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This is an LA release that will only be provided to a select number of PLM-sanctioned customers (PDFs only). Contact PLM for details.

This section provides solutions to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the SBC Core systems.

To search for a specific word or term, use the keyboard shortcut CTRL+F.

Click on a frequently asked question to learn more:


Can I change my SFPs from copper to fibre?

"I'm moving my SBC 5k from one building to another and need to change my SFPs from copper to fibre. Can I just swap them with the Ribbon-provided SFPs before I power on the SBC, or is there more involved?"

You can swap the SFPs as long as you make sure to use the Ribbon-provided SFPs. Do not use a mix fiber and copper SFPs (all PKT ports have to be the same and all HA ports have to be the same).

How do I transfer files from one unit to the other?

You can transfer files from one unit of a HA pair to the other (this comes in handy for large files that you may have to send over a slow VPN), using SCP and port 2024.

Beginning with release 3.1, file transfers must be performed using SFTP on port 2024. Use the following steps as a guide (you can use any CLI account in the Administrator group):

  1. From the source SBC, login to Linux shell using admin/admin and change directory to where the file is located.

  2. Connect to target SBC. In this example, SBXa is the source and SBXb is the target SBC.

    admin@SBXa$ sftp -oPort=2024 admin@SBXb
Connecting to SBXb
admin@SBXb's password: <password>
Connected to SBXb

  3. Use the put command to transfer a file to the specified directory as shown in the example below.

    sftp> put sbc-V03.01.00-R000.x86_64.tar.gz /opt/sonus/external

How do I block certain country codes?

Create a Class of service BLOCK_COUNTRY_CODES. This will contain the country codes to block, and also not hit the "Non Subscriber" call blocking.

Associated this class of service with the trunk group that is originating the calls (that you wish to block calls to certain country codes)

Example:

% show profiles services classOfService
 BLOCK_COUNTRY_CODES
 screening {
 script "";
 }
 blocking { service enable; entry "" 20 {
 callType internationalType; 
 }
 entry "" 27 {
 callType internationalType;
 }
 } nonSubscriberCallTypeFiltering private,nationalOperator,localOperator,nationalType,internationalType
 ,internationalOperator,longDistanceOperator,ipVpnService,test,transit
 ,otherCarrierChosen,carrierCutThrough,userName,mobile;
 set addressContext default zone zonePublicTrunking sipTrunkGroup 
 APBX5TEST policy services classOfService BLOCK_COUNTRY_CODES

How do I display numbers in the routing table?

To display all numbers:

admin@DFWNBS01a> show table global callRouting route

To display numbers to a certain route label:

admin@DFWNBS01a> > show table global callRouting route routingLabel TO_BLUECARRIER
                                                                                           CALL
                                                                                  TIME     PARAMETER
ELEMENT     ELEMENT      ELEMENT   ROUTING   DESTINATION  DESTINATION  CALL DIGIT RANGE    FILTER     DOMAIN      ROUTING
TYPE        ID1          ID2       TYPE      NATIONAL     COUNTRY      TYPE TYPE  PROFILE  PROFILE    NAME        LABEL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
trunkGroup  BLUECARRIER  BASSBC01  standard  9723014999   1            all  all   ALL      none       Sonus_NULL  TO_BLUECARRIER
trunkGroup  BLUECARRIER  BASSBC01  standard  9723014111   1            all  all   ALL      none       Sonus_NULL  TO_BLUECARRIER
trunkGroup  CISCOCORE    BASSBC01  standard  Sonus_NULL   1            all  all   ALL      none       Sonus_NULL  TO_BLUECARRIER
trunkGroup  TIHO_TRK     BASSBC01  standard  Sonus_NULL   1            all  all   ALL      none       Sonus_NULL  TO_BLUECARRIER


To display a specific number:

admin@DFWNBS01a> show table global callRouting route trunkGroup BLUECARRIER BASSBC01 standard 9723014999
                                                                                           CALL
                                                                                  TIME     PARAMETER
ELEMENT     ELEMENT      ELEMENT   ROUTING   DESTINATION  DESTINATION  CALL DIGIT RANGE    FILTER     DOMAIN      ROUTING
TYPE        ID1          ID2       TYPE      NATIONAL     COUNTRY      TYPE TYPE  PROFILE  PROFILE    NAME        LABEL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
trunkGroup  BLUECARRIER  BASSBC01  standard  9723014999   1            all  all   ALL      none       Sonus_NULL  TO_BLUECARRIER

You can also do a search from the EMA GUI. To view the Routing workspace, see Call Routing: System Provisioning - Routing.

