Table Of Contents
Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch
Release Notes for Release 4.2H.323 Video, Routing, and Transparency Features
Calling Party Number Options for Outgoing SETUP Message
New Field for Signaling 68 Event/Trap
Enhanced Call Forwarding on Busy Support
Hook-Flash with Hot-Line Feature
Flash Archive and Disk Mirroring
New Documentation for Release 4.2
SIGTRAN-Based SS7 ANSI Signaling
Call Manager/H.323 Interworking
New Documentation for Release 4.1
Definition of Major, Point and Maintenance Releases
Obtaining Technical Assistance
Contacting TAC by Using the Cisco TAC Website
Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch
Release Notes for Release 4.2
May 14, 2007
The Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch is a class-independent software switch (softswitch) that provides next-generation integrated voice and data switching solutions for packet networks.
For detailed descriptions of the features, functions, and applications of the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch see the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Release 4.1 System Description.
Contents
These release notes for the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch describe the enhancements and new features provided in Release 4.2 (900-04.02.00.Vxx).
Each Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch release may include a series of maintenance Vxx releases following the initial release. The release notes for the Vxx releases are updated only if they contain new information about the release. For more information on release descriptions, see Definition of Major, Point and Maintenance Releases.
This document includes the following sections:
•
Obtaining Technical Assistance
These release notes are updated periodically on an as needed basis. Please read the applicable sections in their entirety, because they contain important operational information that can impact your network.
System Requirements
This section details the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch supported hardware platforms, their supported options and configurations, and the supported software releases.
There are four hardware options available. Service providers should consult with their Cisco account team and choose the option that best suits their network applications and traffic levels.
•
•
•
•
The physical plant requirements for installation of the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch are documented in the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Building Environment and Power Site Survey.
The Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch consists of the following equipment:
•
•
•
•
Note
•
–
–
Note
•
Note
Sun Microsystems hardware can be ordered directly from the vendor or a Sun Value Added Reseller; however, Cisco TAC does not support hardware when purchased directly from Sun or another vendor. Hardware support contracts should be purchased from Sun, or the Sun Value Added Reseller.
Hardware Requirements
The hardware available from Cisco Systems Inc. for North American region customers is listed below. Continuous Computing (CCPU) is available only in the United States; Sun hardware is available outside the U.S.
Determine if you need AC or DC, and if you want the hardware in a cabinet or ready to mount in a customer rack. Work with a Cisco BTS 10200 product manager to determine the appropriate load for your customer. This base software includes 1,000 subscriber/DS0 licenses and 5 CPS. You will need to order RTU and CPS licenses as appropriate if additional subscribers are needed.
The Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch is available only in duplex (continuous-service) configurations.
Table 1 lists the hardware requirements for the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Call Agent (CA) and Feature Server (FS) platform.
Caution
Table 1 Host Hardware Requirements
(per Box)CCPU
4
AXmp with 4 440 MHz Processors with SUN QFE card and DVD ROM drive per box
2*36-GB per box
4 GB
Sun Netra 201
4
2 * UltraSPARC® III @ 1200 MHz with 1 SUN QFE card and DVD ROM Drive per box
2*73-GB per box
4 GB
Sun Netra 1201
4
1 * UltraSPARC® IIi @ 650 MHz with 1 SUN QFE card and DVD ROM Drive per box
2*36-GB per box
2 GB
Sun Fire V1201
4
1 * UltraSPARC® IIi @ 650 MHz with 1 SUN QFE card and DVD ROM Drive per box
2*36-GB per box
2 GB
1 Sun Microsystems hardware can be purchased from Cisco Systems, from Sun, or a Sun Value Added Reseller.
Note
Spare Hardware
In addition to the hardware required above, Cisco recommends purchasing a spare server in case of hardware issues. The server types include:
•
•
AC Systems
Table 2 lists the recommended spare hardware for AC systems.
DC Systems
Table 3 lists the recommended spare hardware for DC systems.
Required Swap Space
Caution
Interface Options
The Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch interface configurations are documented in the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Release 4.1 Cabling Procedures.
