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After you have assigned the Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway an IP address and connected it to the network, you must set the gateway up for operation. The setup involves the following steps:
This chapter discusses setup issues and describes how to use the Cisco IP/VC Configuration Utility to configure the Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway for operation. The topics covered include the following:
The Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway must register with a gatekeeper. You can register the gateway with an external gatekeeper such as the Cisco MCM or you can register the unit with a Cisco IP/VC 3500 embedded gatekeeper. The Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway automatically registers with an external gatekeeper when you bring it online. You must manually register the gateway with an embedded gatekeeper. For instructions on registering the gateway with a Cisco IP/VC 3500 embedded gatekeeper, see the "Configuring the Embedded Gatekeeper" appendix. Be sure that the services the gateway is configured to provide are also registered.
Before you start configuring your videoconferencing components, we recommend that you give some thought to the kinds of calls that will be made in your environment and create a dial plan. A dial plan can anticipate your dialing needs and prevent potential call failures due to dialing conflicts. This section discusses key points and issues regarding videoconference dial-plan implementation. The topics discussed include: the dial-string aggregate, service prefixes, zone prefixes, phone numbers, and routing.
The string a user dials to initiate a videoconference call is composed of several number-clusters that provide information to various videoconference components regarding the call. This aggregate of number-clusters can include a service prefix, zone prefix, conference id, recipient E.164 address, dial suffix, and an invitation code. Although there is a general format regarding the order of the dial string, clusters may vary in lengths, clusters that are not required are excluded, component handling of the clusters can vary by manufacturer. Also, clusters that use the same set of numbers can confuse the components. For example, if an MCU service prefix is 70, E.164 addresses such as 703, 7010, or 7094585 can cause the gatekeeper to misinterpret the call request when a service prefix is not intended.
Service prefixes must be registered with the gatekeeper the service provider (MCU or gateway) registers with. When a call request is placed, the gatekeeper checks its list of services and forwards the call to the appropriate service provider. If the service is not registered, the gatekeeper rejects the call.
We recommend that you create service prefixes that are consistent in length, that cannot be confused with other number-clusters, and that are meaningful to users.
A gatekeeper and the H.323 endpoints that register with it comprise a zone. The gatekeeper handles all access request for calls placed by the endpoints within the zone and for all calls coming into the zone. As a means of controlling access to terminals outside the zone, zone prefixes can be assigned. A zone prefix is a zone id that serves as a videoconferencing area code. Users outside the zone must dial the zone prefix to reach a recipient inside the zone.
We recommend that you create zone prefixes that are consistent in length, that cannot be confused with other number-clusters, and that are meaningful to users.
In traditional telephone networks including H.320 networks, each phone line is assigned a specific telephone number by the telephone company. The device that connects to the phone line uses the number assigned to the line. Devices that connect to several lines can have several telephone numbers.
LAN-based H.323 uses IP technology to forward information, thus the need for a gatekeeper. The H.323 endpoint registers with the gatekeeper the endpoint
IP address, alias, and E.164 address. The gatekeeper uses the information to identify call recipients and endpoints that provides the requested service.
An E.164 address is the dial number used in IP networks for placing calls. The system administrator or user assigns a unique E.164 address to the endpoint. Other users dial the E.146 address to contact the endpoint. The system administrator or user can create a number to use as the E.164 address for the endpoint or a regular phone number can be assigned as the E.164 address.
We recommend that you use E.164 numbers that are consistent in length and that cannot be confused with other videoconference number-clusters. We also recommend that you organize their distribution is such a way that is meaningful to users. If you are using a telephone service that provide multiple phone numbers, make sure that each request to the telephone company is for numbers that have the same format (for example, all number have 7 digits the user dials).
Videoconference calls can be placed through a gateway to H.323 terminals on the LAN. Depending on how your system is set up, calls can be routed directly or indirectly to the LAN recipient. Incoming calls are routed through the gateway. Cisco IP/VC 3500 Series gateways provide four methods of routing incoming calls. The methods are:
This section describes how to start the Cisco IP/VC Configuration Utility and how to choose a Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway to configure. To choose a Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway in the Cisco IP/VC Configuration Utility, perform the following steps:
Step 2 Enter the IP address of the unit you want to configure in the Unit IP field:
a. If the gateway is on the same network segment as the configuration computer, the gateway IP address will appear in the Unit IP window pane. Choose the IP address of the gateway you want to configure.
b. If the gateway and the configuration computer are on different network segments, you can enter the gateway IP address in the Unit IP field.
