Vumatel Trenched : Eliminate the CPE

Brandon

Brandon

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This is a post about how to replace the function of the Raycore (CP9) CPE supplied with Vumatel trenched installs.
There are a few reasons why:
  • One less device to keep powered
  • One less point of failure
  • Fewer cables
  • Easy to perform and automate SFP module resets
  • Access to SFP module stats
  • Easy to extend or move fibre with standard cable/flyleads/connectors
If you have already done something like this, please post your experiences here.

Inside the top section of the Raycore is a SPF cage containing a standard BiDi module, in my case a DirekTronik 1.25G 20km Tx=1310 Rx=1550 (the same as this generic pair available from Scoop)

The module can be unplugged and used in an SFP port of any router, switch or media convertor.
If fitting to an SFP+ port, it may be necessary to force manual negotiation at 1Gbps full duplex.

Enable DHCP client to obtain the ip address, depending on your router, a masquerade nat rule may need to be set as well.

You should now have a functional fibre internet link directly into your router!
1636372799050.png

**Update**
After a few attempts, a factory reset was achieved with the button next to the SFP cage. After reset, the managed switch can be accessed via VLAN 296 on both the SFP and LAN9 ports. IP for the management interface is obtained by DHCP, the power light will stop flashing once it has obtained an address.

Login via http or ssh, username is admin, no password.
Screenshot 2022-01-12 073834.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Anyone know if this can be done with Frogfoot? I already have a Mikrotik with UBNT module
 
Why?

Seems over troublesome for a standard user and I'm the one saying it with a load balancer between the cpe and my network, I'm happy with that.
 
Kosmik said:
Why?

Seems over troublesome for a standard user and I'm the one saying it with a load balancer between the cpe and my network, I'm happy with that.
Click to expand...
Occasionally when Vumatel performed maintenance the CPE had to be restarted.
Since changing (as yet) never required restarting anything after a link down.

Physical link status is visible directly on the router, fail-over switching no longer relies solely on ping timeouts.

There should also be a negligible latency saving of a few ns.
 
Thanks for the interesting post. I considered this before, but believed that the CPE did unavoidable magic.

In my head, there was a VLAN on the fiber and its config could only be achieved with the CPE, but at least you've confirmed thats not the case.

I wonder if the same can be said for GPON networks with splitters. As long as you use the SFP with the settings required for your cable, I guess it'd be the same story?
 
Packet-Kollector said:
Thanks for the interesting post. I considered this before, but believed that the CPE did unavoidable magic.

In my head, there was a VLAN on the fiber and its config could only be achieved with the CPE, but at least you've confirmed thats not the case.

I wonder if the same can be said for GPON networks with splitters. As long as you use the SFP with the settings required for your cable, I guess it'd be the same story?
Click to expand...
Would depend on the network. Assuming no encryption / auth / certificates / proprietary or special config implemented on the CPE it *should* be possible.

For those who have other providers and are interested should try and experiment - at worst would be time wasted, nothing ventured nothing gained!
 
Brandon said:
Would depend on the network. Assuming no encryption / auth / certificates / proprietary or special config implemented on the CPE it *should* be possible.

For those who have other providers and are interested should try and experiment - at worst would be time wasted, nothing ventured nothing gained!
Click to expand...
I commit to tinkering on Octotel once I get my hands on something with a SFP cage!

Going back to the Raycore, once you had access to it, I guess you could just use it as a normal semi-nice managed switch?
When I was on Vuma before it seemed to be locked except for a single port. Once you've got access to the thing, I guess you could go wild and use it however you wished on all ports?
 
Indeed - it is a compact layer 2 managed switch with 9x gigabit LAN ports and 1 SFP port.

Prior to a factory reset it is essentially inaccessible as the password is unknown.

After factory reset it can be accessed either via LAN port 9 or the SFP port on VLAN 296, username admin, no password. From there it can be fully customised as you want.

Just keep in mind that it is still property of Vumatel, should ever a tech visit they would expect to find their CPE intact.

Best of luck with Octotel, let us know how it goes!
 
Brandon said:
Indeed - it is a compact layer 2 managed switch with 9x gigabit LAN ports and 1 SFP port.

Prior to a factory reset it is essentially inaccessible as the password is unknown.

After factory reset it can be accessed either via LAN port 9 or the SFP port on VLAN 296, username admin, no password. From there it can be fully customised as you want.

Just keep in mind that it is still property of Vumatel, should ever a tech visit they would expect to find their CPE intact.