Figure 1: Routes

How do I display the status of all the trunk groups in a Zone?

admin@DFWNBS01a> show status addressContext default zone zonePublicTrunking trunkGroupStatus 
 trunkGroupStatus APBX5TEST {
 state inService;
 totalCallsAvailable50;
 totalCallsInboundReserved0; inboundCallsUsage0; outboundCallsUsage0; 
totalCallsConfigured50; priorityCallUsage0; totalOutboundCallsReserved 
0; bwCurrentLimit-1; bwAvailable-1; bwInboundUsage0; bwOutboundUsage0; 
packetOutDetectStatenormal;
 }
 trunkGroupStatus TKSOFTWARE {
 state inService;
 totalCallsAvailable10;
 totalCallsInboundReserved0; inboundCallsUsage0; outboundCallsUsage0; 
totalCallsConfigured10; priorityCallUsage0; totalOutboundCallsReserved 
0; bwCurrentLimit-1; bwAvailable-1; bwInboundUsage0; bwOutboundUsage0; 
packetOutDetectStatenormal;
 }


How do I display trunk group configuration data?

You can view the trunk group configuration data using the CLI.

admin@DFWNBS01a> show table addressContext default zone zonePublicTrunking

sipTrunkGroup APBX5TEST
state enabled; mode inService; policy {
carrier0000;
country1; sipDomain""; localizationVariant northAmerica; digitParameterHandling {
numberingPlanNANP_ACCESS; ingressDmPmRule ""; egressDmPmRule"";
}
callRouting {
elementRoutingPriority DEFAULT_IP;
}
media {
packetServiceProfile pspMediaRelay;
}
services {
classOfService BLOCK_COUNTRY_CODES;
}
signaling {
ipSignalingProfile PBX_SIP;
}
}
cac {
callLimit 50;
}
signaling {
methods {
message reject;
publish reject; subscribe reject; notify reject; info reject; register reject; update reject;
}
}
media {
mediaIpInterfaceGroupName customerPublic;
}


What if my video calls are not working?

Check following:

  1. Video bandwidth:
    1. Check CAC configuration
    2. Check reduction factor
  2. Passthrough calls are permitted:
    1. Check Packet Service Profile flags (no transcode option)
    2. No convert mode for Late Media video calls
  3. Codec List Profile – check if codecListProfile manipulation results in no coded in offer/answer
  4. Ingress/Offered SDP – check if video m -line is present


How do I import a ".cli" script file from the EMA GUI?

This mechanism can be used to speed up the process of configuring the SBC. A script file can be prepared (based on specific data from other existing systems) and then imported into the SBC. For example you could create a trunk group and routable numbers for one particular customer in one script file. You then import this script, and the customer is fully provisioned and ready to go.

The ".cli" file contains CLI commands, exactly of the same format as typing in the commands from the CLI. It should be in text format only. Note that the default behavior of the system is to interpret "spaces" as a request for auto-completion, so that extra spaces in your ".cli" file will cause errors. You can turn this function off by using the CLI command:

> set complete-on-space false

Steps:

  1. Create text file with CLI commands. It is best to use Microsoft WordPad (should not use Word). This file must start with "configure" and end with "commit". Name of file must end in ".cli". Note that this is case sensitive ".CLI" will not work. Also note you may need to save the file as "text", then rename the file to end in ".cli".
  2. Include the "commit" command after each five CLI commands.
  3. On the SBC main screen, navigate to Administration > System Administration > Configuration Import/Export. The Configurations window is displayed.
    For more information on upload configuration, refer to Configuration Import/Export - Upload Configuration.

See example CLI script to create a new trunk group and routing information "CLI Script Creates Trunk Group and Routes" on page Reference Configuration.

