Chapter 2. Preparing for Dial Plan Provisioning

Table Of Contents

Preparing for Dial Plan Provisioning

Provisioning Prerequisites

Prerequisite Tasks

Prerequisite Information

Provisioning Tools

Cisco MGC Manager

Cisco VSPT

Man-Machine Language

Creating a Dial Plan

Dial Plan Creation Rules

Dial Plan Strings

Dial Plan Provisioning Sequence

Dial Plan Text File

Implementing the Dial Plan

Tips


Preparing for Dial Plan Provisioning


This chapter describes how to prepare for dial plan provisioning. It includes the following sections:

Provisioning Prerequisites

Provisioning Tools

Creating a Dial Plan

Provisioning Prerequisites

This section describes the tasks that must be completed and the information that you need before you start dial plan provisioning.

Prerequisite Tasks

The following steps describe the tasks you should perform prior to using this dial planning guide.


Step 1 Plan and diagram your network configuration in detail.

A detailed network diagram is essential when creating a dial plan. Refer to the respective solution overview and provisioning documentation for detailed information about a particular solution.

Step 2 Set up the hardware components used in your solution and install all required software.

Before you start the dial planning process, you should prepare the Cisco MGC hardware and software as described in the following manuals:

Cisco Media Gateway Controller Hardware Installation Guide

Cisco Media Gateway Controller Regulatory Compliance and Safety Information

Cisco Media Gateway Hardware Installation and Configuration Guide1

Cisco Media Gateway Controller Software Release 7 Installation and Configuration

Cisco Media Gateway Controller Software Release 7 Provisioning Guide

You should also refer to the solution specific provisioning guide for your solution.

Step 3 Complete all provisioning worksheets, including filling in the names and IP addresses of all devices, attributes, properties of components, circuit designations, and all other necessary information.

For blank copies of the necessary provisioning worksheets refer to the Cisco Media Gateway Software Release 7 Provisioning Guide.


Prerequisite Information

This guide provides a set of blank worksheets in Appendix C, "Dial Planning Worksheets," that you can copy and fill in with the dial plan information specific to your system. Before you can complete the dial plan provisioning worksheets, you must collect provisioning information about all the available trunks.

During the provisioning process, all the bearer trunks that connect remote switches to all the media gateways attached to the Cisco MGC were defined. Each remote switch is identified by its destination point code (DPC), and each trunk is identified by its trunk ID or Circuit Identification Code (CIC).

Table 2-1, "Trunk Worksheet Example," provides space for you to enter the following information:

Trunk ID—Designation assigned to a trunk.

Source Signaling Service—MML name of the previously defined source signaling service.
Valid signaling services are ISDN PRI, DPNSS, or any SS7 signaling service.

Source Span—Number of circuits assigned to the source span (range 0 through 65536).

Source Span ID—Identification assigned to the source span (range 0 through 65536).

Source Time Slot/CIC—Time slot or Circuit Identification Code (CIC) (range 0 through 31).

Destination Signaling Service—MML name of a previously defined destination signaling service.
Valid signaling services are ISDN PRI, DPNSS, or any SS7 signaling service.

Destination Span—Number of circuits assigned to the destination span (range 0 through 65536).

Destination Span ID—Identification assigned to the destination span (range 0 through 65536).

Destination Time Slot/CIC—Time slot or Circuit Identification Code (CIC) (range 0 through 31).

Line Type—T1 or E1.

Multiple Trunk Field—Number of trunks per span (greater than 0, but less than or equal to 31).

The ingress and egress trunk IDs must match the corresponding trunk IDs used on the remote switches. The circuit identification codes (CIC) are the SS7 values representing the trunks and must also match the CIC values defined at the remote switches.

The destination span ID and destination time slot must match the trunk configuration values defined during Cisco MGC configuration. The destination span ID is defined when configuring T1 and E1 controllers and must match the value of the nfas_int parameter. T1 spans use time slots (channels) 1-24 and E1 spans use time slots (channels) 0-31.

To save space, you can specify ranges of trunk IDs for each T1 or E1 connection. For large installations, you can make copies of this worksheet which is included in Appendix C, "Dial Planning Worksheets."

For more information on media gateway configuration, refer to the appropriate Media Gateway Installation and Configuration Guide for your solution. Keep in mind that some of the procedures performed might vary depending on the configuration of your solution.

