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# Configuring the MAX for WAN Access

This chapter covers the following topics:

Introduction to WAN configuration
Configuring ISDN BRI network cards

## Introduction to WAN configuration

The MAX has eight expansion slots, which can support cards for BRI or modem bandwidth.

### Menus and profiles

To configure the MAX, you set parameters in the VT100 menus. (For a description of navigating the interface, see the Hardware Installation Guide for your MAX. Many of the menus and submenus include profiles, which are groups of related parameters.

### How the VT100 menus relate to slots and ports

The numbers in the VT100 menus relate to slot numbers in the MAX unit, which can represent actual expansion slots or virtual slots on the unit's motherboard.

### System slot

The system itself is assigned slot number 0 (menu 00-000). The System menu contains the following profiles and submenus that are all related to systemwide configuration and maintenance:

    00-000 System
          00-100 Sys Config
          00-200 Sys Diag
          00-300 Security

### Expansion slots

The eight expansion slots are slots 1-8 (menus 10-000 through 80-000).

### Ethernet and WAN slots

Slot 9 is the Ethernet slot (menu 90-000). The Ethernet menu contains submenus and profiles related to the local network, routing and bridging, and WAN connections.

### Phone number assignments

The MAX receives calls on phone numbers assigned to its BRI channels. In the MAX configuration, each phone number has a limit of 24 characters, which can include the following: 1234567890()[]!z-*#|. To assign the phone numbers you must understand add-on numbers, hunt-groups, and Service Profile Identifiers (SPIDs).

#### Add-on numbers

You build multichannel calls (MP, MP+) by specifying add-on numbers. A multichannel call begins as a single-channel connection to one phone number. The calling unit then requests additional phone numbers that it can dial to connect additional channels, and stores the add-on numbers it receives from the answering unit. To add channels to the call, the calling unit must integrate the add-on numbers with the phone number it dialed initially. Three parameters specify add-on numbers: Ch N#, PRI Num and Sec Num.

Typically, the phone numbers assigned to the channels share a group of leading (leftmost) digits. Enter only the unique digits identifying each phone number, as following:

- If the add-on number in the called unit is shorter than the phone number dialed by the calling unit, the MAX replaces only the rightmost digits.

  - For example, suppose you dial 777-3330 to reach channel 1 of line 1, and dial 777-3331 through 777-3348 to reach other channels (on the same line or a different line). In this case, set Ch1#=30, and set the Ch N# parameter for the other channels to 31, 32, and so forth.

- If the add-on number is longer than the phone number dialed, the MAX discards the extra digits. For example:

  - Ch1# = 510-655-1212

  - Dial# = 655-1212

  - Derived number for channel 1 = 655-1212

- If there is no add-on number, the derived number equals the dialed number. For example:

  - Ch1# = (null)

  - Dial# = 555-1213

  - derived number for channel 1 = 555-1213

The most common reason multichannel calls fail to connect beyond the initial connection is that the answering unit sends the calling unit add-on numbers it cannot use to dial the other channels. The group of channels that make a multichannel call is called a bundle. A 10-channel bundle in which each channel is 64Kbps, provides a 640 Kbps connection.

Note: AIM and BONDING call bundles should not span dial plans. If you are receiving AIM or BONDING calls and have multiple dial plans, set up each dial plan as a separate trunk group. This also prevents MP and MP+ call bundles from spanning dial plans.

For example, you have two PRI lines from different service providers. You set the ChN Trnk Grp parameters for the first line to 9 and for the second line to 8. Also, enabling trunk groups on your MAX separates the two dial plans and prevents the formation of bundles with channels from both PRI lines.

#### Hunt groups

A hunt group is a group of channels that has the same phone number. When a call comes in on that number, the MAX uses the first available channel to which the number was assigned. Because channels in a hunt group share a common phone number, the add-on numbers in the profile are the same.

Note: If all of a line's channels have the same add-on number, you can leave the phone number assignment blank.

#### SPIDS (for BRI lines)

The SPIDs assigned to a BRI line operating in multipoint mode are numbers used at the central switch to identify services provisioned for your ISDN line. Your carrier bases the SPIDs on the telephone numbers assigned to your BRI lines, and tells you the SPIDs when it installs the lines.

Note: Not all telephone companies include a suffix on their SPIDs. When receiving SPIDs from your telephone company, ask them to verify whether or not suffixes are included. The SPID formats described in the next sections have been agreed upon by most telephone companies.

