Dell PowerConnect W-Airwave 7.6 Installation Manual
Dell PowerConnect W-AirWave 7.6
Installation Guide
Overview
This document is designed as a reference for installing Dell PowerConnect W-AirWave using the CentOS software
bundled with the .iso disc image.
NOTE: Dell PowerConnect W-Series AirWave Wireless Management Suite (AWMS), AirWave, and AirWave Management Platform
(AMP) refer to the same product set and are used interchangeably.
Installing on a VMware Server
Be sure to consider the following if you are installing AirWave on a VMware server:
l Always install VMware Tools prior to installing AirWave.
l Consult the hardware sizing guide to be sure that enough resources are allocated to the VM.
Installing in a Hyper-V Virtual Environment
A legacy network adapter must be configured in order to install in a Hyper-V virtual environment. Follow the steps
below before installing AirWave.
1. During the initial setup of the virtual machine, specify to add a new Legacy Network Adaptor in the Add
Hardware section. The image is similar to below.
Figure 1: Add a Legacy Network Adapter
2. Click Add. In the left pane, select the legacy network adapter, and configure its settings in the right pane.
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Figure 2: Add a Legacy Network Adapter
Installing on a Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server
If you are installing AirWave on a Red Hat Enterprise Linux server, contact Dell support at dell.com/support.
NOTE: AirWave does not support downgrading to older versions. Significant data could be lost or compromised in such a downgrade.
In unusual circumstances requiring that you return to an earlier version of AirWave, we recommend you perform a fresh installation
of the earlier AirWave version, and then restore data from a pre-upgrade backup.
Pre-Installation Checklist
Use this check list to ensure installation goes smoothly.
Table 3:
Pre-Installation Checklist
Checklist Check
Have available the AirWave license key sent to you in an email sent from Dell
Obtain dedicated server meeting Dell sizing specifications
Determine the static IP address for each AirWave server
Firewall provisioning enabling proper ports/protocols
Determine WLAN infrastructure properties (type, quantity, and location)
Determine WLAN infrastructure access credentials (SNMP, telnet, SSH, etc)
Determine WLAN security policy specifications
Set router and switches to moni toring (optional)
Configure upstream NMS applications (optional)
Determine wireless client authentication servers (optional)
Determine AirWave administrative authentication servers like TACACS+, LDAP, or
RADIUS (optional)
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Checklist Check
If upgrading, ensure that your current version is not more than two versions behind.
For example, when upgrading to AirWave 7.6, you must already be using AirWave 7.3
or newer. Contact technical support for assistance with upgrading if you are
upgrading from greater than two versions.
Supported Browsers
Windows (XP, Vista, Windows 7)
l Internet Explorer 8/9
l Firefox 3.x
l Google Chrome 9.x (stable)
Mac OS X (10.5, 10.6, 10.7)
l Safari 5.x and higher
l Firefox 3.x
l Google Chrome 9.x
Hardware Requirements and Installation Media
The AirWave installation CD includes all software (including the Linux OS) required to complete the installation of
AirWave. AirWave supports any hardware that is Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.2 certified. By default, all installs are
based on a 64-bit operating system.
AirWave hardware requirements vary by version. As additional features are added to AirWave, increased hardware
resources become necessary. For the most recent hardware requirements, refer to the
7.6 Server Sizing Guide
at dell.com/support/manuals.
Dell PowerConnect W-AirWave
AirWave is intended to operate as a soft appliance. Other applications should not run on the same installation.
Additionally, local shell users can access data on AirWave, so it is important to restrict access to the shell only to
authorized users.
You can create pseudo users in place of root for companies that don't allow root logins. Customers who disallow root
access can give sudo privileges to other user accounts.
Creating the AirWave Installation CD from the .iso Disc Image
A variety of software tool can be used to create an installation CD from the AirWave Installation CD .iso disc
image. You can use a free tool called
NOTE: The CD burning software included with Windows XP does not currently support the ability to create a CD from an .iso disc
image.
1. Download and save the Dell PowerConnect W-AirWave 7.6 Installation CD .iso disc image.
2. Download and install
burnatonce
to download and install an additional ASPI layer.
3. Insert a blank CD-R into the CD-R drive.
4. Right-click on the AMP Installation CD .iso disc image file and select burnatonce.
burnatonce
.
from http://www.burnatonce.net/downloads/. Windows 95/ME users will need
Dell PowerConnec t W-Ai rWav e 7.6 | Installation Guide 3
5. When the burnatonce program opens, click the Write button. If
the .iso disc image, run burnatonce manually and select the AirWave install image from the Load menu.
For help with CD burning software other than burnatonce, please refer to the user guide for that product and
reference the option to create a CD from .iso disc image. With Nero, for instance, this option may be found under
File -> Burn Image or Recorder -> Burn Image.
burnatonce
has not automatically associated to
Server Requirements
AirWave runs on a dedicated system and is compatible with most standard PC or rack-mount server hardware. The
AirWave Installation CD will format the hard disk, install the CentOS operating system, and install the AirWave
software.
