RMC v2.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION AND USER’S MANUAL
Repeater Remote Management Console
V2.3
Product Description and User’s Manual
RMC v2.3
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION AND USER’S MANUAL
Copyright © 2011 Axell Wireless Ltd
All rights reserved.
No part of this document may be copied, distributed, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system,
or translated into any human or computer language without the prior written permission of Axell Wireless
Ltd.
The manufacturer has made every effort to ensure that the instructions contained in this document are
adequate and free of errors and omissions. The manufacturer will, if necessary, explain issues which may
not be covered by this document. The manufacturer's liability for any errors in the document is limited to
the correction of errors and the aforementioned advisory services.
This document has been prepared to be used by professional and properly trained personnel, and the
customer assumes full responsibility when using them. The manufacturer welcomes customer comments as
part of the process of continual development and improvement of the documentation in the best way
possible from the user's viewpoint. Please submit your comments to the nearest Axell Wireless sales
representative.
Contact Information
Headquarters Axell Wireless
Aerial House
Asheridge Road
Chesham
Buckinghamshire HP5 2QD
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 1494 777000
Fax: +44 1494 777002
Commercial inquiries info@[Link]
Web site [Link]
Support issues support@[Link]
Technical Support Line, English +44 1494 777 747
speaking
Contact information for Axell Wireless offices in other countries can be found on our web
site, [Link]
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About This Manual
This Product Manual provides the following information:
• Description of Graphical User Interface
• Navigation, control and configuration using the new GUI.
Additional Required Documentation
For a full list of all the RMC commands relevant to your repeater, refer to the Commands
and Attributes documents specific to your repeater. If you do not have the document,
please contact Axell Wireless Ltd Customer Support at support@[Link]
For whom it is Intended
This Product Manual is intended for experienced technicians and engineers. It is assumed
that the customers operating and maintaining Axell Wireless Repeaters are familiar with
the basic functionality of Repeaters.
Notice
Confidential - Authorized Customer Use
This document may be used in its complete form only and is solely for the use of Axell
Wireless employees and authorized Axell Wireless channels or customers. The material
herein is proprietary to Axell Wireless. Any unauthorized reproduction, use or disclosure
of any part thereof is strictly prohibited.
All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Disclaimer of Liability
Contents herein are current as of the date of publication. Axell Wireless reserves the right
to change the contents without prior notice. The information furnished by Axell Wireless
in this document is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, Axell Wireless assumes
no responsibility for its use. In no event shall Axell Wireless be liable for any damage
resulting from loss of data, loss of use, or loss of profits and Axell Wireless further
disclaims any and all liability for indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other
similes damages. This disclaimer of liability applies to all products, publications and
services during and after the warranty period.
Exclusive Remedies
The remedies provided herein are the Buyer’s sole and exclusive remedies. Axell
Wireless shall not be viable for any direct, incidental, or consequential damages, whether
based on contract, tort, or any legal theory.
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction ..............................................................................................................1
2. Installation ................................................................................................................2
3. Repeater Connection Setup ......................................................................................3
3.1. Connection Wizard ............................................................................................3
3.1.1. TCP/IP Connection ............................................................................................ 3
3.1.2. Cable Connection Set up.................................................................................... 4
3.1.3. Modem Connection Set up................................................................................. 4
3.1.4. Login .................................................................................................................. 5
3.1.5. Phone Book ........................................................................................................ 5
3.2. Workflow of Repeater Connection Setup ..........................................................8
4. Console View ...........................................................................................................9
4.1. Basics .................................................................................................................9
4.1.1. Page Navigation ................................................................................................. 9
4.1.2. How to Change a Parameter .............................................................................. 9
4.2. Console Pages ..................................................................................................10
4.2.1. RF / Status Page (Repeaters and Boosters) ...................................................... 10
4.2.2. HUB Status (HUB) .......................................................................................... 11
4.2.3. Configuration (All units) ................................................................................. 12
4.3. Alarm Log (All units) ......................................................................................18
4.4. System Nodes (Units Configured to be Repeater System Nodes)...................18
4.5. Perform Optical Loss Adjustment ...................................................................20
4.5.1. Optical Loss Adjustment - OMU ..................................................................... 20
4.5.2. Optical Loss Adjustment – Repeater ............................................................... 20
5. Terminal View........................................................................................................21
6. Firmware View .......................................................................................................22
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1. Introduction
The Repeater Maintenance Console, RMC is a software tool for on-line maintenance of
Axell Wireless Ltd’s product line of repeaters, boosters and hubs (for simplicity reasons
we will from here on refer to all products as “repeaters”).
RMC has a clearly laid out graphical user interface which makes viewing and setting of
parameters easy and logical. Using the RMC eliminates the need for detailed terminal
commands.
The RMC can communicate with the repeaters either locally via a serial cable or remotely
via a modem.
When a connection is established, three main views are available to the user.