Note
Ancillary Hardware
If the customer uses reference sale hardware, the following pieces of ancillary hardware are required for use with the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch.
For AC systems:
You need two AC system switch routers configured as listed in Table 4.
For DC Systems:
You need two DC system switch routers configured as listed in Table 5.
For All Systems:
You need one alarm panel as listed in Table 6.
Table 6 Ancillary Hardware for all Systems
BTS10200-ALRM
Cisco BTS 10200 Alarm Panel
Cisco ITP Signaling Gateways
The Cisco IP Transfer Point (ITP) is a comprehensive product for transporting Signaling System 7 (SS7) traffic over traditional time-division multiplexing (TDM) networks or advanced SS7-over-IP (SS7oIP) networks. Cisco ITP Signaling Gateways are required to provide SS7 interconnectivity for the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch in Release 4.2. If using SS7, you must purchase ITP equipment as described here.
The Cisco IP Transfer Point is implemented on the Cisco 2600XM Series Router (2650XM & 2651XM), the Cisco 7200 Series Router (7204VXR, 7206VXR), the Cisco 7301 Router and the Cisco 7500 Series Router (7507, 7513). All hardware models function similarly by performing MTP3 and SCCP routing over SS7 TDM links or over an IP (or dual IP) network.
The Cisco ITP 2651, 7301, and 7507 Signaling Gateways are carrier class routers with a transparent SS7oIP convergence solution. The 26xx offers 2 or 4 SS7 links, the 73xx supports up to 80 SS7 links, while the 7507 provides from 32 to 256+ SS7 links.
The following three tables list the part numbers and quantities of boxes necessary for the Cisco ITP configurations that support the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch in Release 4.2. For more information see the Cisco ITP Product Data Sheet.
Table 7 Ancillary Hardware for Cisco ITP 2651
Cisco 2651XM
2
High Performance Dual 10/100 Modular Router
MEM-2650-32U64D
2
32 to 64MB DRAM Factory Upgrade
MEM2650-8U32FS
2
8 to 32 MB Flash SIMM Upgrade
VWIC-2MFT-T1
2 or 41
2-Port RJ-48 Multiflex Trunk T1
or VWIC-2MFT-E1
2 or 41
2-Port RJ-48 Multiflex Trunk E1
S75ITP-MX IOS
2
IP Transfer Point - M3UA/SUA
1 Order quantity 4 if 8 links are needed.
Software Requirements
The Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Release 4.2 (900-04.02.00.Vxx) software is required to run the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch on the hardware platforms listed above.
Note
In the pre-3.5.3 releases, each Call Agent (CA) and EMS was configured to individually synchronize up to a specified NTP server. In later releases, configuring NTP changes with the new XNTP package. NTP is now configured so that the EMSs synchronize directly to the NTP server and the Call Agent's synchronize to the EMS.
Caution
Optional Software
The following optional software can also be used with Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Release 4.2.
Cisco Extensible Provisioning Object Manager
You can use the Cisco Extensible Provisioning Object Manager (EPOM) Release 4.2 software as a provisioning tool for Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Release 4.2. EPOM is free and downloadable from the Web.
The previous version of EPOM was Release 2.1; the version number jumped from Release 2.1 to Release 4.2.
EPOM is not supported when run on the EMS; EPOM requires its own server. For more information, refer to the Cisco EPOM Getting Started Guide or the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch EPOM Provisioning guide.
Note
Cisco Self-Service Phone Administration
You can use the Cisco Self-Service Phone Administration (SPA), Version 1.0, which allows phones to be organized into accounts and managed by end users to manipulate existing features and query account information without service provider intervention. This reduces service provider costs while enhancing the user's product experience. When the service provider has installed Cisco SPA and configured it using the Cisco SPA operation and configuration tool, all that remains is creating accounts for users to manage using their own phones. The Cisco SPA application and the Cisco SPA operation and configuration tool are described in the Cisco SPA Installation and Users Guide.
Component Interoperability
Table 10 lists the specific peripheral platforms, functions, and software loads that have been tested by Cisco for interoperability with the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Release 4.2 software. Earlier or later releases of platform software might be interoperable and it might be possible to use other functions on these platforms. This list certifies only that the required interoperation of these platforms, the functions listed, and the protocols listed has been successfully tested with the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch.
