AlphaCom 11.03 - Release Notes

Software in production: AMC 11.00
Software released date: 2010-04-22
Note: For each software version the NVRAM version is listed. If the NVRAM version is different, the AlphaCom InterCom configuration will get default configuration, and then you must do a SendAll from AlphaPro to restore the configuration.
All AlphaWeb configuration will be kept.

4th of July 2013 alpha-sys-11.3.3.2

Release: Official, available on request
/opt/amc/bin/amcd
NVRAM version 11.02.

System upgrade file:
alpha_sys-11.3.3.2.apkg

This Version require BSP 30.02 and will not work for AMC board version 1-4 the red AMC IP cards.

Error Corrected

Support for ATLB12 version 5.54

The ATLB12 version 5.54 with new ringing pattern needs special attention to time slot use during duplex operation. Using older software can result it blocked duplex switching operation (Phone to ASLT station).
A system with only handset use will not be affected.

6th of May 2013 alpha-sys-11.3.3.1b

Release: Official, available on request
/opt/amc/bin/amcd
NVRAM version 11.02.

System upgrade file:
alpha_sys-11.3.3.1b.apkg

This Version require BSP 30.02 or higher and will not work for AMC board version 1-4 (the red AMC IP cards).

ALL APPLICATION AND DRIVER SOFTWARE IS EQUAL IN 11.3.3.1 AND 11.3.3.1b
The only difference is the "Description" text and dependencies shown after package upload in AlphaWeb.

24th of April 2013 alpha-sys-11.3.3.1

Release: Official, available on request
/opt/amc/bin/amcd
NVRAM version 11.02.

System upgrade file:
alpha_sys-11.3.3.1.apkg

This Version require BSP 30.02 and will not work for AMC board version 1-4 the red AMC IP cards.

Error Corrected

Event "5 - Microphone open" Missing When Calling IP to IP station (MTN 30)

Event 5 is now reported also for IP-IP conversation.

$MAILQ_NAVIG Callback Without Display Back-light Activation (MTN 112)

$MAILQ_NAVIG callback now activates the IP station back light.

SX-Conference MIC-LED Control Turbine(MTN 41)

The microphone led of Turbine station is now turned on when station is talker of a SX conference. New Turbine software required.

Tone Test doesn't Work on 704x Stations (MTN 138)

Some stations has an internal electrical overhearing between microphone and loudspeaker line. Even when the loudspeaker or microphone is removed the tone test with increased volume makes the station pas the tone test. New station flag added for avoiding automatic increasing volume on tone test implemented. Available in AlphaPro 11.6.

AMC Failed When Tone Test Starts During CR Mode (MTN 133)

In call request mode the station is not marked as busy thus the tone test can be activated. This could end up in a conflicting resource situation. The tone test function is now checking call request mode before activation of tone test on a station.

AMC: Search String with PlayDAK Parameters Fails (MTN 21)

The PlayDAK system can now be used for search string. Important to notice that digits "played" from DAK is equal to the digits dialed from the user, thus if doing "9-search" and then dialing from the keyboard will interfere with the "Play DAK system".

AlphaCom Fails by the $CPYM Command using Illegal Parameters (MTN 37)

The range check of the parameter of $CPYM are improved to avoid the situation.

AlphaCom Resets when Changing Time in AlphaWeb (MTN 84)

When time setting was change from AlphaWeb this could both reset AMCd and SIPd. This due to the use of real time timestamp in some monitoring functions. Monitoring functions is now based on "time since reset", this time counter is not interfered when changing the clock-time.

IP Dummy Stations with Physical Numbers Above 138 Will not Register(MTN 127)

Both situations of stations with physical number above 138 are now working.

RingMaster and SIP stations(MTN 26)

When a SIP Station registered on a system that is interfaced with RingMaster CB901 tries to call a RingMaster station the conversation opens up and sets of a tone (like a dialtone) for about 5 seconds. After that the audio path is as normal. The "dialtone" is now removed.

AMC Fails if $GMS is Used During Gong Tone(MTN 205)

Reset would occur if the $GMS command was used during gong playback in the group call.

The flag for global ringing group was not working correctly(MTN 197)

When disabling global ringing group, the flag was re-activated after next reset.

Fluctuating Audio Level During SX Conference (MTN 238)

The audio level could suddenly decrease during a long term SX conference. The limiter functionality in the AMC dsp is now improved.

Enhancement

Built in DHCP-Server

A DHCP server can be configured from AlphaWeb->System Configuration->DHCP.

