whitepaper on outsourcing public wireless internet...

Confidential 06.06.2008

Whitepaper on Outsourcing Public Wireless Internet Services

Author: Matthias R. Koch

Monzoon Networks AG Riedthofstrasse 124 8105 Regensdorf Switzerland Tel. +41 (0)43 5000 470 Fax +41 (0)43 5000 478 www.monzoon.net [email protected] Information disclosed in this document should be considered proprietary and confidential. The document is the property of Monzoon Networks AG. This document may not be disclosed, distributed or reproduced without the express written permission of Monzoon Networks AG.


Table of content 1. Management summary .................................................................................................. 3 2. About Monzoon Networks AG........................................................................................ 3 3. Network Architecture ..................................................................................................... 3 4. Service Modules ............................................................................................................ 5

4.1. Wireless Access Network..................................................................................... 5 4.2. Hotspot Router Service ........................................................................................ 5 4.3. MINAS Access Server.......................................................................................... 5 4.4. RADIUS Server.................................................................................................... 7 4.5. Network Status Monitoring System (NSMS) ......................................................... 9 4.6. Traffic Monitoring System (Cacti) ........................................................................10 4.7. Device Control and Management System (DCMS) - Element Manager...............10

5. Project procedure .........................................................................................................11

5.1. Service definition.................................................................................................11 5.2. Coverage planning / Site survey..........................................................................11 5.3. Detailed planning ................................................................................................11 5.4. Configuration / rollout on-site devices..................................................................12 5.5. Implementation backend service modules...........................................................12 5.6. As-built documentation........................................................................................12 5.7. Handover of services ..........................................................................................12 5.8. Training operations .............................................................................................12 5.9. Operation of backend..........................................................................................12 5.10. On-site maintenance...........................................................................................13 5.11. Software maintenance and 3rd level support.......................................................13


1. Management summary

Monzoon is offering outsourcing services for Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) based on a modular service structure allowing buy-as-you-grow extension of services. The basic migration philosophy includes hosting of all backend services (access server, authentication/accounting, payment gateway, etc.) in Monzoon’s backend platform in Zurich, Switzerland at the beginning and moving more and more of such functionalities into locally implemented server solutions in WISPs premises as usage and revenue grows. The following document describes the entire technical architecture involved as well as the functionalities included in each module. In the annexes finally the commercial offering is outlined based on a per module pricing.

2. About Monzoon Networks AG

The Swiss telecommunications company Monzoon Networks AG is the first European operator of an open WLAN platform for Public Wireless Internet Access and Services. Monzoon was founded in year 2000 and operates a radio network offering fast wireless Internet access to so-called nomadic workers at airports, hotels and conference centres as well as in city networks. Monzoon Networks AG offers solutions for service providers, enterprises and communities for management of access and content services in wireless networks.

3. Network Architecture

The following diagram presents an overview over the entire network architecture a Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) is operating in order to perform all required technical, commercial and business oriented processes - in fact this diagram shows the current architecture of Monzoon’s own wireless operating platform. Monzoon’s operating platform allows integration of services for other WISPs in different integration levels.

a) virtual operation / re-branding - no infrastructure required by WISP

b) local WLAN network by WISP – IP network and backend operation by Monzoon

c) local WLAN and IP network by WISP - backend operation by Monzoon

d) Local WLAN, IP network and backend operation by WISP - roaming and payment operation by Monzoon


WLAN IP PhonePDA

Payment Gateway

RADIUS

MINAS

Access Server

Hotspot Router Hotspot RouterHotspot Router

Payment

Provider

Hotspot Router

Notebook

DCMS Element

Manager

NSMS Status

Monitoring

BSSOSS

Roaming

Network

(Aggregator)

Billing

Cacti Traffic

Monitoring

DNS

Access Points

Book-

Keeping

MINAS

Access Server

Diagram: Network Architecture


4. Service Modules

4.1. Wireless Access Network

As it is expected that the wireless access network is being planned, implemented and operated by the local access operator (WISP), it is not part of this service overview. Nevertheless Monzoon is happy to support planning, site survey and implementation of wireless access networks based on long term, in depth experience on operating one of Switzerland’s largest Public Hotspot networks since year 2001.

