLink ES Series Hardware User Guide
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Patents This product may contain technology developed by or for Sierra Wireless Inc. This
product includes technology licensed from QUALCOMM®. This product is
manufactured or sold by Sierra Wireless Inc. or its affiliates under one or more
patents licensed from InterDigital Group and MMP Portfolio Licensing.
Copyright © 2015 Sierra Wireless. All rights reserved.
Trademarks Sierra Wireless®, AirPrime®, AirLink®, ALEOS®and the Sierra Wireless logo are
registered trademarks of Sierra Wireless.
Windows®and Windows Vista®are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.
Macintosh®and Mac OS X®are registered trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in
the U.S. and other countries.
QUALCOMM®is a registered trademark of QUALCOMM Incorporated. Used
under license.
Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Contact
Information International Contact Information
Sierra Wireless Headquarters Contact Information
www.sierrawireless.com
Contact Email or Web Site
Sales:
Sierra Wireless AirLink Sales [email protected]
Technical support:
Contact your authorized AirLink reseller. Additional support resources, such as technical documentation and software downloads are
available at: source.sierrawireless.com
Company information:
New products, press releases, and
more
www.sierrawireless.com
Postal Address: Sierra Wireless
13811 Wireless Way
Richmond, BC
Canada V6V 3A4

Rev 4 Aug.15 5
Contents
Introducing the AirLink ES Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Out-of-Band Management (OOBM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Network Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Device Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
ALEOS Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
ACEmanager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
ACEview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
AirLink Management Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Ordering Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Startup and Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Initial Startup and Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Tools and Materials Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Installing the SIM Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Connecting the Antennas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Connecting the Power Cable and Starting the ES Series Device . . . . . .18
Connecting the Configuration PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Connecting the Enterprise Router or other Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Configuring with ACEmanager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Configuring with AirLink Management Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Configuring with AT Commands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
LED Behavior. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
On-site Installation and Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Typical Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

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Locating the ES Series device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Mounting the ES Series device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Antenna Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Antenna Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Antenna Separation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Connecting the Enterprise Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Power Connector on the ES Series Gateway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Fusing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Grounding the ES Series Gateway Chassis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Local Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Remote Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
AirLink ES Series Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Radio Module Conducted Transmit Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Host Interfaces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Environmental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Mechanical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Antenna Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
AC Power Adapter Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
AC Power Adapter Regulatory Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Regulatory Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Federal Communications Commission Notice (FCC United States) . . . . 51
Important Information for North American Users on Radiation Exposure 51
Europe Generic Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Acronyms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Rev 4 Aug.15 7
1
1: Introducing the AirLink ES Series
This chapter describes the Sierra Wireless AirLink ES Series device,
including a description of ALEOS®embedded software and the
AirLink Management Service (ALMS) device management platform.
Introduction
The Sierra Wireless ES Series enterprise gateways deliver mission-
critical 4G LTE connectivity when primary landline connections are
unavailable. When deployed with an enterprise router, ES Series
devices support a best-in-class business continuity strategy by
enabling out-of-band management (OOBM) capability to network
operations while leveraging the router's instant failover, routing, and
firewall features.
You can also configure ES Series devices to send their management
data via the DSL/cable gateway using reliable static route protocol to
reduce wireless network costs.
Additional benefits to this enterprise-class business continuity
solution include:
•Improved Internet uptime to keep your branches, kiosks, and
retail operations online
•Seamless failover for continuous uptime of mission critical appli-
cations
•High speed LTE network, faster than xDSL
•Reduced field visits for network equipment resets and updates
•ALEOS and ACEmanager web-based configuration that makes it
quick to deploy
•AirLink Management Service cloud-based device management
application that works in parallel with your network management
systems to manage the wireless system
•ALEOS reliable connection software ensures that the ES Series
device stays connected to the wireless network
•Better SLAs (Service Level Agreements) offered from the
Network Operation Centers as a result of the wireless backup
offered by ES Series devices

