Overview

This guide is intended to help you upgrade your existing WiscNet managed Cisco ME3400 router to a new WiscNet managed Cisco ASR-920.

Before you begin

This document assumes you've already received a preconfigured Cisco ASR-920 from WiscNet.

The following upgrade instructions are for a standard ME3400 configuration that has one connection to the WiscNet network and one connection to your network. If you have more than two network cables attached to the WiscNet ME3400, or if you have two WiscNet ME3400s, these instructions do not apply.

Contact information

WiscNet contact details are located here https://www.wiscnet.net/support

Unboxing

Please inspect the new ASR-920 router and other contents to ensure no damage occurred during the shipping process. Please keep the box and the included shipping label as you'll use them later in the process.

The ASR-920 is preconfigured and ready to replace your ME3400. It should be pre populated with copper or fiber optics unless otherwise noted by WiscNet staff.

If needed, our support staff is available to assist with your questions.

Preparing for the scheduled maintenance

Perform the following steps at least 2 hours prior to your scheduled maintenance window.

ASR-920 preparation

  1. Install the ASR-920 in a location as close as possible to the existing ME3400. Please see Figure  1 below showing a production ME3400 close to a staged ASR920.
    1. Figure 1

  2. Plug the power cord into Power Supply PS-0; connect the other end to an AC power source. Do the same for Power Supply PS-1. The ASR-920 takes up to 15 minutes to boot.
  3. If your router came with a USB-A to RJ45 serial console adapter, model A920-CONS-KIT-S, plug it into the USB port labeled "CONSOLE" on the ASR-920 for emergency access.
  4. You can see more ASR-920 specifications  and port descriptions here WiscNet Managed CPE#CiscoASR920

ME3400 preparation

  1. Take a photo of the existing ME3400 that shows the current ports and cables being used. This can help if troubleshooting is necessary.

  2. Trace each cable plugged into the ME3400 to its origin and label it accordingly. Put a "LAN" label on the cable(s) that go to your network (i.e. firewall, switch, patch panel, etc.). Put a "WAN" label on the cable that goes to the Internet (i.e. BadgerNet 3, Charter, dark fiber, etc.). Note: BadgerNet Connections often connect to a Juniper device. Charter or other provider's devices usually have a prominent "Owned By" label on them.

  3. Label each fiber-optic strand on your ME3400 indicating Transmit ( T or ← ) or Receive ( R or → ). See photo in Figure 2 below for guidance. Note: you can skip this step for any copper cables that are connected to the ME3400.

    1. Figure 2

      The top optic has a patch cable with permanent marker arrows drawn on to document polarity.


      NOTE: The Transmit connector is on the left and Receive on the right when the top of the SFP's handle is closed and facing upward towards you (such as when plugged into an ME3400). FlexOptix optics have a small triangle on the top of each port indicating light direction.

During the scheduled maintenance

  1. While the ME3400 is still connected, go to a hard-wired computer inside your network, and run a bandwidth test using: fast.com and record the results.

  2. Disconnect the ME3400 network cables and connect them to the ASR-920 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 below. Figure 4 identifies the standard WAN and LAN port assignments. Figure 5 can help you identify ASR-920 port numbering.
    1. Figure 3

    2. Figure 4 - WiscNet ASR-920 Standard Configuration

      PRIMARY

      CPE TYPE

      Outside WAN
      Connections

      Internal LAN
      Connections

      Cisco ME3400E
      (ME3400-2-CS)

      2
      Copper or SFP

      1
      Copper or SFP


      ↓

      ↓

      Cisco ASR 920
      (ASR920-2G-4-10G)

      Port 3
      (SFP/SFP+)

      Port 2
      (SFP/SFP+)

      Port 2 on the ASR-920 is in the BOTTOM LEFT position, and Port 3 is in TOP LEFT position. Please see Figure 5.

      Port 2 is "upside down" so TRANSMIT is on the RIGHT and RECEIVE is on the LEFT.

    3. Figure 5

  3. The two triangular status lights above port 2 and below port 3 will change to green after a few seconds when they're linked.
    1. Note you may see other status lights flashing red lights on the ASR-920 during this process. Please ignore them for now.

  4. Check your Internet connection to see if it is working.
    1. If you can access the Internet, proceed to the Post Installation Instructions.
    2. If you cannot access the Internet, refer to the Troubleshooting section.

Post Installation

Repeat the bandwidth test you did earlier at fast.com. If the results are reasonably similar, then continue to next step. If they are not similar, refer to the Troubleshooting section and please report the discrepancy to WiscNet support for follow up.

After a couple of days, when you're confident your new WiscNet router is operating as expected, please box up the ME3400 and ship it using the shipping label included in the box. Feel free to remove any fiber optic or copper SFPs and keep them for your own use.

You may find your bandwidth history on graphs.wiscnet.net.

Troubleshooting

Contacting support

You are most likely already speaking with a WiscNet support person during a scheduled installation appointment and they can guide you through any necessary troubleshooting.

If you're performing the upgrade on your own during business hours you can contact WiscNet to assist with troubleshooting by calling 608-442-6761 x2.  If not performing the upgrade during business hours, please fallback to the ME3400 to restore service (see below) and contact WiscNet support during the next available business hours.

ASR-920 boot time

Allow sufficient boot time – these devices can be quite slow to fully initialize at boot up.  Please allow at least 20 minutes for ASR-920 and 15 minutes for ME3400 (in the event of a failback)

Fiber ports not linking

For fiber connections – double check Transmit and Receive orientation.  Remember that ports on the bottom are upside down compared to those on the top.  The Transmit and Receive cables may be safely reversed to see if that solves the problem. Ports not linked will be amber colored, ports that are linked will be green. In Figure 6 (below) port 3 is not linked and is amber, port 2 is linked and is green. Figure 5 (above) can help identify which port is alarming.

Figure 6

Layer 3 troubleshooting steps

Attempt to ping the your WiscNet gateway IP address – this will be the same on both routers.  If the ping is successful, it indicates a problem with the WAN connection and suggests checking the cable from the ASR to the circuit provider.  If the ping is unsuccessful, check the cabling from your LAN to the router.

Fallback

At any point you can return to the ME3400 to restore service. Please disconnect the ASR-920 and reconnect the ME3400 using the illustration from the photo you took at the beginning of this process.  Then during your scheduled appointment with WiscNet support the following business day we can review the situation and determine next steps.

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