How do I delete a specific routed number via CLI?

You must put in the full routing data involving the number to delete it via the CLI.

admin@DFWNBS01a% delete global callRouting route none Sonus_NULL Sonus_NULL standard 2144761510 1 all all ALL none Sonus_NULL


How do I delete a Trunk Group?

The trunk group must be disabled and out of service before you can delete it.

admin@SBC01a% set addressContext default zone zonePublicTrunking sipTrunkGroup "PURDUERES_7655883470 " state disabled mode outOfService 
admin@SBC01a% commit 

admin@SBC01a% delete addressContext default zone zonePublicTrunking sipTrunkGroup "PURDUERES_7655883470 " 
admin@SBC01a% commit 


How do I turn Globalization (+1) on and off per trunk group

You may need to send Globalized numbers out to a carrier trunk group, while stripping the +1 off calls that are sent to PBX trunk groups. This is accomplished via the trunk groups IP Signaling Profile. Within the IP signaling profile there is a Globalization profile. On the trunk group that needs Globalization, the IP signaling profile should contain a Globalization Profile that enables globalization. On the trunk group that globalization should not occur, a different IP Signaling profile is needed (one that has a Globalization profile that disables globalization).

You can also remove the numberGlobalizatoinProfile from the IP signaling profile that does not need Globalization (if you did not need any of the settings).

Using the DM-PM rule SIP_REMOVE_PLUS1 does not work if globalization is turned on.

Trunk group example:

  1. Associate an IP Signaling Profile which has Globallization Profile turned off to the trunk group.

    % set addressContext default zone zonePublicTrunking sipTrunkGroup DECA_3175672646 policy signaling ipSignalingProfile PBX_SIP
% commit

  2. Verify change, where NO_GLOBAL is a profile that does not globalize any numbers.

    > show configuration profiles signaling ipSignalingProfile PBX_SIP 
egressIpAttributes { 
    numberGlobalizationProfile NO_GLOBAL; 
    flags {
        bgcfTargetSchemeTransparency disable;

> show configuration profiles signaling numberGlobalizationProfile NO_GLOBAL 
entry calledNumber { 
    digitType          all; 
    countryCodeSource  destination; 
    globalize          disable;
 }

    (the above results are shortened for brevity)

How do I display the status of the HA ports?

Check the states of these ports after initial system configuration to ensure the fibers are installed correctly and the two units are communicating.

admin@SBC01a> show status system highAvailabilityPort status DFWNBS01a haPort1 {
macAddress      00:10:1b:01:11:1c;
ipAddress       0.0.0.0;
negotiatedSpeed speed1000Mbps;
oosReason       na;


How do I display registered users (Access configuration)?

The SBC can cache Registration information by turning on the Trunk Group field "Require Registration". It is often useful to display the users that have successfully Registered.

% show status addressContext default sipRegCountStatistics 
% show status addressContext default sipActiveRegNameStatus


How do I view user types and passwords?

On the SBC Application (accessed by the EMA and the CLI), various types of users are predefined. Each type of user has different capabilities. Please see Managing SBC Core Users and Accounts for details.
To add a new user or reset password from the EMA GUI, perform following:

  1. On the SBC main screen, navigate to Administration > Users and Application Management > User and Session Management.
  2. From User and Session Management window, select user or click appropriate Edit/Add/Delete icon.

To add a new user from CLI:

% set oam localAuth user <user_name> group <group_name>


How do I change default passwords?

Some customers may require that all default passwords are changed. The default passwords and method to change them are described at Managing SBC Core Users and Accounts.

How do I view media range (base and max)?

To check the range of ports that used for media:

admin@SBC01A > show configuration system media mediaPortRange baseUdpPort baseUdpPort 1024; 
admin@SBC01B > show configuration system media mediaPortRange maxUdpPort maxUdpPort 65148;
Port 5060 is reserved for SIP and is automatically excluded.


How do I set up billing to transfer to SFTP server?

You can set up to transfer CDR to an off board SFTP server on a regular basis, for example once per hour.