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Caution The Cisco IP/VC Configuration Utility can assign the IP address you type into the Unit ID field to any Cisco IP/VC device residing on the network segment that does not have an IP address associated with the segment. |
c. Click Next. The Enter Password window appears.
Step 3 Enter the gateway password and click Next. The default password is cisco. The Configuration Source window appears (see Figure 5-2).
The Configuration Source window provides version information about the Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway hardware and software, allows you to change the password, and allows you to choose a Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway configuration set to view or configure. Table 5-1 andTable 5-2 describes the version information. If you want to change the unit password, click Change Password to access the Change Password dialog box. To configure the gateway, go to the section "Selecting a Configuration Source" to choose a configuration set.
| Parameter | Description |
Unit Type | The model number of the selected gateway |
Hardware Version | The version of the gateway hardware configuration |
Software Version | Allow you to view the versions of the software installed on the unit. To view the versions, click... information in Table 5-2 appears. |
| Software | Description |
Unit Version | The Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway software version |
Gatekeeper Version | The version number of the embedded gatekeeper |
Stack Version | The full version number of the H.323 protocol stack used by the gateway |
MIB Version | The version of the proprietary MIB for SNMP |
The Configuration Source window allows you to choose whether to configure the gateway or the embedded gatekeeper. To configure the gateway, you must choose a configuration source as described in this section. If you want to configure the embedded gatekeeper, skip to the appendix "Configuring the Embedded Gatekeeper."
The configuration parameters that appear in the Cisco IP/VC Configuration Utility can be taken from the gateway or from a file stored on the computer running the configuration utility. You must choose a configuration source you want to load into the configuration utility.
The Source section in the Configuration Source window lets you choose a source to load. The first time you configure a gateway on the configuration computer, there are two sources listed in the Source list box: Current and Plug & Play.
Current loads the parameters that are currently set in the gateway Flash memory into the configuration utility. Plug & Play loads default Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway parameters that are stored in Configuration Utility folder and copied to the hard disk during installation. The Plug & Play parameters can be used to restore the original configuration.
You can modify the parameters loaded into the Configuration Utility and upload the changes to the gateway Flash memory. The utility allows you to save the changes as a set. Save the set under a unique name. The set name is added to the Configuration Utility Source list box and can be chosen to configure other Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateways when using the current computer.
To choose a gateway source, perform the following steps:
Step 2 Choose the source you want to load. The source you choose appears in the Choose Source field. Current is the default selection.
Step 3 Click Unit Setup. The source information loads into the configuration utility and the Accepting Nodes window appears. The window displays the IP address of the unit you have chosen and shows the progress of the file being loaded. The Unit Identification window appears after the file loads.
The Unit Identification window (see Figure 5-3) displays information regarding the Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway you choose. The window also allows you to specify the location where the gateway is physically placed and to set the time differential for gateway when the gateway is located in another time zone.
Table 5-3 describes the Unit Identification parameters.
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Unit Name | Cisco product name. |
| Location | Area where the gateway is physically placed. |
| Contact | The Cisco URL (read-only). |
| Description | The gateway model number (read-only). |
| Date/Time | Opens the Date/Time Settings dialog box where you can view and set the time differential when the gateway is located in a different time zone. |
You can enter text in the Location field. We recommend that you enter a description of the location where the unit resides in the Location field and click Next. The Miscellaneous Parameters window appears.
The Miscellaneous Parameters window (see Figure 5-4) allows you to set several important parameters for gateway operation.
To set the parameters in the Miscellaneous Parameters window, perform the following steps:
Step 4 In the Transcoding Priority field, set the audio transcoding method you want to take priority. You can also disable this feature.
Step 5 If you want to use the internal interactive voice response (IVR) feature, check the Internal IVR Service box. IVR is an automated answering service that handles nondirect dial calls. The service routes incoming call to the destination the caller specifies. The caller uses the keyboard or keypad to respond to IVR.
If you are using another IVR system or if you do not want to use IVR, deselect this feature.
Step 7 If you are using an external IVR system, enter the IP address assigned to the gateway where the IVR functionality is located in the External IVR IP field.
