vGATE
Reference Manual
Software version 17.1
vGATE
Reference Manual
TELES AG | HEADQUARTERS
Ernst-Reuter-Platz 8
10587 Berlin
GERMANY
Phone +49 30 399 28-066
Fax
+49 30 399 28-051
E-mail sales@teles.com
http
www.teles.com
Software version: 17.1
Revised:14 May 2013
© Copyright 2010 TELES AG Informationstechnologien. All rights reserved.
TELES®, IntraSTAR®, Intra*®, iGATE®, and iSWITCH® are registered trademarks of TELES AG
Informationstechnologien. All other trademarks used are the property of their respective owners.
The supplied hardware/software systems are protected by copyright and can be used solely by their lawful
owners.
All text and figures in this publication have been compiled with great attention to detail. Nonetheless,
inaccuracies and typographical errors cannot be entirely avoided. TELES AG Informationstechnologien
provides this document 'as is' without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. TELES AG
Informationstechnologien reserves the right to make changes in product design or specifications without
notice.
vGATE 17.1
Table of contents
Table of contents
1
About this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.1
1.2
1.3
Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Conventions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Safety symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
2
Safety and security precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.3.1
2.3.2
2.3.3
2.4
2.5
Safety measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Tips for EMC protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
System security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Servicing the system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Replacing components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Protecting the operating system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
CDR files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Network security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
3
Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.4.1
3.4.2
3.4.3
3.4.4
What’s new in version 17.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
How vGATE works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
How the hosted vGATE solution works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Possible renting models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
User groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Access rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
4
vGATE installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.1
4.2
4.2.1
4.2.2
4.2.3
4.3
Network and firewall requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Secure vGATE Web GUI access with HTTPS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Creating an SSL certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Self-signing a certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Installing the certificate and enabling SSL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
vGATE SIM Unit hardware installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
5
The vGATE Module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
5.1
5.2
5.3
The SIM 60 Carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Installing additional vGATE boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
vGATE board LEDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
6
Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
6.1
6.1.1
6.1.2
6.1.3
6.1.4
6.2
6.2.1
6.2.2
6.3
Configuration of the vGATE SIM Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Editing the IP address using the netconfig tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Editing the IP address using vi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Configuring a DNS server to work with dynamic IP addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Setting a password for connection from vGATECtrl to the vGATE SIM Unit. . . . . . .37
Configuration of the vGATE Control Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
vGATE Control Unit hardware installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
vGateConfig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Managing customer and user profiles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
vGATE 17.1
Page 3
Table of contents
6.3.1
6.3.2
6.3.3
6.3.4
6.4
6.5
Adding customer and user profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Assigning SIM 60 carriers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Editing customer and user profiles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Deleting customer and user profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Handling new default gateways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Configuration of mobile gateways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
7
vGATEDesktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.4.1
7.4.2
7.4.3
7.5
7.5.1
7.5.2
7.5.3
7.6
7.7
7.7.1
7.7.2
7.7.3
7.8
7.9
7.9.1
7.9.1.1
7.9.1.2
7.9.2
7.9.2.1
7.9.2.2
7.9.2.3
7.9.3
7.9.4
7.9.5
7.9.5.1
7.9.5.2
7.9.6
7.9.6.1
7.9.6.2
7.9.6.3
7.10
7.11
7.11.1
7.11.2
7.11.3
7.11.4
7.11.5
7.12
7.12.1
7.12.2
Automatic mobile gateway registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Setting up mobile gateways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Setting up groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Setting up timezones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Editing and copying timezones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Setting holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Setting different rates for timezones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Assigning SIMs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Reserving SIMs to inactive timezones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Assigning SIMs to active timezones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Copying SIM assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Setting time limits and pauses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Setting dynamic SIM pauses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Setting the coordinates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Entering the coordinates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Setting the time/distance ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Setting carriers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Configuring prepaid SIMs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
Configuration in the mobile gateway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Settings in the route.cfg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Settings in the pabx.cfg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Defining prepaid SIMs on the vGATEDesktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
