What is HaloB

HaloB is an optional solution for Baicells LTE networks to increase the reliability and stability of their LTE system when network connectivity challenges occur or during times of maintenance to the Cloud based EPC.  Since the EPC is required for the LTE Base Station to operate and ultimately for customers to have internet connectivity, HaloB can serve as a backup ensuring customers get their established SLA's.

Where to Get HaloB

Operators wishing to take advantage of the HaloB solution for existing eNBs should contact
ISP Supplies using our Support Ticket system. You can purchase the HaloB feature on a per-eNB or bundle basis. As part of the purchase process, you will be asked to provide the eNB serial numbers to Baicells. Baicells will use the eNB serial numbers to generate the feature keys. Be sure the eNBs that you target for HaloB operation are assigned to you, the operator.

Installing HaloB

The official Baicells HaloB User guide attached to this article outlines these steps in much more detail.  If you are new to HaloB, that guide may better assist you.  If you are a pro or impatient like me, this article might refresh your memory and get you working.

For the Impatient...

1. Go to the OMC, and select eNB > Strategy > Upgrade. Click on the + (Add) icon, and select
   Software Upgrade to add a new upgrade task.
2. Select the eNBs to be upgraded, and choose the Execute Type settings (immediately or
   schedule upgrade time, retain configuration yes or no). If you select Yes for retain
   configuration, the current eNB configuration will be retained after the upgrade. Note that the subscriber information is retained in the HaloB eNB’s hard memory, so it will not be erased whenever the eNB is rebooted.
3. Select the correct HaloB software file, which at this time is BaiBS_RTSH_2.2.2.IMG. Click on Finish.
4. After the HaloB software is loaded on the eNB, go to eNB > Monitor and check that the
   status reported is Active. Until the feature key is activated (next step), the eNB
   Monitor page will continue to show two Mobility Management Entities (MMEs) per eNB.
5. Once the license keys are imported, either Baicells or you will need to activate the feature keys. Go to the OMC, and select eNodeB  > Register > License. The feature key names match the serial numbers of the eNBs. Locate the feature keys in the list, click on the 3 bubble icons, and select Active for activate.
6. The last step, enabling the HaloB feature, will be performed for each HaloB-enabled eNB using the eNB GUI. 
7. Go to BTS Setting > HaloB Setting, and use the pull-down menu to select Enable. This
   enables the HaloB feature on the eNB. Click on Save.
8. Reboot the eNB for the HaloB settings to take effect.
   NOTE: Rebooting the eNB is an important step. If you do not reboot the eNB after enabling
   HaloB, the status will incorrectly show that HaloB is On, but this only checks the parameter
   and does not check whether or not the feature is actually running. An eNB reboot is
   required before the HaloB feature can run.
9. After the reboot, go to BTS Info > Basic Info and check that the HaloB Status is set to
   Enable and the Cell Status shows Active. Note: You will see only 1 MME for
   each HaloB eNB. This is the MME that is now local to the HaloB-enabled eNB.
10. Go back to BTS Setting > HaloB Setting, and verify that the Mode field is set to Centralized
    Mode. (That is the only option at this time.) Click on Save.
11. That is it!