mint command (MINT version)

-type {mesh | master | slave}

-mode {mobile | nomadic | fixed}

-nodeid NUMBERID

-name NAME

Sets a network system identifier (up to 8-digit HEX figure). It must be the same at both ends of the link.

Sets a secret key for the current node. The key can be up to 64 characters long and should not contain spaces (or should be placed in quotes).

Authentication modes are described by parameters below.

Sets the type of nodes authentication.There are three types of nodes authentication available.

• "public" – all nodes have the same key (password) for access. It is the simplest case of authentication. It can be used for small workgroups, point-to-point connections, mass public access networks and for MINT architecture testing purposes. Any two nodes of the network can establish a connection (when other settings are suitable) if their keys are equal. In the public mode, when found a potential neighbor a node check for its information in the local database (defined by "mint IFNAME addnode" command). If requested information is found, a key from a local database will be used. Otherwise, it is assumed that neighbor’s key corresponds with node’s own key ("mint IFNAME –key" parameter).
• "static" – every node has a full list of nodes (including their parameters and access keys) with which a connection can be established. This mode is suitable for an autonomous area of service with no need of centralized management and monitoring. Obviously, nodes that are included in each others access lists (local databases) should have a physical ability to connect to each other in order to establish a connection. In static mode each node must have a list of all permitted neighbors in a local database formed by a set of "mint IFNAME addnode" commands. If no information on the neighbor is found in the database the connection is being rejected.
• "remote" –  centralized authentication mode with remote server. In this mode any node can request the information from a remote authentication server. This means that the node must have an access to this server (e.g. using IP).

By this parameter a node having a local database of its neighbors or having an access to a remote authentication server can be configured as an authentication relay. The information about authentication relay will be automatically distributed throughout the MINT network. Nodes which use remote mode of authentication but both do not have access to the "remote" server and do not have the information in their local database will use authentication relay in order to obtain the keys of potential neighbors.

A node become a syslog server. All devices in MINT network will send notification about incidents in own system log to local device. Those incidents will be displayed in syslog of local node. The device keep the syslog server functions until a reboot, after which the command must be re-entered.

The information about syslog server will be automatically distributed throughout the MINT network.

Enables/disables the data scrambling to improve the connection stability. By default is enable.

Enables/disables the "Switch border" regime. In this mode a node becomes "border" between MINT domains, it stops the exchange of information about switching groups and whole data exchange between these domains, but all capabilities of MINT protocol can still be used (obtaining information about the whole MINT network, remote command implementation and so on).

Allow to manage ATPC (Automatic Transmit Power Control) function behavior. ATPC function is enabled/disabled by the "rfconfig <interface> pwrctl" command.

• "tpcmin dBm" – sets the minimal transmit power level in dB which ATPC function is allowed to set on the radio interface.
• "tpcmax dBm" – sets the maximal transmit power level in dB which ATPC function is allowed to set on the radio interface.
• "tpcadj +/-dBm" – influences the optimal power level to be set on the radio interface by the ATPC function. The ATPC can be forced to set higher (tpcadj + <number in dBm>) or lower (tpcadj - <number in dBm>) power levels compared to the values it estimates itself.

-hierr N

Sets the percentage of retries after which the system will change the modulation to the lower value. By default is 15.

-[no]autobitrate [+/-DB] | -fixedbitrate

• "-[no]autobitrate" – enables/disables an automatic bitrate management mode. In autobitrate mode every device controls the connection parameters independently (amplitude of the received signal, number of ARQs on transmitting, errors, SNR on the opposite side etc) and chooses such transmitting speed which provides necessary conditions for a reliable work with minimum number of ARQs and losses. Speed values can be different for each direction but it will be optimal. When no autobitrate is used transmitting speed will be set according to the setting of "bitr" parameter of "rfconfig" command. When autobitrate is used, transmitting speed will be automatically adjusted according to current link conditions. The ranges of speed will be in between the setting of "bitr" parameter (maximal speed) and "minbitrate" parameter (see below). If no "minbitrate" is specified the minimal RF interface speed will be taken as a lowest possible transmitting speed.
  The "+/-DB" argument influences the autobitrate function sensitivity. Autobitrate can be forced to set a higher bitrate (mint IFNAME –autobitrate - <number in dB>) even if the signal level is lower than expected on the specified number of dB. Or not to set a higher bitrate (mint IFNAME –autobitrate + <number in dB>) till the signal level won’t become higher than expected on the specified number of dB.
• "fixedbitrate" – disables "autobitrate" mode. In the fixedbitrate mode the actual bitrate is set with the "bitr" parameter of the "rfconfig" command.

