ALIF: Static IP Addresses

Overview

The instructions on this page are for setting static IP addresses on the ALIF Infinity endpoints listed below. The ALIF100T, ALIF101T and ALIF3000R models do not support this feature. The procedure is different for each group below:-

• ALIF1002, ALIF2000, ALIF2020 and ALIF2112T
• ALIF102, ALIF1100, ALIF2100 and ALIF4000

Setting Static IP addresses for ALIF1002, ALIF2000, ALIF2020 and ALIF2112T

The endpoints must be run v5.3 or above and the AIM v5.13 or above. The AIM must be configured with Subnet Operation mode set Off, where AIM is the DHCP Server.

Procedure

Three methods can be used to configure the endpoints:

1. Configuring them directly with a static IP address before adding it to the network with an AIM.
2. Adding them to the network first and then configure them via the AIM Manager.
3. Configuring existing Endpoints running v5.3 or above.

Method 1 - Direct Configuration

• Configure the network interface on a host to use two network IP address ranges, one in the link-local range and one in the range that you wish to assign. Make sure the IP addresses are free and will not be assigned to other devices. For example, configure the link-local IP address as 169.254.1.1 and the second address as 192.168.0..250. In this example, the Primary AIM will be set to use 192.168.0.1
• Connect the endpoint to a host directly with a network cable.
• Open the web interface for the Endpoint. By default, the first or system port is set to 169.254.1.32 for a Receiver and 169.254.1.33 for a Transmitter. See Default IP Addresses for more information.
• The screenshot below shows an ALIF2020 Transmitter.
  
  
  
  
• Make sure Enable AIM control is ticked.
• Enter the IP Address of the AIM Manager. In this example, 192.168.0.1 has been entered.
• Enter the IP addresses for either the System Port, Teaming Ports or both.
• Enter the Subnet Mask and the Gateway address (if applicable)
• Untick any network ports that are not going to be used. The Management will automatically be disabled when the Endpoint is added to the AIM Manager.
• Scroll down to the end of the section and click on the Update Now button to save the settings.
• It is not necessary to make any other changes to the endpoint. They will be handled by the AIM Manager once connected.

Use this procedure for each of the endpoints that require Static IP addresses. Make sure you do not duplicate the IP addresses, different IP addresses must be assigned to each network port and endpoint.

Once the endpoints have been configured you can connect them to the same network as the AIM Manager and they will automatically be recognised. This can take 2-3 minutes.

• On the Dashboard page of the AIM Manager you should see a notification at the top informing you that there are new devices that need to be configured.
  
  
  
  
• Click on the Configure link, You will see a list of Endpoints to add to the AIM Manager.
  
  
  
  
• You will see configuration options for each new Endpoint the AIM Manager detects.
• Enter the Name of the Endpoimt. By default, the Mac Address of the Endpoints network interface is shown.
• On each of the Network Interfaces of the Endpoint, there is a dropdown list. The list has three options:
  • DHCP - Allow the AIMs DHCP to manage the IP address of the Endpoint when it boots.
  • DHCP Reserved - The AIM manages the endpoint's IP address using DHCP, but it always uses a reserved IP address you define.
  • Static - Sets the Static IP, Subnet mask, Gateway and DNS addresses that the Endpoint uses on boot.
• The Static option has automatically been chosen as the Endpoint has been manually assigned, leave the dropdown set to Static.
• The Description and Location are optional, however, are useful to define what the endpoint is used for and where it is situated.
• Enter the Subnet Mask, Gateway and DNS addresses
• Press Save to add the Endpoint(s).
• The Endpoint(s) will automatically reboot using the network settings.

Method 2 - Adding Endpoints and Configuring the Static IP on the AIM Manager

• With the Endpoint(s) running v5.3 and in a factory reset state., connect them to the network with the AIM Manager.
• After 2-3 minutes, on the Dashboard page of the AIM Manager you should see a notification at the top informing you that there are new devices that need to be configured.
  
  
  
  
• Click on the Configure link, You will see a list of Endpoints to add to the AIM Manager.
  
