-
Cisco IPICS Server Administration Guide, Release 2.1(1)
-
Preface
-
Introducing Cisco IPICS
-
Performing Cisco IPICS System Administrator Tasks
-
Performing Cisco IPICS Operator Tasks
-
Performing Cisco IPICS Dispatcher Tasks
-
Performing Cisco IPICS User Tasks
-
Configuring and Managing Cisco IPICS Operational Views
-
Using the Cisco IPICS Policy Engine
-
Configuring and Managing the Cisco IPICS Policy Engine
-
Performing Cisco IPICS Backup and Restore Operations
-
Understanding Cisco IPICS Serviceability and Diagnostic Information
-
Configuring the Cisco IPICS RMS Component
-
Setting Up and Using a Cisco Unified IP Phone as a Cisco IPICS Push-to-Talk Device
-
Using Cisco IPICS for External Notifications
-
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Glossary
-
Index
-
Table Of Contents
Performing Cisco IPICS System Administrator Tasks
Managing PTT Channels and Channel Groups
Understanding the Channels Window
Viewing and Editing Channel Details
Changing the Status of a PTT Channel
Understanding Association Attribute Behaviors
User-Channel Association Example
Associating PTT Channels to Ops Views
Associating Users to PTT Channels
Associating Radio Control Signals to PTT Channels
Understanding the Channel Groups Window
Viewing and Editing Channel Group Details
Viewing Channel Group Associations
Removing a PTT Channel from a Channel Group
Associating Ops Views to Channel Groups
Understanding How Buttons Display on the PMC
Configuring Channel Selectors and Tone Control Sequences
Channel Selector Configuration
Caveats for Configuring Default Tone Sequences
Understanding the Radios Window
Viewing and Editing Radio Details
Associating Users to a Radio From the Radios Window
Managing Radio and Tone Descriptors
Understanding the Descriptors Window
Adding Radio and Tone Descriptors
Updating Radio and Tone Descriptors
Deleting Radio and Tone Descriptors
Predefined Cisco IPICS Locations
Summary of Access Types and Connections
Understanding the Locations Window
Understanding the Multicast Pool Window
Guidelines for Using IP Multicast Addresses with Cisco IPICS
Viewing and Editing Multicast Address Information
Viewing and Editing RMS Details, Activating an RMS, and Deactivating an RMS
Editing or Viewing RMS Details
Deactivating or Activating an RMS
Viewing and Configuring Loopbacks
Viewing Detailed Information about a Loopback
Managing the RMS Configuration
Understanding the License Management Window
Understanding Time-bound License Behavior
Understanding the Activity Log Management Window
Viewing and Downloading Activity Logs
Downloading Archived Activity Logs
Managing Activity Log Options Per Ops View
Understanding the PMC Versions Window
Uploading PMC Versions to the Cisco IPICS Server
Changing the State of PMC Versions
Installing a New PMC Version Before You Upgrade Your Cisco IPICS Server
Viewing or Editing PMC Alert Tone Sets
Associating an Alert Tone Set to an Ops View
Using the PMC Installer Window
Understanding the PMC Regions Window
Viewing or Editing PMC Regions
Performing Cisco IPICS System Administrator Tasks
The Cisco IPICS system administrator is responsible for installing the Cisco IPICS software and for setting up Cisco IPICS resources, including servers, routers, multicast addresses, locations, and PTT and radio channels. The system administrator also manages the Cisco IPICS licenses and PMC versions, monitors the status of the system, reviews log files, as needed, and creates operational views.
In addition, the system administrator is responsible for performing backup and restore operations. For more information, see Chapter 9, "Performing Cisco IPICS Database Backup and Restore Operations."
Most of the system administrator activities that you perform are accessible from the Administration Console Configuration and Administration drawers. To access these drawers, log in to the Administration Console as described in the "Accessing the Administration Console" section on page 1-12, then choose the Configuration or the Administration drawer.
Note
You must be assigned the system administrator role to access the Configuration and Administration drawers.
The following sections describe many of the system administrator activities that you can perform from the Cisco IPICS Administration Console:
•
•
•
For information about managing operational views in the Ops Views window, see Chapter 6, "Configuring and Managing Cisco IPICS Operational Views."
