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BreadCrumb® Wireless Network User
Guide
For the BreadCrumb® Wireless Network Release 8.4
Rajant Corporation
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BreadCrumb® Wireless Network User Guide: For the BreadCrumb® Wireless Network Release 8.4 by Rajant Corporation Copyright © 2005-2006 Rajant Corporation Revision History Revision 1.1 February 20, 2006 Revision 1.0 October 6, 2005
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Table of Contents Preface .........................................................................................................................................................i Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................i User Information .................................................................................................................................i 1. Introduction..........
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5. Using BCAdmin™ ...............................................................................................................................20 Screen Layout ..................................................................................................................................20 Topology Area ........................................................................................................................21 Anatomy of the BreadCrumb Box ......................................
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List of Tables 3-1. Available BreadCrumb Models ............................................................................................................8 4-1. Best-Case Distances by Radio Power.................................................................................................18 5-1. BCAdmin Line Colors Legend...........................................................................................................24 5-2. BCAdmin Line Styles Legend ..............................
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Preface Purpose and Scope This manual provides information and guidance to all personnel who are involved with and use Rajant Corporation’s BreadCrumb® Wireless Network devices ("BreadCrumb® devices") in tactical situations. This manual begins with an introduction to the BreadCrumb Wireless Network and a brief overview of the various BreadCrumb device models available. This is followed by a guide to BCAdmin™, the management application used to configure BreadCrumb devices before or during a deplo
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Chapter 1. Introduction Rajant Corporation’s (http://www.rajant.com) BreadCrumb Wireless Networks are portable, mobile, battery-powered, automatically-meshing, self-healing, full-duplex, secure, 802.11b access points. Their focus is on flexibility, adaptability, and simplicity. The BCWN (BreadCrumb Wireless Network) is intended for rapid deployment of a broadband wireless network into a situation or "hot zone." The BreadCrumb Wireless Network components utilize the 802.11b wireless networking sta
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Chapter 1. Introduction Mobility through Meshing The key component to a BreadCrumb Wireless Network is a technique known as Meshing. While this is generally handled automatically by BreadCrumb devices, complex deployment scenarios require a basic understanding of how BreadCrumb devices establish and maintain a mesh. Mesh - A Definition A mesh is a collection of network devices (in our case, BreadCrumb devices), each of which is connected to one or more other BreadCrumb devices. Data can move betw
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Chapter 1. Introduction Figure 1-1. Meshing Example 1 - Full Connectivity Example 2 Now suppose that you change the ESSID of BreadCrumb device C to "lonely". The network will adjust to this change, resulting in the following configuration: Note that BreadCrumb device C can no longer communicate with A or B, and vice versa. Figure 1-2. Meshing Example 2 - Different ESSIDs Prevent Meshing 3
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Chapter 2. Upgrading to Version 8.4 This section is only necessary for BreadCrumb device/BCAdmin users of versions earlier than 8.4. If your entire BCWN is operating at version 8.4 or higher, you may safely skip this chapter. New Features • Fortress Technologies’ AES-256 encryption is enabled, allowing Fortress encryption to be used on existing BreadCrumb devices under Rajant’s new licensing terms with Fortress Technologies (http://www.fortresstech.com). Performance / Process Improvements • Mana
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Chapter 2. Upgrading to Version 8.4 • Selection of a unique ESSID (network name) for the BreadCrumb network is recommended. A BreadCrumb device equipped with tri-color LED incorrectly indicates a meshed connection (GREEN) when in the presence of an 802.11b access point with the same ESSID. Installing / Upgrading BCAdmin 1. Install the latest JRE from http://www.java.com 2. Download version 8.4 of BCAdmin for Windows or Linux using the link provided by your Rajant Account Manager. 3. Run the inst
