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Configure CSM Interfaces

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Versa-logo-release-icon.pngFor supported software information, click here.

You can configure a Cloud Services Modem (CSM) interface on a Versa Operating SystemTM (VOSTM) device in a branch network for 5G/4G WAN connectivity. The 5G/4G WAN connection provided by a CSM device can route direct internet access (DIA) traffic and SD-WAN overlay traffic.

Configure CSM Interfaces in a Workflow Template

This procedure describes how to configure a CSM interface using a workflow template. For information about configuring other types of interfaces in a workflow template, see Create Device Templates.

To configure a CSM interface:

  1. In Director view:
    1. Select the Workflows tab in the top menu bar.
    2. Select Template > Templates in the horizontal menu bar, and then select the SD-WAN tab.
    3. Click the add-icon.png Add icon.

      template-sdwan.png
  2. The workflow to configure a template displays, beginning with step 1, Basic. 
  3. Enter information for the following fields.

    template-basic-tab.png
     
    Field Description

    Name (Required)

    Enter a name for the template. The name can be a text string of 1 through 255 characters.
    Default: None
    Template Type (Required) Select SD-WAN Post-Staging.
    Device Type

    Select the device type based on the solution tier:

    • vCPE—For routing tiers (ProNet, Net Pro, Advanced Routing) or security tiers (NGFW, UTM).
    • SD-WAN—For Prime SD-WAN, Prime Secure, Premier Secure, and Premier Elite SD-WAN.
       

    If you select SD-WAN, select role of the VOS device in the topology:

    • Full Mesh—Click for a device in a full-mesh topology. 
    • Hub—Click to have the device be a hub in a hub-and-spoke topology. If you select Hub, the Region field is enabled. Select the region.
    • Hub Controller—Click to have the device act as a hub and a controller for the spokes. Selecting Hub controller enables the Region and Staging fields. Select the region.
    • Spoke—Click to have the device be a spoke in a hub-and-spoke topology. Selecting Spoke enables the Spoke Group field. Select the name of the spoke group. For more information, see Create an SD-WAN Spoke Group.

    Default: Full Mesh
    Organizations (Group of Fields)  
    • Organization (Required)
    		 Select the organization to which the template applies.
    • Firewall Service

    Select the type of security protocol to be implemented in the template:

    • NGFW (next-generation firewall)
    • None
    • SFW (stateful firewall)
    • Suborganizations (Required)
    		 For full-mesh and hub device types, select the name of the sub-organization associated with the template.
    Subscription (Group of Fields)  
    • Solution Tier (Required)
    		 Select the solution tier that corresponds to the license that the device is using.
    • Service Bandwidth (Required)
    		 Select the bandwidth to use for solution tier that corresponds to the license that the device is using.
    • License Year (Required)
    		 Select the validity period for the license.
    • Solution Add-On Tier
    		 Select a solution tier for the post-staging template, and then click the Add icon.
    Controllers For full-mesh and hub device types, select the name of the controller associated with the template, and then click the Add icon.
    Redundant Pair (Group of Fields)  
    • Enable
    		 Click to create a redundant template. You should create a redundant pair when active-active redundancy is required.
    • VRRP
    		 Click to enable Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP).
    • Cloud CPE
    		 Click to enable cloud-based solutions.
    • Redundant Pair Type
    		 Select the redundant pair type.
    • Redundant Template Name
    		 Enter the name of the redundant template.
    Resource Tags and Analytics (Group of Fields)  
    • Resource Tags
    		 Enter the role-based access control (RBAC) resource permission tag name.
    • Analytics Cluster
    		 Select an analytics cluster.
    Software Version  
    • Preferred Software Version
    		 Select the preferred version of the software that should be deployed on Versa Director. The preferred software version applies to zero-touch provisioning (ZTP). During ZTP, Versa Director upgrades a branch to the preferred version, if applicable. The preferred version can be backward compatible for up to two previous VOS versions.
  4. Click Next or select workflow step 2, Interfaces.

    template-interface-virtual-port.png
  5. In the Device Model field, select Others.
  6. In the Virtual Ports section, click Configure. The Virtual Port window displays.

    template-interface-virtual-port-csm.png
  7. Click Add in the CSM box to configure a CSM interface. 
  8. Enter information for the following fields.

    template-interface-virtual-port-configuration.png
     
    Field Description

    Port Type

    		 By default, the port type is CSM.
    Interface Details (Group of Fields)  
    • Interface Name (Required)

    The CSM port number is pre-populated with the CSM interface and subinterface number based on the port you select in the Device Port Configuration section.

