Black Box LRA005A-R2, LRS002A-R2, LRA001A-R2 manual Appendix B Line Use, How to Monitor Line Use

ASYNC ROUTER AR-P, AR-5, AND SYNC ROUTER USER’S MANUAL

Appendix B: Line Use

Use the procedures in this appendix to minimize telephone costs associated with dialup connections: over modem interfaces or switched synchronous (SW-56) lines.

This appendix describes:

•How to monitor line use

•How to limit line use

B.1 How to Monitor Line Use

While the Router is operating, monitor it for excessive line usage. Because of unforeseen sources of traffic, an incompletely configured network with a properly configured Router, can still produce excessive phone usage and costs.

Generally, the Router dialup line is most efficient when it is connected for less than 4-5 hours a day over a long distance carrier. To monitor the Router’s telephone line usage:

•Determine sources of last 5 dials

•Listen to the modem’s speaker (if the Router has a modem)

•Review syslog connection reports (IP networks only)

•Install usage warning process

NOTE

The Router never dials a client unless the client has dialed in, is acknowledged, is verified using a login name and associated password, and has security callback enabled.

B.1.1 DETERMINE SOURCES OF LAST 5 DIALS

Use the dialup modemX dial_log command to view the type of packets that caused the last five dials, for any of the WAN interfaces (modem, sync). For example, to examine what is going on with modem0, from tcp/ip mode enter

dialup modem0 dial_log

From ipx mode, enter

tcp dialup modem0 dial_log

B.1.2 LISTEN TO THE MODEM’S SPEAKER

If the modem speaker is enabled, it is activated whenever the Router places an outgoing call or answers an incoming call. During the first few days of operation, listen for frequent incoming or outgoing calls. Verify that any frequent calling is justified, by correlating it to the actual activities of your network users.

During an outgoing call, you will first hear the dial tone, then the modem dialing the number (using standard telephone touch tones), and then a series of tones while the modems make the connection. During an incoming call, you will not hear the dial tone or the dialing touch tones; you will only hear the modem-connection tones.

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