Table 10 Component Interoperability Matrix
Cognitronics CX500
Announcement Server
MGCP 1.0
K0.00
IP Unity
Media Server
MGCP 1.0
1.5D.20
IP Unity
Application Server
SIP RFC3261
2.516
SS8 Networks Xcipio SSDF
CALEA Server
CALEA
3.4.0
Cisco CallManager
Call Processing (IP PBX)
H.323
3.3 and 4.0(1)
Cisco ATA
Residential Gateway
SIP end pointMGCP 1.0, SIP, H.323
3.1.0
Cisco IAD 2421
Residential/Business Gateway
MGCP 1.0
12.3(7)T2
Cisco IAD 2431
Residential/Business Gateway
MGCP 1.0
12.3(7)T2
Cisco 2600
Gateway
H.323
12.3(7)T
Cisco 3640
Trunking Gateway
MGCP 1.0
12.3(7)T
Cisco 3660
Trunking Gateway
MGCP 1.0, TGCP
12.3(7)T
Cisco 3660 Telco
Trunking Gateway
MGCP 1.0, TGCP
12.3(7)T
Cisco 3725
Trunking Gateway
MGCP 1.0
12.3(7)T
Cisco MGX 8850 VISM
Trunking Gateway
MGCP 1.0, TGCP
3.2
Cisco AS5300
Trunking Gateway1
MGCP 1.0, TGCP, H.323
12.3(7)T
Cisco AS5350
Trunking Gateway1
MGCP 1.0, TGCP, H.323
12.3(7)T
Cisco AS5400
Trunking Gateway
MGCP 1.0, TGCP, H.323
12.3(7)T
Cisco 2651 ITP
SS7 Signaling Gateway
SIGTRAN M3UA/SUA
12.2(21)SW
Cisco 7507 ITP
SS7 Signaling Gateway
SIGTRAN M3UA/SUA
12.2(21)SW
Cisco 2600
Gatekeeper
H.323
12.2(13)T9
Cisco 3600
Gatekeeper
H.323
12.2(13)T9
Cisco 7200
Gatekeeper
H.323
12.2(13)T9
Cisco uBR7246VXR Router
CMTS
PacketCable
12.2(15)BC2
Cisco ESR10012 Router
CMTS
CALEA SII
12.0(24)S
Arris TTM420
eMTA
NCS 1.0, IPSEC
TS030204_111303.bin.telnet_on
Motorola SBV4200
eMTA
NCS 1.0, IPSEC
7.3.2
Toshiba
eMTA
NCS 1.0, IPSEC
3.02
Note
Cisco ATA
SIP Endpoint
SIP
3.1(0)
Cisco 7905
SIP Phone
SIP
1.0(1)
Cisco 7912
SIP Phone
SIP
6.2
Cisco 7940
SIP Phone
SIP
P0S3-06-2-00
Cisco 7960
SIP Phone
SIP
P0S3-06-2-00
Leadtek BVP8770
Video phone
H.323
Version 1.2
Vizufon CIP-4500
Video phone
H.323
CHIUNICOM v1.2
1 The Cisco AS5300 and AS5350 have also been tested as Announcement Servers
Operator Access
Operator access to the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch is available only by secure shell (SSH) session to the EMS over Ethernet. Cisco BTS 10200 will not support non-secure FTP; to FTP to any other system, your Cisco BTS 10200 system must have secure FTP (SFTP) capabilities.
Installation Notes
For detailed installation procedures for the Release 4.2 software, refer to the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Application Installation Guide.
New Features for Release 4.2
The Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch contains the following new features in Release 4.2:
•
H.323 Video, Routing, and Transparency Features
This document describes the H.323 video, routing, and transparency feature enhancements for Release 4.2 of the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch. It also describes the tasks and commands for provisioning and using these capabilities. The following enhancements are provided in this release:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
These enhancements can be applied to managed H.323 networks that contain the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch and the following network element types:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
For information provision and use these capabilities, refer to the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch H.323 Video, Routing, and Transparency Features for Release 4.2 document.