Sets minimal transmitting speed for "autobitrate" mode.

-[no]idfs

Enables/disables the Instant DFS function.

[-meshextracost N] [-extracost N] [-fixedcost N] [-joincost N]

• "extracost N" – sets an extra cost for all connections on this interface. The value of the parameter is added to the cost automatically calculated by MINT protocol. Value of this parameter can only be positive. Zero value disables the parameter.
• "meshextracost N" – sets an extra cost for all connections of master node with its mesh nodes. By default is 500.
• "fixedcost N" – all costs for all units connections will be set as the value specified in this parameter (exclude join). Zero value disables the parameter.
• "joincost" – sets a cost for all "join" connections on this interface (by default is 1). Zero value disables the parameter.

Allows to backup the main communication channel, which can be organized on third party manufacturers equipment. Communication is established between Master and Slave devices via the radio and at the same time using the pseudo-radio interface, through the main communication channel. The Master device with enabled "failover" function checks the availability of the MAC address of the remote device through the primary channel. If the address is available, an operation of the backup channel (radio) is blocked. If the address of the Slave device disappears in the primary channel, the backup channel is unlocked and traffic starts to flow over it, until the MAC address of the remote node is available through the primary channel again.

If the primary channel is created by InfiNet devices, same as backup, then not only the presence / absence of an alternative link with the monitored node will be taked into account but also the cost of this connection. In this case, the device that provides the lowest cost of communication (best quality) through the radio will become the main one, the second device will turn off its transmitter and go into standby mode.

More information about settings of this function is in the paragraph "Examples".

• "loamp" – sets the minimal signal level for the neighbor. Signal level is measured in dB above the noise threshold for the current bitrate. If the level gets lower than specified value the connection with a neighbor will be lost. Default value is 2.
• "hiamp" – sets the minimal SNR for a new neighbor. Signal level is measured in dB above the noise threshold for the current bitrate. If neighbor’s signal level is equal or higher than a specified value the node will consider this neighbor to be a candidate. Default value is 6.

Limits the maximum "N" signal level, preventing devices connection. If the SNR level of an already connected neighbor is exceeded, the connection will be terminated.

• "[-lockdown T]" – blocks attempts to connect from a device whose signal level has exceeded the limit for a specified time.

start | stop | restart | clear

Frequency roaming

For a flexible management of frequency resource, higher noise immunity and throughput optimization InfiNet Wireless equipment supports frequency roaming capability based on MINT protocol. Roaming is turned off by default – that means that the unit works using fixed radio interface configuration.

• "leader" – define required radio frequency parameters of the wireless network. "Roaming leader" also works with a fixed radio interface parameters, however its radio parameters configuration is transmitted over the network in special packets so every node of the network knows whether it is connected to the "roaming leader" or to the network that has a roaming leader. If the network has several "roaming leaders", their parameters should be identical. "Roaming leader" also supports DFS and Radar Detection features (if a special license is installed for selected countries).
• "enable" – other network nodes can use roaming in order to search for the "roaming leader" or the network having a "roaming leader" (roaming enable). The search is implemented by switching between different sets of radio parameters that are defined in profiles. Each profile contains a fixed set of radio interface parameters which are set on each iteration of the search. Heuristic search algorithm can quickly evaluate general air media parameters and chooses the profile which defines the most suitable network. If the connected BS is down, the slave retries to connect to it once and in case of failure, it looks for a new BS to connect.
• "multiBS" – enables the slave node to constantly check the link quality and try to find another BS if the quality become worse. If the parameter is disabled then slave the will keep the connection with a current base station until the signal is completely lost.
• "global" – if enable, device should search and connect only to a network which has one or more global roaming leaders. It helps to prevent the creation of locally closed segments that are separated from the main network. Any MINT device (including InfiMUX) that has direct access from the control center or has access to the Internet can be assigned as a leader.

Managing roaming profiles.