  1. Set up the cdrServer. Information needed are the IP address, user name, password, file name extension, and the path on the server where the billing files will be stored.
    • The full path should be given "/export/home/billing"
    • The file name extension can be the name of the System, for
    • example "DALNBS01"
    admin@DALNBS01a> show table oam accounting cdrServer admin

  2. Set up the duration for the accounting logs to rollover to the next file (for example 60 minutes).

    • Set a start time of the format "2011-08-24T18:00:00"
    • Set rollover type to "repetitive"
    • Set rollover action to "start"
    admin@DALNBS01a> show table oam eventLog typeAdmin acct

  3. Check the status of the transfer:

    admin@DALNBS01a> show table oam accounting cdrServer s

If I have multiple SIP Signaling Ports configured in a Zone, which is the source IP when sending a request to a peer?

As a best practice, Ribbon recommends configuring one signaling port per zone. The SBC chooses a port (usually the first port) in the zone for outbound connections. However, the SBC cannot enforce the use of a specific signaling port within the zone to initiate a call on a trunk group. The trunk is assigned to a zone and not to a signaling port in the configuration model.  To associate a unique source port for each trunk group, create separate zones defining a single signaling port per zone.

How many routes per call does the ERE support?

The ERE returns up to 10 routes. If more than 10 routing label routes are created, only the first 10 in-service routes are returned.

If I replace my CDR server but keep the same IP address, are any changes needed on SBC?

The SBC writes CDRs locally, and simply transfers them using SFTP to the CDR server (for example, DSI L0 server) based on the IP address listed in CDR server settings on the SBC. If you replace the CDR server with another server, but maintain the same IP address and user settings, no change is needed on the SBC.

Does SBC HA use a heartbeat scenario to talk to the other box?

The SBC uses Transparent Inter-process Communication (TIPC) to monitor several processes and applications running on the opposite server.

I am using Linux shell 'top' command and see CPU utilization over 100% for a process. What does this mean?

The top command returns the sum of CPU utilization by all threads within a process. The SBC is a multi-core system, and the process in question is utilizing more than one core. For more accurate results, use top –Hcommand to see process utilization per core/thread.

Is there a simple way to compare my CLI configuration settings against the default values?

Yes! You can view both configured values and defaults using the 'show' command. First, turn on default values setting using the following 'set' command:

set show defaults true 

Next, enter your 'show configuration' command:

show configuration <one or more list objects>

Refer to CLI System-Level Mode for details.

Can I install custom Linux scripts or make other OS level changes?

NO! SBC Core is a closed network device. Customer modifications at the Linux level are not allowed or supported. These modifications can cause stability, update and fail-over issues on SBC platform. Customers must ONLY configure the SBC using the supported interfaces(CLI, REST, EMA, EMS).

How may CLI 'set' commands can I commit at one time?

Note

As a best practice, issue a commit command after each group of approximately 10 set commands are entered.

How do I monitor IP addresses of users logged into the SBC?

Login to the EMA and navigate to Administration > Users and Application Management > User Management window and view User Sessions table.

What is the maximum number of DM/PM rules allowed on the ERE?

The ERE does not limit the number of DM/PM rules.

Can I configure the SBC to send CDRs to multiple primary CDR servers?

Currently, the SBC only supports one one primary and one secondary CDR server.

Why can I not read OIDs directly from the MIB tables?

The OIDs are indexes in the MIB tables, and indexes are not readable using SNMP GET requests. The SNMP GETNEXT requests are used to find out what indexes are currently present in the MIB tables. For more information, refer to the section How to Retrieve Ribbon Enterprise MIB OIDs.

How long does it take to save an SMM containing a very large number of rules?

It can take several hours to execute and save an SMM with a very large number of rules.

For example, saving an SMM profile containing 10,000 rules, 80,000 criterion and 50,000 actions can take approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes. This delay applies to all interfaces (CLI, GUI and REST API).

How does the SBC handle the call when the destination of "Refer-to" Header is down?

If the destination of “Refer-to” header is down due to some reason, then the SBC reconnects the original call between the transferee and transferor again.

When the SBC receives “Refer-to” header, can the SBC assign multiple destination IP addresses including “Refer-to” header?

The SBC cannot assign multiple destination IP addresses that include "Refer-to" headers.