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Quick Install Guide for MSPs: z40 in Always Connected Internet (ACI) Configuration

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Unbox and Verify Package Contents

Unpack the z40 device and accessories. Verify that the following items are included:

  • 1x z40 device
  • 1x power adapter
  • 4x 5G antennas
  • 2x 4G antennas
  • 2x Wi-Fi antennas
  • 1x GPS antenna
  • 2x Ethernet cables

If any items are missing, contact AmZetta support before proceeding.

Antenna Assembly

Correctly attach antennas to ensure optimal signal strength.

Antenna Locations

  • 5G Antennas: Attach the four 5G antennas to the left panel ports (when viewed from the front).
  • 4G Antennas: Attach the two 4G antennas to the right panel ports.
  • Wi-Fi Antennas: Secure the two Wi-Fi antennas to the front panel ports.
  • GPS Antenna: Attach the GPS antenna to the rear panel port between the 4G antenna slots.

Assembly Instructions

  1. Hold each antenna by its ribbed base.
  2. Rotate clockwise until securely tightened.
  3. Adjust antenna angles for optimal signal reception.

Power On the z40 Device

  1. Connect the power adapter to the DC12V port on the z40’s rear panel.
  2. Plug the adapter into a wall outlet.
  3. Wait for the B LED to turn solid blue, indicating the device is ready.

If the power LED does not illuminate, check the outlet or contact support.

Wi-Fi Configuration

  1. Log into the z40 Management Console using the default URL and credentials on the device label.
  2. Navigate to Wi-Fi > Access Point Mode.
  3. Locate the default SSID and password in the WLAN Info table.
  4. Connect a device to the z40 WiFi network.
  5. Perform a speed test using Fast.com to confirm WiFi functionality.

Broadband (BB) Connection Setup

WAN Connection

  1. Connect the primary internet connection to the z40’s WAN port.
  2. If applicable, connect additional ISP lines to other WAN ports.

LAN Connection

  1. Attach LAN devices (e.g., switches or endpoint devices) to the LAN2 port.
  2. In the Management Console, configure network settings under Network > Interfaces.

Analytics and Reporting

Analytics Overview

The zWAN Director offers detailed analytics capabilities that enable MSPs to monitor device performance, network quality, and traffic behavior. These analytics are crucial for understanding the health of your z40 devices, detecting performance bottlenecks, and optimizing the network configuration for maximum efficiency.

Key Analytics Metrics:

  • WAN and LAN Performance: Tracks traffic volumes, throughput, latency, and packet loss across both WAN and LAN interfaces.
  • Signal Quality: Provides insights into mobile signal strength (RSRP), which is vital for troubleshooting mobile connectivity issues.
  • Network Utilization: Displays the overall traffic load on each WAN interface, helping identify if the network is underutilized or overloaded.
  • Device Health: Monitors the z40’s system metrics, including CPU utilization, memory usage, temperature, and uptime, to ensure it operates within expected parameters.

Accessing Analytics in the zWAN Director

  1. Log Into the zWAN Director
    • Open a browser and go to the URL indicated on the bottom label of the z40.
    • Enter your administrator credentials to access the management interface.
  2. Navigate to Analytics Dashboard
    • On the left-hand side of the zWAN Director, click on Analytics.
    • This will bring up a dashboard with several widgets, each displaying a different aspect of your network’s performance.
  3. Customize the Analytics Dashboard
    • The dashboard can be customized to show the most relevant metrics. You can add or remove widgets and adjust the time range for which the data is displayed (e.g., last 24 hours, last week, or custom range).
    • For instance, you can select widgets that show WAN throughput, mobile signal strength, and device CPU usage, all on one screen.
  4. Use the Analytics Filters
    • You can filter analytics data by specific devices or interfaces (e.g., WAN1, WAN2, LTE, 5G). This allows you to focus on the performance of specific devices or network paths.
  5. Interpreting Key Analytics Metrics
    • Signal Quality (RSRP): Signal strength is shown as a numeric value (in dBm). A signal strength of -80 dBm or better is ideal. Anything below -100 dBm indicates poor or no signal, which may require antenna repositioning or a different location for the z40 device.
    • Throughput: This metric shows the amount of data transferred across the network over time. Consistent drops or spikes may indicate a network bottleneck or instability.
    • CPU and Memory Utilization: Monitoring the z40’s CPU and memory usage helps ensure the device is not overburdened, which could lead to slow performance or crashes. Ideal values are typically below 70% for both CPU and memory.

Reporting in the zWAN Director

The zWAN Director also provides powerful reporting functionality that MSPs can use to track the health of devices and networks over time. Reports can be generated manually or scheduled to run at regular intervals, providing insights into device performance, mobile connectivity, and overall network usage.

