AudioCodes MP114/118, v5.4 and higher

This article describes the setup of the AlphaCom E system and the AudioCodes MP-114/118 SIP Gateway, firmware version 5.4 and 5.6. The article covers the most common features used in an AlphaCom ↔ AudioCodes interconnection.

The configuration of AlphaCom E with SIP gateway includes the following steps:

Using AlphaWeb

• Assign IP address to the AlphaCom Ethernet port
• Insert SIP Trunk licenses
• Firewall (filter) settings
  

Using AlphaPro

• Create a SIP Trunk Node
• Define the AlphaCom / SIP routing
• Create prefix numbers
• Update the exchange

AlphaCom Configurations

AlphaWeb Configurations

Assign IP adress to the AlphaCom E Ethernet port(s)

• Log on to AlphaWeb and enter a valid IP address on the Ethernet port.

In the example below, Ethernet port 1 is used. Consult your network administrator to obtain the IP address.

Insert SIP Trunk licenses

Log on to AlphaWeb and install the SIP Trunk license.

Firewall (filter) settings

Enable the SIP protocol and VoIP Audio on the desired Ethernet port (default enabled for Ethernet port1).

AlphaPro Configuration

Create a SIP Trunk Node

From the AlphaPro main menu, use the ‘+’ button next to the ‘Select Exchange’ dropdown list to create a new exchange. The exchange type must be set to ‘SIP Node’.

Set the parameters as follows:

The SIP Trunk IP address must be identical to the IP address of the SIP Gateway.

Note: If the AlphaCom is configured with a SIP Registrar node in addition to the SIP Trunk node, the SIP Registrar node must have a lower node number than the SIP Trunk node.

Define the AlphaCom / SIP routing

In Exchange & System > Net Routing use the Insert button to create a route between the AlphaCom and SIP Gateway. Set Preferred codec to G711u and RTP Packet Size to 20 ms.

Create Prefix number

The directory number (prefix) used to access the telephone line must be programmed in the AlphaCom directory table with feature 83 and Node = SIP Trunk node number (100 in this example). In the example below the default directory number 0 has been modified to be used as a prefix.

Update the exchange

Log on to the exchange and update the exchange by pressing the SendAll button. Reset the exchange after the send operation is finished.

Audiocodes MP-114/118 Configuration

Configure Network Parameters

The AudioCodes MP-114/118 VoIP Gateway comes with default network parameters (factory default parameters).

Before you can set up the gateway in the network, you have to change the default IP address to a fixed IP address in your network environment. The unit is configured from a web browser, e.g. Internet Explorer or Navigator. Consult the network administrator to get the correct IP address.

Follow these steps:

• Load factory network parameters and reset the username and password to its default settings (username: Admin, password: Admin) by following these three steps:

1. Disconnect the Ethernet cable from the device.
2. With a paper clip or any other similar pointed object, press and hold down the Reset button (located on the rear panel) for about six seconds; the Fail LED turns red and the device restores to factory default settings.
3. When the Fail LED turns off, reconnect the Ethernet cable to the device.

• The VoIP Gateway will now get the IP address 10.1.10.11, subnet mask 255.255.0.0.

Change the IP address of your PC to 10.1.10.12, subnet mask 255.255.0.0.

Connect the LAN port of the PC to the Ethernet port of the Gateway. Use a crossed cable or connect the PC and the VoIP Gateway to a common switch using straight cables.

• Start your Web Browser and type 10.1.10.11 in the URL field.
• Type in user name Admin and password Admin. (Case-sensitive!)
  

The Home page of the Web Interface:

IP Configuration

• In the 'IP Settings' page (Configuration tab > Network Settings menu > IP Settings page item) enter the IP Address, Subnet Mask and optionally the Default Gateway Address of the AudioCodes Gateway.

This IP address must be identical to the IP address of the SIP Trunk Node created in AlphaPro.

• Click Submit to apply the changes.

Note: The IP address is immediately changed when pressing Submit, but it is not permanently stored. Without resetting or powering off the device, you need to log on to the Gateway using its new IP address in order to Burn the new IP address to flash:

• Disconnect the PC from the Gateway.
• Reconnect the Gateway and PC to the LAN. The PC and Gateway must be on the same sub-net.
• Restore the PC’s IP address and subnet mask to what they originally were, and re-access the Gateway using the new assigned IP address.
• Click Burn to permanently apply the changes.

SIP Parameters

• In the 'Proxy & Registration' page (Configuration tab > Protocol Configuration menu > Protocol Definition submenu > Proxy & Registration page item) set the ‘Use Default Proxy’ field to ‘Yes’.
• Click the Proxy Set Table button. In the ‘Proxy Address’ field enter the IP address of the AlphaCom.
• Set 'Transport Type' to 'UDP'.

• Press Submit to save changes

Audio Codec

• Select the voice coder in 'Coders Table' page (Configuration tab > Protocol Configuration menu > Protocol Definition submenu > Coders page item). Choose G.711U-law Coder Name, 20 ms Packetization Time and Silence Suppression Disabled.

• Press Submit to save changes

About Saving Changes

The Submit button will save the data to the running volatile memory. The changes take effect on-the-fly. The changes will not survive hardware reset or power off.

