Xnet setup clarification on AP serial numbers & MAC addresses

Access Points
1

Confirming steps to setup XNet:

  1. Click the “Add Xnet” button and setting up the SSID
  2. Click the XNET Signup button and add the site in the “ISP Partners” site registration form
  3. Save the configuration in the Alta cloud

Then do I also need to add the AP serial numbers & Mac addresses to XNET?

2

Adding the serial numbers (MAC is included in the serial number) should’ve been part of the XNET registration process.

5

That is an additional step in Xnet after setting up the location. I was concerned that it would re-adopt my AP directly to Xnet, so good to see that is not the case.

Can I find the serial number of the AP in the Alta management portal?

6

Yes. Here’s the flow:

  1. From the devices tab, Shift + Click on the name of the device you need to get the serial number from. This brings up a console for that device in the web browser
  2. Paste the following into the console
    y=$(hexdump -C /dev/mmcblk0p13 | grep -A1 AP6 | head -n 1 | cut -d \| -f2); z=$(hexdump -C /dev/mmcblk0p13 | grep -A1 AP6 | tail -n 1 | cut -d \| -f2); echo "$y$z" | tr -d '.'
  3. Press Enter
  4. The serial number is now printed on the next line
  5. Repeat for any additional APs you want to add

Worth noting that this process to obtain serial numbers only works for APs, switches are a slightly different command but that won’t be needed in this context.

1 Like
7

Can you please post the command to get the switch serial in the management portal as well @Alta-Matt_v2 ?
We’ve had the topic with the serials already:

Enhancement requests? Serial number in management app

But to have an SSH command is better than nothing :wink:
Thanks.

8

I don’t have a one-liner for switches yet, but:

hexdump -C /dev/mtd2

Then you just look for the model number, i.e. S24POE, S16POE, S8POE

1 Like
9

Jup, working, thanks @Alta-Matt_v2 :slight_smile:
When ever there will be a one-liner command it would be nice if you posted it.
But for now - all fine!

10

Perfect. Now I have the serial number, but I’m getting an invalid serial number error on XNET. I’ve tried to remove the “AP6” portion and try a few other things, but it still isn’t accepting the serial. I also grabbed an AP off the shelf and tried to enter the serial number into XNET, that also failed.

Screenshot 2024-10-04 at 3.08.20 PM
Screenshot 2024-10-04 at 3.08.20 PM2004×872 57.7 KB

11

You’ll need to contact XNET for assistance there. It looks like they do support via Discord, here is the link: https://discord.gg/xnetmobile

12

Xnet tells me every serial number should begin with “AP6PRO”. As that’s obviously not the case, hopefully they’ll resolve that issue soon.

13

XNET just updated me that they will not be supporting AP6, only AP6PRO.

Can you push them to support all your AP models? If not, please remove the “add xnet” button on any Alta sites that contain an AP6.

This Alta and XNET partnership needs a little more ProdDev!

14

I strongly feel that button should be removed all together. Let the owners of the site decide on their own who to use. It’s fine to advertise that Xnet sells you APs already set up and ready to go.

15

I’m fine with the button being there in concept. Many don’t know that carrier offloading is an option, and making it easier to access is a good thing.

But it’s not as one-click as I was expecting, the documented steps aren’t accurate, and it’s not even validating if the APs can support it.

16

I 2nd this tbh.

17

Yeah I tried to set it up and was unable to do so… I think I did what I was supposed to but never got any email or confirmation. I see people connecting to the XNET SSID, however without any clear way to know whats what I’m going to have to just disable it.