4.2. Hotspot Router Service

Hotspot routers collect traffic from different wireless services separated by SSID’s/VLAN’s and handle traffic transport through IP tunnels to central MINAS Access Servers. One router is implemented at each hotspot and is connected through VLAN-capable Ethernet switches to WLAN Access Points on the LAN interface and to the Internet based on a permanent connection using a fixed, fully transparent public IP address. Hardware requirement: Cisco Router, 1800er series or larger, IOS operating system Hotspot Router Service implementation and operation includes the following activities: a) Implementation location WISP hotspot b) Router hardware delivery WISP or Monzoon c) Router configuration WISP or Monzoon (potentially

remote) d) Router installation at hotspot WISP e) Internet uplink at hotspot WISP f) Setup of central tunnel termination at MINAS Monzoon g) Setup of hotspot location in Radius, Hotspot

databases, etc. Monzoon

4.3. MINAS Access Server

MINAS is a WISPr-compliant Public Access Control (PAC) Gateway solution that supports UAM (landing page) and smart client based access with the following features:

• complies with the Wireless ISP Roaming (WISPr) specification, version 1.0

• standards-compliant RADIUS authentication and accounting

• supports interim accounting and gigawords

• spooling and automatic resending of failed accounting requests avoids lost revenue due to dropped accounting messages

• a single MINAS machine can handle many hotspot locations (using GRE tunnels)

• easy-to-use web-based session management

• traffic shaping per session (with RADIUS attributes and/or manually)

• support for RADIUS dynamic authorization extensions (RFC 3576)


• configuration in one single XML file

• XML-RPC interface to landing page

• Telnet console available

• in-place software updates without interruption to running sessions

Components:

• base operating system (FreeBSD®)

• Apache web server

• MINAS core application

• MINAS modules

• built-in DHCP server

• ISC-DHCP server connector

• SQL session/association logger

• route injector

• web-based management interface

• view details about associated and logged in users

• log users out, change bandwidth limits or modify idle timeouts

• remotely log users in

• dynamic HTML and AJAX driven

Diagram: Screenshot session management


MINAS Access Servers are implemented as Access Servers for a whole wireless network of small WISPs or on a regional basis for medium sized and large wireless operators. Between Hotspot Routers and MINAS Access Servers a transparent IP network is required, public Internet suits well for this purpose. As a consequence MINAS Access Servers and Hotspots Routers may be distributed worldwide. A typical start scenario includes local Hotspot Routers at WISPs hotspot locations and one or several centralized MINAS Access Servers located in Monzoon’s backend operating dedicated services for each WISP. Later scenarios may include local MINAS Access Servers migrated to WISPs backend. MINAS service implementation and operation includes the following activities: a) Implementation location WISP or Monzoon backend b) Type of implementation Local or Virtual Server c) Server hardware delivery WISP or Monzoon d) Server configuration Monzoon e) Server installation in backend WISP or Monzoon f) Internet uplink in backend WISP g) Setup of central tunnel termination at MINAS Monzoon h) Setup of interfaces to RADIUS, Payment Gateway,

etc. Monzoon

4.4. RADIUS Server

Redundant RADIUS Servers provide policy management for different services available. Product definition for access services currently include but are not limited to:

• term of validity (from timestamp/to timestamp)

• flat access / metered access (permanent countdown or saving of time left for later usage)

• duration of access (usable within term of validity)

• number of concurrent users

• transfer speed allowed

• limitation to location

• roaming allowed/not allowed RADIUS Interfaces are pointing to MINAS Access Servers, to Payment Gateway and to Roaming RADIUS Servers. Similar to the fact that collocation of Hotspot Routers and MINAS Access Servers is NOT mandatory, also RADIUS Servers may be located at any location worldwide. As interfaces between MINAS Access Servers and RADIUS are non proprietary, Monzoon solutions even allow RADIUS client/server structures, using Monzoon RADIUS Servers connected to MINAS and WISP RADIUS Servers hosting WISPs customer and product definition.


