User Support Level 2

Note	The features and/or parameters listed in this article may not be available from your telephone service provider.

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Introduction

The supporter finds here instructions how to handle a user's level 2 telephony problems:

• Best Practice for Handling an User Problem
• Record the Customer's Data and Problem Description
• Analyzing the Customer Problem
• Solving the Customer Problem

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Introduction Support Level 2

The level 2 support is the first instance where the user's telephony problems are handled that a user cannot solve himself. Additionally the level 2 supporter must be able to detect if the user problem is a "single" problem or if there is a large scale problem, that produces the same problem for multiple customers, e.g. data transfer problems in the Internet so that no VoIP call signaling is possible.

The level 2 supporter must be aware of the complexity of a VoIP system and the multitude of telephony solutions on the user side. Further he needs an understanding of:

• IP networking
• VoIP protocols SIP for signaling, SDP and RTP for speech transmission.

Overview of a VoIP system and the multitude of user telephony solutions:

The level 2 supporter faces problems with the following layers:

1. Equipment
2. IP data transfer
3. Telephony service

And each of this layer can be located into the following raw areas:

1. Customer/User site
2. Internet Service Provider ISP
3. Telephony Provider

This layer and dividing into areas produces a "3x3 Support Matrix":

Within this "3x3 Support Matrix" the supporter can:

• advice the customer what to do when the problem is located in the nodes 1-T, 1-D and 1-E
• check the customer configurations on the VoIP Switch, node 3-T, and, if he has operator rights, adjust configurations.

For the other cases the level 2 supporter must be able to identify if:

• the user must contact his ISP, due to possible Internet access problems
• the VoIP System administrator must be involved, due to possible telephony service problems

Hint:

These cases indicate mostly large scale problems within the VoIP system!

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Best Practice for Handling an User Problem

Best Practice

Record the customer's data and problem description: Get the customer data Get the problem description from the customer Show me how ...   Cross check the user input against the VoIP switch configuration and logs. Via ConfigCenter check the users account configuration: Telephone number registration TopStop RuleSet Consult the "Call Data" for the last connection attempts and connections longer than 2min Show me how ...   Evaluate the user's VoIP setup: For questioning and analyzing the user's problem it is necessary that the supporter is aware of the VoIP setup of the user. Show me how ...   Check the big picture: If you are sure that the problem is "single" one continue with the next step "Solve the customer problem" If you suspect that the customer is not the only one with this problem within a short time range, e.g. 30min, then contact the VoIP switch administrator/operator if there is known issue in the VoIP system that causes this type of problem. Show me how ...   Solve the customer's problem: You have now enough basic information for solving the customer's problem Show me how ...   If you are not able to solve this problem then contact the provider support. Have ready all collected information and what you have done and found out until now.

The supporter shall record the user information and the results of his own research:

This information is most welcome if he needs the support of the provider and has to inform him about the case.

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Step 1: Record the Customer's Data and Problem Description

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Get the Customer's Data

From the customer get:

• Name of the caller
• Telephone number of the caller
• if applicable the company name

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Note the Customer's Problem Description

From the customer get:

• Date and time of the issue
• The involved telephone numbers
• The problem description

If the customer doesn't know then identify via the ConfigCenter the telephone number and its associated account.

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Step 2: Cross Check the User Inputs

With this cross check the supporter can validate the user information, gets an impression of the state of the account and will probably find the reason for the user problem...

Via ConfigCenter check the users status and account configuration on the VoIP Switch:

1. Check "Validity":

   Check if the user account and its addresses are existing and "valid".

2. Check the telephone number registration status.

   If there is no registration you can proceed directly with The user device is not registered ...

3. Check "TopStop":

   Check if a TopStop in the account or address prevents the user from doing outgoing calls.

4. Check "RuleSet":

   Check if a RuleSet in the account or address prevents the user from doing outgoing or receiving calls.

5. Check "Call Forwards" or "Call Rejecting":

   Check if a "Call Forwards" or "Call Rejecting" in the account prevents the user from doing outgoing or receiving calls.

6. Check "Call Data":

   Consult the "Call Data" for the last connection attempts and connections longer than 2min of the user.

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Step 3: Evaluate the User's VoIP Setup

For questioning and analyzing the user's problem it is necessary that the supporter is aware of the VoIP setup of the user.

