Application Notes for PCR’s COMIT Switch Administration

GAK; Reviewed: WCH 6/24/2004

Solution & Interoperability Test Lab Application Notes ©2004 Avaya Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Avaya Solution & Interoperability Test Lab

Application Notes for PCR’s COMIT Switch Administration Performing Station Moves, Adds and Changes on Avaya Communication Manager using Avaya Directory Enabled Management – Issue 1.0

Abstract

These Application Notes describe the procedure for configuring PCR’s COMIT Switch Administration application in order to manage station Moves, Adds and Changes (MACs) within Avaya Communication Manager (ACM) via Avaya Directory Enabled Management (DEM). During compliance testing, Avaya analog, digital and IP Telephones were successfully added, modified, removed and displayed using the COMIT Switch Administration application. Information in these notes has been obtained through compliance testing and additional technical discussions. Testing was conducted via the DeveloperConnection Program at the Avaya Solution and Interoperability Test Lab.



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1. Introduction The COMIT Telemanagement System is a robust, flexible tool designed to manage telecommunications resources. The standard COMIT System gives the telecom administrator a host of integrated management tools, all designed to streamline the management process. The COMIT system attaches to an Avaya Communication Manager (ACM) system to retrieve station information and administer station Moves, Adds and Changes (MACs). The hardware/software platform used to implement COMIT is IBM’s RS/6000, Sun/Solaris, Linux or Microsoft. COMIT’s Graphical User Interface allows administrators to bypass the task of memorizing an array of codes and commands. Point-and-click mouse operation gives users easy access to detailed pull down menus and updatable data fields on virtually any screen. The COMIT Switch Administration communicates with the Avaya Directory Enabled Management (DEM) / Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) data store to retrieve station information and performs station MACs within the Avaya Communication Manager.

1.1. Avaya Directory Enabled Management Overview The Avaya DEM application (Figure 1) gives third party LDAP client’s real-time access to Avaya Communication Manager voice servers, Intuity Audix messaging servers and LDAP servers for the purposes of reading from and writing to translations. Each voice, LDAP database and messaging server require a Data Store Manager (DSM). The DSMs handle the read/write communications between the various interfaces and protocols. A Synchronization Engine (Sync Engine or SE) is responsible for synchronizing data amongst the servers through the DSM interfaces. The GW Agent (gateway agent) is used to govern communication between the LDAP client and the DEM processes. The GW Agent listens for incoming LDAP read/write requests on port 4000. When the GW Agent receives read/write requests it works together with the SE and DSMs to read and/or write the necessary data the required locations, whether these are in the LDAP, voice or messaging servers.

DSM: CO_PBX

DSM: GWDSM

Avaya Communication

Manager

LDAP Server

Intuity Server

DSM: CO_MSG

SE

DEM

LDAP Client

GW Agent

Figure 1: Directory Enabled Management Objects



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The diagram depicted in Figure 2 (below) represents the test configuration.

Avaya S8700 Media Servers withG650 Media Gateway

IP Connect

CLANMEDPRO

IPSI

S1 e0

Avaya 6416D+M

Digital Telephone

S2 e0

Avaya 2500

Analog Telephone

Avaya P333T-PWRStackable Power over

Ethernet Switch

Netscape LDAP 2.14 and DNSServer Processes

Hostname: Remote-DEM IP Address: 192.168.201.99 /24

DSM: CO_PBX

Directory Enabled Management Server ProcessesHostname: DEM-Server

IP Address: 192.168.201.100 /24

SyncEngine

DSM: GWDSM

Avaya P333RStackable L3 Switch RS/6000 Server Running PCR

COMIT Processes Hostname: RS6000

IP Address: 192.168.201.98 /24

Avaya 4612 IP Telephone

Windows 2000 Server RunningPCR COMIT Switch Administration Client

Figure 2: Test Configuration

Tech Tip: The Avaya P333T-PWR switch is not a requirement in this configuration. However, it does provide administrators with a convenient way of powering up Avaya IP Telephones.



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2. Equipment and Software Validated The following equipment and software were used for the sample configuration provided:

Quantity Device Description Versions Tested 1 Avaya 4612 IP Telephone Release 1.8.1

1 Avaya P333T-PWR Stackable L2 Power over Ethernet Switch Version 4.0.17

1 Avaya P333R Stackable L3 Switch Version 4.0.9 1 Avaya 6416D+M Digital Telephone N/A 1 Avaya 2500 Analog Telephone N/A

1 Avaya Directory Enabled Management (DEM) running on a Windows 2000 Server Release 2.0

2 Avaya S8700 Media Servers controlling a G650 Media Gateway

Avaya Communication Manager Release 2.0.1 (R012x.00.1.221.1)

1 PCR COMIT Server Version 1.0 running on an AIX Unix Server

1 PCR COMIT Switch Administration Client Version 1.0 running on a Windows 2000 Server

1 Netscape LDAP Server running on a Windows 2000 Server Version 2.14

3. Configure the PCR COMIT Switch Administration The COMIT system is a client-server application capable of supporting multiple concurrent users across a LAN. The client application is installed on a machine for each user requiring access to the COMIT application. The server application/database is loaded and configured by PCR technical personnel. Client Environment:

