Dialogic Voice Cards - JCT - Obtain a D-Channel Trace using ISDIAG

1 Symptom
2 Reason for the issue
3 Fix / Solution
4 Product List
5 Glossary of Acronyms / Terms

Symptom

How can the ISDIAG utility be used to obtain a D-Channel trace?

Reason for the issue

D-Channel traces can be useful for troubleshooting issues involving ISDN calls.

Fix / Solution

A 'D-Channel’ trace originates as a binary reading of the information passed at the ISDN layer 2 level. It will capture all messages delivered to and from the Dialogic® board. The following steps show how to obtain this trace, and how to convert it into a readable format.

When using the ISDIAG utility to obtain a trace while a separate program is making/receiving ISDN calls, use the "r" (trace mode) flag when initiating ISDIAG. Using this flag will stop ISDIAG from issuing a cc_WaitCall() on the specified channel, leaving it available for another application to use the channel.

LOCATION: The ISDIAG tool is located in the Dialogic\Bin directory.

USAGE:

isdiag <board> <channel> <boardtype> <type> <voice>

     board =====> board #
     channel ===> 1-23 for T1
                  ===> 1-30 for E1
                  ===> 1-2 for BRI
     boardtype => 't' = T1
                       => 'e' = E1
                       => 'b' = BRI
                       => 'b2' = BRI/2VFD
     type =====> 'p' = PEB // No longer supported
                               's' = SCBUS or CTBUS [Only use 's' for "type"]
     trace mode => 'r' = Trace mode, No waitcall issued at startup
                                         default: Normal mode, waitcall issued at startup
     voice =====> 'v' = voice supported (span cards)
                                default: no voice support (dti cards)

Examples:

isdiag 1 1 t s

(this will run isdiag in user mode, and will be ready to make or receive calls)

isdiag 1 1 t s r

(this will run isdiag in 'r' resource mode, and will not be usable for making/receiving calls -- use this mode to capture a D-Channel trace. The user will run an application for call control. If the user does not have a program for call control, then the user should not use the 'r' resource mode switch).

To start a trace:

From the ISDIAG menu screen, do the following:

Select option 10 to start/stop/browse trace
Select option 1 to start a trace
You will be prompted for a file name. Use a file name that you will remember in case you need it later, and enter a full pathname (e.g. c:\program files\dialogic\bin\trace1.log).
After entering a file name, you will be taken back to the original menu screen.
When the test is complete, select option 10 to start/stop/browse trace, and then select option 2 to stop the trace.

To read a trace:

After the trace has been stopped, the .log file that’s generated is an unreadable binary file and it must be parsed into a readable format. ISDIAG can do this automatically, or it is possible to have an outside program parse the information.

To read a trace using ISDIAG:

Select option 10 from the main menu
Select option 2 to Stop the trace – you will be taken back to the main menu.
Select option 10 again from the main menu.
Select option 3 to browse the trace.

To read a trace outside ISDIAG:

Run a utility that can parse ISDN layer 2 data on the .log file (i.e. isdtrace or pritrace, at least one of which is included in any Dialogic release which has ISDIAG) -- to run pritrace on a file in the same directory as it, the following command would be entered:

pritrace filename.log [destination filename]

If no destination filename is entered, the same name will be used, with extension .res.

The .res file will be readable with any text editor

Product List

Dialogic® D/240JCT-T1 Media Board
Dialogic® D/480JCT-1T1 Media Board
Dialogic® D/480JCT-2T1 Media Board
Dialogic® D/600JCT-1E1 Media Board
Dialogic® D/600JCT-2E1 Media Board

Glossary of Acronyms / Terms

ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network.
D-Channel - Data Channel; used in ISDN to carry call control messages.