Finding the balance parse string . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
Calculating the balance factor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
Defining the maximum number of allowed balance checks after assign . . . . . . . . .76
Setting a change limit for prepaid SIMs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Entering autorecharge vouchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Recharge via USSD menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
Settings in the pabx.cfg file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
Settings in the route.cfg file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
SIM card balance transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
Configuring master carrier and master SIM cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
Configuring production carrier and production SIM cards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
Transfer script example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
Automatic mobile gateway configuration via vGATEDesktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
SMS and call options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
Sending SMS and calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
Receiving SMS and calls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Defining SMS messages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Sending external SMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Retrieving a SIM’s own number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Special services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Script commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Script example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
vGATE 17.1
Page 4
Table of contents
7.13
7.14
7.15
7.16
7.17
7.17.1
7.17.2
7.17.3
Defining the SIM’s protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
Decommissioning SIM cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Editing mobile gateways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
SIM card history. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
vGATE statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
SIM card statistics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Call statistics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
Call charts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
8
Summary of vGATEDesktop user interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
What the information on the vGATEDesktop means. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
vGATEDesktop icons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
vGATEDesktop menu bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
vGATEDesktop toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
Context menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
9
vGATECtrl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
9.1
9.2
9.3
9.4
Logging activity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129
Sending error messages via e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
Tearing down connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
vGATECtrl Options menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
10
vGATEWatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
11
Appendix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
11.1
11.2
11.3
11.4
11.5
11.6
Starting the Windows2003 control unit without logon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
Remote access to the vGATE Control Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
Updating the simserverdb database (MySQL only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137
Creating a backup of the database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
Supported mobile gateways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140
vGATE 17.1
Page 5
1 About this manual
1
About this manual
Congratulations on the purchase of your new vGATE! This manual is set up to guide you
through the step-by-step installation of your vGATE, so that you can follow it through from
the front to the back.
Make sure you familiarize yourself thoroughly with the safety and security precautions detailed in Chapter 2 Safety and security precautions before you begin to install your vGATE.
TELES is not liable for any damage or injury resulting from a failure to follow these safety and
security instructions!
1.1
Organization
This manual is organized into the following chapters.
 Chapter 1, “About this manual” introduces the vGATE Systems Manual and how it
is set up.
 Chapter 2, “Safety and security precautions” contains information about security
issues relevant to connection with the IP network.
 Chapter 3, “Overview” briefly describes the vGATE and its implementation scenarios.
 Chapter 4, “vGATE installation” contains information on how to connect and configure the system so that it is ready for operation.
 Chapter 5, “The vGATE Module” describes the vGATE Module, which consists of the
vGATE Board and the SIM 60 Carrier.
 Chapter 6, “Configuration” describes the vGATE’s individual configuration files and
parameters.
 Chapter 7, “vGATEDesktop” describes the frontend application used for administration of the vGATE.
 Chapter 8, “Summary of vGATEDesktop user interface” list all elements of the
vGATEDesktop userinterface.
 Chapter 9, “vGATECtrl” describes the vGATE Control Unit’s background server.
 Chapter 10, “vGATEWatch” describes the watchdog function that causes vGATECtrl
and/or the database to restart if they shut down improperly.
 Chapter 11, “Appendix” contains additional information that may be useful to you.
1.2
Conventions
This document uses the following typographic conventions:
 Bold – items from the GUI menu.
 Code – file names, variables and constants in configuration files or commands in body
text.
 Chapter 1.2 Conventions – cross-references can be accessed in the PDF files by a single
mouse click.
vGATE 17.1
Page 7
1
1.3
About this manual
Safety symbols
The following symbols are used to indicate important information and to describe levels of
possible danger.
i
Note
!
Attention
!
Warning
Useful information with no safety implications.
Information that must be adhered to as it is necessary to ensure that the system functions correctly and to avoid material damage.
Danger. Could cause personal injury or damage to the system.
Dangerous voltage
Could cause injury by high voltage and/or damage the system.
Electrostatic discharge
Components at risk of discharge must be grounded before being touched.
vGATE 17.1
Page 8
2 Safety and security precautions
2
Safety and security precautions
Please be sure and take time to read this section to ensure your personal safety and proper
operation of your TELES Infrastructure System.
To avoid personal injury or damage to the system, please follow all safety instructions before
you begin working on your TELES Infrastructure System.
