Advanced Provisioner - Configuration Tabs - Network

Modified on Mon, 25 Sep 2023 at 07:17 PM

Description: The purpose of this article is to provide a detailed overview of the Network configuration tab, which is accessible for all devices eligible for provisioning within the Advance Provisioner App.

The Advance Provisioner App serves as the primary digital workspace for configuring advanced settings on provisioned devices. For every device from any manufacturer, there is a roster of configuration tabs, each containing different parameters. Once you have added a new device, you will have the opportunity to customize a distinct set of configuration tabs tailored to that specific device.

In all the tabs, parameters can be classified into two types:

those that require manual input of values.
those that provide a dropdown list of options.

Next to some parameters, you can find clues about the values these specific fields will inherit either from the global default values or from the account settings level if you don't make any changes to the field.

The inherited values may differ based on the server and account settings, but the core concept remains consistent.

Within this article, we will examine the Network configuration tab and its parameters available for customization.

Network Configuration Tab

The parameters available within each Configuration tab may vary depending on the brand and specific device. This article covers all the potential parameters you might encounter within the tab this article is focused on.

This configuration tab is one of the five primary "account settings" tabs that can be set at the account level, ensuring that all newly added devices will adopt the parameters you have defined.

Account settings are not global. There is a global default (which is the Inherits from Defaults value) which are static settings on the server. Account Settings are account defaults the admin for the account wishes to be applied on all devices in a given account. 

Account administrators have access to Provider Settings, which is a level of defaults above Account Settings. All devices inherit settings in this order: Global → Provider/Reseller → Account → Device. 

To learn more about the Account Settings tab, you can refer to the corresponding section of an article accessible through this link.

However, when adding a new device or adjusting the settings of an existing one, you have the flexibility to reconfigure the parameters on this tab. When adding a new device or configuring an existing one, the Lines configuration tab will be the initial default view.

To navigate to the Network configuration tab, click on its name in the configuration tab roster.

The parameters listed on this tab can be categorized into eight distinct sections:

IP Configuration: in this section, you have the ability to set the IP parameters of the configured device.

There are four parameters that need to be configured here:

IP Address Mode: here, you can configure the way the device uses IP addressing. It can take one of three values.

Inherit: by choosing this option, you allow this device to inherit this parameter from the Defaults.
DHCP: by choosing this option, you will configure the device to use the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) irrespective of the parameters configured in the Defaults.
Static: by choosing this option, you will configure the device to use a fixed IP address irrespective of the parameters configured in the Defaults.

The choice between using  DHCP and static IP addressing depends on the particular needs and intended purposes of the devices within the network.

IP Address: here, you can input an IPv4/IPv6 address that the configured device will use if you have selected the "Static" IP Address Mode.
Netmask: here, you can input an IPv4/IPv6 subnet mask that the configured device will use if you have selected the "Static" IP Address Mode.
Gateway: here, you can input an IPv4/IPv6 default gateway that the configured device will use if you have selected the "Static" IP Address Mode.

DNS: in this section, you have the ability to set the DNS parameters of the configured device.

There are four parameters that need to be configured here:

Primary Server: here, you can input the primary DNS server that will be used if you select the "Static" IP Address Mode in the very first section of the parameters on this configuration tab.
Backup Server: here, you can input the secondary DNS server that will be used if you select the "Static" IP Address Mode in the very first section of the parameters on this configuration tab.
Static DNS: in this field, you have the option to activate or deactivate the ability for any server address assigned through DHCP to be replaced by the manually configured (static) DNS server. It can take one of three values.

Inherit: by choosing this option, you allow this device to inherit this parameter from the Defaults.
Enabled: by choosing this option, you will enable the static DNS server to overwrite any server address provided through DHCP.
Disabled: by choosing this option, you will forbid the static DNS server to overwrite any server address provided through DHCP.

TTL Enable: here you can enable or disable the configured device to use TTL in the A record.

Time to live (TTL) or hop limit is a mechanism that limits the lifespan or lifetime of data in a computer or network. TTL is a setting associated with DNS resource records, such as A records. In this context, TTL is the amount of time that a record is cached in a resolver when the record is queried.

An A record (also known as an Address record or host record) links a domain to an IP address. An A record maps a domain to the physical IP address of the computer hosting that domain. Internet traffic uses the A record to find the computer hosting your domain's DNS settings. The value of an A record is always an IP address, and multiple A records can be configured for one domain name.

This parameter can take one of three values.