• "N|all" – profile ID, any non-zero positive number/ all profiles.
• "freq X[,Y,N-M,...] | auto" – radio interface center frequency or list of frequencies. "Auto" – all frequencies that the unit supports will be used.
• "sid X[,Y,..]" – SID of the radio interface.
• "bitr NN|max" – bitrate of the radio interface. Acts as a top limit for the bitrate if "autobitrate" mechanism is turned on.
• "band NN" – defines the channel width for the profile. If profiles use different channel widths, "auto" mode for frequency cannot be used.
• "type {master|mesh|slave}" – node type.
• "key XXX" – secret key.
• "nodeid N" – node ID.
• "fixedbitr" – sets fixed bitrate for the node.
• "minbitr XXX" – minimum bitrate for operation in "autobitrate" mode.
• "autobitr [+/-dB]" – operation mode with automatic bitrate control. "[+/-dB]" – allows to manage bitrate control sensitivity.
• "enable | disable | delete" – enables, disables or deletes the profile.
• "-miso |-mimo" – sets a signal coding method: MIMO or MISO.
• "greenfield" – enables/disables the "Greenfield" mode. Greenfield mode is an operational mode which can be enabled on 802.11n-based devices which reduces transmitted frame size by removing legacy (pre-802.11n) field from a frame header. By enabling Greenfield mode on an InfiNet unit, you can achieve up to 15% increase in performance. Also, this mode allows to avoid processing and decoding others "noise" preambles resulting in the better signal quality of a link.
  
• "legacy" – disables the "Greenfield" mode.
  

Local Nodes Database

Allows to create a local devices database with which this node can establish connections.

• "defgw" – sets default gateway IP address.
• "defmask" – sets default mask.

addnode -mac X:X:X:X:X:X [-key STRING] [-note STRING] [-maxrate N| -maxmcs N] [-lip X.X.X.X] [-tip X.X.X.X] [-mask X.X.X.X] [-lgw X.X.X.X] [-tgw {X.X.X.X | none}] [-lcost N] [-tcost N] [{-setpri | -addpri} NN | -1] [-mimo | -miso] [-disable | -enable | -delete]

• "mac" – node MAC address with which connection can be established.
• "key"– unique device key. Key word or phrase up to 64 characters long. If contains spaces should be put into quotes. Used in authentication procedures. The same key should be specified in the connecting device settings.
• "lip" – local IP address. This address will be assigned to this device when the connection with a remote is established.
• "tip" and "mask" – target IP address and mask. This address will be assigned to the remote side when a connection is established. The mask is applied to both Local IP address and Target IP address. If mask is not specified these addresses will not be used.
• "lgw" – local gateway IP address. Will be assigned to the local node once connection is established.
• "tgw" – target gateway IP address. Will be assigned to the remote node once connection is established.
• "none" – prohibits the transfer of the information about the default gateway to the remote node (see "defgw" parameter).
• "lcost" – local cost of the connection to this neighbor from current node. If not specified, MINT will automatically calculate the cost.
• "tcost" – target cost of the connection from this neighbor to the current node. If not specified, MINT will automatically calculate the cost. If "lcost" and "tcost" parameters are set on a pair of neighbors, "lcost" will have a higher priority.
• "enable/disable/delete" – enables, disables or deletes a record in a local database.
• "maxrate" – target node maximum bitrate in kilobit per second.
• "maxmcs" – allows to specify the maximum modulation.
• "[-mimo | -miso]" – sets the transmission mode.
• "setpri | addpri" – this options allows setting/increasing the priority of packets passing through to the specified node. The "setpri" parameter is used to change a priority to the value specified in the command. When using "-1" value a package priority is dropped to the lowest priority. The "addpri" is used to change a priority only in case it is higher than the previous one. So you can only increase priority using "addpri" parameter.
• "note" – word note (description) for the specified node.

delnode -mac X:X:X:X:X:X

• "mac" – deletes a device record with a corresponding MAC address from the local database.

Remote Command Management

Disables/enables remote control management mode (enabled by default).

• "-guestKey STRING" - guest key. Guest key allows to perform read only commands on the node.
• "-fullKey STRING" - full key. Full key grants full access to the node (all commands can be performed).
• "[-mask 1,2..16]" – allows to assign up to 16 arbitrary classification attributes. For example, MUX-1, BS-2, CPE-3, PTP-4, PTMP-5, MIMO-6, Master-7, Slave-8, etc.