TELES Infrastructure Systems are CE certified and fulfill all relevant security requirements. The
manufacturer assumes no liability for consequential damages or for damages resulting from
unauthorized changes.
This chapter applies for all TELES Access Gateways. Information that applies only for individual
systems specifies the system for which it applies.
2.1
Safety measures
Danger of electric shock - the power supplies run on 230 V. Unplug the TELES Infrastructure
System from its power source before working on the power supply or extension socket.
Make sure to install the system near the power source and that the power source is easily
accessible.
Bear in mind that telephone and WAN lines are also energized and can cause electric shocks.
Wire your system using only the cables included in the package contents. Use only proper
ISDN and Ethernet cables.
Do not insert foreign objects into openings in the device. Conductible objects can cause short
circuits that result in fire, electric shock or damage to the device.
Do not open the TELES Infrastructure System except to install an additional TELES.Component. Changes in the device are not permitted.
Be sure to respect country-specific regulations, standards or guidelines for accident prevention.
2.2
Tips for EMC protection
Use shielded cables.
Do not remove any housing components. They provide EMC protection.
2.3
System security
This section describes all points crucial to the TELES Infrastructure System’s system security.
The system’s location must support normal operation of TELES Infrastructure Systems according to EN ETS 300 386.
!
Location: Make sure you install the system in a clean, dry, dust-free location. If possible, the
site is to be air-conditioned. The site must be free of strong electrical or magnetic fields, which
cause disrupted signals and, in extreme cases, system failure.
vGATE 17.1
Page 10
2
Safety and security precautions
Temperature: The site must maintain a temperature between 0 and 45°C. Be sure to guard
against temperature fluctuations. Resulting condensation can cause short circuiting. The humidity level may not exceed 80%.
To avoid overheating the system, make sure the site provides adequate ventilation.
!
Power: The site must contain a central emergency switch for the entire power source.
The site’s fuses must be calculated to provide adequate system security. The electrical facilities
must comply with applicable regulations.
The operating voltage and frequency may not exceed or fall below what is stated on the label.
Antenna: iGATE contains no provision or protective device against power surges or lightning
strikes.
The installation of the antenna must fulfill all necessary safety requirements. Employ the services of a professional antenna installer.
2.3.1
Servicing the system
Regular servicing ensures that your system runs trouble-free. Servicing also includes looking
after the room in which the system is set up. Ensure that the air-conditioning and its filter
system are regularly checked and that the premises are cleaned on a regular basis.
!
To avoid damage to the vGATE SIM Unit, transport it only in the original packaging.
2.3.2
Replacing components
If your system contains any of the following components, replace them according to the following table:
Table 2.1
2.3.3
Component Life Span
Component
Life span
Filter pads
6 months
CPU fan (systems without TELES.iLCR Base Board only)
5 years
Power adapter incl. 3.3 V Adapter
5 years
Fan
5 years
Hard disk (IDE) (systems without TELES.iLCR Base Board only)
3 years
Protecting the operating system
Changing configuration data and/or SIM card positions may lead to malfunctions and/or misrouting, as well as possible consequential damage. Make changes at your own risk. TELES is
not liable for any possible damage resulting from or in relation to such changes. Please thoroughly check any changes you or a third party have made to your configuration!
Make sure your hard disk or flash disk contains enough storage space. Downloading the log
files and deleting them from the system on a regular basis will ensure your system’s reliability.
vGATE 17.1
Page 11
2
Safety and security precautions
Be careful when deleting files that you do not delete any files necessary for system operation.
Do not use the Task Manager to shut down vGATEDesktop or vGATECtrl. Do not perform queries on the database. This can result in damages to the database. Do not use any MySQL tools,
such as MySQL-Front or PostgreSQL tools, such as pgAdmin to make changes in or perform
tests on the database.
!
2.4
CDR files
Call Detail Records are intended for analysis of the system’s activity only. They are not designed to be used for billing purposes, as it may occur that the times they record are not exact.
i
Inaccuracies in the generation of CDRs may occur for active connections if traffic is flowing on
the system while modifications in configuration or routing files are activated.
2.5
Network security
Every day hackers develop new ways to break into systems through the Internet. While TELES
takes great care to ensure the security of its systems, any system with access through the Internet is only as secure as its user makes it. Therefore, to avoid unwanted security breaches
and resulting system malfunctions, you must take the following steps to secure your
TELES.System if you connect it to the Internet:
 Use an application gateway or a packet firewall.
