Black Box LRA005A-R2 - Manual (Page 73)

ASYNC ROUTER AR-P, AR-5, AND SYNC ROUTER USER’S MANUAL
73
Appendix B: Line Use
Use the procedures in this appendix to minimize telephone costs associated with dialup connections:
over modem interfaces or switched synchronous (SW-56) lines.
This appendix describes:
• How to monitor line use
• How to limit line use
B.1 How to Monitor Line Use
While the Router is operating, monitor it for excessive line usage. Because of unforeseen sources of
traffic, an incompletely configured network with a properly configured Router, can still produce
excessive phone usage and costs.
Generally, the Router dialup line is most efficient when it is connected for less than 4-5 hours a day
over a long distance carrier. To monitor the Router’s telephone line usage:
• Determine sources of last 5 dials
• Listen to the modem’s speaker (if the Router has a modem)
• Review syslog connection reports (IP networks only)
• Install usage warning process
NOTE
The Router never dials a client unless the client has dialed in, is acknowledged, is
verified using a login name and associated password, and has security callback
enabled.
B.1.1 D ETERMINE S OURCES OF L AST 5 D IALS
Use the dialup modemX dial_log command to view the type of packets that caused the last five dials, for any
of the WAN interfaces (modem, sync). For example, to examine what is going on with modem0, from
tcp/ip mode enter
dialup modem0 dial_log
From ipx mode, enter
tcp dialup modem0 dial_log
B.1.2 L ISTEN TO THE M ODEM ’ S S PEAKER
If the modem speaker is enabled, it is activated whenever the Router places an outgoing call or answers
an incoming call. During the first few days of operation, listen for frequent incoming or outgoing calls.
Verify that any frequent calling is justified, by correlating it to the actual activities of your network users.
During an outgoing call, you will first hear the dial tone, then the modem dialing the number (using
standard telephone touch tones), and then a series of tones while the modems make the connection.
During an incoming call, you will not hear the dial tone or the dialing touch tones; you will only hear
the modem-connection tones.