Meru Networks OAP180 User Manual

Meru OAP180 Rugged Access Point
Special Release Notes
Beta Release 3.4-SR2
Copyright © Meru Networks, Inc., 2003–2007. All rights reserved. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
Document Number: 3.4-SR2 Rev. 1
Contents
z Introduction z OAP180 Access Point Features z OAP180 Hardware Installation Instructions z Limitations and Advisories z Documentation for this Release z Contacting Meru

Introduction

This special release note introduces the Meru OAP180 Access Point, a new outdoor addition to the Meru Wireless LAN (WLAN) System. Read this note before installing or using the OAP180 Access Point and the corresponding System Director version 3.4-SR2 . The release notes for System Director release 3.4-83 (March 2007) also apply to this release for known issues. Please read both release notes prior to installing or using this release.

OAP180 Access Point Features

The OAP180 Rugged Access Point is an outdoor AP with these features:
z Designed for Harsh Conditions z Best-in-class Meru AirShield Security z Operation with all Meru Controllers and Access Points z Multiple Antennas Supported for Specific Needs
2 of 24 Introduction

Designed for Harsh Conditions

The OAP180 Access Point with dual-radio is designed to provide secure Wi-Fi connec­tivity to outdoor locations such as campuses, parking lots, and pole tops, or to harsh indoor locations such as breweries, food processing plants or w arehouses. The OAP180 includes basic Voice over WLAN (VoWLAN) support. Other features include:
z Automatic AP discovery and configuration z No channel planning required with single channel installations z Controller in the distribution or core layer extends VL AN trunk s to the e dge of t he
network
z Intelligent load balancing of clients z PoE (P ower over Ethernet) support z RoHS compliant

Best-in-class Meru AirShield Security

All Meru APs provide these multi-layered security policies that protect the data, the network and the users simultaneously:
z Local and RADIUS MAC Filtering z WPA2, WPA, 802.1x, and WEP z No security information contained within access point z Operates only with Meru controllers z Multiple static or automatic security zones with individual security policies help
ensure separation of different user groups or dynamic VLAN assignments per user based on Radius credentials - includes guest access security zone.
z The OAP 180 also has a locking mechanism to secure it when mounted in public
areas.

Operation with all Meru Controllers and Access Points

The OAP180 operates with all currently supported Meru controllers and APs. z Centralized dashboard monitors and troubleshoots the entire WLAN, including
OAP180 access points
z Comple te support of release 3.4 standard and optional features such as N+1
Redundant Controller, Dual-Ethernet, and Per-User Firewall
OAP180 Access Point Features 3 of 24
© 2007 Meru Networks, Inc.

Multiple Antennas Supported for Specific Needs

WLAN Client Support

The following WLAN clients are supported:
z Dual 802.11a and 802.11b/g radios z Simultaneous support for 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g clients z Co-channel interference management for reliable WLAN access z Basic VoWLAN QoS support for small density deployments of voice client s

Special Release Software for Meru Controllers

Target Build Details

The following list describes the size and checksums for the system images, based on the model of controller in use. Do not load onto your controller an image that is
intended for another controller model, or problems will occur.
z meru-3.4.SR2-10-MC500-rpm.tar Checksum: 3958546189 Size: 43581440 z meru-3.4.SR2-10-MC1000-rpm.tar Checksum:1023491239 Size:43663360 z meru-3.4.SR2-10-MC1100-rpm.tar Checksum:1359995275 Size:43663360 z meru-3.4.SR2-10-MC3000-rpm.tar Checksum:1023491239 Size:43663360

