Network Connection Manager

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Overview

The Network Connection Manager (NetworkConnectionMgr) allows an administrator to set preferences for device connection to cellular (WWAN) and Wi-Fi (WLAN) networks to help ensure that devices use the optimal network at all times. NetworkConnectionMgr allows administrators to manage and deploy lists of access points for wireless networks, rank them in order of priority, and/or set minimum signal levels when establishing connections with a set time interval for attempting to improve connections.

NetworkConnectionMgr is supported only on devices equipped with both WLAN and WWAN radios.

Main Functionality

  • Enable/Disable Zebra-enhanced network connection features on the device
  • Set the device to automatically select the Default Data Subscription (DDS) configuration to apply
  • Set the device to favor the connected cellular network for data over Wi-Fi
  • Select a preferred SIM slot and frequency for monitoring WWAN signal strength
  • Specify a signal strength range outside of which triggers a SIM-slot switch
  • Set a minimum signal strength for connection to a cellular (WWAN) access point
  • Set a minimum signal strength for connection to a Wi-Fi (WLAN) access point
  • Set a period of time to wait before re-evaluating the quality of the current connection (Wi-Fi only)
  • Deploy prioritized lists of cellular and/or Wi-Fi network names to devices for connection (deprecated)

Connection Features Enable/Disable

Controls whether Network Connection Manager enhancement features (e.g. prioritized networks and minimum signal strength for connection) are used on the device.

Parm Name: networkConnectionManagerFeatures

Option Name Description Note Status Requires
0 Do not change This value (or the absence of this parm from the XML) causes no change to device settings; any previously selected setting is retained.

MX: 11.9+

Android API: 30+

1 Turn On Enables Network Connection Manager enhancement features on the device.

MX: 11.9+

Android API: 30+

2 Turn Off Disables Network Connection Manager enhancement features on the device.

MX: 11.9+

Android API: 30+

Access Point Action

Used to select an Action to perform for managing the list of cellular (WWAN) and/or Wi-Fi (WLAN) network names on the device. Cellular networks are identified by their operator name, plus their associated mobile country code (MCC) and mobile network code (MNC). Wi-Fi networks are identified by their SSID.

Note: This feature is deprecated in MX 15.1 and later.

Shown if: Network Connection Manager Features is set to "Turn On"

Parm Name: AccessPointAction

Option Name Description Note Status Requires
0 Do not change This value (or the absence of this parm from the XML) causes no change to device settings; any previously selected setting is retained.

MX: 11.9+

Android API: 30+

1 Add/Replace Copies to the device the prioritized list of APs contained in the file specified in the "Network Names List File" parameter, replacing any pre-existing network names on the device.

MX: 11.9+

Android API: 30+

2 Delete all Removes all network names currently stored on the device.

MX: 11.9+

Android API: 30+

Network Names

Used to enter the name of a .txt file containing a prioritized list of cellular (WWAN) and/or Wi-Fi (WLAN) networks. The first name on the list is given the highest priority for connection; each subsequent name gets a lesser priority.

Contents of this file replaces any pre-existing values on the device. Once stored on the device, file contents cannot be edited. To add, delete or change list entries, a new list file must be created and pushed to the device.

Parm input value rules:

  • String of at least one (1) character containing a list of Access Point Names, one entry per line
  • Each line must contain an access technology identifier ("WLAN" or "WWAN") followed by the access point information (SSID or [Operator Name]_MCC-MNC)*, separated by underscore character(s) (see example list file, below).

Example list file:

WLAN_SSID1
WWAN_TestNetwork_001-01
WLAN_SSID2
WWAN_TestNet2_001-02

* MCC = mobile country code; MNC = mobile network code

Note: This feature is deprecated in MX 15.1 and later.

Shown if: Access Point Action is "Add/Replace"

Parm Name: networkNamesListFile

Requires:

  • MX: 11.9+
  • Android API: 30+

WWAN Preferred

Controls whether to favor the cellular network for data. If selected, Wi-Fi is considered for data only if the signal strength of the current cellular network falls below that specified in the Minimum Signal for WWAN parameter, below.

Shown if: Network Connection Manager Features is set to "Turn On"

Parm Name: preferWWAN

Option Name Description Note Status Requires
0 Do not change This value (or the absence of this parm from the XML) causes no change to device settings; any previously selected setting is retained.

