MEA
EWR
User’s
Guide
The server may be configured by the operator to hand out temporary or static leases. The EWR
must associate and acquire an address from the network before establishing communications.
Once a lease has been granted, the address may be dragged out of network coverage for the
remainder of the lease or, if a static lease was granted, until the next power cycle. If the lease
expires or the user cycles power while outside of network coverage, the user will again lose the
ability to communicate with the wireless network.
This scheme is best for a larger, closely managed network of subscribers who don't need to
communicate or communicate only briefly outside of network coverage.
3.1.2.3 Statically
Provisioned Scheme
Operation under the Statically Provisioned scheme is similar to that of Release 2 in Peer-to-
Peer Mode. The primary difference is that addresses are configured by the network operator
rather than hashed from the MAC address. This serves to eliminate the 10.x.x.x limitation on the
network range.
When operating under the Statically Provisioned scheme, the EWR device will use provisioned
DHCP-like information to establish an IP address for use in the wireless network.
This scheme does not require a DHCP server on the core network.
It should be noted that a DHCP server can still exist on the network to hand out addresses to
other nodes using the Network DHCP Scheme as long as the server's address range does not
conflict with addresses assigned to devices using the Statically Provisioned or User Supplied
Schemes.
The IP addresses and options used are configurable per-device using MeshManager. The
provisioned address may be freely used to communicate while associated or unassociated.
The operator must ensure that the provisioned addresses are routable and do not conflict with
any other addresses in use. The operator is free to provision any option ordinarily provisioned
by a DHCP server (subnet mask, DNS, etc.) through programming of the appropriate fields in
each device using MeshManager.
This scheme is ideal for a managed network of users who regularly need to communicate inside
and outside of network coverage or for a network lacking a DHCP server.
3.1.2.4
User Supplied Scheme
Operating under the
User Supplied
scheme, the EWR device is configured to use a
fixed
IP
address and subnet mask. The user is responsible for configuring options that would otherwise
be configured by a DHCP server.
It is also up to the user to ensure that the assigned address is routable on the core network (if
core network access is needed) and that it does not conflict with other addresses in use. This is
analogous to and carries the same caveats as plugging an Ethernet card into a LAN and
manually assigning an address to the card.
The user is free to communicate while associated or unassociated. This scheme is ideal for
small, unmanaged networks lacking a DHCP server.
All of these schemes may be assigned per device, either by the user or by the network
manager. The network manager can also limit the user-selectable schemes or force a specific
scheme. Devices in each of these schemes can interoperate and communicate with each other,
so long as the assigned addresses do not conflict and are mutually routable.
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