Install the Special Release Image on Your Controller

The installation of the special release image is performed with the normal Meru upgrade procedure, summarized in the following steps.
1. Obtain the system image.
In this example, the special release image for the MC500, meru-3.4.SR2-10-MC500­rpm.tar 3958546189 43581440, is retrieved using FTP from the images directory on
the server named myserver using the username user1 and password userpa ss. Use the upgrade system comm and to upgrade the sys tem. To configure the system so that you do not need to type the FTP username and password when transferring files, use the
4 of 24 Special Release Software for Meru Controllers
ip ftp|sftp|scp|tftp username and ip ftp|sftp|scp password commands. (Using these commands is optional. If you do not set the username and pa ssword before trans­ferring files, you must provide the username and password when prompted.)
mc500# configure terminal mc500(config)# ip ftp username user1 mc500(config)# ip ftp password userpass mc500(config)# ^Z mc500# dir ftp://myserver/images/ total 134576
-rw-rw-r-- 1 root root 21790720 Jul 14 17:03 meru-3.2SR2-9-
MC500.tar
mc500# cd images mc150# copy ftp://myserver/images/meru-3.4.SR2-10-MC500-
rpm.tar
2. If you see an error message stating that there is not enough free disk space, use
the show flash command to see if there are previous images on the flash. Delete the previous image using the delete flash version command. Then try the copy command again.
3. After the image transfer is complete, use show flash to verify the system is on the
flash.
4. Enter the upgrade system version command to update the controller and OAP
software:
mc500# upgrade system 3.4.SR2-10
The system is now upgraded. Log in as
admin to access the system.

OAP180 Hardware Installation Instructions

Perform the procedures in the following s ections to install the OAP180 and configure the controller to use this special release.
Unpack the OAP180 Plan the Location Test Basic Link Operation Mount the Unit Connect External Antennas and Ground Wire to OAP180 Connect Cables to the Unit Connect the Power Injector Align Antenna Check the OAP180 for Activity Configure the OAP180 Access Point
OAP180 Hardware Installation Instructions 5 of 24
© 2007 Meru Networks, Inc.

Unpack the OAP180

Confirm that the OAP180 shipping box contains the following items: z Meru Networks Meru OAP180 Outdoor Access Point (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: OAP180
z Wall/Pole Mount Hardware Kit for mounting OAP180 to a 1.5” to 2” diameter steel
pole or tube or as part of a radio or tower structure
z Bar code labels listing the MAC address and serial numb er (for Beta test, these are
already attached to the unit)
z Outdoor CAT5 Ethernet cable—100 feet z PoE injector with power cord

Additional Equipment Needed

In addition to the hardware supplied by Meru Networks, you need the follow ing:
Required
z Standard Ethernet cable to connect the POE injector to a switch or controller z Two external antennas (provided by Meru Networks only for Beta test)
Optional
z Ground wire for the OAP180 z RF coaxial cable to connect the antenna to the OAP180
6 of 24 OAP180 Hardware Installation Instructions

Plan the Location

When you plan the OAP180 physical configuration, include the elements shown in this drawing:
Figure 2: Sample Physical Layout

Radio Position Planning

Never construct a radio mast, pole, or tower near overhead power lines. In addition, local regulations may limit or prevent construction of a high radio mast or tower. If
your OAP180 link requires a high radio mast or tower, consult a professional contractor for advice. Once the required antenna height has been determined, other factors affecting the precise position of the OAP180 must be considered.
z Be sure there are no other radio antennas within 2 m (6 ft) of the OAP180. z Place the OAP180 away from power and telephone lines. z A void placing the OAP180 too close to any metallic, reflective surfaces, such as roof-
installed air-conditioning equipment, tinted windows, wire fences , or water pipes.

Radio Interference

Avoiding radio interference is an important part of wireless planning. Interference is caused by other radio transmissions using the same or an adjacent cha nnel frequency. You should first scan your proposed site using a spectrum analyzer to determine if there are any strong radio signals using the 802.11a or 802.11bg channel freque ncies. Always use a channel frequency that is furthest away from another signal.