 To limit access to the system to secure remote devices, delete the default route and add
individual secure network segments.
 Access to the system via Telnet, SSH, FTP, HTTP, GATE Manager or remote
vGATEDesktop must be password protected. Do not use obvious passwords (anything
from sesame to your mother-in-laws maiden name). Remember: the password that is
easiest to remember is also likely to be easiest to crack.
The firewall must support the following features:
 Protection against IP spoofing
 Automatic recognition of security breaches
 Logging of all attempts to access the system
The firewall must be able to check the following information and only allow trusted users to
access the TELES.System:






IP source address
IP destination address
Protocol (whether the packet is TCP, UDP, or ICMP)
TCP or UDP source port
TCP or UDP destination port
ICMP message type
vGATE 17.1
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2
Safety and security precautions
For operation and remote administration of your TELES.System, open only the following ports
only when the indicated services are used:
Table 2.2
Default Ports Used for Specific Services
Service
Protocol
Port
FTP
TCP
21
SSH
TCP
22
SMTP
TCP
25
DNS forward
UDP
53
HTTP
TCP
80 (default, can be set)
SNTP
UDP
123
GATE Manager
TCP
4445 (default, can be set)
vGATE tunneling to iGATE or ECOTEL GSM
TCP
4446
iGATE or ECOTEL GSM to iMNP
TCP
9003
PostgreSQL database
TCP
5432
iGATE or ECOTEL GSM to vGATE
TCP
57342
TCP
57343
Remote vGATEDesktop
TCP
57344
Remote vGATEDesktop (read only)
TCP
57345
TCP
51500
Radius authentication
UDP
1812
Radius accounting
UDP
1813
For vGATE Control Unit and iMNP
vGATE Control Unit
For vGATE SIM Unit
vGATE Control Unit plus iGATE or ECOTEL GSM
For vGATE Call Manager
i
Connection from a vGATE Control Unit to a iGATE requires ICMP access. The TCP filters listed
above are activated in the default configuration of the vGATE Control Unit or the NMS server.
vGATE 17.1
Page 13
3 Overview
3
Overview
The vGATE is a system that enables more convenient management of a network of iGATE and
ECOTEL GSM or ECOTEL 3G systems (referred to as mobile gateways). For details on the requirements of the mobile gateways, see Chapter 11.6 Supported mobile gateways.
Figure 3.1
vGATE in a network
A vGATE consists of the following machines and processes:
 a number of vGATE SIM Units containing the SIM cards on so called SIM 60 Carriers.
The SIM cards are installed on SIM 60 carrier boards. Up to ten SIM 60 Carriers can be
installed on a vGATE SIM Unit. It is also possibel that the SIM 60 Carrier are installed on
iGATEs. In this case the iGATE supports a special LSIM server process that provides the
SIM cards to the vGATE.
 one vGATECtrl unit as the main server process with the following configuration tools:
– vGateConfig: used for the main configuration of the vGATE and
– Customer Manager: used for the user configuration of the hosted solution.
 a database PostgreSQL usually installed with the vGATECtrl on the same machine. The
MySQL database that was formerly used is also supported.
 vGATEDesktop: the native GUI of the vGATECtrl.
 vGATE Web GUI: the new web-based frontend of vGATECtrl. The Web GUI enables
hosted solutions, so that different customers are able to use their own virtual vGATE as
a part of the real vGATE.
 The following optional modules are also available:
– vGATE Routing Manager for database-driven call routing from VoIP to mobile.
– iMMP: a database application for Mobile Number Portability (MNP), acess control
lists (ACL), and estimated call routing.
– SMPP (Short Message Peer to Peer) server frontend for sending bulk SMS
All SIM cards in the network will be managed by the vGATE, so that it is no longer necessary
to install SIM cards in each mobile gateway. The vGATE makes it possible to assign SIMs virtually to random ports and various times without physically removing the SIMs from the SIM
60 carrier. Virtual SIM allocation provides extra savings and security. Centralized SIM storage
prevents theft of unattended SIMs and reduces costs incurred by maintaining and assigning
SIMs at individual mobile gateways.
i
The term mobile gateway covers the products iGATE, ECOTEL GSM, and ECOTEL 3G and is
used throughout this manual.
vGATE 17.1
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3
3.1
Overview
What’s new in version 17.1
 Since version 17.1 the vGATE comes as a hosted solution for all customers. A user
license for one customer is included. In addition there is a default customer with the ID
0 available. After installation, a new customer can be added with the customer
manager and a new group created for this customer (see Chapter 3.4 on page 19).