Routing in the network with the "hub-and-spoke" topology

On-Demand Routing (ODR) protocol – is an add-ons over the MINT protocol that allows routing in networks with the "hub" topology without the use of any special routing protocol.

The main ODR using advantage is the available network bandwidth increasement by eliminating the service traffic of a separate routing protocol whilst still maintaining dynamic routing functionality. The ODR protocol propagates IP prefixes on the Layer 2 using MINT protocol.

ODR is applicable only for the networks with the "hub-and-spoke" topology, when all nodes (spokes) are connected only to a hub node. A "hub-and-spoke" network example is a simple "Point-to-Multipoint" topology where each subscriber terminal has the only wireless connection to the base station.

-odr hub

Sets the device as a hub.

Sets the device as a spoke. Allows to specify a list of IP addresses/networks using the Access Control List.

• "connected" – allows announcing IP addresses/networks set on the spoke’s own interfaces.
• "kernel" – allows announcing static routes (set with the “route add” command).

• "show" – shows the ODR protocol current state and established connection.
• "disable" – disables the ODR protocol.

Marker access mode (polling)

Polling mode is a method of accessing common radio channel under master station control, which consists in centralized distribution of transmission authorization markers by a master station to slaves. This mode greatly improves operational stability and throughput of master stations under conditions of heavy load and signal level misbalance between different slave units. It is particularly useful when slaves units are at long range from a base station and not in the direct visibility of each other, so that they cannot avoid mutual collisions in the radio channel by listening each other's transmission. The polling regime makes it possible to establish reliable communication between subscribers when the ordinary CSMA/CA wireless access method does not work at all.

Despite a slight decrease in the maximum transmission speed, the polling mode substantially increases the total throughput of a base station and provides for its fair distribution between client units. The polling algorithm is so designed as to minimize the protocol overhead while maintaining high efficiency and reliability.

The marker access disadvantages in the radio environment are a relatively large initial delay and variation in response time on short packets, which affects critical services, such as online games and telemetry. In addition, two base station sectors with marker access, which are situated closely and operate at the same frequencies, almost completely suppress each other's.

poll {start [[-]qos] [[-]log] | stop | stat [clear]}

Over-the-air update

The "air update" system allows to facilitate the task of the firmware mass upgrade in the MINT network, which includes a large number of similar devices. It is enough to update the firmware manually (or via the task scheduler) only on one device (of each type), the other devices will be updated automatically.

-airupdate {disable | {[active|passive]|force}} [-f ftp://user:pass@host/path/file]

Setting of "join" connections type

disjoin

Current Connections Information

Displays information about the "MAC" node status and the traffic route to this node.

Sends test packets from the network interface. The the command result is reflected in the system log. If the network node MAC address is not specified, the test packet will be sent to all network nodes in "reliable multicast" mode.
It should be noted that in contrast to the well-known network utility "ping", the command "mint ping" receives only delivery confirmation, not return packets from the tested network nodes. The main goal of the command is to check the reachability of all (or some) network nodes and get an idea of the quality of the selected delivery routes.

• "-n MAC" – specifies the network node MAC address to which test packets should be sent, multiple addresses can be specified.
• "-s LEN" – test packet size in bytes.
• "-swg N" – sends the test packet from the interface to the switching group "N".
• "-p PRIO" – sets the packet priority from 0 to 16.
• "-i" – displays additional information.

snap[shot] [N] [list | save ["Comment"] | diff [cost|hops|name]]
[fix MAC [MAC ...] | del]

Allows to save data about MINT network neighbor nodes to the device memory that allows to compare it state in future.

• "N" – save number in the range from 1 to 8.
• "list" – displays the list of the previously save records, maximum 8.
• "save ["Comment"]" – saves data about current device links, "Comment" – text comment.
• "diff [cost|hops|name]" – displays the differences between the current state of the neighbor nodes and the state saved under the number "N". Displays information about added and missing devices by default. Following details can be displayed:
  • "cost" – changes in routes costs;
  • "hops" – changes in hops number of the shortest route;
  • "name" – changes in devices names.
• "del" – deletes the save with the specified number.
• "fix MAC" – allows to add or remove the device with the specified MAC address from the saved data under the number "N".

Allows to combine devices that are in close proximity to each other to the single cluster for easy display on the map.

• "N" – cluster sequence number.
  
• "NAME" – cluster name.