For minimum hardware requirements, refer to the
dell.com/support/manuals, or contact Dell support at dell.com/support. The hardware must support Red Hat
Enterprise 5.0.
Dell PowerConnect W-AirWave 7.6 Sizing Guide
at
Installing Linux CentOS 6.2 (Phase 1)
Perform the following steps to install the Linux CentOS 6.2 operating system. The Linux installation is a
prerequisite to installing AirWave on the network management system.
CAUTION: This procedure erases the hard drive(s) on the server.
1. Insert the AirWave installation CD-ROM into the drive and boot the server.
2. Type install and press Enter.
To configure the partitions manually, type manual and press Enter.
Figure 4: AirWave Installation
3. Allow the installation process to continue. Installing the CentOS software (Phase I) takes 10 to 20 minutes to
complete. This process formats the hard drive and launches Anaconda to install all necessary packages. Anaconda
gauges the progress of the installation.
Upon completion, the system will prompt you to eject the installation CD and reboot the system. The
GRUBscreen will appear upon reboot.
4. Remove the CD from the drive and store in a safe location.
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Installing the AirWave Software (Phase 2)
Getting Started
Perform the following steps when the GRUB screen appears.
1. Press Enter or wait six seconds. The system automatically loads the kernel.
2. When the kernel is loaded, log into the server using the following credentials:
l login = root
l password = admin
3. Start the AirWave software installation script by executing the ./amp-install command.
Type./amp-install at the command prompt and press Enter to execute the script.
Step 1: Configuring Date and Time
The following message is displayed, and this step ensures the proper date and time are set on the server.
------------------------ Date and Time Configuration -----------------Current Time: Fri Nov 21 09:18:12 PST 2008
1) Change Date and Time
2) Change Time Zone
0) Finish
Ensure that you enter the accurate date and time during this process.
Errors will arise later in the installation if the
specified date varies significantly from the actual date, especially if the specified date is in the future and it is fixed
later. Best practices is to configure NTPD to gradually adjust your clock to the correct time.
1. Select 1 to set the date and select 2 to set the time zone. Press Enter after each configuration to return to the
message menu above.
CAUTION: Changing these settings after the installation can cause data loss, especially for time-series data such as Client and Usage
graphs. Avoid delayed configuration.
2. Press 0 to complete the configuration of date and time information and to continue to the next step.
Step 2: Checking for Prior Installations
The following message is displayed after the date and time are set:
Welcome to AMP Installer Phase 2
STEP 2: Checking for previous AMP installations
If a previous version of AirWave software is not discovered, the installation program automatically proceeds to Step
3. If a previous version of the software is discovered, the following message is displayed on the screen.
The installation program discovered a previous version of the software. Would you like to
reinstall AMP? This will erase AMP's database. Reinstall (y/n)?
Type y and then press Enter to proceed.
CAUTION: This action erases the current database, including all historical information. To ensure that the AMP database is backed up
prior to reinstallation, answer `n` at the prompt above and contact your Val ue Added Reseller or directly contact Dell support at
dell.com/support.
Step 3: Installing AMP Software
The following message appears while AirWave software is transferred and compiled.
STEP 3: Installing AMP software
Dell PowerConnec t W-Ai rWav e 7.6 | Installation Guide 5
This will take a few minutes.
Press Alt-F9 to see detailed messages.
Press Alt-F1 return to this screen.
This step requires no user input, but you can follow the instructions to monitor its progress and switch back to the
installation screen.
Step 4: Checking the AirWave Installation
After the AirWave software installation is complete, the following message appears:
STEP 4: Checking AMP installation
Database is up.
AMP is running version: (version number)
This step requires no user input. Proceed to the next step when prompted to do so.
Step 5: Assigning an IP Address to the AirWave System
While the AirWave primary network interface accepts a DHCP address initially during installation,
function when launched unless a static IP is assigned.
Complete these tasks to assign the static IP address. The
AirWave does not
following message appears:
STEP 5: Assigning AMP's address
AMP must be configured with a static IP.
--------------- Primary Network Interface Configuration -------------
1) IP Address : xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
2) Netmask : xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
3) Gateway : xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
4) Primary DNS : xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
5) Secondary DNS: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
9) Commit Changes
0) Exit (discard changes)
If you want to configure a second network interface, please
use AMP's web interface, AMP Setup --> Network Tab
1. Enter the network information.
NOTE: The Secondary DNS setting is an optional field.
2. To commit the changes, type 9 and then press Enter. To discard the changes, type 0 and then press Enter.
Step 6: Naming the AirWave Network Administration System
Upon completion of the previous step, the following message is displayed.
STEP 6: Naming AMP
AMP is currently set to: New AMP
Please enter a name for your AMP:
At the prompt, enter a name for your AirWave server and press Enter.
Step 7: Generating AMP’s SSL Certificate
Upon completion of the previous step, the following message is displayed on the screen.
STEP 7: Generating AMP's SSL Certificate
Does AMP have a valid DNS name on your network (y/n)?
1. If AirWave does not have a valid host name on the network, type n at the prompt. The following is displayed:
6 Dell PowerConnec t W-Ai rWav e 7.6 | Installation Guide
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