Using LTE with Nebula Devices for Reliable Connectivity Testing

Zyxel_Adam

Introduction:

When experiencing frequent disconnections or unstable connections with Nebula devices, using an LTE network to test the network can provide insights into potential issues with your primary internet connection. This guide outlines a straightforward method to set up your Nebula device with an LTE network using a mobile hotspot. This method allows you to verify the stability of the device's connection independently from your main network infrastructure, ensuring that the Nebula device can maintain a stable connection via LTE.

Prerequisite:

1. Laptop x1 (or PC with WiFi
2. Smart phone with SIM card inserted x1
3. Nebula device x1

Steps: (We use switch as an example here)

1. Unplug the uplink cable from the switch that connects to your existing network infrastructure.

2. Open the "Network Connections" page on the laptop by pressing "Win + R" and typing ncpa.cpl

• Right-click on your WiFi adapter and select "Properties".
• Go to the "Sharing" tab.
• Check the two boxes.
• Click "OK" to save the changes.

A pop-out window informs that your LAN adapter will be set to 192.168.137.1 subnet when click OK.

3. Setup Mobile Hotspot:

• Disable WiFi on your mobile phone.
• Enable the mobile hotspot feature.

4. Use your laptop to connect to your mobile phone’s SSID.

• Connect an RJ45 cable from your laptop's RJ45 port to the switch. The laptop will provide a DHCP IP address to the Nebula devices.
• Ensure your RJ45 adapter on the laptop is assigned an IP address in the 192.168.137.1/24 subnet.
  
• Use the ZON Utility on the laptop to verify if the Nebula devices obtain the correct IP address.
  
• You can also Telnet/SSH to the Nebula devices and ping Google’s DNS at 8.8.8.8 to verify internet connectivity or check DNS resolution for d.nebula.zyxel.com by ping

5. Monitor the device connectivity on NCC:

Wait and check if the Nebula devices appear online on the Nebula Control Center (NCC) and verify the connection stability.

Note: This procedure provides an alternative way to test network stability issues such as frequent connectivity losses or unstable connections (offline/online) with Nebula devices using a cellular network.

If you encounter any other issues, please help create a post here and tag @Zyxel_CSO, or create a ticket directly to reach us.