To permanently save the configuration data, store the data to flash memory by selecting Burn from the Tool Bar.

Note: Parameters proceeded by a yellow lightning symbol is not changeable on-the-fly and require that the device is reset.

Backup and Restore

The configuration of the AudioCodes Gateway can be stored to a file on your PC.
From the Tool Bar select Device Actions -> Save Configuration File. Select Save INI File to save the configuration to the PC, and select Load INI File to upload a configuration file to the SIP Gateway.

AlpphaCom to Telephone Network

There are two ways of selecting a FXO line from the AlphaCom.

• Group Hunt, where a prefix is dialed and you are connected to one out of several lines
• Direct FXO line selection, where there is one prefix assigned for each of the FXO lines.

The two methods can be combined.

Group Hunt

Dial a prefix and get connected to a free FXO line.
Hunt Group Settings

• In the 'Hunt Group Settings' page (Configuration tab > Protocol Configuration menu > Hunt/IP Group submenu > Hunt Group Settings page item) set the ‘Hunt Group ID’ field to ‘1’ and ‘Channel Select Mode’ to ‘Cyclic Ascending’.

IP to Hunt Group Routing When dialing the prefix from AlphaCom, the call needs to be routed to the appropriate Hunt Group ID associated with the FXO ports. In the example below the call is routed to group hunt ID 1. (Configuration tab > Protocol Configuration menu > Routing Tables submenu > IP to Trunk Group Routing page item)

Endpoint Phone Number

In the ‘Endpoint Phone Number Table’ page the FXO lines are linked to the prefix in AlphaCom and to the hunt group ID. (Configuration tab > Protocol Configuration menu > Endpoint Number submenu > EndPoint Phone Number page item).

In the example below all four FXO lines belong to Hunt Group ID 1. When dialing 0 on an intercom station the first available line will be granted. Directory number 0 must be programmed in the AlphaCom directory table with feature 83/<node>. See paragraph 2.2.3.

If there are unused lines, leave the fields for that line blank.

FXO Line Select

In installations with different types of equipment connected to the various FXO lines the user must be able to select which FXO port to use. On a ship, for instance, there could be a mix of shore lines, GSM interface and Satelitte lines. Line selection is achieved by assigning each port a unique Phone Number in the Endpoint Phone Number Table. These directory numbers must be programmed in the AlphaCom directory table with feature 83/<node>. See paragraph 2.2.3.

Replace “0” with four lines, “41” to “44”.

In this table the four FXO lines are selected by dialing 41 – 44 If there are unused lines, leave all fields for that line blank. Group hunt is not used in this call mode, and the IP to Hunt Routing Table must be empty.

Telephone Network to Alpha Com

You can choose between three different ways of handling an incoming call from the telephone line:

• Selective Dialing
• Automatic Dialing
• Delayed Automatic Dialing

Selective Dialing

A second dial tone will be presented when calling in, and the user can dial the desired intercom number. The fields in the ‘Automatic Dialing’ page item must be left blank (Default setting). (Configuration tab > Protocol Configuration menu > Endpoint Settings submenu > Automatic Dialing page item).

In this mode the gateway collects digits from the line, and sets up the call towards the AlphaCom when a predefined number of digits are collected and no more digits are received within a preset time (default 4 seconds), or when the ‘#’ key is dialed.

In the 'DTMF & Dialing' page (Configuration tab > Protocol Configuration menu > Protocol Definition submenu > DTMF & Dialing page item) select ‘Advanced Parameter List’ in order to view all parameters, and set ‘Max Digits In Phone Num’ equal to the number of digits used on the AlphaCom stations, normally 3 or 4. The parameter ‘Inter Digit Timeout for Overlap Dialing’ specifies the waiting time for more digits before setting up the call.

Automatic Dialing (Call to Switchboard)

When calling in, the call will automatically be connected to a predefined intercom number.

• Enter the intercom number in the ‘Destination Phone Number’ field in the ‘Automatic Dialing’ page item. Set ‘Auto Dial Status’ to ‘Enable’. (Configuration tab > Protocol Configuration menu > Endpoint Settings submenu > Automatic Dialing page item).

In the example above, incoming calls on line 1 are routed to station 103, calls on line 2 are routed to station 101, and calls on line 3 and 4 are routed to RingingGroup 6701.

Miscellaneous features

Customizing the web interface logo

In a few easy steps its possible to change the logo that is seen in the top left corner in the Audiocodes web interface.

• Access the device's web interface.
• In the URL field, append the case-sensitive suffix ‘AdminPage’ to the IP address (e.g. http://10.1.229.17/AdminPage); the 'Admin' page appears.
• On the left panel, click 'Image Load to Device'.
• Click the Browse button, and then navigate to the folder in which the logo image file that you want to use is located.
• Click the Send File button; the image file uploads to the device. When loading is complete, the page is automatically refreshed and the uploaded logo image is displayed in the Web interface's title bar.
• If you want to modify the width of the image, in the 'Logo Width' field, enter the new width (in pixels) and then click the Set Logo Width button.
• Save the image by pressing the 'Burn' button located on the top menu bar in the mainpage.