Some cellular carriers require the console server’s cellular modem to be programmed with carrier-specific firmware to operate on their network. Some console server models are equipped with a reprogrammable cellular modem, allowing them to operate on more than one such carrier network.
Note: Changes to the cellular modem firmware are unaffected by Opengear firmware upgrades or factory
erase/configuration reset operations. To switch carriers using the UI:
For devices with multi-carrier capability, the System: Dial: Internal Cellular Modem tab provides control over which carrier's firmware is installed on the modem.
Select the desired carrier and click the Change Carrier button to program the modem’s flash with the carrier- specific firmware image(s).
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Data Center and Remote Site Management - User Manual The flashing process takes several minutes during which the cellular modem is unavailable. During this time, the page periodically refreshes with status information. Upon successful completion, the page displays the message:
Cellular Firmware carrier change completed.
Multi-carrier capable models ship with cellular modem firmware for each supported carrier pre-loaded onto internal non- volatile or USB storage. Periodically, new cellular modem firmware becomes available and is published on the Opengear downloads site.
Note: If your unit’s cellular connection is operating correctly, there is typically no need to upgrade its cellular firmware.
To download and apply new cellular firmware using the UI:
For devices with multi-carrier capability, the System: Firmware page shows a second section with local cellular firmware image status and a button to start the firmware update process.
The Cellular Firmware Status indicates the date of the last firmware download, and a cryptographic fingerprint that can be used to verify the local files' integrity against the fingerprint published in the Opengear Knowledge Base site.
Click the Check for Update button to step through the upgrade process. This process contacts the remote server (ftp.opengear.com) and displays an update summary.
The update summary indicates the local and remote fingerprints for comparison, without altering any of the local files. The Advanced section, when expanded, shows a full list of files to be downloaded or deleted, along with their SHA1 hashes (temporary files downloaded during the intial Check for Updates check may be listed as simple files to "copy" into place, as they do not have to be re-downloaded).
Click Download and Apply to start the update. All files suitable for the modem are downloaded, but the modem will only be flashed if new firmware is available for the currently selected carrier. Alternatively, click Cancel to reject the update.
During the download/apply an interstitial screen is displayed, showing Currently upgrading cellular modem
firmware. Once completed the status of the firmware update is displayed by the System: Firmware page.
Advanced users may also control multi-carrier features from the CLI: Show currently selected carrier:
cellctl -is | egrep "^preferred-carrier" | cut -d " " -f 2 Show current modem firmware version:
cellctl -is | egrep "^current-firmware" | cut -d " " -f 2 List available carriers supported on installed modem:
/etc/scripts/cell-fw-update -l
Check for availability of firmware updates: /etc/scripts/cell-fw-update -u
Output is the remote fingerprint followed by the list of actions that would be taken by cell-fw-update -d. Download latest firmware for all carriers supported by the modem:
/etc/scripts/cell-fw-update -d
Also specify -v to show verbose download progress. Flash modem with latest local firmware for carrier:
/etc/scripts/cell-fw-update -c <carrier>
.. where <carrier> is one of the carrier identifiers emitted by cell-fw-update -l. This command can be used to switch carriers or to update the firmware of the current carrier. If the firmware version information on the modem is identical, the modem may reject the update without error.
5.7
Cellular Operation
When set up as a console server the 3G cellular modem can be set up to connect to the carrier in either:
- Cellular router mode. In this case the dial-out connection to the carrier cellular network is always on, and IP traffic is routed between the cellular connected network and the console server’s local network ports. This is the default mode of operation for ACM5000-G and ACM5500-L and ACM5500-G models.
- OOB mode. As above in this mode the dial-out connection to the carrier cellular network is always on - awaiting any
incoming access (from a remote site wanting to access to the console server or attached serial consoles/network hosts)
- Failover mode. In this case a dial-out cellular connection is only established in event of a ping failure
- Circuit Switched Data (CSD) mode. In this dial-in mode the cellular modem can receive incoming calls from remote modems who dial a special Data Terminating number. This is a 3G mode only.
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Data Center and Remote Site Management - User Manual 5.7.1 OOB access set upIn this mode the dial-out connection to the carrier cellular network is always on, awaiting any incoming traffic. By default the only traffic enabled are incoming SSH access to the console server and its serial ports, and incoming HTTPS access to the console server. There is a low level of keep alive and management traffic going over the cellular network, however generally the status reports and alerts etc from the site can be carried over the main network.
This mode is used typically for out of band access to remote sites, and as above to be directly accessed the appliance needs to have a Public IP address (and it must not have SSH access firewalled). This OOB mode is the default for IM7200 and IM4200 appliances with internal cellular modems. Out-of-band access is enabled by default and the cellular modem connection is always on.
To be directly accessed the console server needs to have a Public IP address and it must not have SSH access firewalled.
Almost all carriers offer corporate mobile data service/plans with a Public (static or dynamic) IP address. These plans often have a service fee attached.
If you have such a static Public IP address plan you can also now try accessing the console server using the Public IP Address provided by the carrier. However by default only HTTPS and SSH access is enabled on the OOB connection. So you can browse to the console server, but you cannot ping it
If you have a dynamic Public IP address plan then a DDNS service will need to be configured to enable the remote administrator to initiate incoming access. Once this is done you can then also try accessing the console
server using the allocated domain name
By default most providers offer a consumer grade service which provides dynamic Private IP address assignments to 3G devices. This IP address is not visible across the Internet but generally it is adequate for home and general business use.
With such a plan the Failover& Out-of-Band tab on the Status: Statistics shows will identify that your carrier has allocated you a Private IP Address (i.e. in the range 10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255, 172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255 or 192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255)
For inbound OOB connection with such a plan you will need to use Call Home with a Lighthouse/VCMS/CMS6110 or set up a VPN
In out of band access mode the internal cellular modem will continually stay connected. The alternative is to set up Failover mode on the console server as detailed in the next section.