External DNS Server Support

Configuration of a (remote) DNS server available from AlphaWeb->System Configuration->DNS.

Built in NTP Server

• The AlphaCom now contains a NTP server and client.
• NTP client functionality is configured as before.
• If the NTP server ports are enabled in the AlphaWeb filter settings the AlphaCom will also work as a NTP server for other devices.
• The AlphaCom DHCP server will include AlphaCom as NTP server if the NTPd filter is open in the firewall.

NB. the NTP system adjust the time very slowly, this to avoid problems with file/log time stamp. Changing the time with on hour at the server will take days before the clients are adjusted. If large changes are required AlphaCom will force time received from the NTP server after reboot.

Changed and Improved IP Address Configuration in AlphaWeb

• New notation for configuring IP settings.

Previous: 169.254.1.5 mask: 255.255.0.0
Now:      169.254.1.5/16

• Validation of IP addresses and ranges before saving
• Guess function for Ethernet port when configuring routing.

Station Discovery and Assignment from AlphaWeb. (Beta)

A basic tool for finding and configure factory default IP stations on the same sub-net as the AlphaCom. Available from AlphaWeb->System Maintenance->Station Discovery menu.
Found stations can be assigned free directory numbers. Discovery and Initial Configuration

Dynamic Group Call

Local and global group call features now have an option for temporary including and removing stations or groups as members.
Dynamic Group Call
Related functions:

• $DP message for connecting stations and groups to existing group calls.
• Allow Starting of regular Group Call from $DP message.
• ”PA control” flag available as param2 for existing group call features, (configure dynamic group call++).
• New ”PA control” flag "MPlayCntr" for M controlled start and stop of playback of stored message to a group.

Data Command for Sending Digit Signaling to SIP station (MTN 148)

New $D2S command for digit sending to AlphaCom registered SIP-station.

Data Command for Display Update

New $DTS command for update of display text of stations.

Event Handler Event if Recording Fails (MTN 77)

Recording Event Reporting during recording setup and faults. Recording Info Event

New Feature for Manual Activation of Recording During Conversation (MTN 146)

Recording on demand with new $DP message: $REC.

Report SX Conference Speaker to SysLog Statistic (MTN 41)

SysLog statistics with option of current speaker of conference.
Checkbox available on Conference programing for AlphaPro 11.6

Priority Direct Paging with Feature 93 (MTN 160)

Parameter 2 = 1 uses priority page template for message sending. Other values uses normal paging template.

SIPd Reply to the "OPTION" Message (MTN 147)

AlphaCom SIPd now reply to the "OPTION" message. This SIP message is often used for monitoring of SIP trunk peer from 3-part equipment SIP servers.

SIPd Support of Delayed Offer

The SIPd now support "Delayed Offer". I.e. receiving INVITE without SDP information.

IP Station Registration Changes

Shortcoming of functionality of the original IP station registration with IP stations configured with "register with directory number":
As long as no reset is performed change of directory number from AlphaPro or AlphaWeb will take effect, the IP station display will show the new number and can be used. But at next reset the station will not be able to do registration. At customer site this could happen weeks after the service technician left the building.

To improve on the situation the last registered MAC address of the registered station is now stored in AlphaCom. (This data is not the same as MAC address configured from AlphaPro.)
For stations configured to register with directory number the algorithm used is:

• First search for the directory number requested from the station registration.
  • If directory number is configured as "IP station register with directory number" and currently not registered, allow registration.
• If no matching directory number found, search for match on configured MAC address or last registered MAC address.
  • If match found on MAC address and the station is configured as "Register with directory number" and currently not registered, allow registration and if possible update station with new directory number. (Update at station side require new IP station software. Old stations will register but the StationWeb will show the previous requested directory number.)

However in a situation where a configured IP station is set back to factory default, then using the AlphaWeb auto configure function, the IP station will re-register at its previous directory number due to the MAC address match.

IP-HA Enhancement, Part Of State Data Synchronized

The following state data is now synchronized between the IP HA AlphaComs.

• Transfer
• Call request transfer
• Absent information

Backward Compatibility Flag for $EXT_MAIL (MTN 193)

The "net_ref_obj" parameters of the $EXT_MAIL will for AMC 11 generate various types of net_obj_ref classes. This is according to system specification but some 3rd part systems have not implemented all the net_obj_ref classes. To force AMC to generate equal net_obj_ref classes as for AMC 9-10 a new flag has been introduced.