Weather Conditions

Take into account any extreme weather conditions that are known to affect your loca­tion. Consider these factors:
z Temperature — The
40°C to 140°C. Operating in temperatures outside of this range may cause the unit to fail.
OAP180 Hardware Installation Instructions 7 of 24
© 2007 Meru Networks, Inc.
OAP180 is tested for normal operation in temperatures from -
z Wind V elocity — The OAP180 can operate in winds up to 44 m/s and survive higher
wind speeds up to 66 m/s. You must consider the known maximum wind velocity and direction at the site and be sure that any supporting structure, such as a pole, mast, or tower, is built to withstand this force.
z Lightning — The OAP180 includes its own built-in lightning surge protection.
However, you should make sure that the unit, any supporting structure, and cables are all properly grounded. Additional protection using lightning rods, lightning arrestors, or surge suppressors may also be employed. An tenna sockets should point upwards in a vertical manner
z Rain — The OAP180 is weatherproofed against ra in. Also, prolonged heavy rain has
no significant effect on the radio signal. However, it is recommended to apply weatherproof sealing tape around the Ethernet port and antenna connectors for extra protection. If moisture enters a connector, it may cause a degradation in performance or even a complete failure of the link.
z Snow and Ice — Falling snow, like rain, has no significant effect on the radio signal.
However, a build up of snow or ice on antennas may cause the link to fail. In this case, the snow or ice has to be cleared from the antennas to restore operation of the link.

Ethernet Cabling

When a suitable antenna location has been determined, plan a cable route from the
OAP180 outdoors to the power injector module indoors. Consider these points:
z The Ethernet cable length should never be longer than 100 m (328 ft). z Determine a building entry point for the cable. z Determine if conduits, bracing, or other structures are required for safety or
protection of the cable.
z For lightning protec tion at the power injector end of the cable, consider using a
lightning arrestor immediately before the cable enters the building.

Grounding

It is important that the OAP180, cables, and any supporting structures are properly grounded. The OAP180 unit includes a grounding screw for attaching a ground wire. Be sure that grounding is available and that it meets local and national electrical codes.

Test Basic Link Operation

Set up the OAP180 on the ground, either outdoors or indoors. Connect the unit as indi­cated in this document and perform the basic configuration tasks outlined below. When you are satisfied that the OAP180 is operating correctly, proceed to mounting the unit in the intended location.
8 of 24 OAP180 Hardware Installation Instructions

Mount the Unit

The OAP180 can be mounted on the following two surfaces (brackets are included):
z 1.5 to 2 inch diameter pole z Wall

Mounting OAP180 with the Pole-Mounting Bracket

Perform the following steps to mount the unit to a 1.5 to 2 inch diameter steel pole or tube using the mounting bracket:
1. Attach the OAP180 to the mounting bracket shown in Figure 3. Figure 3: Square Mounting Bracket Attaches to Bottom of OAP180
OAP180 Hardware Installation Instructions 9 of 24
© 2007 Meru Networks, Inc.
2. Place the V-shaped part of the bracket around the pole and tighten the securing
nuts just enough to hold the bracket to the pole. (The bracket may need to be rotated around the pole during the alignment process.)
Note:
Always attach the bracket to a pole with the open end of the mounting
grooves facing up.
3. Use the included nuts to tightly secure the wireless OAP180 to the bracket.
10 of 24 OAP180 Hardware Installation Instructions
4. Connect the OAP180 bracket and the pole bracket. See Figure 4. Figure 4: Connecting the Two Brackets

Mounting OAP180 with the Wall-Mounting Bracket

Attach the bracket to a wall with the flat side flush against the wall (see Figure 5). Perform the following steps to mount the unit to a wall using the wall-mounting bracket:
1. Position the bracket in the intended location and mark the position of the four
mounting screw holes.
2. Drill holes in the wall that match the screws and wall plugs included in the bracket
kit, and then secure the bracket to the wall.
Figure 5: Attaching Bracket to Wall
Use the included nuts to tightly secure the OAP180 to the bracket.
3.
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© 2007 Meru Networks, Inc.
4. Connect the two brackets as shown in Figure 6. Figure 6: Connecting the Two Brackets
12 of 24 OAP180 Hardware Installation Instructions

Connect External Antennas and Ground Wire to OAP180

When deploying an OAP180, first mount external antennas and then connect them to the OAP180. Follow these steps:
1. Mount the external antenna on the same supporting structure as you did the
OAP180, within 3 m (10 ft) of it, using the bracket supplied in the antenna package.
2. Connect the antenna to the OAP180’ s N-type connector using the RF coaxial cable
provided in the antenna package.
Figure 7: Connect the Antenna Cables
3.
Apply weatherproofing tape to the antenna connectors to help prevent water
entering the connectors.
OAP180 Hardware Installation Instructions 13 of 24
© 2007 Meru Networks, Inc.