Table 2-1 Trunk Worksheet Example 

Trunk ID
Source Signaling Service
Source Span
Source Span ID
Source Time slot/CIC
Destination Signaling Service
Dest Span
Dest Span ID
Dest Time Slot/CIC
Line Type
Multiple Trunk Field

101

ss7srv

fixed

ffff

1

signal-1

fixed

0

1

T1

24

102

ss7srv

fixed

fffe

2

signal-2

fixed

1

2

T1

24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Provisioning Tools

The Cisco MGC includes three provisioning tools that you can use to provision the software:

The Cisco Media Gateway Controller Manager (CMM) GUI application for Release 7.4(x)

The Cisco Voice Services Provisioning Tool (VSPT) GUI application for Release 7.4(x) and later

The Man-Machine Language (MML) command-line interface (CLI) application

Cisco MGC Manager

The CMM can also be used to provision Cisco MGC dial plan components. CMM makes provisioning easier by listing all the components that must be configured and by providing windows that display all configuration parameters for each component. Detailed procedures and instructions for provisioning with CMM can be found in Chapter 3, "Provisioning Dial Plans with CMM."

Cisco VSPT

The Cisco VSPT can also be used to provision Cisco MGC dial plan components. VSPT also makes provisioning easier by listing all the components that must be configured and by providing windows that display all configuration parameters for each component. Detailed procedures and instructions for provisioning with VSPT can be found in Chapter 4, "Provisioning Dial Plans with VSPT."

Man-Machine Language

Although MML provisioning requires more keystrokes, provisioning updates can sometimes be made faster using MML commands, because you do not have to go through the process of launching the CMM or VSPT and navigating to the proper screen.

You can also import an MML script (or batch file), which is a collection of individual MML commands. When you enter MML commands into a batch file, you can copy and paste commands to speed entry. You can also copy and modify MML scripts to provision additional SSPs.

The dial plan production directory /opt/CiscoMGC/dialPlan is where all active dial plans reside. Backup dial plans, if any, reside in the subdirectory /opt/CiscoMGC/etc/CONFIG_LIB/<config_dir>.

For detailed information on provisioning with MML, refer to Chapter 5, "Provisioning Dial Plans with MML."

You can use CMM, VSPT, and MML to provision the Cisco MGC; however, only one configuration session can be supported at one time by either CMM or MML. Table 2-2 lists some of the features of CMM, VSPT, and MML and provides some guidelines for selecting between the three tools.

Table 2-2 CMM, Voice Service Provisioning Tool, and MML Features

Specification/Feature
CMM
Voice Service Provisioning Tool
MML

System basics

X Window System graphical user interface (GUI) front end, SNMP back end

X Window System GUI front end

Any client software supporting the X Window System, such as Reflection, can be used.

CLI that interacts directly with Cisco MGC

System hardware/
software requirements

Sun SPARCstation running Sun Solaris 2.6 OS or later

Running the CMM on the same host as the Cisco MGC can adversely impact performance. We recommend using a separate server.

Sun SPARCstation running Solaris 2.6 OS or later

Running VSPT on the same host as the Cisco MGC can adversely impact performance. We recommend using a separate server.

Runs on the Cisco MGC host server

Batch file support

No

No

Yes

Best used for

Setting up a single configuration or few configurations on individual machines

Modifying an existing configuration

Some experience required;
easy to use

Creating batch files to configure many Cisco MGC servers or retrieve measurements

Modifying configurations

Scaling large configurations

Troubleshooting


The remaining sections in this chapter describe how to plan for provisioning and provide sample dial plans. In this chapter you might see different component names listed for the CMM, VSPT, and MML provisioning tools. When you begin provisioning, you will provision components using the name that applies to the provisioning tool you are using.

The order in which you provision dial plan tables is important. Many tables refer to other tables that must be defined first. When you create the tables described in Chapter 1 and in this chapter, be sure to create them in the order described.


Note The virtual switch node can use two Cisco MGC hosts for maximum availability. The dial plan provisioning described in this chapter applies to both Cisco MGC hosts. You can create a dial plan for one host and apply it to both hosts.



Tip Appendix C, "Dial Planning Worksheets," provides a complete set of worksheets that you can use to plan the dial plan provisioning. Before you start planning, copy these worksheets. Do not write in the original worksheets, because you may need additional copies later.


Creating a Dial Plan

The following sections describe how to create a dial plan for Cisco MGC software Release 7.4(x):

Dial Plan Creation Rules

Dial Plan Text File

Implementing the Dial Plan

Dial Plan Creation Rules

The dial plan is used to identify and analyze unique calling number (A-number) or called number (B-number) digit strings. Keep in mind the following issues when creating your dial plan:

Each number (calling or called) is a unique digit string

The number is either an A-number (calling number) or a B-number (called number)

You must create a subset string before creating a superset string

These issues are discussed and examples are provided in the following sections. For purposes of example only, as many as six digits of any string are analyzed. In your dial plan implementation, you might want to analyze additional digits.