  1. Log Into the zWAN Director
    • As with accessing the analytics dashboard, start by logging into the zWAN Director with your administrator credentials.
  2. Navigate to the Reports Section
    • Click on Reports in the main navigation menu.
    • Here, you’ll see options for both configuring reports and generating them.
  3. Configuring Reports
    • Choose Report Type: Reports can focus on various aspects of network performance. Common report types include:
      • Device Performance Report: Focuses on CPU, memory, and system uptime.
      • Network Utilization Report: Displays bandwidth usage across the WAN ports, helping you identify whether bandwidth is under or over-utilized.
      • Mobile Signal Report: Provides a historical view of the LTE/5G signal strength, which is important for troubleshooting poor mobile connectivity.
      • Traffic Report: Gives insights into the volume of data flowing through the network, including top applications, websites visited, and specific devices consuming the most bandwidth.
    • Set Report Frequency: Choose whether the report should be generated hourly, daily, weekly, or on a custom schedule. For continuous monitoring, it’s often useful to set up daily or weekly reports for key metrics like device health and network performance.
  4. Generating Reports
    • Once you’ve configured the report, you can generate it immediately.
    • Select the time range for the data included in the report (e.g., last 24 hours, last week, or custom range).
    • After generating the report, you can download it as a PDF or CSV file for further analysis.
  5. Email Distribution of Reports
    • Set up email distribution so that reports are automatically sent to relevant stakeholders (e.g., network administrators, executives, or support teams).
    • You can add multiple recipients to each report configuration, ensuring that the right people get the data they need to make informed decisions.
  6. Viewing and Analyzing Reports
    • After generating a report, you can view it directly in the Director or download it for offline review.
    • Key sections to focus on in reports include:
      • Traffic volume and bandwidth utilization to ensure there’s no overuse or underuse of network resources.
      • Signal strength (RSRP values) to track the quality of mobile connectivity over time.
      • Device health metrics, including CPU and memory utilization, to monitor potential resource limitations.
      • WAN failover events to track how well the system handles network outages.

Exporting and Sharing Reports

  • Export Options: After a report is generated, you can export it in a variety of formats, such as PDF or CSV. This flexibility allows you to share reports with colleagues or clients in a format that best suits their needs.
  • Scheduling Reports: To reduce the manual workload, you can schedule reports to be generated automatically and sent at regular intervals. For example, scheduling a weekly report that tracks signal strength and device uptime can ensure the network remains in top condition.
  • Reviewing Trends Over Time: By regularly reviewing reports, you can analyze long-term trends, such as performance degradation, recurring connectivity issues, or bandwidth spikes. This will help identify areas of improvement or potential problems before they escalate into larger issues.

Additional Tips for Analytics and Reporting

  • Proactive Performance Monitoring: Use both the real-time analytics and historical reports to proactively manage network health. Constant monitoring helps ensure that issues like signal drops or high resource utilization are addressed before they affect service quality.
  • Tailor Reports to Stakeholder Needs: Customize reports according to the needs of different stakeholders. For example, executive reports may focus more on high-level network performance, while technical staff might require more granular device health and signal strength data.
  • Use Data for Capacity Planning: Reports on network utilization can help MSPs plan for future bandwidth needs, ensuring that the infrastructure scales with the organization’s demands.

Managing the z40 Using the Director

The zWAN Director simplifies management across multiple z40 devices:

  1. Device Monitoring: View real-time device status, including signal strength and WAN health.
  2. Configuration Management: Apply bulk configurations to multiple z40 devices simultaneously.
  3. Diagnostics: Use built-in tools like speed tests and signal quality checks.
  4. Firmware Updates: Schedule and deploy updates to all managed devices.

Troubleshooting the z40

When managing a network appliance like the z40 in an Always Connected Internet (ACI) configuration, having the right tools to troubleshoot issues quickly is essential. The zWAN Director provides a variety of built-in tools and utilities to help you identify, diagnose, and resolve problems with the device. Below is a comprehensive guide to the available troubleshooting features for the z40.

Common Troubleshooting Scenarios

Before diving into the tools and utilities, here are some common issues that might require troubleshooting:

  • Connectivity issues: WAN links not coming up, devices unable to access the internet, or poor performance.
  • Mobile network issues: Problems with LTE/5G connections, low signal strength, or intermittent connection drops.
  • VPN tunnel problems: VPN tunnels failing to establish or dropping unexpectedly.
  • Device health issues: High CPU usage, memory spikes, or other system resource problems.
  • Firmware issues: Firmware not loading correctly, failed updates, or rollback needs.

Using Diagnostic Tools in the zWAN Director

The zWAN Director provides several diagnostic tools to help you quickly identify the cause of issues. These tools are designed to give you real-time feedback and allow you to take action based on the data.