 UTF8 is supported for SMS/USSD parsing operations snf balance check. The database
strings are changed from ANSI to UTF8 (see balance parse string in Table 7.2 on
page 68).
 Support for a central server which provides carrier settings (see Chapter 6.2.2 on
page 38 and Chapter 7.8 on page 65).
 With new commands for the special action scripts (PARSE_STRING_TO_BUFFER,
START_EXTERNAL) it is possible to send MMS to Email.
 Supports the operating system Windows Server 2012.
 Global carrier settings server available via WebGUI that holds the settings for
multiple carrier and countries.
 Support for mobile gateways using NAT in the local network.
 Improvements on the vGATEDesktop:
– a Start/Stop special action for multiple controllers is added to the CTRLsView.
– Stop Special Service for multiple controllers is added to the CTRLsView.
– Stop Recharge for multiple controllers is added to the CTRLsView.
– New entries in the context menu Release SIM, Block SIM, Remove Linkage,
and Immediately Release SIM were added to the CTRLsView.
3.2
Features
 Handles up to 600 SIMs per vGATE SIM Unit; up to twenty vGATE SIM Units (12,000
SIMs) can be attached to a vGATE Control Unit
 No need to travel to individual mobile gateways to replace SIM cards.
 Cyclical use of multiple SIMs can occur on a single mobile channel.
 Mobile channels in the mobile gateways can easily be assigned to different mobile
networks.
 Groups of mobile gateways can be defined and managed individually
 Time frames can be defined for individual groups: SIMs can be assigned for specific
times on specific controllers or mobile gateways
 Priority levels can be set for individual SIMs
 Supports generation of SIM reports
 Limits and pauses can be defined for how long a SIM card is to be active or inactive
 More than one vGATEDesktop can be used
 Supports and automatically recharges prepaid SIMs (USSD, DTMF, or SMS)
 Can send and receive SMS and calls
 Shows statistic values
 Activation of Special Services for prepaid SIMs using automatic USSD, DTMF or SMS
transmission
 Time-controlled USSD or DTMF transmission
 Random assign pause activation for individual SIMs following change of Timezones,
boot indication and Reset Maintenance
 Color-coded routing
 Possible to deactivate SIMs when Timezone changes
 Special scripting interface for advanced options
 Supports dynamic IP addresses of mobile gateways
 Supports GSM, UMTS, and dual (UMTS/GSM) SIMs (as of vGATE SIM Unit Version 29)
 Supports call prioritization
 Call and SMS limits for SIMs
vGATE 17.1
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3
Overview































Possible to allow SIMs to be used once per day and gateway
Supports different rates for Timezones with new protocol
Password-protected connection between the vGATE and the vGATE SIM Unit
Remote tunneling for connection to the mobile gateways
Supports 3G SIMs on 2G controllers
Balance verification check for prepaid SIMs possible
Can set dynamic time/distance pauses between mobile gateways
Possible to retrieve a SIM’s call number based on its IMSI
Can run special scripts automatically for new SIMs
Additional receiver groups for calls and SMS can be defined
Possible to define a maximum number of calls per day on one SIM
Supports special parse actions
Possible to log passive balance checks
Can define worst-case charges
Can define user registration information
Can copy holiday definitions from one group to another
Additional limits (A-C) definable for individual prefixes
Weekday specific maximum call duration possible
Supports multiple limits in relation to balance check of prepaid SIMs
Balance verification with tolerance in percentage and/or units possible
Supports balance checks for time values in answer to USSD or SMS balance checks
Mandatory or preferred advanced limits configurable for each controller
Can set SIM active release after maximum number of call attempts
Human behavior:
– Pause before SIM release
– Pause before first call
– Too many announcements detection
– Configurable recharge timeframe
– Configurable call generation timeframe
Can set a date to decommission SIM permanently
User Info can now be set for individual gateways
Get CDR retries limited to three attempts every six hours
Now possible to reset prepaid SIM limits to 0 on a definable day
Can prioritize prepaid SIMs with 0 limit for assignment
Can set SIMs to receive lower priority when limit falls below definable amount
SIMView columns can be freely configured on the vGATEDesktop to ensure faster readin of SIMView data
vGATE 17.1
Page 17
3
3.3
Overview
How vGATE works
You maintain control over when each SIM is assigned to which port on which mobile gateway
and for how long.
