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Version: 5.32

Configuring WAN

1. Goal​

  • Use your Charge Controller as a network Gateway to forward an existing network connection to other devices, the Backend, or the Internet
tip

The WAN router and the DLM master function don't have to be configured on the same Charge Controller. We recommend to configure one Charge Controller as the WAN router and another as the DLM Master. This isolates a system defect to only the DLM or WAN routing function.

2. Possible sources​

In general, only the GSM Internet connection can be forwarded to other devices.
However, the ICC1324 allows for forwarding of a GSM, WLAN and Ethernet Internet connection.

3. Requirements​

Make sure that

  • The network to route from (typically Ethernet) is configured
  • The network to route to (typically GSM) is configured
info

We'll call the Charge Controller in charge of the Gateway the WAN router. For clarity, we'll refer to the non-WAN Charge Controller as non-WAN Charge Controller.

4. Option 1: Automatic network configuration​

With automatic network configuration, it's possible for all Charge Controllers that are connected to each other via Ethernet or WLAN to be automatically assigned an IP address/DNS and Gateway with the help of a built-in DHCP server. The DHCP server is then the controller on which LAN parameter Mode for ethernet configuration is activated on DHCP server.

caution

With this option active, make sure to disable any other DHCP servers on the network shared with the WAN router.

4.1. Recommendations​

If the DHCP server is switched on, assign static IP addresses to the Charge Controllers.

4.1.1. Advantages​

  • A computer connected to the Ethernet switch is automatically assigned an IP address in the same network.

4.2. Configuring the Gateway Charge Controller​

  1. Establish a network connection through GSM
  2. On the Charge Controller you want to act as the WAN router

    Apply the following configuration:

Location in Config UIParameterValue
NETWORK > LANMode for ethernet configuration DHCP server
NETWORK > GSMWAN router On
info

This will create a new network for the other Charge Controllers, with the Gateway Charge Controller acting as a router. All necessary parameters (such as the IP address) of the other Charge Controllers in the network will be assigned automatically by the DHCP server.

  1. At the bottom of the Config UI, click , then click to apply the changes

The WAN router acts as a DHCP server. The Charge Controller comes with the following default values:

Default value
IP address172.16.23.1
Subnet mask255.255.255.0
Gateway172.16.23.1
DNS172.16.23.1
IP address range set for the non-WAN Charge Controller172.16.23.100 — 172.16.23.254
IP address range free for static assignment172.16.23.2 — 172.16.23.99

4.3. Configuring the remaining non-WAN Charge Controller​

info

As explained above, we advise against automatic configuration and recommend scenario 2: manual network configuration

  1. Repeat the following configuration for all non-WAN Charge Controller:
Location in Config UIParameterValue
BACKEND > ConnectionConnection Type Ethernet
NETWORK > LANMode for ethernet configuration Auto (DHCP Client)
NETWORK > GSMWAN router Off
  1. At the bottom of the Config UI, click , then click to apply the changes

5. Option 2: Manual network configuration.​

Here, the network parameters of the individual Charge Controllers are entered manually.

  • To avoid conflicts with the DHCP server, choose an IP address that is between 172.16.23.2 and 172.16.23.99
  • The Gateway and DNS server is the IP address of the DHCP server: 172.16.23.1

5.1. Configuring the WAN router​

tip

Make sure to store the values you're changing for later reference, e.g., in an Excel sheet.

  1. Set up an Internet connection via GSM

  2. Apply the following configuration:

Location in Config UIParameterValue
NETWORK > LANMode for ethernet configuration Static
NETWORK > GSMStatic network configuration IP 192.168.xxx.xxx (has to start with 192.168, the rest can be set freely)
NETWORK > GSMWAN router On
NETWORK > GSMStatic network configuration netmask 255.255.255.0
NETWORK > GSMStatic network configuration gateway leave blank
NETWORK > GSMStatic network configuration DNS 192.168.17.1 (example)
  1. At the bottom of the Config UI, click , then click to apply the changes

5.2. Configuring the non-WAN Charge Controller​

tip

Make sure to store the info for each Charge Controller for later reference, e.g., in an Excel sheet.

Repeat these steps for each non-WAN Charge Controller:

  1. Apply the following configuration:

Location in Config UIParameterValue
BACKEND > ConnectionConnection Type Ethernet
NETWORK > GSMWAN router Off
NETWORK > LANMode for ethernet configuration Static
NETWORK > GSMStatic network configuration IP The network ID (first three number blocks) must be identical to the WAN router.
The last number block can be freely set between 1 — 254.
The last number block must be unique among the Charge Controllers as it's the unique identifier in the network (host ID).
NETWORK > GSMStatic network configuration netmask Same as the WAN router
NETWORK > GSMStatic network configuration gateway Enter the IP address of the WAN router here
NETWORK > GSMStatic network configuration DNS Same as the WAN router
  1. At the bottom of the Config UI, click , then click to apply the changes

6. Frequently Asked Questions​

QuestionAnswer
How many Charge Controllers can be connected to a WAN router?We recommend forwarding the Internet connection to no more than 100 Charge Controllers to ensure maximum connection stability