New Call Detail Record Field
An Original Originating number was added to the Call Detail Records (CDR).
SIP-T
Changes were made to the SIP trunk PRACK flag in Release 4.2. Provisional responses in SIP telephony calls represent backward alerting and progress signaling messages, which are important when interoperating with PSTN networks. Therefore, for SIP-T calls on the Cisco BTS 10200, reliable provisional responses are mandatory. They are optional for regular SIP calls.
For more information about the change, refer to the Reliable Provisional Responses sections of the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch SIP Protocol User Guide and the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch SIP Protocol Provisioning Guide.
Calling Party Number Options for Outgoing SETUP Message
This feature allows the service provider to control the calling party number (CPN) data sent in the outbound SETUP message on redirected calls outbound from the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch to the PSTN. You can provision this option (via CLI command) using the SEND-RDN-AS-CPN token in the TRUNK-GRP table.
For more information about this feature, refer to the Calling Party Number Options for Outgoing SETUP Message feature module.
Enhancements for Release 4.2
The following enhancements were made to Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Release 4.2.
PacketCable
The PacketCable-based function was enhanced in Cisco BTS 10200 Release 4.2—a new rule was added regarding source and destination identifiers in the IPSEC-POLICY table.
Note
New Field for Signaling 68 Event/Trap
In previous Cisco BTS 10200 releases, if a media gateway was down, a signaling 68 event was generated. The event contained the gateway description and the TSAP-ADDR. However, it did not contain information about the media gateway location, or the media gateway s subscribers.
In Release 4.2, a new field was added to the SNMP Trap Signaling 68 event/trap. The new field contains a Subscriber's Information (ID, DN1, ADDRESS1).
CODEC Negotiation
Release 4.2 contains an enhancement for the interworking function to use the standardized/Cisco-supported SDP format for the G723ar53/63 CODEC.
Previously, calls might be blocked if G723ar56/63 was the only CODEC specified. For example, if the CODEC on a SIP gateway was set to G723ar53, and a call was made to an H.323 gateway, the Cisco BTS 10200 might block the call.
T.38 CA Mode Fax
In Release 4.2, Cisco BTS 10200 supports Call Agent controlled T.38 Fax for trunks/line controlled using the MGCP protocol using `fxr' package. Cisco BTS 10200 supports T.38 call agent controlled mode fax between SS7 trunk, ISDN trunk and Subscriber lines. In Release 4.2, the mode also can be used for either of the following fax scenarios:
•
•
To enable this mode, be sure to configure the following:
1.
FAX_PREF_MODE=FAX_T38_CAMODE2.
MGCP_T38_CAMODE_SUPP=Y3.
Enhanced Call Forwarding on Busy Support
Previously, SIP phones could only use the Call Forwarding on Busy (CFB) feature with another SIP phone either two or three times. With Release 4.2, CFB can be used with another SIP phone multiple times, without restrictions.
Hook-Flash with Hot-Line Feature
In Release 4.2, a subscriber on a warmline call can originate a multi-party call, as well as activate or deactivate certain features by hook-flashing and dialing either a DN or a star code. The system does not block such calls.
Flash Archive and Disk Mirroring
Flash archive does not work well with Disk Suite mirroring; therefore, Cisco recommends that users create the archive without disk mirroring.
New Documentation for Release 4.2
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
New Feature Modules
H.323 Video and Signaling Enhancements
Previous 4.x Releases
The following information was implemented in prior 4.x Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch releases. The features are not new to Release 4.2.
Release 4.1
With Release 4.1, Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch introduces new features to enhance its capabilities. This section describes the new features available in Release 4.1, which include the following:
This feature reduces the number of network interfaces on the Cisco BTS 10200 Call Agent/Feature Server and the EMS/BDMS hosts to two network interfaces per host computer.
The Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Release 4.1 provides SIGTRAN SS7 signaling, which allows quick turn-around on the development of new International SS7 variants, such as China ISUP, as well as SS7 support domestically.