    Range: 0 through 64
    • Connection Mode

    Select the CSM interface connection mode:

    • Direct—The CSM device is connected directly to the VOS device through the Ethernet cable.
    • Indirect—The CSM device is not connected directly to the VOS device.  Every CSM device requires a tethered interface. For this, you can use the LAN interface as the tethered interface where DHCP configuration is done on LAN side.
    • Tethered Interface (Required)
    		 For Direct connection mode, select the VNI interface to which the CSM device is connected. You must use this VNI port only for direct connectivity but not for other purposes.
    • Routed/Switched Network (Required)
    		 For Indirect connection mode, select the routed/switched network. There may be one or more devices between the CSM device and the VOS device. You must configure the LAN network in the Interfaces section before you configure Indirect Mode.
    • IMEI Number
    		 Enter the 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of the device.
    • Network Name (Required)

    Select the network to which the WAN interface connects. To create a new network name, click + Add New in the drop-down list. In the Add Network Name popup window, enter the following information.
     

    add-network-name.png

    • Name (Required)—Enter a name for the WAN interface.
    • Description—Enter an interface description.
    • Transport Domain (Required)—Click to select the transport domain:
      • Internet
      • MPLS
    • To create a transport domain, click + Transport Domain and enter the following information:

      create-transport-domain.png
      • Name— (Required) Enter a transport domain name.
      • Description—Enter a transport domain description.
      • Transport Domain ID —(Required) Enter a transport domain ID.
    • Click OK.
    • Organizations
    		 Select the organization to which the CSM interface belongs.
    • Description
    		 Enter a text description for the CSM interface.
    Range: 1 through 255 characters
    Circuit (Group of Fields)  
    • Priority

    Select a number for the link priority for WAN traffic. A default forwarding profile is automatically created that is based on the WAN circuit priority. If you do not assign a priority, the WAN interface is added to the default forwarding profile, but it has no circuit priority. To parameterize the priority, click the parameterize-icon.png Parameterize icon.

    Range: 1 through 8

    Default: None
    • Circuit Type

    Select the access circuit type:

    • Broadband
    • IP
    • MPLS
    • Circuit Media

    Select the physical medium used by the access circuit:

    • Cable
    • DSL
    • Ethernet
    • LTE
    • T1
    • T3
    • Circuit Tags
    		 Enter a text list of circuit tags, and then click the add+-icon.png Add icon.
    • Circuit Provider
    		 Enter the access circuit service provider's name.
    • Allow SSH to CPE
    		 Click to allow SSH sessions to the CPE device on the underlay IP address of WAN interface.

    Link Monitor (Group of Fields)

    		  
    • Next Hop
    		 Click to enable link monitoring for next-hop reachability.
    • Remote IP
    		 Enter a remote IP address for remote IP reachability through this WAN link to detect link failures. To parameterize the remote IP, click the parameterize-icon.png Parameterize icon.

    Bandwidth (Group of Fields)

    		  
    • Downlink

    Enter the bandwidth available on the link for downloading data, in kilobytes per second (Kbps). To parameterize the downlink, click the parameterize-icon.png Parameterize icon.

    Range: 1 through 10000000 Kbps

    Default: None
    • Uplink

    Enter the bandwidth available on the link for uploading data, in kilobytes per second (Kbps). To parameterize the uplink, click the parameterize-icon.png Parameterize icon.