The experienced supporter knows of the user's VoIP setup after the cross check . If not here the supporter finds the most implemented VoIP setup's.

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VoIP Setup: Residential

Characteristics:

• Private household
• Single or few telephone number
• Each telephone number registers individually

Most common problems:

• Account or telephone number blocked on the VoIP switch
• Telephone number not correctly ported to the telephony provider
• Telephone not correctly configured
• Telephone, cables defect
• Internet access fails

Overview VoIP Setup:

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VoIP Setup: Legacy ISDN PBX

Characteristics:

• Company PBX
• The ISDN PBX is connected via BRI or PRI to an ISDN-SIP Gateway
• One or more telephone number ranges
• The telephone numbers are registered via a main number
• The telephone number of incoming calls are signaled with only a few digits

Most common problems:

• Account or telephone numbers blocked on the VoIP switch
• Telephone number ranges not correctly ported to the telephony provider
• Wrong incoming telephone number signaling
• Internet access fails
• The company Firewall VoIP ALG interferes with the SIP signaling or needed IP ports are blocked.
• QoS problems for speech, Fax, DECT

Overview VoIP Setup:

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VoIP Setup: IP PBX

Characteristics:

• Company PBX
• The IP PBX is connected directly or via SBC to the VoIP Switch
• One or more telephone number ranges
• The telephone numbers are registered via a main number

Most common problems:

• Account or telephone numbers blocked on the VoIP switch
• Telephone number ranges not correctly ported to the telephony provider
• The company Firewall and/or SBC VoIP ALG interferes with the SIP signaling or needed IP ports are blocked.
• Internet access fails
• QoS problems for speech

Overview VoIP Setup:

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VoIP Setup: vPBX

Characteristics:

• Company PBX
• The IP Phones are connected directly to the VoIP Switch
• One or more telephone number ranges

Most common problems:

• Public account and/or public telephone numbers blocked on the VoIP switch
• Public telephone number ranges not correctly ported to the telephony provider
• Private account and/or private telephone numbers blocked on the VoIP switch
• Provisioning of the SIP devices out of the AdminCenter
• The company or home office Firewalls and/or SBCs VoIP policies or ALG interferes with the SIP signaling or needed IP ports are blocked.
• Company/home office Internet access fails
• QoS problems for speech, FAX, DECT

Overview VoIP Setup:

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Step 4: Check the Big Picture

At this point the supporter should get aware if the problem is limited to this user or if it could be large scale problem within the VoIP System.

If the supporter suspects a large scale problem, due to a great amount of the same ore similar user complains then he should contact the telephony provider support or emergency organization.

If the supporter has enough privileges he can check:

1. The VoIP Switch component status

   This will show if the VoIP Switch itself hat a problem.

2. The VoIP System monitor

   Here you can check if:

   • The registrations dropped in a large scale
   • The calls dropped in a large scale
   • The IP connectivity somewhere in the VoIP system failled

At any rate the supporter must inform the VoIP system administrator!

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Step 5: Solve the Customer Problem

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Solve "Device / Network / Configuration / Registration" Problems

This problem type covers the following erroneous conditions:

• The device doesn't start
• The device doesn't integrate into the IP network
• The device is not correctly configured
• The device doesn't register at the VoIP Switch

Note	If the device is connected to an IP-PBX then these problems must be solved with the responsible of the IP-PBX.

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Solve "Device Hardware & Firmware" Problem

1 Step: Is the device powered on, not defect?

	Customer	Internet ISP	Telephony Provider
Telephony
Data Transfer
Equipment	Check if the device correctly powered and shows basic activity? Is the power cable correctly plugged in? Is the power cable not defect? Does the device show power on indication, e.g. display on, LED on? Actions: → Replace the power cable → Replace defect device if the powering is ok but no working indication is displayed

Warning

Defect power cables must be replaced! Faulty power cables can be life-threatening!

2 Step: Is the device connected to the IP network?

	Customer	Internet ISP	Telephony Provider
Telephony
Data Transfer
Equipment	Is the device correctly connected to the IP network? Is the patch cable correctly plugged in? Is the patch cable not defect? Are there LED flashing or glow next to the network plug on the device or at the peer device (access router, IP switch)? Actions: → Replace the patch cable → Plug in the patch cable at a different port at the peer device (access router, IP switch) → Replace defect device if the patch cable and peer port is ok but no working indication is displayed at the device port.