Dial Plan Strings

The following numbers are examples of digit strings that are used in the dial plan discussion:

703

703 484

301 555

301 684

40555

The starting node is a special node and is either a 1 (for originating) or a 2 (for terminating). All of the originating digit strings in the A-digit tree will share the starting node (1). Since node 2 is reserved for terminating digit strings, the first node available for use in this dial plan is node 3.

Dial Plan Provisioning Sequence

The following list identifies the recommended sequence for dial plan provisioning:

1. Create the dial plan file

2. Provision the Digit Modification table

3. Provision the Service table

4. Provision the Result and Result Set tables

5. Provision the A Digit and B Digit Trees

6. Provision pre-analysis (NPI and NOA tables)

7. Provision the Location table

8. Provision the Cause table

9. Provision the A and B Whitelist and Blacklist screening files

Dial Plan Text File

Once you have created all the necessary tables, as described in Chapter 1, "Dial Plan Overview," you can create a dial plan text file containing the MML commands. The first two lines in the file are to start a provisioning session and to create a dial plan file.


Note The order in which the digit string MML commands are entered reverses the order in which they were created.


MML commands
prov-sta::srcver="new",dstver="session1"
numan-add:dialplan:custgrpid="t001"
numan-add:service:custgrpid="t001",name="Washington"
numan-add:service:custgrpid="t001",name="FreePhone"
numan-add:service:custgrpid="t001",name="TollLine"
numan-add:digmodstring:custgrpid="t001",name="digmod1",digitstring="703484"
numan-add:resultset:custgrpid="t001",name="set1"
numan-add:resulttable:custgrpid="t001",name="result1",resulttype="SCREENING", 
dw1="1",dw2="Washington",setname="set1"
numan-add:resultset:custgrpid="t001",name="set2"
numan-add:resulttable:custgrpid:"t001",name="result1",resulttype="ANNOUNCEMENT", 
dw1="100",dw2="1",dw3="rtlist1",setname="set2"
numan-add:resultset:custgrpid="t001",name="set3"
numan-add:resulttable:custgrpid="t001",name="result1",resulttype="IN_TRIGGER", 
dw1="1",dw2="1",setname="set3"
numan-add:resultset:custgrpid="t001",name="set4"
numan-add:resulttable:custgrpid="t001",name="result1",resulttype="A_NUMBER_TYPE", 
dw1="5",setname="set4"
numan-add:resulttable:custgrpid="t001",name="result2",resulttype="BLACKLIST", 
dw1="1",setname="set4"
numan-add:resultset:custgrpid="t001",name="set5"
numan-add:resulttable:custgrpid="t001",name="result1",resulttype="BMODDIG", 
dw1="1",dw2="1",dw3="digmod1",setname="set5"
numan-add:resultset:custgrpid="t001",name="set6"
numan-add:resulttable:custgrpid="t001",name="result1",resulttype="B_NUMBER_TYPE", 
dw1="3",setname="set6"
numan-add:resultset:custgrpid="t001",name="set7"
numan-add:resulttable:custgrpid="t001",name="result1",resulttype="INC_NUMBERING", 
dw1="0",dw2="4",dw3="4",setname="set7"
numan-add:resulttable:custgrpid="t001",name="whtlist",resulttype="WHITELIST",setname="set8"
numan-add:defresultset:custgrpid="t001",resulttype="BLACKLIST",dw1="2"
numan-add:npi:custgrpid="t001",npiblock=1,setname="set3"
numan-add:noa:custgrpid="t001",noavalue=1,npiblock=1
numan-add:location:custgrpid="t001",locationblock=1,setname="set5"
numan-add:cause:custgrpid="t001",causevalue=1,locationblock=1
numan-add:bdigtree:custgrpid="t001",callside="originating",digitstring="703484",setname="set1"
numan-add:bdigtree:custgrpid="t001",callside="originating",digitstring="301555",setname="set2"
numan-add:bdigtree:custgrpid="t001",callside="originating",digitstring="301684",setname="set3"
numan-add:bdigtree:custgrpid="t001",callside="originating",digitstring="40555",setname="set4"

Implementing the Dial Plan

When you have filled in the dial plan worksheets (from Table C-1 through Table C-8) you can provision the Cisco MGC to implement your dial plan. When provisioning the Cisco MGC, you can use the dial plan worksheets and the available CMM, VSPT, or MML parameters.

Table 2-3 describes the parameters that apply to each dial plan you define.

Table 2-3 Dial Plan Parameter Descriptions 

Parameter Name
Description

DIALPLAN

Selects the customer-created dial plan.

ADIGTREE

Selects the A-digit tree table in the dial plan.

SETNAME

MML name of a result set.

