Comprehensive Network Management System (NMS). The MD4000
Network Management System (NMS) provides the ability to configure,
monitor and analyze the MD4000 family of products. Based on Java
technology, the NMS runs on any PC with the Java runtime environment.
MD4000 nodes appear as graphical widgets with multiple LED status
indicators, allowing point-and-click management of the units. The
status window on the bottom window reports the current state of all
nodes based on their recently received heartbeat. Heartbeat data
includes transmit rate, signal strength, board temperature, packets
moved etc. The left hand side properties window provides detailed
information for a selected node including AP client activity.

   
MD4000 units appear as graphical
widgets with multiple LED status
indicators, allowing point-and-click
management of the units. The status
window on the bottom window reports
the current state of all nodes based
on their recently received
heartbeat. Heartbeat data includes
transmit rate, signal strength,
board temperature, packets moved
etc. The left hand side properties
window provides detailed information
for a selected node including AP
client activity.

Physical
and Topology Views:
The NMS provides a Map (Physical)
view and a Topology (Logical) view
of the network. The map view shows
where the nodes are against a
background image. The topology view
shows how the nodes connect to each
other. Figure above-right, shows one
root node and 5 relay nodes.
Alternate paths are shown as dashed
gray lines.

 
RF
Interference Maps: The NMS also provides a
comprehensive view of the Radio
Frequency (RF) space. The RF
instrumentation built into each
MD4000 unit shows how saturated or
busy the medium is. The NMS displays
details of the number of networks,
the saturation level for each
frequency. Network-wise medium usage
is also displayed for each
frequency.

   

Local Connection
Updates.  Two Ethernet
ports on each node allow connection
of wired Internet at root nodes,
delivery of power via
power-over-Ethernet and connection
of local IP Ethernet devices such as
video
cameras or sensors. A Serial port is available to relay sensor data
stream. For example, an optional GPS sensor updates the location of the mobile
nodes on the NMS.
 

GPS
Position Location Support GPS
location information is transmitted
periodically with the mesh node
heart beat. The mesh node location
is automatically updated on the NMS.
The NMS uses maps imported from

www.openstreetmap.org and
dynamically manages the background
image movement to ensure that the
current location is correctly
depicted)  The GPS radio does not
use a radio slot but may use an
antenna port, depending on whether
all  antenna ports are in use or
not. See

Tracking Video
 
Application
Integration. The
MeshDynamics Network stack supports customer applications running above
the networking layer. Applications have been developed involving both static
and mobile nodes. For example, application software on mesh nodes polls
sensors via the serial line interface. The sensor data is processed in
the node and then routed across the mesh. The
processed data is displayed in a custom NMS
screen. Both real time database updates and
remote viewing via web server interfaces are supported. 

NMS
Branding for OEM customers. See:
NMS
OEM Branding