Step 8 If you are using an external IVR system, enter the port number the IVR uses in the Port field. For Cisco IP/VC IVR systems the default port is 1620.
Step 9 In the Second Number Delimiter field, create a string that shall serve as a delimiter to separate phone numbers in a dialing sequence. You can use the characters asterisk (*), comma (,) and pound (#) to create a string of up to 31 characters. The second number delimiter allows users whose dialing interface does not let them enter multiple numbers to include the second number of a 2B call in the dial string.
Step 10 In the TCS4 Number Delimiter field, enter a unique string that users making TCS4 calls can use to separate the recipient number from the TCS4 code. You can use the characters asterisk (*), comma (,) and pound (#) to create a string of up to 31 characters. There is no default TCS4 delimiter value.
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Note The values you use for TCS4 Number Delimiter and the Second Number Delimiter must be unique. If you enter an invalid string in one of these fields, an exception message is displayed. |
Step 11 If you are using the embedded gatekeeper and you want to hide the caller identity from recipients in the current zone, click Advanced. The Advanced dialog box for Presentation Restriction Support appears (see Figure 5-5).
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Note If you are not using a Cisco embedded gatekeeper, we recommend that you disable Presentation Restriction Support. |
a. Check the Presentation Restriction Support check box to hide caller identity. Presentation Restriction Support enabled by default.
b. Click OK.
Step 12 After you have set the parameters, click Next. The Miscellaneous WAN Parameters window appears.
The Miscellaneous WAN Parameter window (see Figure 5-6) lets you set bonding for the BRI ports and parallel dialing parameters. Bonding is a method of combining BRI channels to increase the bandwidth for a call. Parallel dialing allows the gateway to dial two number in the dial string simultaneously rather than sequentially.
Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateways can have one or two BRI modules. Each BRI module has two ports. Each port supports two B channels for voice calls and one D channel for signalling. B channel bandwidth is 64 kbps. Bonding combines the
B channels to provide a bandwidth of 128 kbps. The Miscellaneous WAN Parameters window allows you to bond up to three bonded ports for 128 kbps,
256 kbps, and 384 kbps bandwidths.
To set bonding, perform the following steps.
Step 2 Click the Max Call Bandwidth field to display the list of available bonding bandwidth, and choose the maximum bandwidth you want the gateway to use.
Step 3 Click Next. The LAN Port Parameters window appears.
If you do not want to change the IP address information for the gateway, click Next to go to the Service Definition Table window. To change the IP address information and status, perform the following steps:
Step 2 To change the IP mask for the gateway, type the new IP mask into the IP Mask field.
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Note Changing the IP address of LAN port 1changes the IP address of the gateway and of the embedded gatekeeper. |
Step 3 You can enter a brief comment of up to 31 letters in the Description field.
Step 4 To disable the LAN port, check the Enable check box at the top of the window. This takes the gateway off the network. The gateway is enabled by default.
Step 5 Click Next. The LAN Parameters window appears.
Step 6 Verify the LAN port setting is correct and Click Yes. The Services Definition Table appears.
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Note If you are only changing the unit IP address, you can skip the remaining configuration windows. Click Finish to go directly to the Save Setup window that allows you to save the configuration parameters in a file and to upload the file to Flash memory. |
The Services Definition Table window (see Figure 5-7) allows you to create up to 50 call services the gateway will perform. Service parameters define the call bandwidth and the dialing prefix users can use to place calls having the parameters defined in the service. The services automatically registered as part of the gateway profile when the gateway registers with H.323 version 2-compliant gatekeepers that support automatic registration. If the gatekeeper does not support automatic registration, you must manually register the services with the gatekeeper the gateway uses. This section describes how to define calling services in the Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway.
The Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway is shipped with predefined services. The service configurations are saved on the gateway programmable memory and may be edited or deleted. The Edit button allows you to edit the chosen service. The Delete button deletes the chosen service.
To define a new gateway service, perform the following steps:
Step 2 In the Description field, enter a description of the service you are defining.
Step 3 In the Prefix field, enter a unique string that users can dial to access this service. The string may have up to 31 characters and use the numbers 0 through 9 and pound (#), asterisk (*) and comma (,). Be sure that the prefix is not used elsewhere on your network for another service.
