Procedures

This chapter describes the following procedures:

TFTP Server Setup

A Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server lets you transfer files across a network. You can upload files from the unit for backup or copying, and you can download the files for configuration and image upgrades. The SolarWinds TFTP server software is located on the product installation CD, or can be downloaded from http://support.proxim.com. You can also download the latest TFTP software from SolarWind's Web site at http://www.solarwinds.net. The instructions that follow assume that you are using the SolarWinds TFTP server software; other TFTP servers may require different configurations.

NOTE: If a TFTP server is not available in the network, you can perform similar file transfer operations using the HTTP interface.

To download or upload a file, you must connect to the computer with the TFTP server through the unit's Ethernet port. This can be any computer in the network or a computer connected to the unit with a cross-over Ethernet cable. For information about installing the TFTP server, see Step 9: Install Documentation and Software.

Ensure that:

  1. The upload or download directory is correctly set (the default directory is C:\TFTP-Root).
  2. The required image file is present in the directory.
  3. The TFTP server is running. The TFTP server must be running only during file upload and download. You can check the connectivity between the unit and the TFTP server by pinging the unit from the computer that hosts the TFTP server. The ping program should show replies from the unit.
  4. The TFTP server is configured to both Transmit and Receive files (on the Security tab under File > Configure), with no automatic shutdown or time-out (on the Auto-Close tab).

Web Interface Image File Download

In some cases, it may be necessary to upgrade the embedded software of the unit by downloading an image file. To download an image file through the Web Interface:

  1. Set up the TFTP server as described in TFTP Server Setup.
  2. Access the unit as described in Logging in to the Web Interface.
  3. Click Commands > Download tab.
  4. Fill in the following details:
    • Server IP Address <IP address TFTP server>
    • File Name <image file name>
    • File Type Image
    • File Operation Download
  5. Click OK to start the file transfer.

The unit downloads the image file. The TFTP server program should show download activity after a few seconds. When the download is complete, the unit is ready to start the embedded software upon reboot.

Configuration Backup

You can back up the unit's configuration by uploading the configuration file. You can use this file to restore the configuration or to configure another unit (see Configuration Restore).

To upload a configuration file through the Web Interface:

  1. Set up the TFTP server as described in TFTP Server Setup.
  2. Access the unit as described in Logging in to the Web Interface.
  3. Click Commands > Upload.
  4. Fill in the following details:
    • Server IP Address <IP address TFTP server>
    • File Name <configuration file name>
    • File Type Config
    • File Operation Upload
  5. Click OK to start the file transfer.

The unit uploads the configuration file. The TFTP server program should show upload activity after a few seconds. When the upload is complete, the configuration is backed up.

Configuration Restore

You can restore the configuration of the unit by downloading a configuration file. The configuration file contains the configuration information of a unit.

To download a configuration file through the Web Interface:

  1. Set up the TFTP server as described in TFTP Server Setup.
  2. Access the unit as described in Logging in to the Web Interface.
  3. Click Commands > Download tab.
  4. Fill in the following details:
    • Server IP Address <IP address TFTP server>
    • File Name <configuration file name>
    • File Type Config
    • File Operation Download
  5. Click OK to start the file transfer.

The unit downloads the configuration file. The TFTP server program should show download activity after a few seconds. When the download is complete and the system rebooted, the configuration is restored.

Soft Reset to Factory Default

If necessary, you can reset the unit to the factory default settings. Resetting to default settings means that you must configure the unit anew.

To reset to factory default settings using the Web Interface:

  1. Click the Commands button and the Reset tab.
  2. Click the Reset to Factory Default button.

The device configuration parameter values are reset to their factory default values.

If you do not have access to the unit, you can use the procedure described in "Hard Reset to Factory Default" below as an alternative.

Hard Reset to Factory Default

If you cannot access the unit or you have lost its password, you can reset the unit to the factory default settings. Resetting to default settings means you must configure the unit anew.

To reset to factory default settings, press and hold the RELOAD button on the side of the unit's power supply for a minimum of 5 seconds but no more than 10 seconds. The configuration is deleted from the unit and the unit reboots, writing and using a default configuration.