Figure 3.2
Timezones and limits
Figure 3.2 shows how SIMs can be assigned to various iGATEs at different times. You determine when a SIM is active on a specific iGATE. For example, you can assign a carrier’s SIM to
an iGATE during a particularly inexpensive tariff and to another when traffic to that carrier is
particularly heavy.
You can also set time limits and pauses for individual SIMs. After a SIM has been used for the
amount of time set, it will be moved to another port or permanently released from the vGATE.
If you set a pause, the SIM take a break for the amount of time set after each use.
Figure 3.3 shows how you can distribute SIM activity so that SIMs from each carrier are distributed to different ports on the same mobile gateway. For example, you may distribute traffic from one carrier through the first ten ports on each iGATE, traffic from another through
the next ten ports and traffic from a third through the next ten ports
.
Figure 3.3
Carrier distribution
The vGATE is designed to provide you with optimal flexibility and your SIMs with optimal mobility.
vGATE 17.1
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3
3.4
Overview
How the hosted vGATE solution works
A vGATE that has been enabled for hosting can be rented out to customers to manage the
SIM cards in the customer’s network of iGATE, ECOTEL GSM, or ECOTEL 3G systems.
In the following document, people offering hosted vGATE solutions are referrred to as main
adminstrators. People renting hosted vGATE solutions are called customers. People working
for customers are called customer administrators.
3.4.1
Components
Each vGATE consists of the following:
 One vGATE Control Unit:
Contains the vGATE’s database and administration software.
The vGATE Control Unit is at the main administrator’s premises. Only he has access to it.
 At least
– one vGATE SIM Unit: Contains all of the SIM cards in the vGATE
The vGATE SIM Unit contains up to ten SIM 60 carriers. Up to 60 SIM cards can
be inserted into one SIM 60 carrier. No SIM cards are required in the individual
mobile gateways.
or
– one SIM 60 Carrier installed on a iGATE with an LSIM server running.
The vGATE SIM Unit or SIM 60 Carrier installed on a iGATE can be managed by
the customer at the customer’s premises or by the main administrator at the main
administrator’s site.
 At least one iGATE, ECOTEL GSM, or ECOTEL 3G:
Routes GSM traffic
The gateways route the customer’s mobile traffic. Customers gain access to their
gateways and other components using the vGATE Web GUI. Main administrators
access these resources using the vGATEDesktop.
 One hosting licence: The hosting licence enables main administrators to offer hosted
vGATE solutions to their customers. Every vGATE contains one license for one customer
user. Each licence is valid for a limited number of customer users, the number of
customers is not limited. Administrators can create as many customers as they have user
licenses, with each customer having one user. Customers don’t need extra licenses to
use the hosted solution.
3.4.2
Possible renting models
The minimum requirement is that customers rent access to the vGATE via the
vGATE Web GUI to manage their SIM cards. They can in addition rent vGATE SIM 60 Carriers
or complete vGATE SIM Units to hold their SIM cards. They could even rent the mobile gateways that they want to use in their networks and of course rent managed services.
Customers manage their gateways, gateway groups, carriers, vouchers, SIM cards, and timeframes using the vGATE Web GUI. Via the vGATE Web GUI they have access to their partition
on the vGATE solely. They have no direct access to the vGATE Control Unit.
Main administrators offering hosted solutions to their customers are responsible for the customer’s user management and initial setup. They have direct access to the vGATE Control
Unit. They can also offer managed services to run customer setups.
3.4.3
User groups
There are three different user groups with different access rights to the vGATE.
vGATE 17.1
Page 19
3
Overview
Main administrator: The main administrator offers hosted vGATE services to his customers.