Step 4 Choose the Call Type field to display the list of available call types, and choose the type you want for the service. The available call types are:
Step 5 If you are defining parameters for H.320 calls, choose the Max.Bit Rate per channel field to display the list of data transfer rates and choose the rate you want to use for the service.
Step 6 If you wish the call to adhere to restricted mode criteria, check the Restricted Mode check box.
Step 7 Click OK to create the service entry.
Step 8 Repeat steps 1 through 7 to create additional services. Click Next to continue the configuration. The WAN Port Settings window appears.
The WAN Port Settings window (see Figure 5-9) lets you set the parameters of the Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway WAN ports. The WAN Port Settings - ISDN window appears for BRI ports; the WAN Port Settings window appears for V.35 ports.
In the window, Port Number displays the WAN port you can configure. Port Number 1 corresponds to the physical port marked Port 1 on the rear panel. Port Number 2 corresponds to the physical port marked Port 2. Port Number 3 corresponds to the physical port marked Port 3. Port Number 4 corresponds to the physical port marked Port 4.
To configure a BRI port, perform the following steps:
Step 2 If an ISDN line is connected to the port and you want to use the port, make sure that a check mark appears in the Enable check box. Click the box to change the status. The ports are enabled by default.
If a line is not connected to the port or if you do not want to use the port, uncheck the Enable box to disable the LAN port.
Step 3 Choose the Country field to display the list of supported countries and choose the country in which the ISDN line that connects to the Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway originates. The parameter defines the signaling protocols you can choose.
Step 4 Choose the Signaling Prot. field to display the list of signalling protocols associated with the country you chose, and choose the protocol your ISDN provider uses on the line attached to the port.
Step 5 If you chose 5ESS, NISDN1 or DMS100 signalling protocol and the lines you use for the Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway requires service profile identifiers (SPID), perform the following steps.
a. Choose SPID. The SPID dialog box appears (see Figure 5-10).
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Note A gateway connected to the ISDN indirectly, through a PBX for example, may not require a SPID. |
b. Enter the SPID number you received from the ISDN provider in the SPID 1 field. If a second SPID number is assigned, enter it in the SPID 2 field.
c. Click OK. The Directory Number dialog box appears (see Figure 5-11).
d. In the Directory Number 1 field, enter the local phone number associated with SPID 1. If a second SPID is used, enter the local phone number associated with SPID 2 in the first Directory Num. for SPID 2 field. Use only the dialing number for the directory number. Do not use the area code or nonnumerical characters such as dashes and commas.
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Note If you are using 5ESS_PTP protocol, leave the Directory Numbers dialog box blank. |
e. Click OK.
Step 6 Choose WAN Call Parameters. The WAN Call Parameters dialog box appears (see Figure 5-12). The WAN Call Parameters dialog box allows you to set parameters for routing incoming calls to the LAN.
a. Choose the routing methods you want to use. The routing methods are:
b. To enable Default Extension, enter the dialup number of the endpoint you want calls to be routed to in the Default Extension field.
c. To configure the gateway to automatically forward outbound WAN calls that do not include a recipient number in the dial string to a service, enter the service number in the Default OutBound Calling Party Number field. The service number can have up to 11 digits and only use the digits 0 through 9.
d. To configure the gateway to initiate calls after it reads the first few numbers in the dial string, specify the minimum number of digits you want the gateway to use in the Incoming Number of Digits field. Leave the field blank if you want the gateway to review all of the numbers in the dial string before initiating the call.
e. Click OK.
Step 7 Click Supported Services to display the Supported Services Table (see Figure 5-13).
a. Enable the gateway services you want this port to support. To change the status of a service, select the service and click Enable/Disable.
b. Click OK when you are done.
Step 8 Click Advanced. The Advanced Settings dialog box appears (see Figure 5-14).
a. Set Enable Alerting if you want the gateway to notify the dialing WAN terminal when a call is not connected within the first few seconds. The alert prompts the terminal to continue displaying a ring until the call is picked up. Otherwise, the gateway connects a call that has not been accepted. If the recipient rejects the call, the call is immediately terminated. Enable Alerting is enabled by default.
b. To configure the gateway to only look for BRI lines with layer 1 active to use for sending calls, choose Enable Layer 1 Line Hunting. The option can facilitate the process the gateway uses to find an available BRI line. However, the feature requires that the telephone network or PBX you connect the gateway to have layer 1 of its BRI lines active at all times. Many European telephone networks activate layer 1 of BRI lines only when the line is in use. In such cases, the feature must be disabled.
c. Click OK.