CAUTION: It you hold the RELOAD button for longer than 20 seconds, you may go into Forced Reload mode, which erases the unit's embedded software. This software image must be reloaded through an Ethernet connection with a TFTP server. The image filename to be downloaded can be configured with either ScanTool through the Ethernet interface or with the Boot Loader CLI through the serial port to make the unit functional again.

Forced Reload

With Forced Reload, you erase the embedded software. Use this procedure only as a last resort if the unit does not boot and the "Reset to Factory Defaults" procedure did not help. If you perform a Forced Reload, you must download a new image file with the Boot Loader (see "Image File Download with the Boot Loader" below).

CAUTION: The following procedure erases the embedded software of the unit. This software image must be reloaded through an Ethernet connection with a TFTP server. The image filename to be downloaded can be configured with ScanTool through the Ethernet interface to make the unit functional again.

To do a forced reload:

  1. Disconnect and reconnect power to the unit; the unit resets and the LEDs flash.
  2. Immediately press and hold the RELOAD button on the side of the unit's power supply for about 20 seconds. The software image and configuration are deleted from the unit.
  3. Follow the Image File Download with the Bootloader procedure to download an image file.

Image File Download with the Bootloader

The following procedures download an image file to the unit after the embedded software has been erased with Forced Reload or when the embedded software cannot be started by the Bootloader. A new image file can be downloaded to the unit with ScanTool, or the Command Line Interface through the unit's serial port. In both cases, the file is transferred through Ethernet with TFTP. Because the CLI serial port option requires a serial RS-232C cable, Proxim recommends the ScanTool option.

Download with ScanTool

To download an image file with the ScanTool:

  1. Set up the TFTP server as described in TFTP Server Setup.
  2. Run ScanTool on a computer that is connected to the same LAN subnet as the unit. ScanTool scans the subnet for units and displays the found units in the main window. If in Forced Reload, ScanTool does not find the device until the unit Bootloader times out from its default operation to download an image. Click Rescan to re-scan the subnet and update the display until the unit shows up in Bootloader mode.
  3. Select the unit to which you want to download an image file and click Change.
  4. Ensure that IP Address Type Static is selected and fill in the following details:
    • Password
    • IP Address and Subnet Mask of the unit.
    • TFTP Server IP Address and, if necessary, the Gateway IP Address of the TFTP server.
    • Image File Name of the file with the new image.
  5. Click OK to start the file transfer.

The unit downloads the image file. The TFTP server program should show download activity after a few seconds. When the download is complete, the LED pattern should return to reboot state. The unit is ready to start the embedded software.

After a Forced Reload procedure, the unit returns to factory default settings and must be reconfigured. ScanTool can be used to set the system name and IP address.

To access the unit, see Logging in to the Web Interface.

Download with CLI

To use the CLI through the serial port of the unit, you need a connector cable with a male RJ11 and a female DB9 connector (included with the unit) and an ASCII terminal program such as HyperTerminal. Proxim recommends you switch off the unit and the computer before connecting or disconnecting the serial RS-232C cable.

To download an image file:

  1. Set up the TFTP server as described in TFTP Server Setup.
  2. Start the terminal program (such as HyperTerminal), set the following connection properties, and then connect:
    • COM port: for example, COM1 or COM2 to which the unit serial port is connected)
    • Bits per second: 9600
    • Data bits 8
    • Stop bits: 1
    • Flow control: None
    • Parity: None
  3. Disconnect and reconnect power to reset the unit; the terminal program displays Power On Self Test (POST) messages.
  4. When the "Sending Traps to SNMP manager periodically" message is displayed (after about 30 seconds), press the ENTER key.
  5. The command prompt is displayed; enter the following commands:

set ipaddr <IP address nit>

set ipsubmask <subnet mask>

set ipaddrtype static

set tftpipaddr <IP address TFTP server>

set tftpfilename <image file name>

set ipgw <gateway IP address>

reboot

For example:

set ipaddr 10.0.0.12

set ipsubmask 255.255.255.0

set ipaddrtype static

set tftpipaddr 10.0.0.20

set tftpfilename image.bin

set ipgw 10.0.0.30

reboot

The unit reboots and downloads the image file. The TFTP server program should show download activity after a few seconds. When the download is complete, the unit is ready for configuration.

To access the unit, see Logging in to the Web Interface. Note that the IP configuration in normal operation differs from the IP configuration of the Boot Loader.