Figure 5.4 Mikrotik OS GUI (via Winbox software). First of all, to manage the
bandwidth, the device should be connected to the access point. The connecting ...
23
CHAPTER 5 IMPLEMENTATION 5.1 Early Implementation The early implementation step sets the network based on the network developed in chapter four. The implementation consists of ISP, router, access point and other set up necessary for the topology. 5.1.1 ISP Configuration The first step need to be done is set up the ISP so the house can have the Internet connection. As stated in the last chapter, First media will be in used for providing the Internet connection that will be distributed through the network. First of all, to obtain the connection, survey is needed in order to check the availability of the network or just check the coverage area from the provider by visiting their website. Customer service of the company (First Media) will guide through several administration processes such as customer data, clarification of payment (if any connection of company exist before) and registration to get the Internet modem (rent). Second step, after obtaining the modem and connection through cable, plug in the modem power and connect it with cable. After few moments, the modem will get the IP address from the ISP and the DNS as well.
24
5.1.2 Router configuration After installing the internet modem, now the router needs to be configured in order to manage the connection. First, connect the power source of the router and then plug in the RJ 45 cable from Internet modem to connect the router to the modem. After the cable is plugged correctly, testing the connection of the router to the modem will help to ensure the connection between two devices. It can be tested by using ping to the IP address on the Internet. If the connection is established correctly, it will show the result as shown below. 5.1.3 Access Point Set Up For the access point, the network uses series from TP-Link as customer side receiver and Ubiquity as transmitter that connect directly using RJ-45 to the router. The access point has to have an antenna to boost the signal strength. For the power source, it gains the electricity by using PoE (power over Ethernet) technology to get the power from the Ethernet cable.
Figure 5.1 Ubiquity transmitter
25
The access point (transmitter) is placed about three meters from the house roof using stall installed in house roof. The devices placed outdoor are already weather proof that can resist certain level of bad condition from rain and other weather phenomenon.
Figure 5.2 Transmitter location
The transmitter can be configured from the computer by accessing the IP Address in the local network. The STP cable is used to connect the access point and the router due to placement reason. Because it is placed outdoor, STP cable will suite for the needs to protect from physical thread and also from electromagnetic signal thread to maintain the connection quality. While the transmitter is located in central position of the network near the router, the client side access point (receiver) is located in every client house connected directly to the computer. For the installation, the signal strength needs to be tested by positioning the receiver around the client house facing to the transmitter. After the signal test is conducted, and the result allows the connection to establish, the access point is tightened
26
in plastic water pipe (size 2 inches) using clamp included in access point packet. As the transmitter get the power source from the PoE, the client side access point using the same technology to make the device turned on.
Figure 5.3 Client side access point
5.1.4 Bandwidth Management Every client will be given certain bandwidth depends on the payment that they purchase. This bandwidth management is managed by the router, through some rules and access list.
27
Figure 5.4 Mikrotik OS GUI (via Winbox software)
First of all, to manage the bandwidth, the device should be connected to the access point. The connecting devices can be seen in the DHCP server, Leases section.
Figure 5.5 Leases section
28
The leases table shows the connecting device in the network. Letter “D” at the first column indicate that the devices are using dynamic IP addresses. For the control and bandwidth management importance, the IP address of the client should be reserves to avoid changes (make static) by clicking the “make static” button. Then the table below will pop up.
Figure 5.6 Making IP Address Static
29
Figure 5.7 set new static IP address
The dialogue box pop up is function to set the new reserved IP, the IP addresses given to the client can also being used to identify the customer. This method of making static IP addresses will be more practical rather than setting the IP addresses of the client one by one by adding the addresses on the client side access point. The router still giving the DHCP IP addresses but the address is reserved by the MAC address owner so the devices IP address will not change every time the client connect to the network. Second stage is managing the bandwidth of each client from the router. The bandwidth of the client is set in the “queue” section in the router.
30
Figure 5.8 Queue list
Queue list shows the connecting devices (client) with their bandwidth limit. To add the list on the queue, just simply click the add button (red plus button), then the dialogue box will pop up.
Figure 5.9 New queue lists
31
To add new queue, type in the name of the new queue (using customer name will help identifying the client when change is required) and the targeted address which just made in the first stage (the static IP addresses of the client). At the bottom, it can be seen there are set up for maximum limit of the bandwidth (upload and download limits) that can be changed depending on the needs. After setting up the limit, name and the IP address, click the apply button then the new queue list will appear on the table. In addition, to activate or deactivate the limit, simply click the checklist button (to activate) and “x” button (to deactivate). If the queue list is deactivated, the client will have limitless bandwidth. 5.1.5 Creating Access List in the Access Point The access point can be accessed through the network using the IP address of the device. After entering the password and the username, the GUI of the access point will pop up.