Connect Cables to the Unit

Use only the provided Ethernet cable in step 1. Do not shorten this cable as the path loss is needed. During periods of lightning activity , do not connect or disconnect cables or otherwise work with the OAP180.
Perform the following steps to attach the Ethernet cable and ground wire:
1. Using the included cable, attach the Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port on the
OAP180. See Figure 8.
Figure 8: Connecting the Ethernet Cable and Ground Wire
For extra protection against rain or moisture, apply weatherproofing tape (not
2.
included) around the Ethernet connector.
3. Ground the unit with an appropriate grounding wire (not included) by attaching it
to the grounding screw on the unit. See Figure 8.
Caution!
electrical codes. For additional lightning protection, use lightning rods, lightning arrestors, or surge suppressors.
14 of 24 OAP180 Hardware Installation Instructions
Be sure that grounding is available and that it meets local and national

Connect the Power Injector

Caution! Note:
on the IEEE 802.3af standard. Do not try to power the unit by connecting it directly to a network switch that provides IEEE 802.3af PoE. Always connect the unit to the included
power injector module. Perform the following steps to connect the power injector:
Do not locate the power injector outdoors. The unit is for indoor use only.
The wireless Ethernet port does not support Power over Ethernet (PoE) based
1. Connect the other end of the provided Ethernet cable (already connected to the
OAP180) to the RJ-45 port labeled Output on the power injector. See Figure 9.
Figure 9: Connecting the Power Injector
2.
Connect a straight-through unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cable (not included) from a local LAN switch to the RJ-45 port labeled Input on the power injector. See Figure 9. Use Category 5e or better UTP cable for 10/100BASE-TX connections.
Note:
computer for testing the link, use a crossover cable.
The RJ-45 port on the power injector is an MDI port. If connecting directly to a
3. Insert the power cable plug directly into the standard AC receptacle on the power
injector. See Figure 9.
4. Plug the other end of the power cable into a grounded, 3-pin socket, AC power
source.
Note:
to the
OAP180 Hardware Installation Instructions 15 of 24
© 2007 Meru Networks, Inc.
a line cord set that has been approved for the receptacle type in your country.
5. Check the LED on top of the power injector to be sure that power is being supplied
For International use, you may need to change the AC line cord. You must use
OAP180 through the Ethernet connection.

Align Antenna

After the OAP180 unit is mounted, connected, and the radios are operating, the antennas must be accurately aligned to ensur e optimu m performa nce of the OAP180 links. In this point-to-multipoint configuration all OAP180 nodes must be aligned with the root OAP180 antenna.

Check the OAP180 for Activity

Check the OAP180 LEDs for activity. Four of the eight LEDs on the bottom of the OAP180 indicate activity; four LEDs are not used at this time. Check the four active
LEDs to determine if the AP is working.
The grey LEDs in the illustration are not currently used. The following chart explains the meanings for the remaining LEDs.
LEDs Function
Power
Ethernet Link
Radio 1 11bg
Radio 2 11a
16 of 24 OAP180 Hardware Installation Instructions
When power is applied to the system this LED initially turns amber, then blinks green when the system power check is applied, and then is a steady green when power is on.
The Ethernet Link LED blinks green when a link has been detected and is in use.
The 11bg connection LED blinks amber when radio packets are be ing transmitted and when the radio is beaconing. If there is traffic over the air on this radio, the blinking rate increases.
The 11a connection LED blinks green when radio packets are bein g transmitted an d when the radio is beaconing. If there is traffic over the air on this radio, the blinking rate increases.