Inherit: by choosing this option, you allow this device to inherit this parameter from the Defaults.
Enabled: by choosing this option, you will enable the configured device to use TTL in the A record.
Disabled: by choosing this option, you will disable the configured device to use TTL in the A record.

VLAN: in this section, you have the ability to set the Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) parameters of the configured device.

There are 18 parameters that need to be configured here:

VOIP VLAN Enabled: here, you can enable or disable VLAN for the Internet (WAN) port.

In many networking devices, there is typically a port labeled as the "WAN" (Wide Area Network) or "Internet" port. This port is used to connect the device to the external network, such as the Internet service provider's network.

This parameter can take one of three values.

Inherit: by choosing this option, you allow this device to inherit this parameter from the Defaults.
Enabled: by choosing this option, you will enable VLAN for the Internet (WAN) port.
Disabled: by choosing this option, you will disable VLAN for the Internet (WAN) port.

VOIP VLAN ID: here, you can input the VLAN ID if the Internet (WAN) port is enabled. The value of this parameter should be a digit between 1 and 4094.
PC VLAN Enabled: here, you can enable or disable VLAN for the PC (LAN) port. This parameter can take one of three values.

Inherit: by choosing this option, you allow this device to inherit this parameter from the Defaults.
Enabled: by choosing this option, you will enable VLAN for the PC (LAN) port.
Disabled: by choosing this option, you will disable VLAN for the PC (LAN) port.

PC VLAN ID: here, you can input the VLAN ID if the PC (LAN) port is enabled. The value of this parameter should be a digit between 1 and 4094.
VLAN Priority: within this field, you can set VLAN priority for the Internet (WAN) port.

This parameter can take one of three values.

Inherit: by choosing this option, you allow this device to inherit this parameter from the Defaults.
0-7: you have the option to select a priority level from this list. The higher digit you choose, the greater priority the VLAN will be assigned.

PC Port Priority: within this field, you can set VLAN priority for the PC (LAN) port.

This parameter can take one of three values.

Inherit: by choosing this option, you allow this device to inherit this parameter from the Defaults.
0-7: you have the option to select a priority level from this list. The higher digit you choose, the greater priority the VLAN will be assigned.

LLDP Enable: here, you can enable or disable the configured device to use LLDP.

The Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) is a layer 2 neighbor discovery protocol that allows devices to advertise device information to their directly connected peers/neighbors.

This parameter can take one of three values.

Inherit: by choosing this option, you allow this device to inherit this parameter from the Defaults.
Enabled: by choosing this option, you will enable the configured device to use LLDP.
Disabled: by choosing this option, you will disable the configured device to use LLDP.

LLDP Interval: within this field, you can set the interval (in seconds between 1 and 3600) of how often the device will send the LLDP request. If you leave this field blank, this parameter will inherit the value set in the Defaults.
CDP Enable: here, you can enable or disable the configured device to use CDP.

Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) is a Cisco layer 2 proprietary protocol designed to facilitate the network management of Cisco devices by discovering hardware and protocol information about neighboring devices.

This parameter can take one of three values.

Inherit: by choosing this option, you allow this device to inherit this parameter from the Defaults.
Enabled: by choosing this option, you will enable the configured device to use CDP.
Disabled: by choosing this option, you will disable the configured device to use CDP.

CDP Interval: within this field, you can set the interval (in seconds between 1 and 3600) of how often the device will send the CDP request. If you leave this field blank, this parameter will inherit the value set in the Defaults.
VLAN Filtering: by enabling this parameter, received Ethernet packages are filtered by VLAN, so the TCP/IP stack does not process invalid data or a huge amount of data. This parameter can take one of three values.

Inherit: by choosing this option, you allow this device to inherit this parameter from the Defaults.
Enabled: by choosing this option, you will enable VLAN filtering.
Disabled: by choosing this option, you will disable VLAN filtering.

LLDP Compatibility: by enabling this parameter, you allow the configured device to determine its VLAN ID and negotiate power through LLDP. This parameter can take one of three values.

Inherit: by choosing this option, you allow this device to inherit this parameter from the Defaults.
Enabled: by choosing this option, you will enable LLDP Compatibility.
Disabled: by choosing this option, you will disable LLDP Compatibility.

CDP Compatibility: by enabling this parameter, you allow the configured device to determine its VLAN ID and negotiate power through CDP. This parameter can take one of three values.

Inherit: by choosing this option, you allow this device to inherit this parameter from the Defaults.
Enabled: by choosing this option, you will enable CDP Compatibility.
Disabled: by choosing this option, you will disable CDP Compatibility.

DHCP VLAN Discovery: by configuring this parameter, you are able to control the VLAN discovery attempts via DHCP.