For information about managing database backup and restore operations in the Database Management window, see Chapter 9, "Performing Cisco IPICS Database Backup and Restore Operations."
Managing PTT Channels and Channel Groups
A PTT channel, also referred to as a channel, is a communications path that allows users to communicate with each other. A Cisco IPICS channel defines and describes the specific content stream of the channel regardless of the source of that content. Channel connections distinguish one content stream from another, and are determined by location.
A channel carries traffic to and from a VTG, a land mobile radio (LMR) gateway, a PMC, and an IP phone. Remote PMC users can connect to a channel using a unicast SIP connection to an RMS component.
A channel can also refer to a radio control interface (radio or radio channel), which also has an audio stream. For information about managing radios in Cisco IPICS, see the "Managing Radios" section.
A channel group is a logical grouping of PTT channels. Channel groups allow Cisco IPICS dispatchers to work with multiple PTT channels efficiently. For example, instead of dragging individual PTT channels one at a time to set up a VTG, a Cisco IPICS dispatcher can drag a channel group to move all associated channels in the group. A PTT channel can be in as many channel groups as you require.
As a Cisco IPICS system administrator, you can perform the following PTT channel and channel group management tasks:
Channel Management Tasks
•
•
•
•
•
•
Channel Group Management Tasks
•
•
•
•
You perform the PTT channel management tasks in the Channels and Channel Groups windows, located in the Configuration drawer of the Administration Console. For more information about these windows, including how to access them, see the "Understanding the Channels Window" section and the "Understanding the Channel Groups Window" section.
Understanding the Channels Window
The Channels window lists information about each of the channels that you have added in Cisco IPICS.
The bottom area of this window displays a list of Cisco IPICS channels and general information for each channel. By default, this area displays all channels, but you can choose to display only channels that match search criteria that you specify in the top area of the window.
Note
This window also enables you to perform several channel management functions. To display the Channels window, access the Configuration drawer; then click Channels.
Table 2-1 describes the items in the Channels window.
Table 2-1 Items in the Channels Window
Channel Name field
This field allows you to display only channel names that include the character string that you enter (characters are not case-sensitive).
To limit the display of channels or to display a certain channel, enter the desired search criteria in the filter field; then, click Go.
Ops View drop-down list box
This field allows you to display only channels for which the associated ops view matches the information that you choose.
Go button
Click this button to display channels by the filters that you choose.
Clear Filter button
Click this button to remove filter selections and display an empty list of channels.
Click the Channels link again to display the full list of entries.
Channel Name field
This field indicates the unique identifier that is assigned to the channel.
See the "Viewing and Editing Channel Details" section and the "Adding a PTT Channel" section
Ops View field
This field indicates the ops view to which the channel belongs.
Secure field
This field indicates whether the channel is secure.
Codec field
This field specifies the codec (G.711 or G.729) that is used by this channel.
VTG field
This field indicates whether the channel is allowed in a Virtual Talk Group (VTG).
See the "Viewing and Editing Channel Details" section and the "Adding a PTT Channel" section
Users field
This field indicates whether the channel is allowed to be associated to users to affect all endpoints such as the PMC and IP phone.
Channel Status field
This field indicates whether the channel is enabled, disabled, or active.
Prompt field
This field indicates whether a spoken name prompt is recorded for the channel.
This prompt plays for a user when the user logs in to the Cisco IPICS telephony user interface.
You can record the spoken name prompt for a user by clicking the Not Recorded or the Recorded link in the Prompt column. When you click a link in the Prompt column, the Spoken Names window displays.
See Chapter 8, "Configuring and Managing the Cisco IPICS Policy Engine"
Add button
Click this button to add a new channel in Cisco IPICS.
See the "Adding a PTT Channel" section
Delete button
Click this button to delete the specified channel(s).
See the "Deleting a PTT Channel" section
Change Status drop-down list box
Choose from the enable or disable option to change the status of a channel.
Associations button
Click this button to view associations for the specified channel.
See the "Associating Users to PTT Channels" section, the "Viewing Channel Associations" section, and the "Associating Radio Control Signals to PTT Channels" section
Rows per page drop-down list box
Specifies the number of rows of channels that are included in a channels list page.
Page field
Displays channels on a specific page.
|< (First page) button
Displays the first page of the channels list.
< (Previous page) button
Displays the previous page of the channels list.