OpenORB was added as the CORBA interface in an earlier release. Starting with Release 4.1, OpenORB replaces Inprise Visibroker as the CORBA interface for the Cisco BTS 10200.
The Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Release 4.1 can generate either traditional Call Data Block (CDB) or PacketCable Event Message (EM) billing data, but not both simultaneously.
New PacketCable-based features and functions were introduced in Cisco BTS 10200 Release 4.1.
The UDP-based Annex E feature of ITU-T Recommendation H.323 is now supported by the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Release 4.1.
IPManager is a UNIX shell script that manages a set of logical interfaces to provide another layer of redundancy.
The CIC audit feature enables the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch to recognize when an SS7 trunk is in the hung state and to restore the trunk to a usable state.
Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch processes might exit due to an internal error or termination by the platform. This new feature enables restart of the processes that shut down, preserving stable calls.
Release 4.1 supports many SIP devices and endpoints.
Several new commands are supported in Release 4.1.
•
This section provides a listing of, and links to, all of the Release 4.1 user documentation.
Reduced Physical Interfaces
The Reduced Physical Interfaces feature reduces the number of network interfaces on the Call Agent/Feature Server and the EMS/BDMS hosts to two network interfaces per host computer. The reduction allows the Cisco BTS 10200 to run on smaller, or less expensive, host computers, since the number of required router ports is reduced. In addition, it creates redundant local area networks (LANs) for the management of the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch.
For more information, refer to the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Reduced Physical Interfaces Feature Module.
Signaling Capabilities
Currently, routing on Cisco gateways is based on generic parameters such as originating number, destination number, and port source. Adding support for SS7 ISUP messages allows the VoIP network to use additional routing enhancements found in traditional TDM switches.
Cisco BTS 10200 Release 4.1 implements SIGTRAN-based SS7 signaling and includes the following embedded SS7 ISUP variants:
•
SIGTRAN-Based SS7 ANSI Signaling
Release 4.1 introduces SIGTRAN-based ANSI support in the an SS7 ANSI implementation
The Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch SS7 ANSI ISUP feature implements North America ISUP through a signaling transportation (SIGTRAN)-based ANSI signaling gateway, providing the ability to port SIGTRAN (SCTP/M3UA) and the upper SS7 layers (ISUP, SCCP, TCAP, AIN) to an IP network.
For more information, see the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch SS7 ANSI Implementation Feature Module and the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch SS7 ANSI ISUP Implementation Feature Module.
SS7 ANSI ISUP also implements new traffic statistic measurements for these signaling protocols:
•
•
•
•
•
Refer to the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Release 4.1 Operations, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting Manual. for more information about all existing Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch traffic measurements.
SS7 ITU ISUP
Cisco BTS 10200 Release 4.1 supports ITU-based SS7 ISUP messages based on Q.761 and Q.767. Specific country variants supported include China and Mexico.
China SS7 ISUP
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Signaling System 7 (SS7) Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) User Part (ISUP) feature implements China ISUP via SIGTRAN to a SIGTRAN-based Signaling Gateway. The Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch is coupled to the SS7 signaling network via an external SIGTRAN signaling gateway, one of three models of Cisco IP Termination (IPT) devices. The Cisco IPT provides an interconnection to many ISUP and MTP signaling variants.
Note
The China SS7 ISUP feature allows a Cisco BTS 10200 to connect between an international SS7 network and a local voice network, supporting basic calls, caller identity, call redirection, and voice mail. The same call control and supplementary services provided over an ANSI SS7 network can also be provided over an ITU SS7 network.
China SS7 ISUP also offers support for the following features:
•
•
•
•
•
•
The Traffic Management Subsystem provides the following functions:
•
•
•
•
•
•
For more information, refer to the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch China ITU SS7 Support Feature Module.
Table 11 identifies the new ISUP traffic measurements collected for China ISUP support.
For detailed information about Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch traffic measurements provisioning and reporting, refer to the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Release 4.1 Operations, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting Manual.
Mexico SS7 ISUP Support
Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Release 4.1 introduces the base Q.767 MDL code and the Mexico ISUP variant, based on the ITU-T Q.767 specification, Application of the ISUP for International ISDN Connections. The Mexico ISUP variant support is similar to the China SS7 ISUP variant support.