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Chapter 2. Upgrading to Version 8.4 Figure 2-2. Version 3 Power Input 2. Download the correct firmware zip archive for the board determined in the previous step, using the link provided by your Rajant Account Manager. 3. Create a new, empty folder and unzip the archive into it. 4. Copy the unzipped files (and only those files) onto an empty (no pre-existing files) ATA Flash Memory Card (of at least 16MB). The flash card may be directly purchased from http://www.magicram.com/flshcrd.htm 5. Proceed with
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Chapter 2. Upgrading to Version 8.4 • Allow the BreadCrumb to operate FOR NO LESS THAN 5 MINUTES before rebooting or turning OFF. Important: After a flash update, you should ensure that at least one client device has the new BCAdmin installed, is "permitted" in the device’s ACL list, and is designated as an administrator. Important settings that were lost in the flash may be re-keyed, but do not reboot the BreadCrumb device until it has run for at least five minutes after its initial power-up after
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Chapter 3. Models The following table summarizes the differences between the BreadCrumb models available. Each model is described in greater detail later in this chapter. ME WE SE XL XLV XLE Usage Weight/ Worn by Placed as Placed as Vehicle- Placed as size-sensitive mobile necessary, necessary, mounted, necessary, deployments individual short/ long range long-range incl. vehicle (UAVs, etc.) medium use use mount, range use contains embedded MPEG video encoder, long-range use Dimensions 6" x 3.75
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Chapter 3. Models ME WE SE XL XLV XLE Security 256-bit AES 256-bit AES 256-bit AES 256-bit AES 256-bit AES 256-bit AES FIPS 140-2 FIPS 140-2 FIPS 140-2 FIPS 140-2 FIPS 140-2 FIPS 140-2 using using using using using using embedded embedded embedded embedded embedded embedded AirFortress AirFortress AirFortress AirFortress AirFortress AirFortress Client; Client; Client; Client; Client; Client; Access Access Access Access Access Access Control Control Control Control Control Control Lists; WEP; Lis
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Chapter 3. Models • On UAVs • In portable sensor packages Important: In a BCWN containing single-radio BreadCrumb devices, all BreadCrumb devices to which the single-radio BreadCrumb device communicates must have one radio on the same channel as the single-radio BreadCrumb device. External Connectors Figure 3-1. BreadCrumb ME - External Connectors BreadCrumb WE The BreadCrumb WE is functionally identical to a 1-radio BreadCrumb ME, with a higher-gain antenna, integrated battery, and a case more
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Chapter 3. Models External Connectors Figure 3-2. BreadCrumb WE - External Connectors BreadCrumb SE The BreadCrumb SE is the basic building block of most BCWN networks. Its two radios and ethernet interface enable the full suite of BreadCrumb features (with the exception of long range and integrated video encoder), while its size allows it to be easily transported to and placed wherever necessary. BreadCrumb SEs have been rapidly deployed: • On rooftops • In trees or bushes • Hung from balloons
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Chapter 3. Models External Connectors Figure 3-3. BreadCrumb SE - External Connectors BreadCrumb XL The BreadCrumb XL is a long-range model, capable of 11Mb communications at distances of 7 miles (11.2km) or more, and lower-speed communications at even greater range. BreadCrumb XLs have been rapidly deployed: • In Air Traffic Control towers • On mountaintops • On ships Important: The range-extending circuitry within a BreadCrumb XL is permanently tuned to 802.11b channels 1 and 11. Changing these
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Chapter 3. Models External Connectors Figure 3-4. BreadCrumb XL - External Connector BreadCrumb XLV The BreadCrumb XLV is identical to the BreadCrumb XL, with the exception that it also accepts unfiltered vehicle power (6-40VDC) as a power source. This allows long-range communication within and among vehicle convoys and bases, and enables the bridging of widely spread networks by vehicles. BreadCrumb XLVs have been rapidly deployed: • In HMMWVs • In Bradley Fighting Vehicles • In trucks 13
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Chapter 3. Models External Connectors Figure 3-5. BreadCrumb XLV - External Connectors BreadCrumb XLE The BreadCrumb XLE further builds upon the BreadCrumb XLV by including an MPEG video encoder and an external BNC video connector. A composite video source can be connected to the BreadCrumb XLE and its video stream will be available to other devices on the BCWN. BreadCrumb XLEs have been rapidly deployed to provide video from: • Security cameras • LRASSS (Long-Range Advanced Scout Surveillance S