> (Next page) button
Displays the next page of the channels list.
>| (Last page) button
Displays the last page of the channels list.
Adding a PTT Channel
Adding a PTT channel makes it available for use by Cisco IPICS.
Before you add a PTT channel, configure locations as described in the "Adding Radio and Tone Descriptors" section.
To add a new channel, perform the following procedure:
Procedure
Step 1
Step 2
The General tab for a new channel displays.
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
If you do not want to add the channel, click Cancel.
Viewing and Editing Channel Details
You can view and edit information for any channel.
To view or edit channel details, perform the following procedure:
Procedure
Step 1
Step 2
The General tab for the selected channel displays. This window contains general information for that channel. Table 2-2 provides descriptions of the fields in the General tab.
Note
Table 2-2 General Tab Fields in Channels Window
Name
This field represents the name of the channel.
The name can include alphanumeric characters, spaces, and any of these characters: ". , - ` # ( ) / :_".
Choose a unique and recognizable name that accurately describes the PTT channel. It is often helpful to name the PTT channel according to the department or organization that use it, or for a particular geographic region (for example Fire Department or North Area).
Note
Short Name
This field represents the condensed name of the channel.
The name can include alphanumeric characters, spaces, and any of these characters: ". , _ ` # ( ) / :_".
Description—Optional
This field allows you to enter a description for this channel.
Preferred Codec
This drop-down list box allows you to choose the codec (G.711 or G.729) that is used by this channel.
Use G.711 if this channel should be available to Cisco Unified IP Phone users or if it is part of a VTG.
Use G.711 or G.729 if this channel is available to PMC users. G.729 requires digital signal processor (DSP) resources for transcoding.
Note
For more information about codecs, refer to the Solution Reference Network Design (SRND) for Cisco IPICS Release 2.1(1).
Secure Channel
This drop-down list box allows you to specify whether this channel is a secure channel.
This field is for reference only and should be set to reflect the configuration of the channel in your network. Changing this setting does not affect the security configuration of the channel.
Note
Allow association to users
This check box allows you to indicate whether this channel is available to all Cisco IPICS users. Use this option to prevent certain channels from being associated to users.
If the channel is configured to disallow association to a user (attribute check box is not checked), the channel does not display as available to users in the User window and it is not available on the PMC. In addition, the User tab, in the channel Association window, does not display.
Note
Allow use in VTGs
This check box allows you to indicate whether this channel is an available resource for participation in a VTG.
Use this setting to prevent certain channels from being included in a VTG. For example, a PMC user who interacts with a another user may wish to hear all the call progress tones that the other user's handset generates, to give feedback when a radio channel is available. These types of progress tones can be assigned to this channel. Because the tones can be disruptive, however, you might not want to add this type of channel to a VTG with a large group of users; therefore, when you create this channel, you would disallow its use in VTGs.
If the channel is configured to disallow this channel in a VTG (attribute check box is not checked), the channel does not display in the Resources area of the VTGs in the VTG Management window and is not available for participation in VTGs. The channel can, however, display as available for association to users and user groups, in the User and User Groups windows.
If you change the channel such that it is no longer allowed in a VTG, the channel remains active in any current VTG to which it is a participant. However, the channel is not allowed to join any other VTG.
Note
Status—Display only
This field displays one the following channel states:
•
•
•
Type
This field specifies the type of connection that Cisco IPICS and devices use to connect to this channel when connecting from the corresponding location.
Choose one of the following options from the drop-down list box:
•
•
Location
This field displays when you choose a multicast connection type from the Type drop-down list box.
Channels or users who are associated with the same location are reachable within a multicast network boundary. Therefore, users who are in the same multicast domain are also in the same Cisco IPICS location. Remote, SIP-based users are not in the same location as multicast users. Remote users connect by establishing connectivity with the appropriate RMS via a SIP-based unicast connection for each channel or VTG that has been assigned to the user.
Note
If the network is configured so that the channel can be accessed by users in every location, set this value to All.
See the "Adding Radio and Tone Descriptors" section for more detailed information about how to configure locations.
Address
This field displays when you choose a multicast connection type from the Type drop-down list box.
This field specifies the multicast address, in the corresponding location, that is used to connect to this channel.