He has direct access to all resources on the vGATE server. He uses the vGATECustomerManager for creating customer profiles and the administration of customer settings. He uses the
vGATEDesktop to manage carriers, gateway groups, gateways, SIM cards and timeframes for
his customers.
In detail, the main administrator is responsible for the following user management tasks:
 He creates profiles for customer administrators and customer users.
 He edits customer and user profiles.
 He deletes customer and user profiles.
The main administrator allocates vGATE resources to his customers:
 He assigns vGATE SIM 60 Carriers to his customers. The vGATE SIM 60 Carriers can be
on different vGATE SIM Units. They are exclusively configured for one single customer
and cannot be used for other customers.
 He equips the vGATE SIM 60 Carriers with SIM cards if the SIM Unit is at his site.
 He creates a root directory for each customer to store scripts, cdr files, and message log
files.
Table 3.1 shows an example of the customer resources on using a hosted vGATE.
Table 3.1
Example of resource usage on a hoted vGATE
Resources
Customer A
Customer B
vGATE SIM 60 Carrier
1, 2, and 4 of SIM Unit 1
7 and 8 of SIM Unit 2
Script directory
f:\vGATE\data\custA
f:\vGATE\data\custB
Directroy for message log files
and CDR files
f:\vGATE\data\custA
f:\vGATE\data\custB
The main administrator is also responsible for the initial setup and fulfils customer specific
tasks:
 He shifts new gateways which were automatically assigned to the default gateway
group to a specific customer group.
 He can pre-configure customer specific vGATE setups.
Customer administrators: Customers can appoint one or more administrators to administer
their vGATE partition. Customer administrators log on to the vGATE Web GUI to access the
vGATE Control Unit. They have no direct access to the vGATE. Customer administrator profiles are added to the customer setup by the main administrator.
Customer users: Customers appoint one or more users responsible for running the hosted
vGATE solution. Customer users are responsible for the daily business tasks on the hosted
vGATE resources. They use the vGATE Web GUI for vGATE access. Users profiles are added
to the customer setup by the main administrator.
vGATE 17.1
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3
3.4.4
Overview
Access rights
Main administrators have unlimited access to the vGATE itself via the vGATEDesktop. Administrators at the customer premises are allowed to administer and run their hosted vGATE partition via the vGATE Web GUI. Customer users have viewing rights to their hosted partition
and limited administration rights via the vGATE Web GUI. All rights are listed in the table below.
Table 3.2
Access rights
Resource
Task
Main
administrator
Customer
administrator
user1
vGATE Control Unit
Start, restart, major settings, database management
A
X
X
vGATECustomerManager
User management
A
X
X
vGATEDesktop
Carrier management
A
X
X
SIM card profiles
A
X
X
SIM card assignment
A
X
X
SIM card release
A
X
X
SIM card routing
A
X
X
Gateway default group
A
X
X
Gateway customer groups
A
X
X
SMS management
A
X
X
Script handling
A
X
X
Error handling
A
X
X
History handling
A
X
X
Carrier management
A
AL
V
SIM card profiles
A
AL
V
SIM card assignment
A
AL
AL
SIM card release
A
AL
AL
SIM card routing
A
AL
V
Gateway default group
A
X
X
vGATE Web GUI
Gateway customer groups
A
AL
V
SMS management
A
AL
AL
Script handling
A
AL
AL
Error handling
A
AL
AL
History handling
A
AL
AL
A: all actions allowed for complete vGATE
AL: all actions allowed for customer partition
V: view only for customer partition
X: access not allowed
Footnotes
1. Customer user access rights have not yet been implemented in the 17.1 implementation.
Everyone with a customer user profile has the same rights as the customer administrator.
vGATE 17.1
Page 21
4 vGATE installation
4
vGATE installation
This section contains information on basic installation and configuration of your vGATE.
Implementation of individual scenarios requires adjustments to the appropriate interfaces.
Tips for basic settings are described here. Links to relevant chapters are provided for more
specific configuration changes.
i
Use a UPS to avoid possible damage resulting from power interruptions.
i
The vGATE SIM Unit Version 29 is compatible only with vGATE Version 12.0 or higher.