Configure the OAP180 Access Point

Once the OAP180 is plugged in, the Meru controller will detect and connect the OAP180. The OAP180 can then be further configured through either the Controller GUI or CLI.
Configure OAP180 Radio Operation with the Web UI Configure OAP180 Radio Antennas with the CLI Configure OAP180 Radio Operation with the CLI

Configure OAP180 Radio Operation with the Web UI

To use the Web UI to set up the OAP180, follow these steps from the controller:
1. Click Configuration and then Radio from the Devices list. A table of Wireless AP
Interface Details displays.
2. Select the checkbox of the secon d wireless interface of the OAP180 that requires
modification, and then click Settings. The Wireless Interface Configuration Update page displays.
3. From the Channel drop-down list, select the channel the interface will use
(channels have been filtered to only reflect appropriate selections).
4. From the RF Band Selection drop-down list, select 802.11a
5. Click OK to save your change and return to the Wireless Interface Configuration
page.
6. Select the checkbox for the first wireless interface of the OAP, an d click Settings.
The Wireless Interface Configuration displays.
7. From the Channel drop-down list, select the channel the interface will use
(channels have been filtered to only reflect appropriate selections).
8. From the RF Band Selection drop-down list, select 802.11b, 802.11g, or
802.11bg. Default mode is 802.11bg.
9. Click OK to save your change and return to the Wireless Interface Configuration
page.
10. Continue setting any other OAPs as needed, by repeating the above steps.
11. Save this configuration by clicking on Save.
OAP180 Hardware Installation Instructions 17 of 24
© 2007 Meru Networks, Inc.

Configure OAP180 Radio Operation with the CLI

To configure radio parameters of OAP180 through the IOSCLI, follow these steps from controller. This example uses AP ID 1 and interface IDs 1 and 2:
1. First, configure AP ID 1 and Interface ID 1 (B/G Interface):
MC3000# configure terminal MC3000(config)# interface Dot11Radio 1 1 MC3000(config-if-802)# channel 1 MC3000(config-if-802)# rf-mode 802.11g MC3000(config-if-802)# exit MC3000(config)#
2. Next, configure AP ID 1 and Interface ID 2 (A Interface):
MC3000(config)# interface Dot11Radio 1 2 MC3000(config-if-802)# channel 48 MC3000(config-if-802)# exit MC3000(config)# exit
3. Save the configuration:
MC3000# copy running-config startup-config
4. Check the configuration of both interfaces:
MC3000# show interfaces Dot11Radio 1 1 Wireless Interface Configuration AP ID : 1 AP Name : OAP180 Interface Index : 1 AP Model : OAP180 Description : ieee80211-1-1 Administrative Status : Up Operational Status : Disabled Last Change Time : 2007/04/26 01:18:29 Radio Type : RF3 MTU (bytes) : 2346 Channel : 1 Short Preamble : on RF Band Support : 802.11bg RF Band Selection : 802.11g Antenna Selection : Left Transmit Power (dBm) (low,medium,high) : 20,20,20 AP Mode : Normal Fixed Channel : off Scanning Channels : Protection Mechanism : 802.11-1999 Protection Mode : auto Number of Antennas : 1 Dual abg Support : off
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MC3000# show interfaces Dot11Radio 1 2
Wireless Interface Configuration AP ID : 1 AP Name : OAP180 Interface Index : 2 AP Model : OAP180 Description : ieee80211-1-2 Administrative Status : Up Operational Status : Disabled Last Change Time : 2007/04/26 01:18:29 Radio Type : RF3 MTU (bytes) : 2346 Channel : 40 Short Preamble : off RF Band Support : 802.11a RF Band Selection : 802.11a Antenna Selection : Right Transmit Power (dBm) (low,medium,high) : 17,17,17 AP Mode : Normal Fixed Channel : off Scanning Channels : Protection Mechanism : 802.11-1999 Protection Mode : auto
OAP180 Hardware Installation Instructions 19 of 24
© 2007 Meru Networks, Inc.