.ex_profile.flags.AMC10_bc

Known Issues

Large log files on on-board FLASH

The log is stored on a limited sized Flash partition by a file system. Routines to handle larger log amounts, like automatic clean up of older files have been implemented, but we still experience problems if the log rates get to large. These problems occur before a theoretical log rate versus free space analysis, mainly because of file system issues with a small number of available flash sectors. This file system factor makes it difficult to make an accurate estimate of handled log rates so the following is based on experience:

Limits:

Log rates lesser than 1440 events a day (an average of one each minute) should be handled with no problem.
Log rates of 17280 events a day (one each 5th second) is experienced to give problems.

Guideline:

If you are above 1440 events a day you should evaluate to use the Remote Syslog option, and turn off the Local Filesystem Log.
If you are closer to the 17280 events log rate we strongly advise to use only the Remote Syslog option. 
If your system are logging above the 1440 events a day to the filesystem you should regularly monitor the logs.

Note:

From AlphaCom 10.23 a log limiter on the System and Debug log is implemented, allowing for a maximum of 60 events a hour. 
If this limit  is reached, it will be notified by a log message. Because of this limit the above guidline will only apply 
to the Statistics log.

Hardware Drivers

Rtpdaemon

/opt/amc/bin/rtpdaemon

Rtpdaemon is a user mode service which handle the RTP audio streams. It receives control commands from the AMCD main application on a control socket (/tmp/rtpd). Rtpdaemon transfers and receives RTP packets via standard Linux network sockets. Rtpdaemon packs and unpacks RTP packets. Received packets are buffered before play out. It transfers and receives serialized audio data to the DSP via a DSP driver.

Version 01.16 (2011-03-22)
Minor change to decrease RX-buffer delays.

SIPdaemon

/opt/amc/bin/sipd

SIPdaemon is a user mode service which handle data communications with SIP devices. It receives AlphaNet control commands from the AMCD main application on a TCP socket (port 40000).

Version 01.42 (2012-08-29)

• Skip updating the register DB on REGISTER refresh (no change in contact or expires. Reset register timeout when reading DB at startup. Reduces writing to flash.

HA IP daemon

/opt/amc/bin/haipd

Haipd is the process which handles High Availability IP (Redundancy).

Version 01.05c: 2012-07-26

• Added reporting of current state for connection to related HA node. (27 - System Event reporting)
• Changed priority of the haipd after amcd start-up.
• Better check when HA config is deleted from AlphaWeb.

DSP driver

/opt/amc/modules/dsp_drv

DSP driver is a kernel mode driver which provides a device file interface (/dev/dsp/) to RTP daemon for communicating control commands and audio to/from the DSPs.

Version 02.11: (2011-03-21)
Number of internal DSP channels increased, DSP SW version 01.19, BZ 517.

DSP SW

/opt/amc/images/amc_dsp.hex

SW for the two DSPs. Currently the two DSPs runs identical SW. DSP does the G.711/G.722 transcoding. It also generates tones which are used in the system. Audio is transferred to the FPGA in 16 bit PCM format.

Version 01.20: (2013-04-04)
AGC: If limit kicked in, level was reduced by 17dB. Now only reduce by 1.6dB as a minimum.

FPGA FW

/opt/amc/images/amc_ip_fpga.bit

Firmware for the FPGA. FPGA converts audio between PCM and the AlphaCom SigmaDelta format. FPGA also interfaces the time slotted audio buses on the AlphaCom backplane, and thus replaces the SBI ASIC used on earlier AlphaCom boards.

Version 01.67:
Description: Released version.
Introduced in system upgrade file: alpha_sys_10_03.tbz2

MBI driver

/opt/amc/modules/mbi_irq

MBI irq driver is a kernel mode driver which provides a signal to the AMCD main application when an interrupt is generated from the master backplane interface (MBI)

Version 02.00: Board support package 03.xx (Linux 2.6):
Description: Released version.
Introduced in system upgrade file: alpha_sys_10_03.tbz2

LED / Watchdog driver

/opt/amc/modules/dev_amc_wdog

The watchdog driver is a kernel mode driver which is used for updating the hardware watchdog. This driver is also used for accessing the AMC-card LEDs

Version 01.00: Board support package 02.xx (Linux 2.4):
Description: Released version.
Introduced in system upgrade file: alpha_sys_10_00.tbz2

Version 02.00: Board support package 03.xx (Linux 2.6):
Description: Released version.
Introduced in system upgrade file: alpha_sys_10_03.tbz2