Note
Two channels in the same location cannot have the same multicast address. See the "Managing Locations" section for more detailed information about locations.
Port
This field displays when you choose a multicast connection type from the Type drop-down list box.
This field specifies the multicast address port number, in the corresponding location, that is used to connect to this channel.
Note
Radio
This drop-down list box displays when you choose a radio device type from the Type drop-down list box.
Channel Selector
This field displays when you choose a radio device type from the Type drop-down list box.
Choose a channel selector from the drop-down list box.
Note
Each channel can have a specific set of signaling (over-the-air) tones that need to be broadcast over the radio. When a user is associated with the channel, any signaling tones that are defined for that channel are available for use by the PMC in that channel. The PMC user must use the radio-centric skin to see radio channels signaling tones. By using this skin, the PMC user can transmit tones over the channel.
TipFor more information about the PMC, refer to the Cisco IPICS PMC Installation and User Guide, Release 2.1(1).
Belongs To
This drop-down list box allows you to choose the ops view to which you want to associate this channel. See the "Associating PTT Channels to Ops Views" section for detailed information.
Note
For general information about ops views, see Chapter 6, "Configuring and Managing Cisco IPICS Operational Views."
Accessible To
This drop-down list box allows you to choose the ops views to which you want this channel to be accessible. See the "Associating PTT Channels to Ops Views" section for information about how to associate ops views to channels.
For general information about ops views, see Chapter 6, "Configuring and Managing Cisco IPICS Operational Views."
Edit button
Click this button to make this channel accessible to other ops views.
Note
See the "Associating PTT Channels to Ops Views" section for more information.
For general information about ops views, see Chapter 6, "Configuring and Managing Cisco IPICS Operational Views."
Step 3
The PMC tab for the selected channel displays. This window contains PMC information for the selected channel. Table 2-3 provides descriptions of the fields in the PMC tab.
Note
Table 2-3 PMC Tab Fields in Channels Window
RX Mute During PTT
The following values affect how the RX mute functionality is configured on the PMC:
•
•
•
Note
Enable Voice Activity Detection (VAD)
When you enable VAD on Cisco IPICS, the PMC only sends voice traffic when it detects a voice packet.
When this attribute is set to true (attribute check box is checked) on a channel/VTG, VAD is used by the PMC while communicating with the channel/VTG.
By default, this attribute is set to true (attribute check box is checked).
Allow Latch
When set to true (attribute check box is checked) on a channel/VTG, the user can use latch to lock in the channel.
By default, this attribute is set to false (attribute check box is unchecked).
Note
Listen Only
When set to true (attribute check box is checked), the user can hear, but cannot talk, on the channel.
Channel Color
This attribute specifies a color tag that you can choose from a drop-down list box.
This setting uniquely identifies specific channels by using predefined colors for the background text that appears on the channel. You configure the color by choosing from the options in the drop-down list box.
Note
Channel Region
Choose the channel region that displays on the PMC from the drop-down list box.
For information about configuring PMC regions, see the "Managing PMC Regions" section.
Step 4
Step 5
•
The users who are currently associated to this channel display. The Users window lists information about each of the users who are associated to the channel.
Table 2-4 describes the items in the Users window.
Note
You can associate additional users to the channel, by performing the steps in the"Associating Users to PTT Channels" section.
•
Step 6
The Change End Device Status drop-down list box becomes active.
Note
Step 7
•
•
•
•
•
•
Note
Changing the Status of a PTT Channel
Cisco IPICS allows you to change the status (enable/disable) of a channel from either the main Channels window, or in the individual channel configuration windows.
When you change the status of a channel affects whether the channel is available to the PMC, IP phones, dialed-in users, or whether the channel can connect to a VTG. If the channel is disabled, it cannot be connected to a VTG.
For more information about the PMC, refer to the Cisco IPICS PMC Installation and User Guide, Release 2.1(1).
A channel can be configured as enabled or disabled.
You can change the status of a single channel, or you can change the status of several channels at one time.
To determine the current status, access the Configuration drawer, click Channels, and look at the information in the Status column for the channel.
To change the status of a channel from the main Channels window, perform the following procedure:
Procedure
Step 1
Step 2
•
The Enable or Disable button appears at the bottom of the channel configuration window. The name of the button depends on the current status of the channel.