MX: 15.1+

Android API: 33+

1 Turn On Sets the device to favor the cellular network for data.

MX: 15.1+

Android API: 33+

2 Turn Off Sets the device to favor non-cellular network(s) for data.

MX: 15.1+

Android API: 33+

Signal-based Connection (checkbox)

Used to select whether to set preset connection requirements (e.g. AP signal strength) on the device when connecting to a network.

Note: This feature is deprecated in MX 15.1 and later.

Shown if: Access Point Action is set to "Add/Replace"

Parm Name: configs

Option Name Description Note Status Requires
0 (unchecked) Prevents selection of preset signal-strength requirements; uses current settings on device.

MX: 11.9+

Android API: 30+

1 (checked) Allows selection of preset signal-strength requirements, replacing pre-existing settings on device.

MX: 11.9+

Android API: 30+

List Polling Interval

Used to enter a time interval (in seconds) to wait before comparing the quality of the current connection against those from the list of cellular and Wi-Fi access points stored on the device.

Parm input value rules:

  • Positive integer of any length (600 = 10 min.)

Shown if: Network Connection Manager Features is set to "Turn On"

Parm Name: refreshInterval

Requires:

  • MX: 11.9+
  • Android API: 30+

Minimum Signal for WLAN

Used to enter the minimum signal level (in dBm) for connection to a Wi-Fi (WLAN) network. Values range from -90 dBm (weak) to -30 dBm (strong).

Parm input value rules:

  • String between "-90" (weak) and "-30" (strong) representing WLAN signal strength in dBm

Shown if: Network Connection Manager Features is set to "Turn On"

Parm Name: signalLevelToConnectWLAN

Requires:

  • MX: 11.9+
  • Android API: 30+

Minimum Signal for WWAN

Used to enter the minimum signal level (in dBm) for connection to a cellular (WWAN) network. Values range from -156 dBm (weak) to -31 dBm (strong).

Parm input value rules:

  • String between "-156" (weak) and "-31" (strong) representing WWAN signal strength in dBm

Shown if: Network Connection Manager Features is set to "Turn On"

Parm Name: signalLevelToConnectWWAN

Requires:

  • MX: 11.9+
  • Android API: 30+

Auto DDS Switch On/Off

Controls whether to allow the device to automatically select the Default Data Subscription (DDS) configuration to apply on devices equipped with two SIM slots.

Parm Name: autoDDSSwitch

Option Name Description Note Status Requires
0 Do not change This value (or the absence of this parm from the XML) causes no change to device settings; any previously selected setting is retained.

MX: 15.1+

Android API: 33+

1 Turn On Allows the device to automatically select the DDS configuration.

MX: 15.1+

Android API: 33+

2 Turn Off Prevents the device from automatically selecting the DDS configuration.

MX: 15.1+

Android API: 33+

Monitored SIM Slot

Used to select a preferred SIM slot to monitor for the signal strength specified in the Signal Strength High and Signal Strength Low parameters below.

Shown if: Auto DDS Switch is NOT set to "Do not change"

Parm Name: preferredSIM

Option Name Description Note Status Requires
0 SIM1 Selects SIM slot 1 for signal-strength monitoring.

MX: 15.1+

Android API: 33+

1 SIM2 Selects SIM slot 2 for signal-strength monitoring.

MX: 15.1+

Android API: 33+

Signal Strength Low

Used to enter a signal strength low threshold on the monitored SIM slot, below which the device switches to the non-preferred SIM subscription.

Parm input value rules:

  • String between "-75" (strong) and "-125" (weak) representing WLAN signal strength in dBm

Shown if: Auto DDS Switch is set to "Turn On"

Parm Name: lowSignalStrength

Requires:

  • MX: 15.1+
  • Android API: 33+

Signal Strength High

Used to enter a signal strength high threshold on the monitored SIM slot, above which the device switches back to the preferred SIM subscription.

Parm input value rules:

  • String between "-125" (weak) and "-75" (strong) representing WLAN signal strength in dBm

Shown if: Auto DDS Switch is set to "Turn On"

Parm Name: HighSignalStrength

Requires:

  • MX: 15.1+
  • Android API: 33+

Polling Interval

Used to enter the length of time (in seconds) for signal-strength polling frequency.

Parm input value rules:

  • Positive integer from 1–3600 (3600 = 60 min.)

Shown if: Auto DDS Switch is set to "Turn On"

Parm Name: retryInterval

Requires:

  • MX: 15.1+
  • Android API: 33+