Tuesday 18 September 2012

NEC SL1000: Useful Networking Tips using Wireshark

Well as you know NEC SL1000 can support IP extensions & IP trunks (both SIP/H.323). In our setup for such services sometimes we encounter issues like extensions not registered, IP trunks not linked up. And therefore today i would like to introduce the usage of this network trouble-shooting tool known as Wireshark.

Wireshark used to be known as Ethereal for those who has used this tool before. I mean it is great that we can capture what is going on in the network but there are soo many information which are not relevant for our purpose. FYI before we can capture any network traffic, we need to ensure that the port where you are connecting your PC can 'see' network traffic going on elsewhere (for example at port 16 where your NEC SL1000 VoIP card is connected to). There are 2 ways to capture network traffic; port mirroring & using a network hub.

After we have captured the network packets, we can make use of filter command to 'see' the things we want to see;

  • sip (this command allows us to see only the SIP communications between NEC PBX & end-points) 
  • ip.src==x.x.x.x (this command allows us to see traffic coming from x.x.x.x under Source field)
  • ip.src==x.x.x.x (this command allows us to see traffic coming from x.x.x.x under Source field)
  • ip.src==x.x.x.x&&ip.dst==x.x.x.x (this command allows us to see traffic coming from both x.x.x.x under Source field, x.x.x.x under Destination field)

These commands are very useful to perform your network trouble-shooting. 

Thursday 6 September 2012

NEC SL1000: NEC Sl1000 Hotel Features (Hotel Operator / User Guide)

http://www.mediafire.com/?z0bnnwmr6c445b0
(Hotel Operator Guide)

http://www.mediafire.com/?fxeha3y3a3ctj93
(Hotel User Guide)

NEC SL1000 offers deployment in a hospitality setup. This solution is well geared towards small boutique hotel / small hotel+motel, without the hassle to connect to PMS side for integration.

It offers all the good hotel features as a standalone solution. With the use of this license SL-SYS-HOTEL LIC it allows the usage of the following useful hotel features;

Check-In / Check-Out
Wake-Up Call
Message Waiting
Do Not Disturb (DND)
Single Digit Access
Toll Restriction Class Change for each Room
Room to Room Call Restriction
Room Status Indication on DSS Console
Room Status Output
Room Monitoring by SLT

*Note: The above hotel feature will be access through phone access codes 

Friday 31 August 2012

NEC SL1000: NEC SL1000 R2 Enhancement

Well folks we have been waiting for a long time for the new release of NEC SL1000 R2 enhancements. The new version was launched recently and below shows you the new feature enhancements;

  • Distinctive Ringing Enhancement
  • Embedded VRS Enhancement
  • System Features Enhancement
  • IP Trunk Enhancement
  • VBD (Voice Band Data) Support
  • E-mail Notification Enhancement 

Do stay tuned for the updated download links for the new release. My apologies for the broken download links so far, let me do something. 

Lastly for the new enhancement, there is no new hardware nor license introduction. 

Monday 23 July 2012

NEC SL1000: Connecting NEC SL1000 to Skype (Skype Connect)


NEC SL1000 supports SIP trunk, and therefore it is possible to connect the system to Skype via Skype Connect (formerly known as Skype SIP trunk service). With the service subscribe for the business owner, now it is possible to integrate Skype call button into your corporate website. Meaning when a potential customer sees your website and wish to contact you for further enquiry on the NEC communication platforms, they can simply click on the Skype button to make a call direct to the company. 

Below shows you how typical Skype users see this Skype Connect user, and how can outside users (offnet) make a direct call to the users behind this Skype Connect service;


         
         Connecting NEC platforms to Skype
  • The customer need to subscribe to Skype Connect http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/business/skype-connect/#t_overview
  • In a way this is a SIP trunk service from Skype, so on the NEC platform side you will need to quote in the necessary hardware / software licenses (VoIP card, MEM, SIP trunk licenses)
  • At Skype Connect you will need to sign up for the channels (concurrent calls required), each channel US$6.95/month
  • Ensure necessary network configuration are done over at the customer end (to allow SIP messages)


How Skype user see you
  • Once the Skype Connect has been setup, you will have a online unique nickname assigned for this service
  • So to normal Skype user, they will see you as just another contact on their buddy list


How to call to NEC platform from Skype
  • In the Skype Connect setting, you will need to assign the nickname to a internal number (can be a virtual number or physical) which has been setup in your NEC platform
  • So when Skype user click on your nickname, the assigned number behind the NEC platform will ring


How to call to NEC platform from Outside
  • For outside users (PSTN, mobile) to call you, online number is required. This online number is an add-on service which you will need to subscribe.
  • So when you have this online number, basically the Skype will translate this number to your Skype unique nickname
  • Below shows you which are the countries that this service provide (local number) =>

       
  • Australia
  • Chile
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Japan *
  • Korea, Republic of
  • Malta
  • Mexico
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Poland
  • Romania
  • South Africa
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • USA






















How to call to Skype from NEC platform
  • It is not possible for users behind the NEC platform to seize a SIP trunk to call Skype user directly (phone cannot send alphanumeric)
  • As such for users behind NEC platform to call Skype users, same thing the Skype user will need to subscribe to online number

Friday 29 June 2012

NEC SL1000: Hotel Features & Room Status Printout

NEC SL1000 supports small boutique hotel/motel deployment less integration with PMS. Below shows you the supported hotel features;

Check-In / Check-Out
Wake-Up Call
Message Waiting
Do Not Disturb (DND)
Single Digit Access
Toll Restriction Class Change for each Room
Room to Room Call Restriction
Room Status Indication on DSS Console
Room Status Output
Room Monitoring by SLT


Connecting a PC to the NEC SL1000 we are able to have a room status output which shows the following information; 