OpenORB Support
In Release 3.5.2, OpenORB was added as an option for the CORBA interface. Starting with this release, and going forward, OpenORB now replaces Inprise Visibroker as the CORBA interface. Inprise Visibroker is no longer supported for Release 4.1 or later.
OpenORB is an open source software, and supports the latest CORBA specifications (OMG CORBA 2.4.2). During installation, you can now select only OpenORB.
Installation
Note
The procedure used to install the OpenORB package is virtually unchanged from the Visibroker install package. The old CORBA Interface Servant (CIS) is removed with a package remove command in Solaris, and the "cis-install.sh" command is invoked. Once the installation is complete, all components are installed and the Name Service and CIS application are running. You can perform the process on the active EMS without switching over.
For more information on OpenORB, visit http://openorb.sourceforge.net/.
Cisco OSS Applications
The switch to OpenORB by the Cisco BTS 10200 does affect existing Cisco OSS applications that utilize the CORBA interface.
Note
The bulk of OSS application processing involves this interface and this component of the client application should be totally unaffected. Existing customers are affected in that the client side or OSS application must use a fully compliant ORB that can interoperate with an ORB using CORBA 2.4.2 via IIOP. The original Visibroker POA was specific to the vendors' implementation of the POA.
The IDL and XML interfaces are not affected by the OpenORB migration.
Name Service Feature
You must navigate to the Cisco BTS 10200 EMS by using the Name Service feature in CORBA. At this time, each Cisco BTS 10200 creates a Name Service instance and binds the Cisco BTS 10200 objects to this local name service. Obtaining these object references for the Cisco BTS 10200 requires communication with its local Name Service.
Billing Subsystem Redesign
The billing subsystem has been redesigned in Release 4.1. Enhancements were made to Call Detail File Management, and to the CLI commands for managing the files stored on the BDMS platform at any given time. Examples of the commands include:
•
•
•
The following is a list of the command line tokens associated with this command and the valid values and purpose of each:
–
–
OPEN-the file is currently being written to
PRIMARY-the file has been sent to, and acknowledged by, the billing mediation system.
SECONDARY-the file has been sent to, and acknowledged by, the billing mediation system
–
–
–
–
FILENAME—Sort by filename.
STATE—Sort by state.
•
Billing Data Generation
The Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Release 4.1 has the ability to provision billing support using one of the following billing data generation methods:
•
•
The Cisco BTS 10200 can be provisioned to generate either EMs or CDBs. For the detailed procedures for provisioning EM or CDB generation of billing data see the Packet Cable Feature Module.
PacketCable-Based Features
The following PacketCable-based features and functions have been introduced in the Cisco BTS 10200 Release 4.1 software, including:
•
•
•
•
•
In addition, the following PacketCable-based features have been updated:
•
•
Note
H.323 Annex E Redundancy
The UDP-based Annex E feature of ITU-T Recommendation H.323 is supported by the Cisco BTS 10200. The Cisco BTS 10200 is a class-independent network switch. In addition to performing switching functions, it can also emulate up to four instances of an H.323 gateway (GW).
Annex E implementation allows for transporting H.323 signaling between the Cisco BTS 10200 and the far-end H.323 end point using UDP (connectionless) signaling instead of TCP (connection-oriented) signaling. The choice of UDP or TCP signaling is important in a Cisco BTS 10200 CA failover scenario.
If a CA failover occurs, a remote H.323 end point using TCP signaling cannot reestablish the connection with the previously-active CA, therefore clearing the stable call(s) on that connection. However, a remote H.323 end point using UDP to communicate with the Cisco BTS 10200 in a connectionless session continues to communicate with the newly-active side of the CA using the same connectionless session. This allows the remote end point to preserve and support the active call.
Using the Annex E feature is optional and configurable in the Cisco BTS 10200. Each H.323 trunk group (TG) in the Cisco BTS 10200 can be independently provisioned to support either Annex E UDP-based signaling or TCP-based signaling. Each H.323 GW instance can have multiple active outgoing TGs, with each TG independently configured for Annex E UDP or regular TCP signaling.
