This is the first of a series of posts about how to use TR-069 to manage DS2 powerline networks.
TR-069 is a suite of standard protocols created by the DSL Forum (now Broadband Forum) to manage end-user devices in broadband networks, such as DSL routers, IPTV Set-Top-Boxes or VoIP adapters. With TR-069, service providers can remotely control powerline devices and perform management tasks.
Since December 2007, DS2's AITANA powerline communications chipset provides integrated support for TR-069 protocol suite. DS2's announcement represented a major breakthrough in home networking technology as it was the first time a powerline chipset vendor integrated TR-069 on its chips. Even today, DS2 is the only powerline chipset vendor that offers on-chip support for TR-069.
By using DS2's open Software Develop Kit (SDK), our customers can choose between multiple TR-069 stacks, or they can port their favorite stack to the DS2 platform. DS2 recently announced a strategic partnerships with Work Systems, a leading supplier of network management products, to provide turn-key TR-069 solutions to DS2 customers.
DS2's TR-0699 implementation is mature and field tested. As an example, service providers like Portugal Telecom benefit now from TR-069 remote management capabilities on DS2-based powerline products from multiple vendors.
Basic example: Using TR-069 to manage a remote powerline IPTV home network
In this example we have two DS2-based powerline adapters with the embedded TR-069 agent software from Works Systems, an Autoconfiguration Server (ACS) from the same company, and a PC that will be our user interface with the ACS. This is representive of a typical IPTV deployment scenario.
Step #1: Connect to the ACS
First we connect to the Works Systems ACS (which requires a username and password). By clicking in the "Device Management" option in the left side menu, we see the list of TR-069-capable devices that are connected to the ACS in the subscriber’s network.
Step #2: Get basic device info from powerline adapter
An RPC Method is a command that can be executed in the ACS to perform an action such as configuring a remote device, reading the value of a parameter or upgrading the Firmware running in a remote device.
We choose TR069 RPC method in the left sidebar, then GetParametersValue. We can now choose one device from the list in the GetParameterValue page and add the desired parameters to the Selected Parameters list.
In the example above we are telling the ACS that we want to read the following parameters from a device called "Comtrend":
- Device.Deviceinfo.Manufacturer
- Device.Deviceinfo.ProductClass
- Device.Deviceinfo.SerialNumber
- Device.PLCDeviceConfig.PLCConnection.Table.1.Status
After we click OK, we get the results in the following screen:
This is the information returned by the device to the ACS:
- Device.Deviceinfo.Manufacturer: DS2
- Device.Deviceinfo.ProductClass: ComtrendProduct
- Device.Deviceinfo.SerialNumber: 001D202084D9
- Device.PLCDeviceConfig.PLCConnection.Table.1.Status: 9, 000BC201CD24, 157, 167, 167, netC
Step #3: Get network performance information from powerline adapter
The "Status" parameter in the list above includes the information we need to monitor the performance of the connection between the device we are monitoring and the second device in the network. It provides a comma-separated string with the following information:
- Connection ID between devices: 9
- MAC address of the second powerline device: 000BC201CD24
- PHY data rate in the transmit direction: 157 Mbit/s
- PHY data rate in the receive direction: 167 Mbit/s
- "Effective" PHY data rate in the receive direction: 167 Mbit/s
- Network Identifier of the second device: netC
That’s all for today. In our next post, we will see how we can monitor the performance of the powerline network during an extended period of time. This is a key step used by IPTV Service Providers to verify that the subscriber has finished the self-install process correctly.
| Request more information on how to use DS2's TR-069 to manage powerline home networks remotely. |
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