Check-Out Information
Wake-Up Call No Answer Information
Room Status Information (MW, DND, etc)


Below is a sample room status printout;


Room Status List           --------     07/12/2012 22:37
Room Clean(Occupied) --- Check In
 201      





Room Status List           --------     07/12/2012 22:37
Room Clean(Occupied) --- Check In
Room Clean(Vacant) --- Check Out
 202     , 203     , 204     , 205     , 206      
Maid Required

Maid in Room

Inspection Required


END


Calling Class List         --------     07/12/2012 22:37
Room to Room Barring

Outside Call Class
 201     -01, 202     -02, 203     -02, 204     -02,
 205     -02, 206     -02 

END


DND and Clean Up Check     --------     07/12/2012 22:37
Do No Disturb

Clean Up Check


END


Message Service List       --------     07/12/2012 22:37


END


Wake Up Call List          --------     07/12/2012 22:37


END


Tuesday 26 June 2012

NEC SL1000: Virtual Private Network (VPN) to Support Remote Users


2 possibilities over here to setup the VPN for your NEC SL1000 to support remote users;

Get a local VPN service with local Telcos
Advantage
Single running cost
Routers provided by telco
Service Level Agreement (SLA) guaranteed, meaning voice quality is good
Disadvantage
Slight higher monthly recurring cost

Setup the VPN yourself using VPN routers
Advantage
Only makes use of the customer existing internet connection
Cheaper monthly recurring cost (paying only for the internet access)
Disadvantage
Need to configure the VPN router yourself
No SLA guaranteed. Meaning voice quality sometimes good, other times bad  
VPN router will be part of your maintenance service
Setup NEC SL1000 Virtual Private Network (VPN) to support Remote Users (Gateway-to-Gateway, Client-Gateway) 




Tuesday 12 June 2012

NEC SL1000 Hotel

NEC SL1000 is well suited for deployment in budget/boutique hotel/motel. It does comes with hotel features like check-in/check-out, room cutoff,wake-up call, single digital dialing (one-touch), message waiting, room to room calling restriction, toll restriction, room status, room status printout, dss console monitoring (for hotel operator, front desk personnel), do not disturb.

Things to take note of;

  • License: NEC SL1000 Hotel license is required 
  • Operator DSS console: Take note that although in total there are 60keys in the 60keys-DSS console, the last row cannot be used for room extension (where you can check the message waiting status, wake-up call status, room status)
  • Integration to PMS: NO (NEC SL1000 in hotel mode works as a standalone hospitality solution for budget hoteliers where all hotel features relating to NEC SL1000 needs to be done from the phone set itself). For example when a guest checks in, the front desk personnel need to lift up the handset or speaker mode, dial a service code (738 for check-in, 739 for check-out) and then this guest is checked in. Once the guest is checked to the room, the NEC SL1000 system will record down the check-in time, change the toll restriction class and room status.  



Tuesday 5 June 2012

NEC SL1000: Link up 2 x NEC SL1000 using IP


In terms of integration with NEC platforms or other vendors here are the possibilties for NEC SL1000;
  • TDM - FXS/FXO, ISDN T & S Point
  • IP - SIP trunk
In order to link up 2 x NEC SL1000 systems by IP connectivity, SIP trunk is the only way to achieve this setup. 
Below shows you what are the program commands required =>
As the SIP trunk setup is mirror on both SL1000 (only the IP address pointing, numbering is different) i will only give the config for 1 side.

1. Basic Setup for IP Trunk

PRG10-40-01: Set to 1

PRG10-40-02: Set it to minimum 4 (you will need your 4 x SIP trunk over here)

PRG10-03-02: Set to 1:SIP

2. Setup the SIP trunk

PRG10-12-09/10/03: Define your ip address, subnet mask, default GW

PRG84-26-01: Assign the ip address for the DSP resources (1 ip address per 16 dsp)

PRG10-17-01: Set to 2:Manual

PRG10-17-02: Define the ip address (same as your voip card ip address)

PRG10-18-01: set it to 11 (12 for the other system)

PRG10-23-01: set it to 1:yes

PRG10-23-02: point to the other system ip address

PRG10-23-04: set 12 (when user dial 12, it will point to this sip trunk)

PRG10-28-04: set it to 11 (12 for the other system)

PRG10-29-14: set to 0

PRG84-14-07/08: set it to 1800

do the same setup for the other NEC SL1000 system.

test it out by trying to make call across.


NEC SL1000 Desktop Suite Manual

Download NEC SL1000 Desktop Suite Manual
NEC SL1000 Desktop Suite Manual. This manual is details down the basic installation to setup the NEC SL1000 softphone in client mode. Inside this manual it also mention the plugin for Outlook. The Outlook Add-In allows users to make calls, End Call, Conference, Transfer, and perform screen pops through the Contacts folder within MS Outlook using the NEC Desktop application. The Outlook Add-In is installed during installation of the Desktop Application. The Desktop Application must be running for the Outlook Add-In to
function.

This application allows users to use the software in 2 user modes; softphone mode (max. 16), and RCC Deskset mode (max. 128) where the user is using the software to control the physical digital phone for media termination. SL-DT-DESKTOP SUITE-1 LIC will be required.

Tuesday 22 May 2012

NEC Social Network: NEC Phone.org (www.necphone.org)

hi there everyone who has been and seen my blog on NEC SL1000. finally i'm back, my account was hijack for the past few months, that was why i didn't managed to post new articles on NEC SL1000. now that i have gotten back my account, i will be doing so.

btw i stumbled upon a new website (www.necphone.org) which strives to promote NEC voice systems as a whole. hmm it seems like a good deal, go check it out and make contributions to this social network made for NEC voice system installers.