Figure 5.10 Ubiquity (transmitter) interface
32
Due to the risk of intruders in the network, since devices can connect to the network as long as it can connect to the transmitter, the access list will help the network to create barrier and filter which devices is allowed to connect. The access list is created by using MAC address of the devices (receiver). As long as the MAC address of the device is on the list, it can connect to the network. The list is created manually by adding the MAC address of the receiver every time when new client join the network or change of the devices occurred.
Figure 5.11 Access list
5.2 Improvement in Implementation After running the implementation and the network for several periods, it can be seen that some improvements can be done to enhance the connection quality. There are some problems and improvement that can be done as listed below:
33
•
Change of router from a mikrotik router to the PC router using mikrotik OS
•
Change of ISP for backbone using fiber optic replacing the cable connection
•
Additional switch for expanding the Ethernet cable slots.
5.2.1 Mikrotik PC router Previously mikrotik router is being used to handle the network. Since the client’s number is growing the traffic of the network is increasing. Due to the traffic load, the router processor gain heavy load almost more than 40% that cause heat that sometimes cause malfunction. Every time the router crash, it needs to be restarted and the network is going down for a while. It also causes complaint from customer since not every problem is detected by the operator first. To overcome the problem, it comes out the idea to use PC router. Since the PC router has greater processor than the previous router (400MMhz). The PC router use Intel atom (1,7Ghz) processor, 1GB of RAM, 170watt power supply, mini ATX casing and flashdisk as the storage to install mikrotik OS. The mikrotik OS is bought to be installed in the flash disk. The main idea is still using mikrotik OS as the router OS, but increasing the specification so it can handle more client and heavier traffic load.
34
Figure 5.12 PC Router
5.2.2 Fiber Optic as a Backbone The backbone of the network is using fastnet from firstmedia with the speed of 1.5Mbps. As the number of client increase, the connection cannot handle the request sufficiently. At the first time, as the number of client is only three clients, the connection should be enough for the use as the clients promised (up to 1Mbps). It is decided to use fiber optic connection as the numbers of clients exceed seven. The problem faced by using the old connection is stated below: •
The upload speed of the fastnet is not equal as the download speed
•
The speed is only 1.5 Mbps, the traffic is almost every time reach the maximum bandwidth
•
The response time is getting slower and slower because the connection reach the maximum bandwidth
•
After doing an observation of policy from the fastnet, it is stated that the connection of fastnet is only for private use and not allowed to be spread to several users
35
Based on the problem above, research to the ISP that offer fiber optic connection is conducted. There is an ISP that provides fiber optic connection with price of IDR 2.000.000, - per month with 10 Mbps bandwidth (local) and 768 Kbps for international bandwidth CIR (download speed equals to upload speed). The ISP Company called PT. Remala Abadi, based in Jati Asih, offers a fiber optic connection by conducting the survey first to analyze the nearest point to get the cable to the house. The result of the survey resulted to additional fiber optic cable needed to reach the house, about 900 meters from the nearest point. The company only provides free 300 meters of fiber optic cable, which means the rest 600 meters have to be paid by the network. It cost IDR 10,000.- per meter. After the survey and payment of installment fee and fiber optic cable extension, the ISP schedules the time to install the fiber optic cable. It takes about 2 weeks to complete the process. The next process is to install the converter of fiber optic to Ethernet cable so it can be plugged in to the router. The converter placed in a box with a key lock for security reason, and placed at the nearest outside wall to the router.
36
Figure 5.13 Converter Box
After all the installment process, contacting the ISP office will be the last step to activate the Internet.
Figure 5.14 FO to RJ-45 Converter
37
5.2.3 Additional Switch Due to the limitation of the PC router PCI slot to expand the Ethernet cable slots, additional switch is seems to be the logical solution. The 16 port non-manageable switch is added to the network. TP-Link becomes the first choice for the price reason compared to other brand that set the price higher than the TP-Link brand. After analyzing the specification, which mostly the same as other brand, the switched installed to the network, so every connection that going in and out will pass through the switch. 16 ports of Ethernet cable slot make it possible to connect other devices such as computer and servers (later on) without bothering or changing the existing network.
Figure 5.15 TP-Link switch