Hardware/Software requirements: • 133 Mhz Pentium processor or higher • Network adapter • 100 MB of free disk space • 32 MB RAM • Windows 98 or higher

Server Environment: Hardware requirements: Using Oracle:

• Memory: 128 MB + 16 MB per user • Disk:

o 2 GB for system/software (Solaris, AIX, Oracle, PCR software) o + 2.5 GB per million call records per month online



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o + 300KB data per station Using ISAM:

• Memory: 128 MB + 8 MB per user • Disk:

o 2 GB for system/software (Solaris, AIX, Oracle, PCR software) o + 1.3 GB per million call records per month online o + 100KB data per station

Other Hardware: • Tape or backup device. • Modem and serial port for PCR support if there is no internet access.

Software requirements:

• Microsoft 2000 or higher • Linux • AIX 4.3 or higher • Solaris 2.6 or higher • TCP/IP • Oracle (version 8.0.5 or newer) (only if Oracle is used)

Note: The user is only required to install and configure the PCRGUI client software. The application server is loaded and configured by PCR at the time of implementation. To install the PCRGUI client software on a workstation, follow the steps provided below.

1. Access the Internet and go to: www.pcr.com/guidisk.exe 2. At this point the Internet browser will give options for downloading the file. Save this

file to your Desktop. 3. From your desktop, double click on this file to execute and install the PCRGUI software. 4. Once PCRGUI is installed contact the PCR Help Desk at (616) 554-1055 to register your

copy. The PCRGUI will not function without being licensed through the Help Desk.

4. Configure Avaya Directory Enabled Management The installation and configuration procedures used to configure Avaya Directory Enabled Management (DEM) for testing PCR’s COMIT Switch Administration application can be found in the following document:

Avaya Directory Enabled Management Release 2.0, Installation and Implementation [1] This document is included with the Avaya DEM software package and at the Avaya support website. It includes a worksheet, which installers must populate with information pertaining to the Avaya voice server and LDAP server. The information required includes LDAP and voice server IP addresses, login names, passwords and port values. Once an installer has gathered this information and completed the installation sheet, he or she can follow the step-by-step installation outlined in the document. There are no special steps or procedures required beyond this document.

http://www.pcr.com/guidisk.exe



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5. Interoperability Compliance Testing The objective of the interoperability compliance test was to verify that the PCR Comit Switch Administration application was capable of performing station Moves, Adds and Changes (MACs) to Avaya Communication Manager (ACM) platforms. In this case the platform consisted of a pair of Avaya S8700 Media Servers with a G650 Media Gateway. The Moves, Adds and Changes (MACs) performed during testing were validated through DEM, the LDAP datastore and the Switch Administration Terminal (SAT) on the Avaya S8700 servers.

5.1. General Test Approach The PCR COMIT Switch Administration application was tested manually. Several combinations of station Moves, Adds and Changes were made for analog, digital, IP Telephone and IP Softphone station types. Combinations of data synchronization between the LDAP data store, the Avaya Communication Manager voice server translations and PCR’s COMIT Switch Administration client were validated. In addition, error handling was also verified. Tests were conducted such as attempting to add a duplicate station, adding an analog station using a digital port resource and adding a digital station using an analog port resource. Testing of this nature helps verify that poor administration practices cannot adversely affect the PCR client application, Avaya server application or the connection between the two.

5.2. Test Results These Application Notes describe the required configuration steps for installing the PCR COMIT Switch Administration application in order to perform station Moves, Adds and Changes (MACs) on Avaya Communication Manager voice servers using Avaya Directory Enabled Management (DEM). The PCR COMIT Switch Administration client application was configured and connected to Avaya DEM. The ability to perform digital, analog and IP station MACs was validated.



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6. Support

6.1. PCR COMIT Technical Support Customers should contact (Professional Computer Resources, Inc. - www.pcr.com) for problems related to the PCR COMIT Switch Administration application. PCR technical support engineers will then determine the nature of the problem and recommend the best plan to the customer, whether it is to:

Walk the customer through a fix. Fix the problem through remote access. Dispatch, at PCR’s discretion, on-site technical support.

For technical support on the PCR COMIT Switch Administration application, users should contact PCR Technical Support using any of the following contact information:

Main: 616-554-0000 Fax: 616-554-1038 Sale: 616-554-1015 ([email protected]) Support: 616-554-1055 ([email protected])

6.2. Avaya DEM Technical Support Go to the Avaya support Web site: http://www.avaya.com/support If you are:

Within the United States, click the Escalation Management link. Then click the appropriate link for the type of support you need.