For more information, refer to the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Annex E Support Feature Module or the "H.323 Annex E UDP Support" section of Chapter 2, "Supported Signaling Protocols," in the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Release 4.1 System Description.
Call Manager/H.323 Interworking
Release 4.1 enhances H.323 protocol interoperability between the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch, Cisco CallManager (CCM), and Cisco IOS H.323 Gateways. Interoperability of these network elements enhances the delivery of call control features between enterprise and service provider networks.
For more information, refer to the "Interoperability of Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch with Cisco CallManager" section of Chapter 2, "Supported Signaling Protocols," in the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Release 4.1 System Description.
IP Manager
The Cisco IP manager provides a virtual single IP address to different signaling protocol components (such as MGCP, H.323, SIP) for remote devices in the Primary and Secondary Cisco BTS 10200 boxes. IP Manager is responsible for detecting Cisco BTS 10200 platform failover (from Primary to secondary and vise-versa) and migrating the IP address to the Current Active side.
In this release, the IP manager is an integral part of each platform (such as CallAgent and FeatureServer), and thereby provides faster response to platform failovers. Note that the IP Manager only migrates IP addresses on the same subnet. In the case of a multi-homed platform, when one of the interfaces fails, the IP Manager does not migrate the IP address to a different interface.
SS7 CIC Audits
The Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch system may experience a "hung" SS7 trunk when an idle trunk is incorrectly perceived by the call agent to be busy. When this occurs, the call agent never selects the trunk to service new calls. This condition occurs primarily during a failover when the standby system becomes active. A call is released and the new idle call state is not replicated to the newly active call agent, who continues to perceive the trunk as busy.
The CIC audit feature enables the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch to recognize when an SS7 trunk is in the hung state and to restore the trunk to a usable state. A CIC audit can be performed in response to a:
•
•
•
•
•
The CIC audit feature implements the following new audit types for the active call agent:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Process Restartability
When a Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch process exits due to an internal error (such as SIGSEGV on Unix) or is terminated by the platform, the platform restarts the processes that is exited, thereby preserving stable calls. Restarting the process is a preferred alternative to switching over to the mate.
When a process is restarted, the process audits information such as resource states, and attempts to repair inconsistencies. As compared to a switchover, process restarts preserve transient calls that are not affected by that process.
In the Cisco BTS 10200, the restartability of a process is indicated by the `Maximum restart rate' field in the platform.cfg configuration file. A zero value indicates that the process is non-restartable, while a positive value indicates that the process is restartable.
SIP Devices
Support for SIP trunks existed in previous releases of the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch, but support for SIP devices is new to Release 4.1.
The SIP support feature provided in Release 4.1 was built on the existing Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch software and hardware platform. The Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch uses SIP and SIP for telephones (SIP-T) signaling to communicate with other SIP-based network elements. The implementation is based upon the evolving industry standards for SIP, including IETF document RFC 3261, SIP: Session Initiation Protocol. The Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch supports both SIP trunks and SIP-based subscriber lines (SIP devices), and provides the following SIP-related functions:
•
•
•
For SIP feature details and applicable procedures, see the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch SIP Protocol Guide and the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch SIP Protocol Provisioning Guide.
SIP Endpoints
Release 4.1 supports SIP endpoints such as SIP devices and phones, including authentication and registration management. (For example, the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch maintains the current location of SIP subscribers.)
To see the supported SIP endpoints, refer to the SIP Endpoints field in Table 10. For feature details and applicable procedures, see the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch SIP Protocol Guide and the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch SIP Protocol Provisioning Guide.
OAMP Enhancements
Several new commands are supported in Release 4.1, including:
•
•
report system_health [start-day=[MM-DD-YYYY]]; [end-day=[MM-DD-YYYY]];•
•
New Documentation for Release 4.1
Release 4.1 introduces a new set of user documentation specifically written for the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch Release 4.1 software and hardware. When used in conjunction with the following manuals, these Release Notes provide a comprehensive guide to the Release 4.1 features and operations:
•
•
Guest
