Solutions

 





Telecom Site Management - Articles and Papers

 

 

<--See more Application Stories

 

IP Record Collection Using the Data-Link DL150

 

Why SMDR Collection over Ethernet?

Many newer model PBXs now come with an optional Ethernet interface, along with or instead of, the traditional PBX serial ports. The SMDR records, alarm records, and other PBX output which would previously have been sent out a serial port can now be collected over a TCP/IP connection via this PBX Ethernet interface.


The Asentria Data-Link DL150 product supports collection of TCP/IP records streams and is compatible with a number of popular Ethernet-enabled PBXs. We call this feature IPRC (IP Record Collection).


On first thought, one might wonder if a PBX that sent data over an Ethernet interface would eliminate the need for a “buffer box”. Despite the improvement in connectivity that Ethernet provides, there are a still a number of factors that make a buffer box an important, and indispensable part of an Ethernet data collection system. These factors include:


  • Reliability – Many Ethernet-enabled PBXs still do not offer a great deal of internal buffering of the CDR records that they are generating. This would not be a problem as long as there are no network disruptions between the PBX and the data collection system. However, in many cases a short network disruption of even a minute or two can result in critical data loss. The Data-Link DL150 solves this problem by connecting with only a hub or switch between it and the PBX. If the network does go down, the Data-Link DL150 has more than adequate buffer memory to store your records for hours or days until the network connection is restored. The Data-Link DL150 can also be set to initiate a dial-out connection to the network if the Ethernet connection has failed. Thus, the Data-Link DL150 ensures that your data will be reliably collected and transported to your collection system despite network outages.

  • Security – No one has more to lose and less to gain by opening ports into the company LAN/WAN than the Network Security Manager. Getting enterprise-wide access to a network of Ethernet-enabled PBXs can be a considerable challenge for outside vendors, and even in-house managers. The Data-Link DL150 solves this problem by providing secure methods of data collection, such as dialup modem or FTP Push, enhanced security access restrictions such as IP Restrictions, and data encryption where further security is required.

  • Compatibility – Every Ethernet-enabled PBX vendor has a different protocol for collecting their data. Each of them is subject to minor changes and idiosyncrasies that require time and familiarity to incorporate into any data collection system. The Data-Link DL150 solves this problem by providing the standard command interface and protocols that you are familiar within. The Data-Link DL150 can get you up and running fast and reliably.

  • On-Site Alarm Management – The Data-Link DL150 can evaluate the record stream from Ethernet-based PBXs using the same alarm evaluation methods that are used with serial record streams. This gives the Data-Link DL150 the ability to notify you in real-time if alarm records are occurring, possibly in a fashion not supported by your primary call accounting software.

    For all these reasons, the Data-Link DL150 is the best choice for CDR collection and Alarm detection with Ethernet-enabled PBXs.

PBXs Supported

Currently the Data-Link DL150 supports the Ethernet-enabled versions of the following PBXs:

  • Avaya
  • Cisco Call Manager
  • Alcatel OmniPCX
  • Mitel
  • Intecom E and Telari
  • Siemens Hipath 4000
  • Generic TCP/IP Socket

This Cisco Call Manager option supports field selection from either or both the CDR and CMR tables. The Avaya option supports both RSP and “no protocol” methods. Additional Ethernet-enabled PBXs are being considered for support, so if you don’t see your system here, contact us.


How it Works

IPRC is enabled and setup via the Data-Link DL150 setup menu that is accessible via modem, network, or the local serial port. Under the “Networking” section is the IPRC setup menu, as seen below:


Data-Link DL150 - IP Record Collection (IPRC) Setup


A) IP Record Collection [OFF]
B) Store Collected Data In [FILE1]
C) Data Alarm Enable [OFF]

 

Enter your Selection:


The PBX types selectable under option A) are:


GENERIC SERVER
GENERIC CLIENT
AVAYA DEFINITY RELIABLE PROTOCOL
ALCATEL OMNIPCX
CISCO CALLMANAGER
INTECOM EADS


You have the option of choosing which of the data storage FILES you want the collected records to be stored in; in this case it is FILE1. You can also select the incoming records to be sent through the alarm processing system, the same as you would for serial record input.


What Do the Records Look Like?