3 Step: Has the device a reasonable firmware loaded?

	Customer	Internet ISP	Telephony Provider
Telephony
Data Transfer
Equipment	Has the device a reasonable firmware loaded? The user must check the loaded firmware Actions: → Replace the firmware if outdated or important bugs are fixed

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Solve "Device Network" Problem

1 Step: Has the device an IP address and can access the Internet?

	Customer	Internet ISP	Telephony Provider
Telephony
Data Transfer	Has the device got an IP address? Check on the device if it has received an IP address, e.g. via display or maintenance GUI. Actions: If no IP address was assigned the user must: → Check if the device is really connected to the IP network! → Check if the device is configured with a fixed IP address! If it has a fixed IP does it match with the IP subnet? Is the default GW and DNS entry configured? → Check if the device is configured to use DHCP! if the DHCP service in the IP network is running If the user cannot check the DHCP service he must contact the company IT responsible or the responsible of maintaining the access router. Has the device access toward the VoIp Switch? Check if the device makes contact with the VoIP Switch via Internet or any private IP Link. Actions: → If the device shall connect via the Internet: Connect a PC to the Ethernet port where the device usually is connected and try to connect to any public Web site. → If the device shall connect via an private network check with the IT responsible if the access to the VoIP Switch is guaranteed.
Equipment

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Solve "Registration" Problem

1 Step: Review the account and telephone number configuration

	Customer	Internet ISP	Telephony Provider
Telephony			Check via ConfigCenter: Does the user account exist and is it "valid"? Does the telephone number exist and is it "valid"? Actions: → Check why the account, telephone number doesn't exist or is disabled → activate them if allowed.
Data Transfer
Equipment

2 Step: Where REGISTER messages received from the device on the VoIP Switch?

	Customer	Internet ISP	Telephony Provider
Telephony			In the "Support Log" search for the device registration in the present and past time. Set the "Support Log" filters Insert at "Text" the account name Insert at "From" - "Until" a reasonable time span where registrations could be expected Select the category: "Registration" Start the search and find out according the results what is going wrong. If needed repeat the search with the telephone number in the "Text" or other time spans Check the log results see below Actions: see below
Data Transfer
Equipment

Failed registrations due to disabled account or address:

2017-09-15-07:56:49.553 Registration failed, disabled account aan1-00093 tried to register number 0449980010

Actions:

• Check why the account is disabled and activate if allowed.

Failed registrations due to wrong SIP credentials:

2017-09-15-08:05:38.117 Registration failed, invalid credentials for account acc-01 2017-09-15-08:05:39.112 Registration failed, unknown username 'myusername' tried to register '0123456789' 2017-09-15-08:05:38.377 Registration failed, unknown number '0987654321' tried to register for account acc-01

Actions:

• The user must manually adjust the SIP credentials on the device
• The user must re-configure the device via AdminCenter

The device didn't refresh its registration:

2017-09-15-07:59:00.862 RegID989961 ended for 0987654321 ip=111.111.111.111:65398 ua=my-device v1.0

Actions:

• Order the user to check if the device is really on-line!
• Order the user to check if the device is defect? powered on? patch? IP address? → see below

For information a successful registration:

2017-09-15-07:59:30.383 RegID989965 started for 0987654321 ip=111.111.111.111:65398 ua=my-device v1.0

Hint:
The supporter might try to find REGISTER messages from the device in the "Trace" . This gives the certainty that the message was received by the VoIP switch. The supporter can filter for the telephone number. If the IP address is needed then the customer must be able to tell or evaluate it, e.g.:

https://www.whatismyip.com/

3 Step: Is the device correctly configured for registration??

	Customer	Internet ISP	Telephony Provider
Telephony	For a manually configured device, check that the device has the correct configuration for: Telephone number SIP credentials VoIP Switch domain configuration Actions: → The user must manually check the device configuration and if needed adjust its configuration of the telephone number, SIP credentials and VoIP Switch domain for registration For a automatically via AdminCenter configured device check that: the selected device type in the AdminCenter is identical to the physical one. Actions: → If not the same type then the user must re-configure the device via AdminCenter For a automatically via AdminCenter configured device check that: the user device has downloaded its configuration. Actions: → If the configuration is not downloaded then it must be checked if the device: has got an IP address in the local IP network has access to the Internet has access to the configuration download of the Telephony Provider. By default this is the IP address of the VoIP Switch domain and uses the protocol HTTPS on TCP port 443. Check with the Telephone provider or via ConfigCenter > Menu "System" > "Zone Profiles" → The user must check if the Firewall, SBC or Access Router doesn't block HTTPS traffic to and from the configuration download of the Telephony Provider
Data Transfer
Equipment