For example, for an AT&T switch in multipoint mode, SPIDs have one of the following formats:

    01nnnnnnn0

    01nnnnnnn00

In the AT&T SPID formats, nnnnnnn is the 7-digit phone number (not including the area code). For example, if the phone number is 555-1212, the SPID is 0155512120 or 01555121200. For a Northern Telecom switch, SPIDs have one of the following formats:

    aaannnnnnnSS

    aaannnnnnnSS00

In the Northern Telecom SPID formats, aaannnnnnn is the 10-digit phone number (including the area code). SS is an optional suffix. If specified it is a one or two-digit number differentiating the channels. For example, if the phone numbers are 212-555-1212 and 212-555-1213, the SPIDs might be:

    21255512121

    21255512132

or:

    212555121201

    212555121302

or one of the above formats followed by 00 (for example, 21255512130200).

## Configuring ISDN BRI network cards

An ISDN Basic Rate Interface (BRI) network interface card can provide lower-cost connections to sites that do not require or have access to the higher-bandwidth T1 or E1 lines. There are two types of BRI network cards: the U and the S cards, functionally they are the same. The BRI network configuration involve the following parameters (shown with sample settings):

    PC CARD BRI
          Line Config
                Name=bri-net
                Switch Type=AT&T
                Enabled=Yes
                Clock Source=No
                Link Type=P_T_P
                B1 Usage=Switched
                B2 Prt/Grp=1
                B2 Usage=Switched
                B2 Prt/Grp=2
                Pri Num=555-1212
                Pri SPID=01555121200
                Sec Num=555-1213
                Sec SPID=01555121300

For detailed information about each parameter, see the Reference Guide for your MAX.

### Understanding the BRI parameters

This section provides some background information about the Net BRI parameters. For detailed information about each parameter, see the Reference Guide for your MAX.

#### Name

You can configure several profiles in a Net/BRI slot and activate a profile when it is needed. Each profile's name should be descriptive.

#### Switch Type

The Switch Type parameter specifies the central network switch that provides ISDN service to the MAX. (For details about supported switch types, see the Reference Guide for your MAX.)

#### Link Type

The Link Type parameter specifies whether the switch operates in point-to-point or multipoint mode. In point-to-point mode, MAX requires one phone number and no Service Profile Identifiers (SPIDs). In multipoint mode, the MAX requires two phone numbers and two SPIDs. All international switch types except DBP Telecom, and all U.S. switch types except AT&T 5ESS, operate in multipoint mode.

#### Using the BRI line for switched or nailed connections

Each BRI line has two B channels for user data and one D channel for signaling. The B1 and B2 Usage parameters specify how to use the B channels: Switched (the default), Nailed, or Unused (not available for use).

#### Phone number and Service Profile Identifier (SPID) assignments

The Pri Num parameter is the primary add-on number for the Net BRI line. If you configure the line for point-to-point service, this is the only number associated with the line.

The Sec Num parameter is the secondary add-on number for the Net BRI line. If you configure the line for point-to-point service, Sec Num is not applicable.

Pri SPID and Sec SPID are the SPIDs associated with the Primary and Secondary numbers, respectively. (For more information, see SPIDS (for BRI lines).)

### Examples of BRI configuration

This section provides examples of configuring BRI lines for incoming switched connections and for outbound calls.

#### Configuring incoming switched connections

The following example shows how to configure the BRI lines in multipoint mode with an NI-1 switch. Configure the lines for switched incoming connections.

1. Open Net/BRI > Line Config > any slot profile.

2. Assign a name to the profile and specify the carrier's switch type.

       PC CARD BRI
             Line Config
                   Name=bri-net
                   Switch Type=NI-1

3. Open Line 1, enable the line, and specify multipoint mode:

                   Enabled=Yes
                   Link Type=Multi-P

4. Configure the B channels for switched usage and for routing to the local network. For example:

                         B1 Usage=Switched
                         B2 Prt/Grp=0
                         B2 Usage=Switched
                         B2 Prt/Grp=0

5. Specify the primary and secondary add-on numbers and their associated SPIDs. For example:

                         Pri Num=555-1212
                         Pri SPID=01555121200
                         Sec Num=555-1213
                         Sec SPID=01555121300

6. Exit and save the PC CARD BRI profile.

Copyright © 1998, Ascend Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.