Teledyne Frontline Sodera User manual

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TM
Quick Start
Guide
Computer System Requirements
Supported Systems
lOperating System: Windows 7/8/10
lUSB:USB 2.0 and 3.0 High Speed
Minimum Requirements
lProcessor: Core i5 at 2.7 GHz
lRAM: 4 GB
lFree Hard Disk Space: 20 GB
Install Software
lFrom Download: Download the latest ComProbe installer
from FTE.com. Once downloaded, double-click the
installer and follow the directions.
http://www.fte.com/sodera-soft
1. Front Panel Controls
Frontline Sodera™ front panel is shown below. The panel provides controls to power up and shut down the Frontline Sodera hardware,
and it provides indicators to show the power, battery, and capture status.
Sodera Front Panel Controls and Indicators

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Power On/Off Button: Press and hold the button for at least 1/2 second, and then release the button to power on or power off the
system.
Pressing and holding the button for at least five seconds will initiate an emergency shut down sequence.
Status Indicators: Colored LEDs show the status of power and capture.
Indicator Color State Status Indicated
Power None Off Unit is powered off
Green Constant Unit is switched on
Red Blinking Unit is approaching its maximum thermal load and should be shut
down.
Constant Unit has been automatically disabled due to thermal overload.
Amber Constant Unit is powering down.
Battery State None Off No battery present
Green Constant Battery present and is at normal operating voltage
Slow Flash Battery charging
Amber Fast Flash Battery fault
Host Interface None Off No host interface is connected.
Green Constant Host interface is connected.
Amber Constant Internal error
Capture None Off Unit is not actively capturing data
Green Constant Unit is capturing data
Red Constant Unit has engaged RF overload protection; the RF signal is too strong.
Table 1 - Sodera Front Panel Status Indicators
Antenna SMA Connector: Antenna attaching point.
Battery Charge : The following table shows the charge state of the installed battery. When the battery is not installed, all LEDs are off
except when the unit is in the process of powering up. In that case they repeatedly light up in sequence.
Indicator LEDs Charge Status
Greater than 80%
Between 60 and 80%
Between 40 and 60%
Between 20 and 40%
Table 2 - Sodera Battery Charge State LED
Indicators

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Indicator LEDs Charge Status
Less than 20%
Not Active
Table 2 - Sodera Battery Charge State LED Indic-
ators(Continued)
Capture: When configured for Excursion mode, pressing this button will begin data capture—the same as the Record/Recording button
on the Sodera Window Capture Toolbar. The Capture button is inactive when Sodera is connected to a computer . To operate in the
Excursion mode, the Sodera hardware must have been previously configured from the Frontline software prior to disconnecting from
the computer. The Sodera hardware will retain those configuration settings when disconnected from the computer. Refer to the
ComProbe Sodera User Manual for Excursion mode operating details.
2. Rear Panel Connectors
The rear panel is shown below. The panel provides connectors for external power, ProbeSync™, HCI, and for connection to the
computer hosting the Frontline software.
Sodera Rear Panel Connectors
+12VDC: Connection to the Frontline supplied AC-to-DC power adapter, or a 12 VDC auxiliary vehicle outlet system can be used.
ProbeSync™ IN/OUT: Used for synchronizing multiple capture devices. Sodera can act as a clock source (master) device providing the
clock to synchronize timestamping with connected target (slave) devices. When operating as a master device the OUT RJ-45 connector
provides the synchronizing clock. The synchronizing clock can be attached to a slave Frontline Sodera or a Frontline 802.11, for
example. When operating as a slave device, the IN RJ-45 connector receives the synchronizing clock from a master Sodera unit.
HCI USB 1/HCI USB 2:USB Type B and a USB Type A connectors allow capture of HCI USB data. HCI USB 1 and HCI USB 2 are
independent groupings of the Type A and Type B connectors. The HCI USB 1 connectors use the same Sodera unit internal interface as
the Sodera HCI POD1 UART pins. Likewise the HCI USB 2 connectors use the same internal interface as the Sodera HCI POD2 UART pins.
Therefore you cannot simultaneously capture USB and UART on the "1" interface or on the "2" interface. Refer to 1.1 Connecting for
USB Capture, on page1 and to 1.1 Connecting for HCI Capture, on page1.
PC HOST : USB 2.0 port for connecting Sodera to the host computer where the Frontline software resides. This connector provides host
computer command, control, and data transfer.
Note: At this time all other rear panel connectors are inactive.

