Cisco Dialed Number Analyzer

The Dialed Number Analyzer is installed as a plug-in for Cisco CallManager. The tool allows you to test a Cisco CallManager dial plan configuration prior to deploying it. The tool simulates internal-to-internal calls and internal-to-external calls. You can also use the tool to analyze dial plans after the dial plan is deployed.

A dial plan can be very complex, involving multiple devices, translation patterns, route patterns, route lists, route groups, calling- and called-party transformations, and device-level transformations. Because of this complexity, a dial plan can contain errors. You can use the Dialed Number Analyzer to test a dial plan by providing dialed digits as input. The tool analyzes the dialed digits and shows details of the calls. You can use these results to diagnose the dial plan, identify problems, if any, and tune the dial plan before it is deployed.

The Cisco Dialed Number Analyzer runs as a service that can be accessed from the server on which it is installed or from a remote PC. It runs as a low priority and does not affect Cisco CallManager performance. With the Cisco Dialed Number Analyzer tool, you can analyze various types of calls, such as IP phone-to-IP phone, gateway-to-IP phone, IP phone-to-gateway, and gateway-to-gateway calls. Furthermore, you can analyze calls to feature-specific patterns, such as CTI route points or pilot points.

Installing Cisco Dialed Number Analyzer

The Dialed Number Analyzer (DNA) includes a separate executable file that is available in the Cisco CallManager plug-ins window. You can install the Dialed Number Analyzer if Cisco CallManager Release 3.3(4) or later has been installed. You can install the Dialed Number Analyzer on any Cisco CallManager node in a cluster, either publisher or subscriber. Install the Dialed Number Analyzer preferably on the publisher to use the actual SQL database that is used by all Cisco CallManager servers. During the installation, you have to enter the Cisco CallManager cluster private password phrase you configured during the Cisco CallManager installation. When the Dialed Number Analyzer is installed, it installs as a service called Cisco Dialed Number Analyzer. You can start and log in to the Dialed Number Analyzer from the server on which it is installed or from a remote PC by using a web browser (Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or later versions).

The Dialed Number Analyzer tool can be installed from the Cisco CallManager Plugins web page at Application > Install Plugins > Cisco Dialed Number Analyzer. After you have installed the tool, you can access it at https:///dna, where specifies the node name or IP address of the device on which the Dialed Number Analyzer is installed. In the User Name field, enter a valid user ID and a password (for the administrator account to get access to Cisco CallManager Administration). The Dialed Number Analyzer window shown in Figure 34-8 should appear.

Figure 34-8. Cisco Dialed Number Analyzer

Note

The Windows administrator account must be used to access the Cisco Dialed Number Analyzer even if you have the Cisco MultiLevel Administrator (MLA) installed with Cisco CallManager.

 

Using the Cisco Dialed Number Analyzer

The analysis involves entering calling-party and called-party digits in the Dialed Number Analyzer tool and choosing a calling search space for the analysis. The Dialed Number Analyzer uses this calling search space and analyzes the dialed digits. You need not choose specific devices or provide any other input. The Dialed Number Analyzer allows you to analyze a route pattern, translation pattern, directory number (DN), or CTI route point. Furthermore, beginning with Cisco CallManager Release 4.1, the Dialed Number Analyzer tool supports Call Coverage, H.323 FastStart, Hospitality, trunk-to-trunk transfer, Forced Authorization Codes (FAC) and Client Matter Codes (CMC), BRI, Multilevel Precedence and Preemption (MLPP), U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) requirements, Q signaling (QSIG), and time-of-day features.

As shown in Figure 34-9, a call between 4015 and 4010 with the calling search space IntLocCSS is analyzed. The Calling Party and the Dialed Digits fields are mandatory. When you want to test, for example, time-of-day routing, you can specify a time zone as well. After you have chosen all values, click the Do Analysis button to start the analysis.

Figure 34-9. Dialed Number Analyzer Example

The result of the analyzed call between 4015 and 4010 is displayed in a compact version, as shown in Figure 34-10. For complete information, click the Expand All button. The match result information is the first point to check. Is the call routed correctly or is it restricted? RouteThisPattern means that the call is routed correctly.

Figure 34-10. Dialed Number Analyzer Results