Hello -- I am very new to AREDN but I am trying to get up to speed.
I am trying to replicate the setup recommended in the "Device to Device (DtD) Linking" part of the AREDN website. I have installed a Ubiquiti M2 with sector antenna and a BaseBox5 with sector antenna at the top of my tower, both running AREDN firmware 3.24.10.0. The M2 and BB5 each have a 50-foot run of shielded CAT6 cable coming down the tower & plugged into two of the ports on a MikroTik HexPOE switch. The switch provides POE to both the M2 and the BB5.
The M2 (2GHz) and BB5 (5GHz) don't seem to be talking to each other. Neither shows up on the other's dashboard. I've seen some references to "VLAN" and I think I need to change some settings to get the 2GHz and 5GHz radios linked via DtD. Do I need to make changes to the HexPOE switch? Or to the M2 and BB5? Or both?
Thanks for helping out a newbie. 73 de K1ZK
I am trying to replicate the setup recommended in the "Device to Device (DtD) Linking" part of the AREDN website. I have installed a Ubiquiti M2 with sector antenna and a BaseBox5 with sector antenna at the top of my tower, both running AREDN firmware 3.24.10.0. The M2 and BB5 each have a 50-foot run of shielded CAT6 cable coming down the tower & plugged into two of the ports on a MikroTik HexPOE switch. The switch provides POE to both the M2 and the BB5.
The M2 (2GHz) and BB5 (5GHz) don't seem to be talking to each other. Neither shows up on the other's dashboard. I've seen some references to "VLAN" and I think I need to change some settings to get the 2GHz and 5GHz radios linked via DtD. Do I need to make changes to the HexPOE switch? Or to the M2 and BB5? Or both?
Thanks for helping out a newbie. 73 de K1ZK
73
Orv W6BI
On the VLANs tab, you need to define VLAN 2 and set the tower nodes to "Leave as is". On the VLAN tab set the VLAN Mode to "Optional" and VLAN Receive to "Any". For Default VLAN, here you have some choices. In my case I have four nodes and each is assigned a different VLAN (17 - 19) - don't use 1. Those four VLANs are then sent to a trunk port to my router so my router (not a typical home router) gets an IP from each of the four nodes on the LAN. I can then reach any of the four nodes via IP address from my computers. On Egress, set VLAN header to "Leave as is".
In a while I can post some screen captures if needed.
I was unable to access the configuration page for the switch via 192.168.88.1. Fumbling around led me to the "WinBox" program, which I downloaded and installed on my PC.
The WinBox program appeared to talk with the switch. But I wasn't exactly sure what I needed to do. Various screenshots attached.
73 de k1zk
Certainly for a Mikrotik beginner, WinBox is the way to go. More in a bit - got work to do...
The product I referenced above:
https://mikrotik.com/product/RB260GSP
I just got the switch and I am tinkering with it. I can successfully access the switch with winbox & I think I got the settings right. My 2 and 5 GHz AREDN nodes are plugged into ports 4 and 5 on the switch.
On the VLANs tab I “inserted” a row for “VLAN ID” = 2. Everything is left “as is”
On the VLAN tab I think I have ports 4 and 5 set up correctly.
I made sure to “apply all” changes.
Unfortunately I still do not see my 5 GHz node on the console for the 2GHz node. Do I need to fuss with any of the settings on the AREDN console?
Any other ideas? 73 de K1ZK
This may not be of much help, but
I have a screenshot of my RB260GSP from several years ago.
It powers and links 4 nodes and downlinks a DtD port.
Sorry, I am not finding screenshots of the LAN tagging information.
Perhaps Monday evening I can power it up and capture some images to share.
I think the downlink port (1) carries tagged VLAN2 from ports 2 3 4 5.
I don't use my RB260GSP in production as I have several indoor 48 port VLAN switches.
For multiple nodes at a remote site, I prefer an outdoor rated switch requiring 1 ethernet cable feeding 3 nodes.
I have 5 outdoor rated VLAN2 switches in service.
73, Chuck
Should I choose different options on the two new lines - e.g., "not a member" or "always strip"? What do these actually do?
How will I know when DtD is working between my two radios? Will it be obvious from the dashboard?
73 de K1ZK
I see the AREDN website has a number of "switch configurations" recommendations under the "Software" menu, but I don't see any recommended configurations for a RB260GSP.
I read the section of the manual for the RB260GSP on VLAN and VLANs configuration-- https://help.mikrotik.com/docs/spaces/SWOS/pages/76414986/CSS106+RB260+s...(RB260)seriesManual-InterfaceOverview
... but have so far still been unable to confirm that DtD linking is working.
I have no background in networking so almost all of this is Greek to me...