•
Understanding Association Attribute Behaviors
Users, channels, and VTGs have attributes that control their behavior. In some cases, these resources may have the same attribute behaviors, so that when you associate channels to users, or users to VTGs, the system determines the resulting PMC behavior by how the attributes are configured for each associated resource. For an example of association attribute behaviors, see the "User-Channel Association Example" section.
Cisco IPICS allows you to override the resulting behaviors for specific associations. When you modify channel or user attributes that are part of an association, the resulting behavior depends on the attribute settings for users within the association. Typically, when resources are part of an association, any attribute changes to the resources also apply to the resource and associations within that resource. Resource attributes may have different settings when they are not part of an association.
The following section provides an example of some of the expected system behaviors when you configure user, channel, and VTG associations.
Changes to channel, user, or VTG attributes that are also present in associations, behave differently, depending on the override status. If the association is not overridden you are prompted to remove the overrides. An example of some association attribute behaviors is described below.
Note
To associate an ops view to a channel, see the "Associating Users to PTT Channels" section.
User-Channel Association Example
The following example describes different user-channel association scenarios that can be performed by a Cisco IPICS operator and a system administrator:
•
•
•
The resulting behavior for this association is that User A is not allowed to latch on Channel A on the PMC. On the server side, the Allow Latch attribute displays as No for both the user and the channel for this association, in the Latchable column in the Associations tab.
Note
•
•
Cisco IPICS marks this attribute as a customized value.
Note
After the PMC updates, users in this association can no longer latch on Channel A.
•
If you click OK to the message, the overrides are removed and latching on Channel A, for this association, is allowed on the PMC.
See the "Viewing and Editing Channel Details" section for more information about the specific channel attributes.
For information about associating a channel to a user or ops view, see the "Associating Users to PTT Channels" section.
For more information about the PMC, refer to the Cisco IPICS PMC Installation and User Guide, Release 2.1(1).
Associating PTT Channels to Ops Views
You can associate a channel to an ops view in the General tab of an individual window for a channel. When you associate a channel to an ops view, the channel can be seen by the users who belong to that particular ops view.
For more information about the Accessible To and Belongs To attributes for ops views, see Chapter 6, "Configuring and Managing Cisco IPICS Operational Views."
To associate a channel to an ops view, perform the following procedure:
Procedure
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
The Ops View to Channel Association window displays the following information:
•
•
Step 4
•
•
•
Step 5
If you do not want to save your changes, click Cancel.
The ops views that you chose display in the Accessible To: field in the individual window for the channel.
Step 6
Step 7
Associating Users to PTT Channels
You can associate specific users to a channel in the Associations window. When you associate channels with a user, the channels that you choose appear as options on a PMC or a Cisco Unified IP Phone that has been configured for use with Cisco IPICS.
To determine the ops views to which the channels are currently associated, access the Configuration drawer, click Channels, and look at the information in the Ops View column for the channels.
Note
System administrators and operators who belong to an ops view that is associated to a channel can associate other users to the channel, and add the channel to VTGs, as long as the Allow in association to users and Allow use in VTGs check boxes are checked. See the "Adding a PTT Channel" section for more information.
To associate users to channels, perform the following procedure:
Procedure
Step 1
Step 2
•
•
Note
In the Associations window, make sure that the Users tab is selected.
This tab shows a list of the users who are associated with the channel, the status of each user, and information about attributes for devices that the user is using.
Step 3
The Search Users window displays. This window allows you to search for users to associate to the channel by choosing criteria based on the following filters:
•
•
•
•
See the "Adding Radio and Tone Descriptors" section for detailed information about how to configure locations.
•
•
Step 4
Note
The results of your search criteria display in a list.
Step 5
The user that you choose displays in the user list in the Users tab.
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
If the channel participates in a VTG, the VTG name and status displays.
Associating Radio Control Signals to PTT Channels
You can associate specific radio control functions to channels in the channel Associations window. When you associate signals to channels, the specific functions that the signals perform appear as options on the PMC for that channel.
Each channel can be associated with one or more signals. Users who are associated with channels can send signals from the PMC.
You can associate signals with a channel that is not associated with a radio, such as another type of tone-controlled device. For example, you could have a Cisco IPICS PTT channel that includes an LMR gateway that is connecting to a tone-controlled device that is not a radio, such as a device that opens a gate. This type of device can interpret tones and perform specific actions.