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3. Attach Antenna
Antenna Attachment Point
Remove the Frontline Sodera™ hardware from the box and attach the antenna to the SMA connector on the front panel.
4. Connecting for ProbeSync™
ProbeSync allows a Frontline Sodera unit and a 802.11 hardware to be connected together to run off of a common clock, ensuring
precise timestamp synchronization while capturing Bluetooth and WiFi technologies.. One device will act as the master device by
providing the clock to the slave device receiving the clock. The devices are connected in a daisy-chain configuration. The Sodera unit
must be the master device. Refer to the following tables, to 2. Rear Panel Connectors, on the previous page, and to the 802.11 rear
panel image below.
Sodera 802.11 Sodera 802.11
PROBESYNC OUT PROBESYNC IN OUT IN
Master Slave X X
Table 3 - Sodera Synced to 802.11
Using a CAT 5 Ethernet cable, less than 1.5 meters (4.9 feet), insert one end into the master device connector. Insert the other end into
the slave device connector.
Each master/slave device will have a separate datasource window open. The Bluetooth and WiFi packets can be viewed in the
Coexistence View for either datasource.

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ComProbe 802.11 Back Panel
5. Applying Power
The Sodera hardware is powered by three methods: the Frontline supplied AC-to-DC adapter, an external DC power source that can
include power from an automobile auxiliary power source and an optional internal battery.
To apply power to Sodera use one of the three methods:
1. Connect the provided AC-to-DC power adapter to the +12VDC connector on the rear panel and then connect the adapter into
an AC source.
2. Connect a DC power source supplying +12 VDC directly to the +12VDC connector on the rear panel.
3. Install the battery.
To start Sodera , depress the Power button on the front panel for at least 1/2 second and then release . This action will provide a clean
start for Sodera hardware. The battery charge state indicator LEDs will repeatedly flash in sequence while the unit powers up.
The front panel Power indicator LED will be green.
Should the front panel Power indicator begin blinking red, the Sodera hardware is approaching thermal overload temperature
between 50 °C and 60 °C (122 °F and 140 °F) and should be shut down. When the hardware reaches thermal overload it will
automatically shut down and the Power indicator will be a constant red.
6. Sodera Data Capture Method
When the Frontline Sodera is connected to the Host PC running Frontline Protocol Analysis System software the Select Data Capture
Method... window will display the Sodera options.

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Sodera Data Capture Method
Select Wideband Bluetooth,Bluetooth Classic/low energy (Frontline Sodera)
Click on Run. The Frontline software will display the Sodera Control window.
Sodera Control Window
7. User Configuration Overview
Frontline®Sodera™ is capable of simultaneously capturing and demodulating all RF channels and packet types defined in all Bluetooth
specification versions up to and including 4.2. The user is not required to specify the addresses of the devices to be captured or their
roles (master or slave) during the connection lifetime. Prior to capturing data the user does not need to enter any information (PIN,
OOB, long term key, link key) used to encrypt or decrypt data. Sodera provides live simultaneous capture of all 79 Classic Bluetooth
channels and 40 Bluetooth low energy channels storing data for both live and post-capture analysis.
Sodera™ uses a two-stage capture-analysis process. First, Record will activate the Sodera™ datasource to begin capturing data from all
Bluetooth devices in range. In the Analyze stage, the user selects one or more wireless or wired devices for analysis and Sodera™ will

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begin sending captured data that is to/from those devices to the Frontline analysis software. The data appears in the Frame Display,
Message Sequence Chart,Coexistence View,Bluetooth Timeline,low energy Bluetooth Timeline,PER Stats,Event Display etc.
If any keys needed for decryption are known from past captures those keys are automatically applied to the devices under test. Prior to
protocol analysis the user can enter any unknown keys. Sodera will identify the specific key necessary for data decryption, for example
Link Key, Passkey, PIN, Temporary Key. Decryption keys are entered into the Sodera Security Pane
Sodera Security Pane
The user can configure the datasource from the Options menu. The default settings are sufficient for capturing most Bluetooth
connections. Details of the configuration settings are in the ComProbe Sodera User Manual available for download from FTE.com or in
Frontline Sodera on-line help.
Sodera Window

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8. Set in Target: Record—Begin Capture
When starting a capture session
lthe active status of all devices is cleared in the Wireless Devices and Wired Devices panes ,
lthe Security pane is emptied, and
lthe Event Log pane retains all prior logged events.
On the Capture Toolbar, click on the Record button, or select Record from the Capture menu option. When
the Record button changes to Recording, SoderaSodera LE Sodera or Sodera LE hardware is capturing data
from all active Bluetooth devices within range and is recording data on the PC.
On the Capture Toolbar, clicking on the Recording button, or selecting Recording from the Capture menu
options will halt live capture.
The Wireless Devices and Wired Devices pane populates with any newly discovered devices. Selecting
devices for analysis can be done while recording.
Note: The Capture Toolbar Analyze button will be grayed out until some wireless devices have been selected for
analysis.
The Security pane will show all encrypted Bluetooth links.
The Event Log pane will begin to populate with information, warnings, and error messages.
The Status Bar will show a running total of captured packets.
Note: Starting a new capture session will clear all unsaved data from both the Set in Target hardware and the
Frontline software. If it has not been saved, then a pop-up warning message will appear.
9. Set in Target: Selecting Devices for Analysis
Once a Set in Target capture session starts by clicking on Record on the Capture Toolbar, data from all active devices within range or
data from wired connections is being captured. To analyze the data using the Frontline software, you select specific devices of interest
to include in the analysis.
Set in Target Wireless Devices Pane

