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018-354-B0-001, Rev. A (05/2018)
5.0 LoRaWAN Operation
The LoRaWAN software architecture supports a multi-processing environment. Linux is used as the operating system
and multiple applications can be executed simultaneously
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, with each process running in its own memory space. Further
details can be found in “LoRa Macro Gateway: Software Design Specification v0.1,” TEKTELIC Communications Inc.,
Calgary, 2016. Within the LoRaWAN architecture, there are two applications that support operations, administration and
maintenance (OAM):
• Built In Self Tests (BIST) Application - used by the system on start up to self-test all the device on board
• System Health Monitor (SHM) Application - used during run time to monitor various hardware and software
components. This application is used in concert with a hardware Watch Dog Timer (WDT) which is used by the
SHM to reset the system in cases of un-recoverable failures.
5.1 Definitions
Fault: a failure in hardware or software that prevents the normal operation of the gateway. Faults can be detected via
hardware circuits or software algorithms. There can be many sources of faults and multiple fault detection mechanisms.
Alarms: Reporting of gateway faults. Alarm information can be communicated via software protocol or visually, using
LEDs. It is not necessary to have a one-to-one correspondence between faults and unique alarms.
There are two severity levels for alarms:
• Critical – the gateway has been shut down to prevent hardware damage or to prevent violation of regulatory
requirements. The gateway is out of service and appropriate steps should be taken to minimize the service
outage.
• Major – the gateway is still operation but it is operating in a degraded state where performance is impacted. The
issue and/or the environmental conditions at the gateway site should be investigated when practical.
BIST: there are two types of Built In Self Tests (on-target execution):
• Intrusive – operator initiated self-test that is potentially service impacting.
• Non-Intrusive – non service impacting built in self tests that check the gateway interfaces
POST: Power On Self Tests – these are service impacting tests that check the hardware devices on the gateway. These
on-target tests are executed automatically immediately after a system reset, or immediately upon power up.
KonaFT: Kona Field Tool - an off-target PC tool used for configuring and monitoring a LoRaWAN gateway. The GUI based
tool communicates with the gateway via SNMP.
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Within the constraints of task switching controlled by the real-time operating system.