  1. Ping Tool
    • The Ping utility helps check the reachability of devices on the network.
    • How to Use:
      • Go to the Diagnostics section in the Director.
      • Select Ping from the list of tools.
      • Enter the IP address or domain name you wish to test.
      • Click Start. The Director will send several ping packets to the target and show you the results.
    • Interpret Results:
      • If the ping fails, it indicates there may be a connectivity issue with the target (e.g., network routing issue, firewall block, or device offline).
      • If the response time is too high, there might be network congestion or a problem with the WAN connection.
  2. Traceroute (Tracepath)
    • Traceroute (or Tracepath) allows you to trace the route packets take from the z40 to a remote server.
    • How to Use:
      • In the Diagnostics menu, select Tracepath.
      • Enter the destination address (IP or domain name).
      • Click Start. The tool will display the path and time it took for the packet to reach each hop.
    • Interpret Results:
      • If there is a significant delay or a failed hop early in the trace, this indicates a potential bottleneck or failure point on the route.
      • Tracepath helps identify whether the issue lies within your local network or farther upstream (e.g., your ISP or external services).
  3. DNS Lookup
    • The DNS Lookup tool helps verify that domain names are being resolved correctly and whether DNS servers are functioning as expected.
    • How to Use:
      • Navigate to the Diagnostics section and select DNS Lookup.
      • Enter the domain you want to resolve (e.g., www.example.com).
      • Click Start. The tool will show the IP address corresponding to the domain.
    • Interpret Results:
      • A failed DNS resolution means that either the DNS server is unreachable or there is an issue with the DNS configuration.
      • If you consistently see errors, try using a public DNS service (e.g., Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS) to rule out local DNS server problems.
  4. Speed Test
    • The Speed Test tool tests the current WAN connection speed to verify that you are getting the expected throughput.
    • How to Use:
      • From the Diagnostics menu, select Speed Test.
      • Click Start to begin the test. The tool will test both download and upload speeds.
    • Interpret Results:
      • Low speed results might indicate network congestion, throttling by the ISP, or an issue with the WAN connection.
      • Compare results to your expected bandwidth, which should be specified by your ISP or internal network standards.
  5. Self-Diagnostics Test
    • The Self-Diagnostics tool performs a comprehensive check of the z40 device’s internal hardware and software to identify any faults.
    • How to Use:
      • Navigate to the Diagnostics section and select Self-Diagnostics.
      • Click Start to begin the test.
    • Interpret Results:
      • If the diagnostics pass without issues, the device is operating as expected.
      • If any issues are detected (e.g., hardware failure or system errors), the tool will provide a report that can be used to further investigate the problem.

Network and Connection Troubleshooting

In addition to the built-in diagnostics, here are some additional network-specific troubleshooting steps:

  1. WAN Link Issues (Broadband or LTE/5G)
    • Check WAN Status: From the Dashboard or WAN Configuration page, verify that the WAN links are up and correctly configured.
      • If the WAN link is down, check the physical connection (e.g., cables, modem).
      • If you are using LTE/5G, verify that the SIM card is properly installed and configured.
    • Test Failover: If your z40 is configured with WAN failover, manually disconnect the primary WAN link and verify that the backup link takes over as expected.
      • You can test this by physically disconnecting the primary WAN connection or disabling it in the Director.
  2. VPN Tunnel Problems
    • Check Tunnel Status: From the VPN Configuration page, check the status of any IPsec or SSL VPN tunnels.
      • Ensure that the tunnel endpoints (local and remote) are correctly configured and that the necessary firewall ports are open.
    • Re-establish VPN Connection: If a VPN tunnel fails to connect, go to the VPN page and manually trigger a tunnel re-establishment.
      • Check Logs: Use the Event Logs in the Director to view any error messages related to VPN connections. Common errors could be related to incorrect credentials, IP mismatches, or firewall issues.
  3. Signal Strength for Mobile Networks
    • Check Signal Quality: Navigate to the Device Health page and check the signal strength (RSRP) for LTE/5G connections. A low signal might cause intermittent connectivity issues.
      • If the signal strength is low, try moving the device to a location with better mobile reception or using an external antenna.

Device-Specific Troubleshooting

  1. Reboot the Device
    • If you’re experiencing issues that can’t be resolved through configuration changes, try rebooting the z40.
      • From the System Settings menu in the Director, select Reboot. This can help reset the device and clear minor software glitches.
  2. Factory Reset
    • If troubleshooting does not resolve the issue, and the device is in an unusable state, a factory reset may be necessary.
      • This can be done by holding the reset button on the device for about 10 seconds until the power LED starts blinking.
      • After the reset, you will need to reconfigure the device from scratch. Ensure that you have a backup of your configuration before proceeding.

Contacting Support

If you’re still experiencing issues after using these diagnostic tools, it might be time to escalate the problem. Here are the steps for contacting support:

  1. Collect Relevant Data:
    • Before contacting support, gather relevant diagnostic data such as:
      • Event Logs and System Logs from the Director.
      • Speed Test results.
      • Ping and Traceroute results.
      • Self-Diagnostics results.
  2. Contact Support:
    • Contact AmZetta’s customer support team directly via email or phone.
    • Email: [email protected]
    • Phone: 1-800-892-6625
    • Provide the data you’ve collected to help speed up the troubleshooting process.

Notes for MSP Success

  • Maintain clear documentation of all device configurations.
  • Regularly test WAN failover to ensure uninterrupted client connectivity.
  • Schedule periodic reporting to assess device and network performance.
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