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Figure 1-1: AirLink ES Series applications
Out-of-Band Management (OOBM)
Using the ES Series device's serial port to connect to the console port of the
router, IT administrators can troubleshoot and repair network equipment over
wireless wide area networks (WANs). This terminal server capability allows
operation centers to remotely reboot, configure, and update the BIOS of a router
via the ES Series enterprise gateway using Reverse Telnet and SSH protocols.
As a result, remote personnel no longer need to manually reset their networking
equipment and IT administrators can dramatically reduce the number of field
visits.
Inventory
POS
NOCS
HQ
VoIP phone
Wireline Gateway
MNO
Internet
Enterprise-grade router/firewall
Wi-Fi AP
OOBM
AirLink ES Series
(serial to console port)
Wi-Fi AP Laptop
Wireless backup Primary wireless
Ethernet Switch
device AirLink ES Series
device

Introducing the AirLink ES Series
Rev 4 Aug.15 9
Network Configuration
ES Series devices are designed for the distributed enterprise, which includes any
enterprise that has remote facilities that must maintain a network connection for
critical business processes such as retail credit card transactions.
If you are using an ES Series device for a point-of-sales application, you can
configure it to meet PCI Data Security Standard compliance requirements.
ALEOS features such as Reverse Telnet and Reliable Static Routing also support
point-of-sale applications. Refer to the ALEOS Software Configuration User
Guide for details.
Device Description
Front Panel
The front panel has the following indicators and controls:
Figure 1-2: ES Series Device Front Panel
•LEDs– These show the ES Series device’s operating status. The LEDs are
described in detail in LED Behavior on page 23.
• Reset Button – Momentarily pressing and releasing this button reboots the
ES Series device.
Note: Holding the Reset button down for 7–10 seconds resets the ES Series device to its
factory default settings.
LEDs
Reset Button

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Rear Panel
The rear panel has the following connectors and controls:
Figure 1-3: ES Series Rear Panel
• Primary LTE Antenna Connector – This is the radio’s receive and transmit
port. For best results, use the included antennas, placed in a V formation. You
can attach the antennas directly to the ES Series device, or you can use a
bracket and SMA coaxial cable to connect antennas located away from the
device.
• Secondary LTE Antenna Connector – This is required for LTE MIMO
(multiple-input and multiple-output).
Note: For more information, see Connecting the Antennas on page 16.
• Ethernet Connector – This RJ-45 connector connects any Ethernet-enabled
network equipment to the ES Series device using a standard Ethernet cable.
It is also used to connect a Windows PC that you can use to configure and
monitor the ES Series device, using ACEmanager.
This connector complies with the IEEE 802.3 specification for 100 Mbps
speed (Fast Ethernet) with fallback to 10 Mbps and includes auto-crossover
support. It is auto-sensing and auto-detects the speed of the connecting
device for 100 baseT or 10 baseT.
The connector has two LEDs that indicate speed and activity. For more infor-
mation, see Ethernet LEDs on page 24.
• Power Connector – Connect the AC adapter or DC cable.
The ES Series device automatically starts when power is supplied.
• Serial Port – This 9-pin connector provides standard RS-232 DCE communi-
cation. For out-of-band management, you can connect this serial port to an
enterprise router. You can also connect a computer to the serial port to
configure the ES Series device using AT commands. For more information,
see Connecting the Enterprise Router or other Equipment on page 19.
•USBPort– The Micro AB connector complies with version 2.0 of the USB
standard for high-speed operation. It accepts Micro A and Micro B plugs. You
can connect a Windows PC to monitor and configure the ES Series device.
Primary LTE Antenna Connector Secondary LTE
Antenna Connector
Power Connector
USB Port Serial Port
Ethernet
Connector