Configure OAP180 Radio Antennas with the CLI

Configure OAP180 antennas with the following CLI commands. This example uses AP ID 10 and radios 1 and 2:
1. Enter the Radio sub-mode from global configuration, by specifying the AP ID (10 in
the example) and first interface that you intend to configure:
default# configure terminal default(config)# interface Dot11Radio 10 1
2. Enter the antenna-property submode interface 1:
default(config-if-802)# antenna-property 1
3. Set the antenna type to External:
default(config-if-802-antenna)# type External
4. Set the antenna band to dual, and exit the mode:
default(config-if-802-antenna)# rfband dual default(config-if-802-antenna)# end default(config-if-802)# end default(config)# end
5. Reboot the system.
6. Check the configuration of both interfaces:
default# show interfaces Dot11Radio 1 1
default# show interfaces Dot11Radio 1 2
20 of 24 OAP180 Hardware Installation Instructions

Limitations and Advisories

Known Bugs for this Release

!
BUG ID Summary

Other Significant Issues with this Release

None

Regulatory Information

Radio

z FCC Part 15 z Canada RSS210 z EN 300 328 V1.6.1 (11/2004) z EN 301 893 V1.3.1 (08/2005) z Japan Technical Regulations
EMC
z FCC Part 15 z EN 301 489-17 V1.2.1 (08/2002) z Japan VCCI
Limitations and Advisories 21 of 24
© 2007 Meru Networks, Inc.

Safety

z cUL 60950-1 First Edition z IEC/EN 60950-1 First Edition z with national deviations z UL 50; Enclosures for Electrical Equipment

FCC Statement

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installa­tion. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful inter­ference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful inter­ference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interfer ence by one of the following measures:
z Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. z Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. z Connect the eq uipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
z Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

FCC Caution

Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
This device and its antenna(s) must not be co-located or operation in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.

FCC Radiation Exposure Statement

This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncon­trolled environment. This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance 20cm between the radiator & your body.
22 of 24 Regulatory Information
For product available in the USA market, only channel 1~11 can be operated. Selection of other channels is not possible.

FCC NOTICE

To comply with FCC part 15 rules in the United States, the system must b e professio n­ally installed to ensure compliance with the Part FCC 15 certification
It is the responsibility of the operator and professional installer to ensure that only certified systems are deployed in the United States. The use of the system in any other combination (such as co-located antennas transmitting the same information) is expressly forbidden.

CE Statement

Hereby, Meru, declares that this device is in compliance with the essential require­ment and other relevant provisions of the R&TTE Driective 1999/5/EC.
This device will be sold in the following EEA countries: Austria, Italy, Belgium, Liecht­enstein, Denmark, Luxembourg, Finland, Netherlands, France, Norway, Germany, Portugal, Greece, Spain, Iceland, Sweden, Ireland, United Kingdom, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia.

Documentation for this Release

In addition to these release notes, the st an dard d ocumentation and releas e n otes for the 3.4 release apply to this release and describe the full System Director functionality and known issues.
z Meru Wireless LAN System Release 3.4 Release Note z Meru Wireless LAN System Getting Started Guide z Meru Controller Installation Guide z Meru Wireless LAN System Command Reference z Meru Wireless LAN System Configuration Guide
Documentation for this Release 23 of 24
© 2007 Meru Networks, Inc.

Contacting Meru

You can visit Meru Networks on the Internet at this URL:
http://www.merunetworks.com
Click Support to view Meru Customer Services and Support information.

Customer Services and Support

For assistance, contact Meru Customer Services and Support 24 hours a day at 1-888­637-8952 (1-888-Meru-WLA(N)) or 1-408-215-5305.
Send email to support@merunetworks.com. Meru Customer Services and Support provide end users and channel partners with the
following:
z Telephone technical support z Software update support z Spare p arts and repair service
24 of 24 Contacting Meru
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