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Solve "Telephone Connections" Problems

This problem type covers the following erroneous conditions:

• Incoming or outgoing calls are not working
• Wrong called number
• Call supervision
• User device not registered
• User device not correct configured
• SIP signaling in general

Note	If the device is connected to an IP-PBX then these problems must be solved with the responsible of the IP-PBX.

1 Step: Review the account and telephone number configuration / registration?

	Customer	Internet ISP	Telephony Provider
Telephony			Do this check for the A and/or B telephone number if they are on-net numbers of the VoIP SWitch. Check via ConfigCenter: Does the telephone number exist? Is the telephone number valid? Is the user account valid? Is the telephone number correctly registered Actions: → Check why the account, telephone number doesn't exist or is disabled and activate if allowed. → Check why the device is not registered at the VoIP Switch
Data Transfer
Equipment

Hint:

• If the device is not registered outgoing calls might be working but NO incoming call will work.

2 Step: Was the called number correctly transmitted to the peer?

	Customer	Internet ISP	Telephony Provider
Telephony			Check via ConfigCenter: In the "Call Data" search for the erroneous call: Set the "Call Data" filters: Insert at "Time" a reasonable time span where the erroneous call is to be expected. Set "Duration" to 00:00:00 Insert at "Called Number" the called number Start the search and identify the CDR of the erroneous call in the list If no CDR was found search for the "Calling Number"! Open the identified CDR and get the trace of the call, click the Button [ Trace ] Check if the called number in the "TO-Header" in all INVITE messages is correct: Is the called number correct? Often the users don't dial all digits or wrong digits or the configured number on a direct call key is incorrect. If the number is dialed correctly then it can be that the destination is not reachable. Outgoing calls from a vPBX can miss the public prefix Check the peers call cancel reason: SIP Failure Responses Actions: → Inform the user to dial the correct number. → Try to reach the called number via an alternative telephone network, e.g. from a mobile telephone. → Check with the support of the telephony provider why the called number is not reachable.
Data Transfer
Equipment

3 Step: What is the reason of an interrupted connection?

	Customer	Internet ISP	Telephony Provider
Telephony	Search in the "Call Data" for the erroneous call: Set the "Call Data" filters: Insert at "Time" a reasonable time span where the erroneous call is to be expected. Set "Duration" to 00:00:00 Insert at "Called Number" the called number Start the search and identify the CDR of the erroneous call in the list → If no CDR was found search for the "Calling Number"! Open the identified CDR and check for the release or reject reason: Was the connection released by a peer, A or B side? Check cancel reason in "State" ( SIP Failure Responses ) Actions: → Inform the user about the release reason, e.g. his own device or the peer device released the call regularly (but probably nor expected). Check if a call was released due to call supervision: Variant 1: Session Timer was not refreshed: Open the "Trace" of the connection and check if the connection was released due to missing RE-INVITE from the peers when the Session Timer run out. Actions: → Inform the user that his device did not restart the Session Timer. The device configuration must be inspected an adjusted if needed. Variant 2: SIP INFO were not answered by the peer: Open the "Trace" of the connection and check if the connection was released due to not answered INFO messages that were sent from the VoIP Switch toward the peers. If activated the INFO's are sent usually every 120sec. Actions: → Inform the user that his device did not answered INFO messages. It must be checke with the support of the device manufacturer if the device doesn't send 200 ACK when an empty INFO message was received ("SIP ping"). Variant 3: Missing RTP packets between the peers: This type of problem is a difficult one and hard to check and solve! It must be handled like a QoS problem. Media transferring devices as the MediaServer of the VoIP Switch, SBCs, SS7-Gateways, SIP-Trunks supervise the media stream of RTP packets. If after a certain time no RTP packets are transferred in a connection then such an instance can release the call. Typically after 30secs a connection is released if no RTP streams are detected. Open the "Media Trace" of the connection and check if there are remarkable differences between the amount of sent and received or lost RTP packets. Actions: See "Quality of Service QoS problem" below.
Data Transfer
Equipment