Best of luck with Octotel, let us know how it goes!
Click to expand...
This may be a dumb question, but how does Vumatel know who to assign a connection to?
My assumption was that they assign you a connection to your ISP based off of your Mac address which can't be correct because then swapping your CPE with your own device would not work.

I have also read that somehow the ports on the CPE are tagged with different VLANS's so i assumed each ISP may have had its own VLAN on the network. Which i guess is incorrect?

Edit: Apologies for reviving an old thread
 
Vuma Reach gives us a single Wifi ONT which lasts about 5 hours on a 8800mah DC UPS, the problem with it though the Wifi maxes out at 70mb
 
BasBas said:
This may be a dumb question, but how does Vumatel know who to assign a connection to?
My assumption was that they assign you a connection to your ISP based off of your Mac address which can't be correct because then swapping your CPE with your own device would not work.

I have also read that somehow the ports on the CPE are tagged with different VLANS's so i assumed each ISP may have had its own VLAN on the network. Which i guess is incorrect?

Edit: Apologies for reviving an old thread
Click to expand...
So with Vuma trenched active ethernet, each customer link is assigned to a port on a local switch in a point-to-point topology - similar to how old Telkom land lines terminated to specific ports at a local exchange.

All ISP traffic exposed to the customer facing port is untagged, except for the CPE management VLAN that is unrelated to the ISP.

The methodologies to provision, manage and control networks can vary greatly between FNO's so there are many differing configurations out there.
 
Brandon said:
On Vumatel trenched VLAN 296 is only used to manage the CPE, "internet" traffic is untagged
Click to expand...

It could also be used for troubleshooting and network monitoring. Keep that in mind
 
grantduke said:
Anyone know if this can be done with Frogfoot? I already have a Mikrotik with UBNT module
Click to expand...
Active ethernet is easy, which is what vuma mostly use.

GPON is a different ball game. One can clone GPON profiles and install them on generic GPON ONU SFP's but it's not easy.
 
Packet-Kollector said:
I commit to tinkering on Octotel once I get my hands on something with a SFP cage!

Going back to the Raycore, once you had access to it, I guess you could just use it as a normal semi-nice managed switch?
When I was on Vuma before it seemed to be locked except for a single port. Once you've got access to the thing, I guess you could go wild and use it however you wished on all ports?
Click to expand...
Octo is GPON. You will need a GPON ONU SFP and some way to program it.
 
Is it possible to obtain a new DHCP IP address from the control panel of the Raycore CPE?
 
eddief1 said:
Octo is GPON. You will need a GPON ONU SFP and some way to program it.
Click to expand...
Hi.

I highly doubt a generic GPON SFP will work.

I've seen some cases where people get confused and connect an Openserve ONTs on the Octotel network. The Octotel provisioning team can quickly spot this because the ONT serial looks very different - first 4 letters.

So if you want to try this you'll have to get a Dasan GPON SFP. I suspect you'll also need to find an SFP where you can change the serial to the serial of the ONT Octotel installed and provisioned.

Maybe you can find a Dasan SFP and ask them to provision it for you. They may even be able to source one for you.

DASAN Network Solutions | H650SFP

DASAN Network Solutions (DNS) is a global leader in network access solutions for service provider and enterprise networks.
dasans.com dasans.com
www.evenflow.co.za

Coming Soon - New Client Website with Online Marketing Coming Soon

Online Marketing Strategy, AdWords, Web Design & Development
www.evenflow.co.za www.evenflow.co.za
 
SwimGeek said:
Hi.

I highly doubt a generic GPON SFP will work.

I've seen some cases where people get confused and connect an Openserve ONTs on the Octotel network. The Octotel provisioning team can quickly spot this because the ONT serial looks very different - first 4 letters.

So if you want to try this you'll have to get a Dasan GPON SFP. I suspect you'll also need to find an SFP where you can change the serial to the serial of the ONT Octotel installed and provisioned.

Maybe you can find a Dasan SFP and ask them to provision it for you. They may even be able to source one for you.

DASAN Network Solutions | H650SFP

DASAN Network Solutions (DNS) is a global leader in network access solutions for service provider and enterprise networks.
dasans.com dasans.com
www.evenflow.co.za

Coming Soon - New Client Website with Online Marketing Coming Soon

Online Marketing Strategy, AdWords, Web Design & Development
www.evenflow.co.za www.evenflow.co.za
Click to expand...
Ye that is why I say with GPON it is more difficult.

The idea is you take a generic GPON ONU SFP and write your original ONT's vendor/serial to it's EEPROM- it can be done but there is no real benefit
 
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