    Range: 1 through 10000000 Kbps

    Default: None
    Access Point Name (APN) (Group of Fields)  
    • Name
    		 Enter the APN that you received from your service provider. To parameterize the APN name, click the parameterize-icon.png Parameterize icon.
    • Pin
    		 For a USB modem that is locked with a pin, enter a pin number. To parameterize the pin, click the parameterize-icon.png Parameterize icon.
    • Username
    		 Enter the username provided by the service provider to use to access the wireless WAN. This username is used when a CDMA modem prompts for a username. To parameterize the username, click the parameterize-icon.png Parameterize icon.
    • Password
    		 Enter the password provided by the service provider to access the wireless WAN. This password is used when a CDMA modem prompts for a password. Click Show/Hide to view the new password. To parameterize the password, click the parameterize-icon.png Parameterize icon.
  9. To add the CSM interface, click the add-icon1.png Add icon, and then click OK in the Virtual Port screen.

    template-interface-virtual-port-csm-added.png 
  10. To configure other steps in the Workflows template and deploy the template, see Create and Manage Staging and Post-Staging Templates.
  11. Click Create/Recreate to deploy the workflow template.

Configure CSM Interface Properties

You configure CSM interface properties in a post-staging template.

  1. In Director view:
    1. Select the Configuration tab in the top menu bar.
    2. Select Templates in the horizontal menu bar.
    3. Select an organization in the left menu bar.
    4. Select a post-staging template from the main pane. The view changes to Appliance view.
  2. Select Networking > Interfaces in the left menu bar.
  3. Select the CSM tab in the horizontal menu bar. The table in the main pane lists the existing CSM interfaces.

    interfaces-csm.png
  4. Click the add-icon.png Add icon to configure the CSM interface properties.
  5. In the Add CSM Interface screen, enter information for the following fields.

    add-interfaces-csm.png
     
    Field Description
    Interface Name (Required)

    Pre-populated with the CSM interface and subinterface number. Enter a CSM port number.

    Range: 0 through 255
    Tethered Interface (Required) Select the VNI interface to which the CSM device is connected. You must use this VNI port only for direct connectivity and not for other purposes.
    IMEI Number Enter the 15-digit IMEI number of the device.
    MTU Enter the maximum transmission unit (MTU) size, in bytes, of the largest packet that the port can receive or transmit.
    Disable Click Disable if you do not want to activate the CSM interface after you configure it.
    Description Enter a text description for the interface.
    Range: 1 through 255 characters
    Default: None
    WWAN (Group of Fields)  
    • APN
    		 Enter the access point name (APN) that you received from your service provider. 
    • PIN
    		 For a USB modem that is locked with a PIN, enter the PIN number.
    • Username
    		 Enter the username provided by the service provider to use to access the wireless WAN. This username is used when a CDMA modem prompts for username.
    • Password
    		 Enter the password provided by the service provider to use to access the wireless WAN. This password is used when a CDMA modem prompts for password.
    Radio Technologies (Group of Fields) Allow or block specific sets of bands associated with radio technologies on the modem.
    • LTE

    Select the LTE modem bands:

    • Allow Bands—Select the bands to allow for LTE.
    • Block Bands—Select the bands to block for LTE.
    • NR5G

    Select the NR5G bands: 

    • Allow Bands—Select the bands to allow for NR5G.
    • Block Bands—Select the bands to block for NR5G.
    • WCDMA

    Select the WCDMA bands:

    • Allow Bands—Select the bands to allow for WCDMA .
    • Block Bands—Select the bands to block for WCDMA.
    Subinterfaces

    For CSM interfaces, the subinterface is set to 0 by default. You cannot configure anything under the subinterface unit 0.
  6. Click OK.

Configure Bind Data Variables for a CSM Device

To configure the device-level bind data:

  1. In Director view, select the Workflows tab in the top menu bar.
  2. Select Devices > Devices in the horizontal menu bar. In the Devices main pane, select the CSM device.

    workflows-devices.png
  3. Select workflow step 4, Bind Data, and then select the User Input > Post Staging Template tab.
  4. Select DHCP, and then enter the IP address range for the CSM device to receive the IP address.

    dhcp-bind-data.png
  5. Select Others, and then enter the IP address of the tethered interface configured as a WAN interface (for direct connection) or the LAN interface (for indirect connection).

    bind-data-others.png
  6. Click Next to select workflow step 5, Review.
  7. Review the configuration and click the  Edit icon to make changes where needed. 
  8. Click Deploy.

Supported Software Information

Releases 23.1.1 and later support all content described in this article.

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