When the PMC plays the RFC 2833 and RFC 2198 signals, the LMR gateway detects these signals (in this example, the open gate signal) and converts them into audio. This audio gets sent to the devices that open the gate which triggers them to activate. No radio is present in this scenario. The devices are directly connected to the E&M interface on the LMR gateway.
Unlike alerting tones that cannot be restricted to a specific channel, you can associate signals directly with specific channels. This flexibility gives you the ability to control the appearance of and the ability to play out signals to the appropriate channel(s).
Note
To associate signals to channels, perform the following procedure:
Procedure
Step 1
Step 2
•
•
Note
Step 3
This tab shows a list of the signals that are associated with the channel, and includes the short name, description, and where it originated.
Step 4
The Search Signals window displays. This window allows you to search for additional signals to associate to the channel.
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
If the channel participates in a VTG, the VTG name and status displays.
Step 8
To associate users to the channel, see the "Associating Users to PTT Channels" section.
Viewing Channel Associations
You can view channel associations by performing the following procedure:
Procedure
Step 1
Step 2
•
•
Note
Step 3
•
Note
•
•
Note
Deleting a PTT Channel
If a PTT channel is no longer needed, you can delete it from Cisco IPICS. You can delete a single channel or you can delete several channels at one time.
To delete a channel, perform the following procedure:
Procedure
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
A dialog box prompts you to confirm the deletion.
Step 4
If you do not want to delete the channel(s), click Cancel.
Understanding the Channel Groups Window
The Channel Groups window lists information about each of the channel groups that you have added in Cisco IPICS.
The bottom area of this window displays a list of Cisco IPICS channel groups and general information for each channel group. By default, this area displays all channel groups, but you can choose to display only channel groups that match search criteria that you specify in the top area of the window.
Note
This window also provides you with the ability to perform several channel group management functions.
To display the Channel Groups window, access the Configuration drawer and click Channel Groups.
Table 2-5 describes the fields in the Channel Groups window.
Table 2-5 Fields in the Channel Groups Window
Name field
Allows you to display only channel group names that include the character string that you enter (characters are not case-sensitive)
To limit the display of channel groups or to display a certain channel group, enter the desired search criteria in the filter field; then, click Go.
Ops View drop-down list box
Allows you to display only channel groups for which the associated ops view matches the information that you choose
Go button
Displays channel groups by the filters that you choose
Clear Filter button
Removes filter selections and displays an empty list of channel groups
Channel Group Name field
Name that is assigned to the channel group
See the "Viewing and Editing Channel Group Details" section and the "Removing a PTT Channel from a Channel Group" section
Ops View field
Ops view to which the channel group belongs
Add button
Allows you to add a new channel group in Cisco IPICS
See the "Removing a PTT Channel from a Channel Group" section
Copy button
Allows you to copy information from an existing channel group when you add a new channel group
Delete button
Allows you to delete a channel group
Associations button
Displays the Associations window for a channel group
See the "Associating Ops Views to Channel Groups" section and the "Viewing Channel Group Associations" section
Rows per page drop-down list box
Specifies the number of rows of channel groups that are included in a channel groups list page
Page field
Displays channel groups on a specific page
|< (First page) button
Displays the first page of the channel groups list
< (Previous page) button
Displays the previous page of the channel groups list
> (Next page) button
Displays the next page of the channel groups list
>| (Last page) button
Displays the last page of the channel groups list
Adding a Channel Group
A channel group enables you to organize channels. You may find it useful to create and name channel groups according to location (for example, South Area Fire Department PTT Channel) or function (for example, Maintenance PTT Channel).
To create a channel group, perform the following procedure:
Procedure
Step 1
Step 2
•
•
Note
The New Channel Group window displays. If you clicked Copy, this window includes information from the existing channel group, except for the channel group name.
Step 3
Note
Step 4
If you do not want to add the channel group, click Cancel.
For information about how to associate channel groups to a VTG, see the "Managing VTGs" section on page 4-2.
Viewing and Editing Channel Group Details
You can view information about and edit any channel group in your Cisco IPICS network, including adding new channel members to the channel group.
To add a new channel group, see the "Adding a Channel Group" section.
