This section contains the following information:
You should attend the MetaSwitch System Overview course before attending this course.
The MetaSwitch Troubleshooting training course is a 5 day course. It runs from 9am to 5pm Monday-Thursday and then 9am-2:30pm on Friday to allow participants to get home for the weekend.
Check the course schedule to see what dates are scheduled for future courses.
The course is split into the following modules.
- Module A1 - MetaView Explorer
This module looks at the wide range of diagnostics available via the MetaView Explorer (formerly known as the EMS System Explorer), including Alarms, Logs, Statistics, Per-subscriber information, Traffic studies, Route Verification Tests (RVTs) and Audit Trails. A solid understanding of these diagnostic tools is the foundation of troubleshooting. Participants practice using all of the diagnostics tools during this module.
- Module A2 - Craft menu
This module looks at the diagnostics available via the MetaSwitch craft interface including getting to the craft menu, ping and traceroute, real time call logs, real time termination events, VoIP logging (snooping) and API trace. Participants practice using all of the diagnostics tools during this module.
- Module A3 - Offline Tools
This module looks at the various offline tools and scripting languages provided or used by MetaSwitch to perform tasks such as retrieving and viewing billing files and viewing and analyzing statistics. Participants perform hands-on exercises using the offline tools and scripts.
- Module B1 - Troubleshooting Techniques
The Troubleshooting Techniques module discusses how to start troubleshooting a problem. This covers how to use simple deduction and the diagnostics tools to identify the area causing the problem.
- Module C1 - Trunk-side
This module focuses on SS7 (ISUP, TCAP, MTP) and MF signaling and covers the expected processing in common situations, such as activation and call setup. This is compared with real-life examples on the MetaSwitch so that participants know what to look for when analyzing the diagnostics. Typical problems and their solutions are discussed along with hints and tips for using the diagnostic tools effectively.
- Module C2 - Non-VoIP Access side
This module focuses on GR-303, T1 CAS, ISDN (including ISDN Trunks) and ATM signaling and covers the expected processing in common situations, such as activation and call setup. This is compared with real-life examples on the MetaSwitch so that participants know what to look for when analyzing the diagnostics. Typical problems and their solutions are discussed along with hints and tips for using the diagnostic tools effectively.
- Module C3 - VoIP Access side
This module focuses on MGCP and SIP (including SIP Trunks) signaling and covers the expected processing in common situations, such as activation and call setup. This is compared with real-life examples on the MetaSwitch so that participants know what to look for when analyzing the diagnostics. Typical problems and their solutions are discussed along with hints and tips for using the diagnostic tools effectively. The module includes modifying signaling behavior to support interoperability and voice quality monitoring.
- Module C4 - IP Networks
This module provides a brief introduction to troubleshooting in an IP network, covering some basic IP problems that can affect a MetaSwitch deployment such as Quality of Service and Session Border Controllers and also introduces common IP troubleshooting tools, such as Wireshark. MetaSwitch offers a much more detailed course on this material via the separate Advanced VoIP Engineering and Troubleshooting course.
- Module C5 - Others
This module covers some miscellaneous other troubleshooting topics including Centrex, SMDI, Echo, Clocking and other noise on voice calls. For each topic the course provides background on the topic, common problems seen and techniques for tracking down problems.
Some sample training materials from this course can be found
in the Customer Portal Knowledge Base.