Step 9 When you have completed setting the parameters for the current WAN port, click Next. The WAN Port Settings window for the next port appears.
Step 10 Complete Step 1 through Step 9 for each BRI port you want to configure.
If your unit has two BRI ports and two V.35 ports, the windows for ports three and four will configure V.35. Go to the "Setting V.35 Ports" section for instructions on how to configure V.35 ports.
Step 11 After the last port is configured, the WAN Parameters window appears. Verify that the parameters are correct. If the parameters are correct, click Yes. The Save Setup window appears. See "Saving the File and Uploading to Memory" for instructions on saving the settings as a file and writing the parameters to the gateway programmable memory.
If the gateway is equipped with V.35 ports, the WAN Port Settings window appears (see Figure 5-15) when the encounters a V.35 port.
To configure V.35 ports, perform the following steps:
Step 2 If an ISDN line is connected to the port and you want to use the port, make sure that a check mark appears in the Enable field. This indicates that the port is active. Check the box to change the status. The ports are enabled by default.
If a line is not connected to the port or if you do not want to use the port, uncheck the Enable check box.
Step 3 Choose the Terminal Adapter Type field and click the type and manufacturer of the device you have connected to the port. If the manufacturer of the device is not listed, choose sw_other.
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Note If sw_other is chosen for an IMUX device, the bit rate of the call is determined by the current call profile configured in the device. The exception is Ascend IMUX devices with a calling profile that includes Call Type = Bonding and Call Management = MODE 1 when the bit rate is determined by the gateway service dialed. |
Step 4 In the Dialing Standard field, choose the dialing standard you want to use for the current port.
The Terminal Adapter Type determines the choice of dialing standards. The standards available include:
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Note When the port is configured for GW-H320EP and the H.320 terminal connected to the gateway always asserts DCD, there will be an ongoing call between the terminal and the gateway. |
Step 5 Choose WAN Call Parameters. The WAN Call Parameters dialog box appears (see Figure 5-16). The WAN Call Parameters dialog box allows you to set parameters for routing calls to the LAN.
a. Choose the routing methods you want to use. The routing methods are:
b. If you have chosen to enable Default Extension, enter the dialup number of the endpoint you want calls to be routed to in the Default Extension field.
c. In the Phone Number field, enter the phone number of the phone line connected to the WAN port.
d. Click OK.
Step 6 Choose Supported Services to display the Supported Services Table (see Figure 5-17).
a. Enable the gateway services you want this port to support.
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Note All services are enabled by default. To change the status of a service, select the service and click Enable/Disable. |
b. Click OK when you are finished.
Step 7 Click Next in the WAN Port Settings window. The window for the next port appears.
Step 8 After the last WAN Port Settings window is set the WAN Parameters message box appears. Verify that the parameters are correct. If the parameters are correct, click Yes. The Save Setup window appears.
This section describes how to save the parameters you have set as a configuration set and how to upload the set to the Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway programmable memory.
You can save the parameters as a configuration set and upload the parameters to the Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway Flash memory. The set is stored in the Cisco IP/VC directory on the current computer and can be used to restore the configuration to the current Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway and to configure other Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateways. The name you use to save the set appears in the Source list in the Configuration Source window.
Whether you save the configuration set or not, if you want the gateway to use the parameters in the set you must upload the set to the gateway Flash memory. The upload uses all of the parameters you have set or viewed to replace the current gateway settings.
To save and upload the configuration to the gateway Flash memory, perform the following steps:
a. If you want to save the set, enter a name you want to use for the configuration set (to update an existing set, click the arrow and choose the set name) and click Yes. The Confirm window appears
b. If you do not want to save the set, click No. The Confirm window appears.
Step 2 If you want to write the parameters to the gateway Flash memory, click Yes. The file uploads to the Cisco IP/VC 3520 Gateway.
Step 3 The Information message box appears when the upload completes. Click Ok. The Confirm window appears.
Step 4 The Confirm window asks if you want to exit the configuration program. Click Yes to exit.
The gateway restarts upon the uploading of the new configuration. Wait for the gateway to complete the restart process before you operate it. The unit may take longer to restart than indicated by the configuration software.
Posted: Mon Jun 5 12:33:16 PDT 2000
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