Diagram: Screenshot RADIUS RAdmin RADIUS service implementation and operation includes the following activities: a) WISP subscriber RADIUS: WISP RADIUS or hosted in

Monzoon backend b) Implementation location: WISP or Monzoon backend c) Server hardware delivery WISP or Monzoon d) Server configuration related to MINAS Monzoon e) Server configuration related to customer/product Monzoon or WISP f) Server installation in backend WISP or Monzoon g) Internet uplink in backend WISP h) Setup of interfaces to MINAS, Payment Gateway, etc. Monzoon


4.5. Network Status Monitoring System (NSMS)

Monzoon’s Network Status Monitoring System (NSMS) allows status monitoring of all host devices within a network including

• alarm generation (Mail, SMS, voice),

• maintenance information handling

• partner view (limitation on hosts view for third parties, etc.)

• monitoring of multi vendor environments

• SLA statistics engine for generation of availability statistics networks wide or regional incl. configuration and validation of host priorities

• Views: - Location status - Device status - Top 10 flapping devices - Location statistics - Location history - Planned downtimes - GUI settings - Notification settings


4.6. Traffic Monitoring System (Cacti)

For monitoring traffic, CPU average, ping statistic, etc. a state-of-the-art tool (Cacti) is available

4.7. Device Control and Management System (DCMS) - Element Manager

Monzoon’s Device Control and Management system (DCMS) allows centralized management of device configurations including automated history and rollback. Current vendors implemented: Cisco, GONetworks, Zyxel


5. Project procedure

The following procedure shall outline a potential approach to coordination, implementation and operation of outsourced WISP services. These procedures shall be adjusted according to the needs of intended project, not all modules described may be required for specific projects.

5.1. Service definition

Monzoon and WISP will jointly decide on definition of services to be provided to visitors, registered local and roaming customers, advertising and location based services as well as on the network architecture. Monzoon will manage the process related to service definition and will propose concepts for service definition and network architecture, will explain the different aspects and guide WISP to a coordinated service concept.

5.2. Coverage planning / Site survey

Monzoon and WISP will jointly manage the process related to coverage planning and site survey and will propose concepts for coverage planning to prepare site survey involving relevant personnel of both parties. During jointly performed site surveys coverage for required footprint will be investigated, installation sites will be jointly decided and basic planning for installation will be documented. Site Reports detailing required implementation parameters and foto documentation as basis for installation team will be prepared.

5.3. Detailed planning

Monzoon and WISP will provide a detailed planning document including the relevant implementation and configuration framework to set up access network components (access points, switches, routers, etc.) as well as backend systems (access gateways, RADIUS servers, payment gateway, etc.) to achieve the service environment decided by WISP. Design parameters for welcome web page (Landing Page) will be outlined and responsibilities for parties involved will be detailed. The detailed planning document will also include all relevant planning for work to be performed by installation teams.


5.4. Configuration / rollout on-site devices

Monzoon will configure locally required components (access points, routers, etc.) and deliver to WISP including documentation referring to detailed rollout planning in order to enable installation team to install such components. Installation teams will perform installation of sample sites jointly with Monzoons rollout managers installation team and trained to test installed components jointly with Monzoon’s network management.

5.5. Implementation backend service modules

Monzoon will implement backend service modules ordered by WISP based on jointly agreed detailed planning. Depending on agreed financial variation, services will be implemented virtually on Monzoon’s backend or on hardware ordered for WISP’s local service backend.

5.6. As-built documentation

Monzoon and WISP will elaborate an as-built documentation including as-built reports from installation team.

5.7. Handover of services

Monzoon will inform WISP on systems and services ready for handover and will propose checklists for acceptance tests. Handover procedure will be jointly discussed and optimized with WISP. Handover will be jointly performed by all parties involved; Monzoon will elaborate a handover protocol.

5.8. Training operations

Monzoon will train WISP’s network operations team in order to enable identify and locate failures and how to react based on different scenarios. WISP’s network operations team will receive access to relevant monitoring and management systems.

5.9. Operation of backend

Monzoon will operate backend including all relevant backend services. Depending on agreed financial variation, services will be operated virtually on Monzoon’s backend or on hardware ordered for WISP’s service backend. Operation includes maintenance of central site devices and services, network monitoring and management systems, roaming services, etc.


5.10. On-site maintenance

On-site maintenance will be performed by maintenance team. A jointly agreed maintenance process will be implemented detailing configuration of components to be exchanged as well as replacement process.

5.11. Software maintenance and 3rd level support

Monzoon will perform software maintenance of backend systems and third level support for all levels of network (including configuration of access devices). Process for firmware upgrades for access devices will be jointly agreed between the parties

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