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Solve "Quality of Service QoS" Problem

This problem type covers the following erroneous conditions:

• Bad voice quality
• Short interruptions during the connection
• No voice transmission in one direction from the beginning of the connection
• No voice transmission in both directions from the beginning of the connection

1 Step:  ????

	Customer	Internet ISP	Telephony Provider
Telephony			Intro Check via ConfigCenter: Does ? Actions: → Check → Check
Data Transfer
Equipment

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Solve "DECT Multi-Cell with ISDN-PBX" Problem

This problem type covers the following erroneous conditions:

• Bad speech quality in an ISDN-PBX environment
• Glitches in the voice transmission, it "clicks"

ISDN-PBX environment usually provide an excellent voice quality. In an VoIP environment this excellent voice quality can be only maintained if the ISDN-PBX can synchronize with high precision clock source.

1 Step: Check the ISDN reference clock

	Customer	Internet ISP	Telephony Provider
Telephony
Data Transfer
Equipment	Check: Does the ISDN-PBX take its clock reference from a high precision clock? Actions: → Make sure the ISDN-PBX takes its reference clock from a high precision source. → Use an ISDN-Gateway which provides a high precision clock.

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Solve "Special Telephony" Problem

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Solve "FAX Transmission" Problem

This problem type covers the following erroneous conditions:

• FAX transmission doesn't start
• FAX transmission is dropped
• The transmitted document is incomplete

Note	If the FAX is connected to an IP-PBX then FAX problems must be solved with the responsible of the IP-PBX.

In a VoIP environment FAX no longer achieve the same degree of reliability as before in an analogue or ISDN one. The FAX reliability depends on various factors such as the type of device, device settings and the way the device is connected to the IP network. It depends also on the quality of the transmitter and receiver of the peer FAX devices. Getting all these factors together a transmission may not even start or dropped unexpectedly. The transmitted documents may be incomplete.

The users must expect increasing difficulties in the future, especially for international transmissions.

1 Step: Check the FAX device configuration

	Customer	Internet ISP	Telephony Provider
Telephony
Data Transfer
Equipment	Check: the configuration of the FAX device Actions: → Adjust the FAX device configuration: Reduce the transmission speed to max. 9600bds. Switch OFF the error correction as e.g. EMC If the device offers a "VoIP mode" then experiment with it and check if the results are better.

2 Step: Check the FAX transmission configuration of the gateway

	Customer	Internet ISP	Telephony Provider
Telephony
Data Transfer
Equipment	Depending on the quality of the IP network the supporter and/or administrator of the gateway can experiment with the FAX transmission protocol of the gateway device. Checks: Check with the Telephony provider if there are recommendations or directives which type of FAX transmission protocols are to use, e.g.: In band transmission with codec G.711alaw or G.711ulaw Out band transmission with T.38 Check the configuration of the gateway device Actions: → If the user/customer has a good quality IP network and the Telephone provider allows it then try: "In band transmission with codec G.711" → If the user/customer has a lower quality IP network and the Telephone provider allows it then try: "Out band transmission with T.38"

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Solve "DECT Multi-Cell with ISDN-PBX" Problem

This problem type covers the following erroneous conditions:

• Hand over from cell to cell is not working
• Bad speech quality

Note	If the DECT Multi-Cell system is connected to an IP-PBX then DECT problems must be solved with the responsible of the IP-PBX.

DECT-Multi-Cell systems connected to an ISDN-PBX which is working with in a VoIP environment experience special issues. Most issues are interconnected with accuracy of the synchronization clock of the ISDN-PBX. If this synchronization clock is not especially precise then the reference clock of the DECT-Multi-Cell system will have problems as described above.

1 Step: Check the ISDN reference clock

	Customer	Internet ISP	Telephony Provider
Telephony
Data Transfer
Equipment	Check: Does the ISDN-PBX take its clock reference from a high precision clock? Actions: → Make sure the ISDN-PBX takes its reference clock from a high precision source. → Use an ISDN-Gateway which provides a high precision clock.

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© Aarenet Inc 2018

Version: 3.0     Author:  Aarenet     Date: May 2017