DIGITTOPRESENT

If set to 0, it is the next digit; otherwise, it is the number of digits to skip (forward or backward) during analysis.

CALLSIDE

Indicates if call side is originating or terminating.

DIGITSTRING

All the digits in a calling or called number.

BDIGTREE

Selects the B-digit tree table in the dial plan.

SETNAME

MML name of a result set.

DIGITTOPRESENT

If set to 0, it is the next digit; otherwise, it is the number of digits to skip (forward or backward) during analysis.

CALLSIDE

Indicates if call side is originating or terminating.

DIGITSTRING

All the digits in a calling or called number.

RESULTTABLE

Selects the result table in the dial plan.

NAME

MML name of the result type.

RESULTTYPE

Indicates the type of result.

DW1

First data word.

DW2

Second data word.

DW3

Third data word.

DW4

Fourth data word.

NEXTRESULT

Next result name.

SETNAME

MML name of the result set.

DIGMODSTRING

Selects digit string modification table in the dial plan.

NAME

MML name of the digit modification string.

DIGSTRING

The digit string.

NOA

Selects the nature of address (NOA) table in the dial plan.

NOAVALUE

The incoming NOA value.

NPIBLOCK

The NPI block value.

SETNAME

MML name of the result set.

NPI

Selects the numbering plan indicator (NPI) table in the dial plan.

NPIBLOCK

The incoming NPI block offset value.

BLOCKVALUE

The NPI block value from the NOA table.

SETNAME

MML name of the result set.

CAUSE

Selects the cause table in the dial plan.

CAUSEVALUE

The cause value.

LOCATIONBLOCK

The cause location block.

SETNAME

MML name of the result set.

LOCATION

Selects the location table in the dial plan.

LOCATIONBLOCK

The location block.

SETNAME

MML name of the result set.

BLOCKVALUE

The location block value.

SERVICE

Selects the service index table in the dial plan.

NAME

MML name of the service.

RESULTSET

Sets the result type in the result table in the dial plan.

NAME

MML name of the result set.

AWHITE

Selects the A-digit tree whitelist.

CLI

Sets the calling line identity (CLI) for the A-digit tree whitelist.

ABLACK

Selects the A-digit tree blacklist.

CLI

Sets the CLI for the A-digit tree blacklist.

BWHITE

Selects the B-digit tree whitelist.

CLI

Sets the CLI for the B-digit tree whitelist.

SVCNAME

MML name of the previously defined service.

BBLACK

Selects the B-digit tree blacklist.

CLI

Sets the CLI for the B-digit tree blacklist.

SVCNAME

MML name of the previously defined service.

DEFRESULTSET

Selects the default result set in the dial plan.

RESULTTYPE

Indicates the default result type.

DW1

First data word.

DW2

Second data word.

DW3

Third data word.

DW4

Fourth data word.


Table 2-4 lists the major MML commands used to provision and deploy dial plans as well as the corresponding CMM/VSPT commands.

Table 2-4 MML and CMM/VSPT Commands 

MML Command
CMM/VSPT Command
Description

numan-add

Number analysis add

Adds an element to the dial plan table

numan-dlt

Number analysis delete

Deletes an element from the dial plan table

numan-ed

Number analysis edit

Edits an element in the dial plan table

numan-rtrv

Number analysis retrieve

Retrieves an element from the dial plan table

prov-add

Provisioning add

Adds provisioning data

prov-dply

Provisioning deploy

Deploys the provisioning data (dial plan)

prov-cpy

Provisioning copy

Commits the provisioning data (dial plan)

prov-exp

Provisioning export

Creates a dial plan export file in MML format for each configured dial plan


After you create a dial plan or add information to an existing dial plan, you must enter a prov-cpy command followed by a chg-dpl command. Without the change dial plan (chg-dpl) command the dial plan will not be loaded into the system and will not have any effect on call processing.

Tips

Use the following information when you are working the dial plan and number analysis program:

Use the dial plan branch on the number analysis tree to perform digit manipulation.

Each branch under the number analysis tree represents a path used by the call-processing engine to process the dialed or dialing digits.

The result table must usually be configured before the digit trees are configured; however, here are some considerations that you should keep in mind:

Some of the result types require that other tables be configured first. (For example, digit modification requires that you configure the digit modification tables before creating the result.)

For a result type where an index is required from another table, complete the other table first.

Create result types for each type of analysis you want the server to process.

At a minimum, each result type requires a result name and as many as four data words.

Refer to Appendix C, "Dial Planning Worksheets," for blank dial plan worksheets to copy and fill in for your dial plan.

1 Refer to the Hardware Installation and Configuration Guide for the media gateway used in your solution.