  
  
  
• You will see configuration options for each new Endpoint the AIM Manager detects.
• Enter the Name of the Endpoint.
• On each of the Network Interfaces of the Endpoint, there is a dropdown list. By default, it will be set to DHCP. The list has three options:
  • DHCP - Allow the AIMs DHCP to manage the IP address of the Endpoint when it boots.
  • DHCP Reserved - The AIM manages the endpoint's IP address using DHCP, but it always uses a reserved IP address you define.
  • Static - Sets the Static IP, Subnet mask, Gateway and DNS addresses that the Endpoint uses on boot.
• In this example we will set Network Port 1 only. Select Static from the dropdown list.
• Enter an IP address, Subnet Mask, Gateway, DNS
• The Description and Location are optional, however, are useful to define what the endpoint is used for and where it is situated.
  
  
  
  
• Press Save to add the Endpoint(s).
• The Endpoint(s) will automatically reboot using the network settings.

Method 3 - Configuring Existing Endpoints

• Find the Endpoint you wish to configure from either the Receivers or Transmitter pages.
• Click on the yellow Configure device pencil icon.
  
  
  
  
• In the Endpoint configuration page, click on the Enable static address tick box.
  
  
  
  
• Enter an IP address, Subnet Mask, Gateway, DNS for either or both network interfaces.
  
  
  
  
• Scroll down the page and press Save
• The Endpoint will automatically reboot using the network settings.

Setting Static IP addresses for ALIF102, ALIF1100, ALIF2100 and ALIF4000

The endpoints must be running v6.04 or above. The following instructions are for configuring the endpoints to use a static IP and connect to an AIM Manager.

Preparation

• Each endpoint must be configured offline before being connected to the network containing the AIM Manager(s).
• You will need a laptop or host computer to connect directly to the endpoint, ideally using a 1Gb CATx SFP. If you are using 10Gb CATx or fiber SFPs, you may want to use a network switch — but do not connect the AIM yet.
• Configure the network interface on the laptop with two IP addresses:
  • One must be a link-local address in the 169.254.x.x range.
  • The other should be in the range used by the Infinity network.
• Decide which IP address will be assigned to the Primary (or Solo) AIM Manager. Backup AIM Managers will automatically take the next available addresses in sequence.
• If the endpoint has been connected to an AIM Manager, it must be factory reset.

Procedure

• Open the web interface for the endpoint; you must use https://<IPADDRESS>. The IP address assigned to the endpoint is displayed on its front panel OLED display. By default, it will be a link-local address. The IP address will depend on the model and the port you are connected to:
  • Receiver - 169.254.1.32 or 169.254.1.42
  • Transmitter - 169.254.1.33 or 169.254.1.43
• Navigate to the Network page and untick the DHCP Enabled checkbox on the network interface you wish to configure.
  
  
  
  
• Click on Edit button
  
  
  
  
• Enter the Static IP address, Subnet Mask and Gateway. Make sure that you the IP address you set is unique and not used by another device.
  
  
  
  
• Press Apply to commit the change.
• The endpoint will automatically change its IP address from the link-local address to the one you have configured.
• Change the browser's URL to the new static IP address.
• Navigate to the Network page and click on the 2nd page tab icon at the top right.
• You will need to enter the IP addresses of the AIM Managers so the endpoint can locate them on the network. The Primary AIM should be listed first, followed by the Backup. If you have additional AIMs, those should also be entered. When using Static IP addressing, only four AIM addresses can be entered.
  
  
  
  If you have only one or two AIMs, it is still recommended to fill in all four fields using sequential addresses. For example, if your Primary AIM is 192.168.1.1 and your Backup AIM is 192.168.1.2, then enter 192.168.1.3 and 192.168.1.4 as well. This is to accommodate the unlikely event of an AIM failure, which could cause the AIM IP addresses to shift by one. Where the Backup AIM is promoted to a Primary, and a new Backup is added, taking the next available IP address.
  
  
• Press Apply to commit the change.
• Move the endpoint to the Infinity network with the operational AIM Manager. It should automatically be detected.

Additional Information

• The AIM can either be a DHCP Server (Subnet Operation Off) or you can use an external DHCP Server (Subnet Operation On). The AIM does not know if the ALIF4000 has been statically configured. If AIM is the DHCP Server. when you add a new endpoint it will offer you to either use DHCP or DHCP Reserved, just select DHCP. If you go into the endpoints configuration page, there will be a setting to configure DHCP Reserved, this will have no effect.
• If you factory reset the endpoint, it wll revert back to DHCP.