VLAN discovery is the process of identifying and determining the existence of Virtual LANs (VLANs) within a network.

This parameter can take one of four values.

Inherit: by choosing this option, you allow this device to inherit this parameter from the Defaults.
Disabled: by choosing this option, you will disable VLAN discovery attempts via DHCP.
Fixed: by selecting this option, the predefined DHCP vendor specific option values of 128, 144, 157, and 191 will be checked.
Custom: by selecting this option, the provided DHCP VLAN option will be checked.

DHCP VLAN Option: here, you can input the DHCP VLAN option, if the previous parameter has been set as "Custom."
PC VLAN Port Priority: here, you can input a value in the range between 0 and 7 that will be assigned to the port as its priority level.
Network startup delay: here, you can specify a delay in the startup process of the configured device's network-related functions.
PC port VLAN highest priority: here, you can set the priority value of the PC port.

The port priority is represented as digits ranging from 0 to 9, with 9 typically indicating the highest priority (top priority) and 9 indicating the lowest priority (lowest priority). By selecting the "No Limit" option, the port will not be given a specific priority value. By selecting the "Inherit" option, the priority level of the configured port will be inherited from the value set in the Defaults.

General: in this section, you have the ability to set the General IP parameters of the configured device.

There is only one parameter that needs to be configured here:

MTU: here, you can set the maximum MTU of the network. The value should be between 128 and 1500.

Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) is a parameter that defines the largest packet size (in bytes) that can be transmitted in a single network frame or packet on a particular network or network segment.

If you leave this field blank, this parameter will inherit the value set in the Defaults.

Ports: in this section, you have the ability to enable or disable the PC (LAN) port for the configured device.

There is only one parameter that needs to be configured here:

PC Port: here, you can enable or disable the PC (LAN) port. This parameter can take one of three values.

Inherit: by choosing this option, you allow this device to inherit this parameter from the Defaults.
Enabled: by choosing this option, you will enable the PC (LAN) port.
Disabled: by choosing this option, you will disable the PC (LAN) port.

RTP Ports: in this section, you have the ability to RTP ports for the configured device.

The Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) is a network protocol for delivering audio and video over IP networks.

There are three parameters that need to be configured here:

Minimum: here, you can set the minimum local RTP port. The value should be between 1042 and 65535. If you leave this field blank, this parameter will inherit the value set in the Defaults.
Maximum: here, you can set the maximum local RTP port. The value should be between 1042 and 65535. If you leave this field blank, this parameter will inherit the value set in the Defaults.
DSCP: within this field, you can set the DSCP port for the QoS purpose.

Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) is a means of classifying and managing network traffic and of providing quality of service (QoS) in modern IP networks.

If you leave this field blank, this parameter will inherit the value set in the Defaults, which is Expedited Forward (46).

Wi-Fi: in this section, you have the ability to enable and configurate the built-in Wi-Fi feature of the device.

There are five parameters that need to be configured here:

Enabled: Here, you can enable a built-in WI-Fi. This parameter can take one of three values.

Inherit: by choosing this option, you allow this device to inherit this parameter from the Defaults.
Enabled: by choosing this option, you will enable the built-in Wi-Fi feature of the device.
Disabled: by choosing this option, you will disable the built-in Wi-Fi feature of the device.

Network Name: here, you can specify the name of the Wi-Fi network to connect to.
Password: here, you should input the password for the network.
Security Mode: in the drop-down list available in this field, you should select the security mode of the network.

By selecting the "Inherit" option, the security mode of the network will be inherited from the value set in the Defaults.

Cipher Type: in the drop-down list available in this field, you should select the cipher type of the network.

By selecting the "Inherit" option, the cipher type of the network will be inherited from the value set in the Defaults.

NAT Traversal: in this section, you can enable sending keep-alive packets by the phone through the NAT device to keep the communication port open.

A NAT (Network address translation) device is similar to a phone system at an office that has one public telephone number and multiple extensions. Outbound phone calls made from the office all appear to come from the same telephone number.

There are two parameters that need to be configured here:

UDP Keep Alive: by configuring this parameter, you are able to enable or disable sending keep-alive packets. This parameter can take one of three values.

Inherit: by choosing this option, you allow this device to inherit this parameter from the Defaults.
Enabled: by choosing this option, you will enable sending keep-alive packets.
Disabled: by choosing this option, you will disable sending keep-alive packets.

Keep Alive Interval: here, you can set a time interval (in seconds) that is the frequency of sending keep-alive packets

Make sure to press the "Save" button to apply all the changes you have made to the parameters.