In some cases, the records sent out by an Ethernet-enabled PBX look exactly the same as their serial counterparts, only they are coming from the Ethernet port. This is the case with the Avaya and Mitel systems.


In other cases, the Data-Link DL150 is extracting individual fields from one or more PBX database tables to build a “record”. The DL150 takes these fields and concatenates (“appends”) them together into a record and then stores that record in the DL150 buffer memory. This is how the Cisco and Alcatel systems work. These systems offer many more available data fields than are usually needed or wanted for traditional call accounting purposes. The DL150 gives you the ability to specify which fields are used to make the record, and how these fields are formatted. In the case of the Cisco Call Manager, fields from both the CDR and CMR tables can be used, and you can customize the SQL SELECT statement to suit your needs. In some cases the data in these fields is not ideally suited for a text record (e.g. dates and IP addresses represented in binary) and conversion capabilities are provided as part of the field selection setup. Thus, you can create a record that meets your needs for call accounting, QoS, or other applications.


Security Features

Once the records are stored in the DL150 memory, they can be collected using any of the familiar methods for polling records. For sites concerned about Internet access to the LAN, using modem dialup eliminates any network security issues. The DL150 provides a user/password table which can be set up with restrictions so that a user can only access and poll records from one specific file and no others, and no other actions or serial ports of the DL150 can be accessed. Secure callback to an authorized number is also supported.


If network access is preferable, a “push” method of network transmission such as FTP Push transfers stored records to a designated FTP server on a scheduled basis, eliminating the need to give any incoming access to the DL150 over the network. These records can also be encrypted using DES for additional security. IP restrictions can be implemented so as to limit which IP addresses can have access to the DL150.


IPRC Alarms

If the IPRC connection to the PBX is lost for a specified duration, the DL150 can be set to notify you via email, pager, and/or SNMP Trap. Additionally, the DL150 supports many other alarm features as described below.


Add-On Functionality

The Data-Link DL150 includes other capabilities that could be useful at your remote site, making the value proposition for using the DL150 even stronger. Other features include:

  • Remote Maintenance of Serial Devices – Use the DL150 as a portal to connect via modem or Ethernet to the other serial devices in your Telecom room.

  • Dialup IP Routing – The DL150 can be enabled to support IP Routing via the dial-in modem, allowing you to have a backup route to connect to your remote network in the case of primary network failure.

  • Onboard Temp – An optional onboard temperature sensor supports Telecom room environmental monitoring.

  • Onboard Contact Closures – An optional onboard contact closure interface supports additional alarm monitoring of contact-enabled devices in your Telecom room.

  • EventSensor Support – Up to 16 external EventSensors can be chained to the DL150 to provide additional environmental, contact closure, or analog sensor monitoring.

  • SNMP Trap Capture – SNMP Traps from your PBX or other devices on your LAN can be captured by the DL150 and turned into regular text-based alarm messages.

  • RS232 Pin Alarms – Change of state of the connected serial port signals can set off alarm notification.

  • Data Filter – Incoming data can be filtered and discarded, limiting processing requirements and maximizing storage capacity.

  • Compatible Alarm Formats – The DL150 can be configured to integrate with popular alarm management systems such as HP Openview™, IRISnGEN™, and PRIISMS™.

  • Audit Logs – Keep an audit log record of all the transactions through the DL150.

  • Serial Data Collection – Collect serial data from other ports while also doing IPRC.

In summary, the Data-Link DL150 is an advanced data collection and alarm monitoring device that can assist you to easily and reliably manage your Ethernet-based PBX systems, as well as manage and monitor other telecom and data devices and locations.


The Company

Asentria develops remote site monitoring and telemanagement solutions that enable providers of critical communications infrastructure to more efficiently and reliably run their networks. Asentria’s products help ensure quality of service and lower operational costs, while making it easier to provision, maintain and support remote equipment. Our strategic solutions fit both large and small communication networks and provide high-value, cost-effective and competitive differentiators to our customers.


Asentria helps administrators cost-effectively manage their call reporting data and remote site infrastructure, while extending confidence and security to ensure availability, integrity and performance. Asentria enables administrators to avoid failures from poor performing equipment that threaten end-user service expectations, while providing better control to predict the performance of remote infrastructure. These new levels of protection shield end-users from remote site equipment failure. Our service provider and enterprise customers trust their remote equipment sites to Asentria. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.