Outside the United States, click the Escalation Management link. Then click the International Services link that includes telephone numbers for the International Centers of Excellence.

http://www.pcr.com/

mailto:[email protected]


http://www.avaya.com/support



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7. Verification Steps To verify connectivity and access to the COMIT application server, perform the following on the PCR COMIT Switch Administration client:

1. From the Windows Start menu, click Programs PCR PCRGUI to start the PCRGUI application.

2. From the Windows task bar, right-click PCRGUI and select “Start Telnet” 3. Enter the Host IP address of the COMIT application server along with a port of “23”. 4. After clicking the “OK” button, the user should receive a login window prompting them

for a username and password. 5. Upon entering a valid username/password, the COMIT application will automatically

launch and display a main menu. To verify COMIT’s connectivity and access to the DEM/LDAP server, perform the following: Create a New Station

1. Enter the detailed information on the station to be added in the service order screen. This information is used to track adds, modifications and changes to stations for billing and informational purposes.

2. From the COMIT service order window (Figure 2), select Options Features Maintenance. A Query Station popup window will appear (Figure 3), which can be used to add, change or remove a station from the switch.

Figure 2: Service Order Window



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3. The station extension is automatically selected in the Query Station popup window (Figure 3) based on information entered and highlighted in the service order window. The user has the option of removing or creating a new station on the Avaya voice server. Select Order Action New (default).

4. Enter a valid resource in the Port Address field. This may be a digital or analog circuit pack resource or the value may be IP when IP telephones are used. Type IP in the field.

5. Click the button next to Set Type to choose from the available station types supported. In this example, 4612 was chosen. The Feature Package button can be used to select a default or custom package depending on whether or not the user has defined custom button programming.

6. Click Configure Set to modify and update the station

Figure 3: Query Station Popup



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7. The station feature popup window appears (Figure 4). Administrators can use this

window to add, change or remove features from a station. In this example, several buttons were programmed on the 4612 IP Telephone as well as the Name of the user and Security Code. Click Update once all required changes have been made. This updates the service order, however, the administrator must still update the switch in order for the change to take effect.

Figure 4: Station Feature Popup Window

8. The Service Order window appears (Figure 5). If the administrator wishes to update LDAP and the Avaya voice server immediately, select Options Features Update Switch.

Note: PCR’s COMIT Switch Administration can be configured to schedule and automate station modifications, adds and changes at night, rather then during normal business hours.



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9. A Memo popup window appears, which indicates that the station update completed successfully (Figure 6). Click OK.

Figure 6: Memo Popup Window



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Display the Created Station

1. Select the station to display in the Service Order window (Figure 7). Select Options Features Display from Switch.


2. A Query popup window appears (Figure 8) indicating all of the current station parameters contained in LDAP data store and Avaya voice server translations.

Figure 8: Query Popup Window



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8. Conclusion These Application Notes document the necessary steps required for installing and accessing the PCR COMIT Switch Administration client application in order to execute station Modifications, Adds, and Changes (MACs) to and from Avaya Communication Manager voice servers through Avaya Directory Enabled Management (DEM). Successful testing demonstrated that COMIT Switch Administration was able to interface with DEM for the purpose of performing station updates to Avaya voice servers.

9. Additional References The following documentation may help in the planning and installation of PCR’s COMIT Switch Administration and the Avaya Directory Enabled Management (DEM) application server: [1] Avaya Directory Enabled Management, Release 2.0, Administration, 555-038-501,

Issue 7, January 2004 [2] Avaya Directory Enabled Management, Release 2.0, Installation and Implementation,

555-038-101, Issue 7, January 2004 [3] RFC 2251 - Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (v3), December 1997 [4] PCR will provide a COMIT users guide and online tutorial at the time of implementation

Note: Documentation for the LDAP server deployed by a particular DEM/COMIT customer must be provided by the directory server provider e.g. Microsoft, Netscape, Novell, etc.



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10. Glossary The following key technical terms have been used in these Application Notes: Avaya Communication Manager voice servers

- This includes the various hardware platforms available from Avaya, which support the Avaya Communciation Manager software. Examples of such hardware platforms include Avaya S8700 Media Servers with a G650 Media Gateway, an Avaya S8300 Media Server with a G700 Media Gateway and so forth.

DSM - DataStore Managers are software processes that interface with each device type that connects to Avaya DEM. These devices may include a combination of Avaya Communication Manager voice servers, Audix systems and LDAP directories.

LDAP - The Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is an Internet protocol defined by RFC 2251. LDAP can be used to provide read/write access to directories by management applications such as Avaya Directory Enabled Management (DEM).

SE - The Synchronization Engine (SE) is the heart of DEM. It is the software process, which synchronizes changes between native device data, such as data from the voice server, and data from enterprise directories according to rules that are defined by the DEM administrator.



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©2004 Avaya Inc. All Rights Reserved. Avaya and the Avaya Logo are trademarks of Avaya Inc. All trademarks identified by ® and ™ are registered trademarks or trademarks, respectively, of Avaya Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The information provided in these Application Notes is subject to change without notice. The configurations, technical data, and recommendations provided in these Application Notes are believed to be accurate and dependable, but are presented without express or implied warranty. Users are responsible for their application of any products specified in these Application Notes. Please e-mail any questions or comments pertaining to these Application Notes along with the full title name and filename, located in the lower right corner, directly to the Avaya DeveloperConnection Program at [email protected].


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Application Notes for PCR’s COMIT Switch Administration