• The Console view shows a graphical representation of the connected unit. Data
like status parameters, measurements and settings are presented in a functionality-
oriented structure.
• The Terminal view offers a possibility to operate the repeater on a terminal
command line basis. This is useful for advanced error tracing or other specific
actions not covered by the console view.
• The Firmware Upload view is used for updating the firmware in a repeater.
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2. Installation
Requirements
CPU Pentium, 200 MHz (Pentium III, 500 MHz recommended)
RAM 64 MB (128 MB recommended)
Hard Drive 10 MB free disk space
CD-ROM Required for installation
Video resolution 800 x 600 with at least 15 bit color depth (approx. 32000
colors)
24 bit color depth (16.7 million colors) recommended
It is possible to run the program in 256 or 16 color modes, but
colors will appear distorted
Operating system Windows 98SE/NT/2000/XP/Vista/7
1. Ensure the computer and operation system complies with the requirements above.
2. Insert the CD-ROM into your CD-ROM reader. This will in most cases auto-start the
setup program. If not select your CD-ROM drive and double-click the file
“[Link]”.
3. Follow the setup program guide through the installation process. Specify where the
program should be installed.
4. When the installation is finished, start the RMC from the” Start” menu (no reboot is
needed)
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3. Repeater Connection Setup
3.1. Connection Wizard
At startup the “connection wizard” is displayed. This wizard contains a step-by-step guide
through the connection and login process.
Initial screen on startup TCP/IP Connection Set up
3.1.1. TCP/IP Connection
Click “Cable” and “Next”
Type the Repeater IP address.
Type the Port number.
Click "Add" to add the address
to the Saved Addresses list.
Click Connect.
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3.1.2. Cable Connection Set up
Click “Cable” and “Next”
Select the serial port to be used.
Click “Connect”
3.1.3. Modem Connection Set up
Click “Modem” and “Next”
Select the modem to use. The RMC
automatically receives a list of available
modems from the Windows operation
system. It is important that your modem is
installed in Windows according to the
manual provided by the modem
manufacturer.
Click “Next”
Enter the phone number. Type the number
or choose one from the phone book. For
more information about the phone book see
Phone Book chapter in this manual.
Click “Connect” and wait for connection to
be established
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3.1.4. Login
Console Login:
On the left View options select
Console. Proceed with relevant
connection method and enter the
username and password.
Defaults are:
Username – avitec
Password – AvitecPasswd
(CASE SENSITIVE!)
Terminal Login:
On the left View options select
Terminal. Proceed with the
relevant connection method.
The Terminal window will show
a request to enter a Username
and Password.
Defaults are:
Username – avitec
Password – AvitecPasswd
(CASE SENSITIVE!)
Note: For a full list of all the RMC commands relevant to your repeater, refer to the
Commands and attributes documents specific to your repeater. If you do not have the
document, please contact Axell Wireless Customer Support at support@[Link]
3.1.5. Phone Book
Modem phone numbers to can be stored in the RMC phone book. Each computer user is
allocated an individual RMC phonebook which is stored in the windows registry.
Phone book screen
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[Link]. Add a Phone Number
1. Type the number in the phone number edit box, Click Add
2. Enter a description of the phonebook entry.
3. Click OK
[Link]. Edit a Phone Number
1. Select a number in the list and Click Edit
2. Make the changes and Click OK
[Link]. Delete a Phone Number
Select a phone number in the list, Click Delete and Confirm
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[Link]. Import/Export Phonebook Data
1. Click “Phonebook Options”
2. Choose between the options:
• Save phonebook
• Restore the phonebook
• Synchronize phonebook
Note: The file extension is RPF. Files can be used in RMC versions 2.00 and later.
Phonebook data from RMC version [Link] (INI-files) can also be imported.
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3.2. Workflow of Repeater Connection Setup
Work flow for repeater connection setup
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4. Console View
4.1. Basics
On the left side of the RMC window a choice can be made between the Console view,
Terminal view and Firmware view. The screen will change depending on what choice is
made.
When the Console view is started the RMC adjusts its user interface to adapt to the
features of the connected unit.
There are several pages in the “Console view” containing different sets of repeater
parameters.
To leave” Console view”, select another view or click “Disconnect”.
4.1.1. Page Navigation
There are two ways to navigate between console pages:
• Click on the page’s icon at the lower left side of the RMC window
• Click on the console menu at the top of the RMC windows and select desired page
4.1.2. How to Change a Parameter
When a parameter needs to be changed in any RMC window there is a two step
procedure.
Fist step is to change the Click on ”” to the right of
value – for instance by the box and chose a value
typing it or choosing a from the drop-down menu
value from a drop down
menu
Apply the change by The change can also be
clicking the green “accept canceled by clicking the red
button” that pops up when “cancel button”, or by
a change is made pressing Esc
When a change is applied a small animated icon is displayed next to the box while the
change is sent to the repeater (this step is hardly noticeable when connected through
cable)
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4.2. Console Pages
Below is a general description of the different console pages. Not all pages are relevant
for all types of equipment. Within parenthesis is stated for what equipment a page is
relevant. For some repeater types all parameters fit on one screen. In these cases, pages
are not used.