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In the Wireless Devices and Wired Devices pane, place a check in the row of each active device / to be analyzed. Active
devices can also be selected while the recording is in process.
Note: Data filtered by the device selection is an “OR” function, not an “AND” function. When selecting device1,
device2, device3,... the recorded data filtered into the analyzer is data involving device1 OR device2 OR device3
OR .... However, if in the Options menu, analysis if LE Empty packets is selected an AND function is included.
For example: (device2 AND LE Empty packets) OR (device3 AND LE Empty packets).
The following table lists some common data capture and device selection scenarios.
Scenario Wireless Devices Pane Selection
Analyzing traffic between a slave Device Under Test
(DUT) and its master.
Select only the slave DUT for analysis
Analyzing all traffic on a piconet Select the Master for analysis
Analyzing all traffic involved in Inquiries In the Set in Target Options menu select Analyze Inquiry Process
Packets in the Options menu
Table 4 - Common Data Capture and Device Selection Scenarios
The Set in Target is now ready to begin protocol- and event-level analysis.
10. Set in Target: Starting Analysis
The analysis begins by clicking on the Analyze button, or selecting Analyze from the Capture menu.
Alternatively, click on the Start Analyze button In the Control window. The Set in Target hardware will
begin sending captured packets involving the selected device to the Frontline software.
Once analysis has begun, you cannot change the device selection. All device rows in the Wireless Devices and
Wired Devices pane are grayed-out. To stop the analysis, click on the Analyzing button. You can then change
your device selection and restart analysis by clicking on the Analyze button.
To stop the Analysis click on the Analyzing button or click on the Control window Stop Analyze button .
Conducting analysis from a capture file is identical to the live capture method.
11. Capturing Set in Target Analyzed Data to Disk
Note: Record is not available in Viewer mode. Analyze/Analyzing is available in Viewer mode, allowing different
analyses to be performed on previously recorded and saved captures.
1. Click the Record button on the Standard Toolbar. Sodera Sodera LESodera or Sodera LE will begin capturing data
from all wireless devices within range and from all connected wired devices.
2. In the Wireless Devices and Wired Devices pane select the active devices for analysis
3. Click on Analyze button , or click the Start Analyze button to begin capturing to a file. This Start Analyze
button is located on the Control window, Event Display, and Frame Display.
4. Files are placed in My Capture Files by default and have a .cfa extension. Choose Directories from the Options menu on the
Control window to change the default file location.
5. Watch the Status Bar on the Control window to monitor how full the file is. When the file is full, it begins to wrap, which means
the oldest data will be overwritten by new data.

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6. Click the Analyzing button, or click the Stop Analyze button to stop analyzing. .
7. To clear captured data, click the Clear icon .
lIf you select Clear after stopping analysis, a dialog appears asking whether you want to save the data.
oYou can click Save File and enter a file name when prompted .
oIf you choose Do Not Save, all data will be cleared.
oIf you choose Cancel, the dialog closes with no changes.
lIf you select the Clear icon while a capture is occurring:
oThe capture stops.
oA dialog appears asking if you want to save the capture
oYou can select Yes and save the capture or select No and close the dialog. In either case, the existing capture file
is cleared and a new capture file is started.
oIf you choose Cancel, the dialog closes with no changes.
12. Sodera Technical Specifications/Service Information
lDimensions: 159 mm wide X 57 mm tall” X 165 mm deep” (6.3” X 2.3 " 6.5" X mm)
lWeight: 1.0 kg (2.2 lb)
lHumidity: Operating: 0% - 90% (0 °C – 35 °C)
lTemperature: -10 °C to +40 °C (14 °F to +104 °F)
lPower Input: 12 VDC (tip positive)
lMax Power: 25 W
lBattery: NB2037FQ31
Caution: There is a risk of explosion if the battery is replaced by an incorrect type. Dispose of old
batteries according to your local regulations.
Service Notes
The Sodera hardware does not contain any user serviceable items. Any repairs and maintenance must be performed by a service
technician that has been trained and approved by Frontline.
Before any service is performed on Sodera, all power sources must be removed. This includes removing the battery and disconnecting
any power sources from the 12 VDC input power connector on Sodera. Typical power sources include external AC/DC power supplies
or auxiliary power sources from a vehicle.
Internal Fuse Information
lManufacturer: Littlefuse
lType: OmniBlok
lCurrent rating: 5A
lSpeed rating: Very Fast Acting
lVoltage rating: 125V ac/dc
This quick start guide provides sufficient information to begin the data capture. Detailed hardware and software information is
contained in the ComProbe Sodera User Manual. The manual is available on FTE.com.
© 2016 Teledyne LeCroy, Inc.
The Bluetooth SIG owns the Bluetooth word mark and logos, and use of such marks is under license.

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Publish date: 11/16/2016