Introducing the AirLink ES Series
Rev 4 Aug.15 11
When connected to a PC, the USB port becomes either a:
·Virtual serial port (The ES Series device behaves as if the PC is connected
to a standard serial port. The primary use of this interface is to send AT
commands.)
·Virtual Ethernet port (The ES Series device behaves as if the PC is
connected to an Ethernet port, allowing access to the Internet and
ACEmanager. This is the default setting.)
Refer to the ALEOS Software Configuration User Guide for information on
configuring the USB port. Windows drivers for the USB port are available at
Sierra Wireless’ download web site: source.sierrawireless.com.
When using the USB port:
·Use a USB 2.0 cable
·Connect directly to your computer for best throughput
ALEOS Software
Note: For detailed information on all of the features in ALEOS, see the ALEOS Software
Configuration User Guide available for downloading from source.sierrawireless.com.
ALEOS, the embedded core technology of the AirLink product line, provides:
•An always-on, always-aware, intelligent two-way connection for mission-
critical applications
•Simplified setup, operation and maintenance of any wireless solution
ALEOS features include:
•Reverse Telnet for out-of-band management
•Reliable Static Routing
•SNMP
•Persistent Network Connectivity
•Over-The-Air (OTA) Upgrades
•Wireless Optimized TCP/IP
•Real-Time Notification
•Packet Level Diagnostics
•Device Management & Control
Sierra Wireless has two main applications for monitoring and configuring
ES Series devices:
• ACEmanager – A web-based configuration tool for configuring a single
AirLink device
• AirLink Management Service (ALMS) – A cloud-based device management
service for monitoring and configuring fleets of ES Series devices.
ES Series devices also accept AT Commands.

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12 4116746
ACEmanager
ACEmanager is a web-based application used to configure and monitor
ES Series devices. ACEmanager:
•Simplifies deployment
•Provides extensive monitoring, control and management capabilities
•Enables you to configure your ES Series device to meet your needs
•Monitors and controls your ES Series device remotely and in real-time
•Is accessed through a web browser connected to the ES Series device locally
or over the air.
See Configuring with ACEmanager on page 21 to learn how to access
ACEmanager.
ACEview
ACEview is a Windows-based monitoring application for the PC with an easy to
read interface. You can download ACEview free of charge from:
source.sierrawireless.com.
Figure 1-4: ACEview Screen
Note: ACEview requires the Microsoft .NET Framework v.2.0 and Microsoft Windows XP
or later. Obtain the Microsoft .NET Framework from Microsoft at: http://www.microsoft.com.
AirLink Management Service
AirLink Management Service (ALMS) is a cloud-based application, accessible
from your web browser. It provides remote monitoring and configuration for
multiple AirLink ALEOS devices from a single computer.
ALMS features include:
•Device management as a service
•Advanced monitoring dashboards and alert notifications ensuring you always
know the status of your ES Series devices
•Detailed configuration of all ALEOS parameters, including templates
providing batch updates of pre-set configurations across multiple devices
•Over-the-air (OTA) firmware upgrades for all of your ES Series devices with a
single operation
For more information about ALMS, go to www.sierrawireless.com/ALMS.

Introducing the AirLink ES Series
Rev 4 Aug.15 13
Accessories
•Included with the ES Series device:
·AC power adapter with international plug options
·Mounting screws
·Two LTE antennas
·Quick Start Guide
•Order separately:
·Ethernet cable
·DB-9 serial cable (6 ft and 25 ft lengths)
·USB cable
·Null modem cable
Ordering Information
For more information or to place an order, contact:
[e-mail].
Warranty
The ES Series device has a 3-year standard warranty.

AirLink ES Series Hardware User Guide
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Rev 4 Aug.15 15
2
2: Startup and Configuration
This chapter provides instruction for the initial device configuration,
and describes the front panel LEDs.
Initial Startup and Configuration
Follow the instructions in this section to do the initial startup and
configuration for the ES Series device. For on-site installation and
setup instructions, see On-site Installation and Setup on page 27.
Tools and Materials Required
•A SIM card for your ES Series device (provided by your mobile
network operator) if not already installed
•A Phillips screwdriver for removing the top cover
•A laptop computer with an Ethernet, USB, or serial cable for
device management
•Two LTE wireless antennas (included) For indoor use only.
•AC power adapter (included)
•If wireless out-of-band management is required, a null modem
cable to connect the ES Series device’s RS-232 port to the enter-
prise router
•If you are mounting the antennas remotely from the ES Series
device, you will need a coaxial cable, mounting brackets, and
connectors. (For more information, see Antenna Installation on
page 29.)