Since RMC will adapt to the equipment being connected to it, the pages does not always
look the same. Please refer to the screenshots below as examples.
4.2.1. RF / Status Page (Repeaters and Boosters)
This page contains:
• RF settings, for instance channel numbers and attenuation
• Measured RF values, for instance input/output power
• Status indicators. LED’s that indicate if a parameter is OK (green) or if an error
has occurred (flashing red). Examples of status parameters are: doors, power,
temperature, synthesizers and amplifiers
• Other measurements, for instance temperature and voltage
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4.2.2. HUB Status (HUB)
This page contains:
• Status of F/O conversion units and measured optical power levels
• Rack communication status
• Hub status
• Node status (To get a more detailed view of installed nodes, view the System
Nodes page)
• Clicking on this icon will show:
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• Clicking on this icon (at top of console) will show the CRC report
for each OMU (Rack) and each F/O Module as shown below:
4.2.3. Configuration (All units)
Configuration data is displayed on four tab sheets.
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[Link]. Product Information
In this tab sheet changes can be made to tag, repeater ID and current time/date.
Information about the unit and its contents (hardware and software)
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[Link]. Alarm Configuration
Use this tab to modify the alarms threshold values and to set the external alarms and the
relay operation modes.
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[Link]. Communication
Modem configuration and authorization settings
Communication Enabled Used to disable (and re-enable)
communication with the Repeater.
Communication Type Choose between TCP/IP, GPRS or Data
Call
Network Connect Time Time to wait before trying to initialize the
modem after power up or a modem power
cycle
Modem Connect Time On answering or calling, the modem must
establish a connection within this time, or
the call will be dropped
Modem power cycling timepoint Set the time when Modem performs a
power cycle
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Network Interface Configuration – Services:
List of services that are supported by the Hub/Node for Terminal or RMC TCP/IP
connections.
[Link]. AEM Reports
Settings that control message transmission to Axell Element Manager
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4.2.4. Add/Delete Nodes (HUB)
Once an OMU device is set up, nodes (repeaters/boosters) may be added to the Hub.
To add a node:
1. Click Node in the title menu and click Add node…
2. Update the following fields as necessary:
• Serial Number – Repeater's serial number (provided by Axell).
• Controller Type – may differ between models.
• Fiber Optic Assignment – Select the F/O slot to which the repeater is connected
(May be "Unassigned")
To delete a node:
1. Click on Delete node… under Node in the title menu
2. Enter node's serial number and click OK.
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4.3. Alarm Log (All units)
This log contains alarms with timestamp, alarm description, severity, class etc.
In this page alarms can be acknowledged and the alarm log can be cleared.
4.4. System Nodes (Units Configured to be Repeater System
Nodes)
This page shows a list of nodes where each node contains detailed information on node
ID, repeater model, tag, software version, node status and communication status.
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From this page other nodes in the network can be viewed remotely. Click the “View”
button of the node to view.
• The node that is being viewed is market by a symbol.
• The node with the connection to RMC is marked by a symbol.
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4.5. Perform Optical Loss Adjustment
4.5.1. Optical Loss Adjustment - OMU
To perform Optical Loss Adjustment click on Actions and Perform Optical Loss
Adjustment
Select the relevant OMU (represented by rows 1 through 4) and the relevant F/O card
(represented by columns 1 through 6)
4.5.2. Optical Loss Adjustment – Repeater
Access the Repeater via the Console view.
Click on Actions and Perform Opticl Loss Adjustment.
Once the system is finished a pop-up message will appear as seen below.
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5. Terminal View
Terminal view is used for communication with the repeater using its native command line
interface. This interface follows the VT100 standard.
Under normal circumstances, maintenance will be done in Console view instead of
Terminal view. However, for some special actions and error tracing, this view gives the
user a way to access all commands available for the connected repeater type.
To leave Terminal view, select another view or click “Disconnect”.
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6. Firmware View
Most Axell Wireless Ltd products can have its firmware updated without interfering with
the product itself. This is done in the Firmware upload view.
In the box labeled “Installed Firmware” information about the currently installed
firmware is displayed.
To upload new firmware:
1. Select the directory where your firmware files (ARF files) are located (“Firmware
Location”).
2. Select the firmware to upload in the firmware list (“Select new firmware file to
upload”). For each firmware available, there will be information about version and
compatibility with the repeater you are currently connected to. Below this list there is
a box with detailed information about the selected firmware.
3. Click “Start Upload”. During upload a status screen displays upload progress
information while you wait.
4. Upload completed
To leave Firmware view, select another view or click “Disconnect”.
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