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16 4116746
Installing the SIM Card
If it is not already installed, insert a SIM card into the ES Series device before
connecting any external equipment or powering it up.
Figure 2-1: SIM Card Installation
Connecting the Antennas
The primary and secondary RF antennas can be:
•Attached directly to the ES Series device
They operate well when the antenna blades are placed in a V position, with 90
degrees of separation.
•Placed remotely using brackets, and connected to the ES Series device using
a coaxial cable
This may be required if you want to place the ES Series device in an area that
does not have optimal signal strength or is near RF noise interference (such
as near an enterprise router)
1) Use a Phillips screwdriver to
2) Remove the cover.
3) Slide the SIM card
into the SIM card holder.
Note the orientation of notched
4) Reattach the cover, ensuring that the Phillips screws are tightened to 5 in-lb (0.6 N-m).
corner of SIM card for
proper alignment.
Over-tightening can damage the threads in the aluminum housing.
remove the four screws attaching the cover.
Save the screws for re-installation.

Startup and Configuration
Rev 4 Aug.15 17
An RF site survey may be required to determine the best location. See
Antenna Installation on page 29.
To connect the antennas to the device:
1. Connect both RF antennas, as shown in the illustration.
2. Adjust the antennas so they are in a V-formation, with a separation of
90 degrees.
90°

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Connecting the Power Cable and Starting the
ES Series Device
1. Choose the correct AC adapter plug for your region and slide it into the AC
adapter base.
2. Connect the power cable to the 4-pin power connector on the ES Series
device.
3. Plug the adapter into an AC wall outlet. (If you use a cable to connect the
device to a DC power source, see Power Connector on the ES Series
Gateway on page 31.)
Characteristics of the ES Series device power supply:
·100–240 V
·50/60 Hz.
·9–36 VDC, 1500 mA output
4. The ES Series device starts automatically, as indicated by the flashing LEDs.
See LED Behavior on page 23 for details.
Connecting the Configuration PC
To connect the computer to the ES Series device:
1. Use an Ethernet cable to connect the ES Series device to the PC.
If the Ethernet port is being used to connect another device, such as an enter-
prise router, you can connect the USB port on the ES Series device to the
computer and configure it to act as a virtual Ethernet port. See Figure 2-2 on
page 19.
PUSH
PUSH
PUSH
PUSH
PUSH
PUSH
PUSH
PUSH
North America Europe
UK Australia

Startup and Configuration
Rev 4 Aug.15 19
Figure 2-2: Connecting the ES Series device to the PC
2. If you are using a USB cable:
a. Download the USB drivers from source.sierrawireless.com.
b. Install the USB drivers.
c. Reboot the PC.
3. Use the appropriate cable (Ethernet or USB) to connect the PC to the
ES Series device.
Connecting the Enterprise Router or other
Equipment
1. Use a serial cable to connect one of the WAN ports on the enterprise router
to the RS-232 serial connector on the ES Series device.
Note: The ES Series device is a DCE serial device. The enterprise router may have an
RJ-45 or DB-9 console port. Depending on the type of console port connectors and the
cable available from the enterprise router vendor, you may need to purchase additional
cables, including a null modem cable from the enterprise router vendor.
Ethernet
cable Ethernet
cable
USB cable
Ethernet Connection Virtual Ethernet Connection with USB cable
If you are using the Ethernet
port on the ES Series device to
connect an enterprise
router, then use the USB
port to connect the PC
and configure it to be a
virtual Ethernet port.
If you are not using the Ethernet
port on the ES Series device to connect an
enterprise router, the easiest way
to connect the PC is to use an
Ethernet cable.

AirLink ES Series Hardware User Guide
20 4116746
Figure 2-3: Connecting an enterprise router to an ES Series device
The ES Series device’s serial connector complies with the EIA RS-232D
specification for DCE equipment. The output driver levels range from -7 VDC to
+7 VDC with normal loading.
Figure 2-4: 9-Pin Serial Connector Diagram
Wired gateway
ES Series device
Enterprise router
Redundant ISP configuration Out-Of-Band Management Configuration
Enterprise router
ES Series device
Null modem cable
Table 2-1: Serial Connector Pin-out
Name Pin Description Type
DCD 1Data Carrier Detect OUT
TXD 2Transmit Data OUT
RXD 3Receive Data IN
DTR 4Data Terminal Ready IN
GND 5 Main GND. Connected
internally to BOARD_GND GND
DSR 6Data Set Ready OUT
RTS 7Ready To Send IN
CTS 8Clear To Send OUT
RI 9Ring Indicator OUT
5
987 6
43 21