4.1
Network and firewall requirements
Before installing your vGATE, make sure you can fulfill the following network and firewall requirements:
 A PING must be possible from the vGATE Control Unit to all mobile gateways and
vGATE SIM Units.
 Message round-trip time must be less than 500 ms. You can use PING to measure the
round-trip time.
 No components (mobile gateways, vGATE Control Unit, vGATE SIM Units) may be
behind a PAT (Port Address Translation) firewall, as ports 51500, 57342, 57343, 57344,
57345 and 3306 may not be changed.
 Connection setup must be possible in both directions at all times.
 The autohangup timer of a router or dial-up connection must be greater than 20
seconds. If you configure the parameter LimitWOdisc=On in the pabx.cfg, you must
switch off the autohangup function.
 We recommend that you install the vGATE Control Unit and vGATE SIM Units in the
same location, connected with a bandwidth of 100 MBit/s. If they are not installed in
the same location, the bandwidth between them must be at least 2MBit/s in both
directions.
4.2
Secure vGATE Web GUI access with HTTPS
In the default setting, access to the vGATE via the vGATE Web GUI is granted using HTTP.
HTTP is unsecured and is subject to man-in-the-middle and eavesdropping attacks, which can
let attackers gain access to passwords and other sensitive information.
HTTPS (SSL encrypted HTTP) is designed to withstand such attacks and increases security
against such attacks. You as the main administrator can enable HTTPS for access to your
vGATE through the vGATE Web GUI. We strongly recommend that you do that.
To set up HTTPS access, you need to create an SSL certificate matching the IP address or domain name of your vGATE server machine. You can let this certificate be signed by a certificate authority against payment. Alternatively, you can create a self-signed certificate that is
free of charge.
vGATE 17.1
Page 23
4
vGATE installation
Please note that a self-signed certificate will display warnings on all browsers such as Internet
Explorer or Firefox, saying that the certificate is not trusted. Your customers will have to add
an exception for this certificate in their browser. The connection will still be encrypted and
secure!
4.2.1
Creating an SSL certificate
To create an SSL certificate, open the ssl folder on your vGATE’s desktop and double-click
create certificate. The following window opens.
Figure 4.1
Create certificate screen
Enter the following information:
 Country Name (2 letter code) [AU]: The 2 letter code of the country where your
company is located. US for United States of America, DE for Germany, etc.
 State or Province Name (full name) [Some State]: The state where your company is
located. e.g. California.
 Locality Name (e.g. city) []: The city where your company is located, e.g. Los Angeles.
 Organization Name (e.g. company) [Internet Widgits Pty Ltd]: Your company name.
 Organizational Unit Name (e.g. section) []: The department of your company that
requires the certificate, e.g. IT department.
 Common Name (e.g. YOUR name) []: This is the most important field. Enter the
domain name of your server (e.g. www.example.com) or - if you do not have a domain
configured for your server - the server’s public IP address. This is the IP address that your
customers use to access the vGATE through the vGATE Web GUI, e.g.142.32.45.12.
 Email Address []: Enter a contact e-mail address.
vGATE 17.1
Page 24
4
vGATE installation
You are then prompted for 2 more attributes. You can leave the attributes blank by pressing
the Return key twice.
Figure 4.2
Certificate creation complete
2 files are created and saved in the ssl folder:
 The server.key file: This is your private key and should be kept secure. No one apart
from you should get access to this key. Make a backup of it in case it gets lost.
 The server.csr file: This file contains your certificate signing request. Take this file to
a certificate authority such as Thawte or Verisign to get it signed. Alternatively, you can
self-sign the certificate.
4.2.2
Self-signing a certificate
To self-sign a certificate, go to the ssl folder on your vGATE’s desktop and double-click self
sign certificate. The following window opens.
Figure 4.3
Self-sign certificate screen
Enter the number of days the certificate should be valid starting with the current day. Repeat
this step after expiry of the certificate.
vGATE 17.1
Page 25
4
4.2.3
vGATE installation
Installing the certificate and enabling SSL
Once you have your certificate signed, either from a certificate authority or by self-signing it,
you will have to install it and enable SSL.
If your certificate has been signed by a certificate authority, you should have gotten a *.crt
file back. Put this file into the ssl folder and change its name to server.crt. If you self-signed
your certificate, use the server.crt file that you created as described under Chapter 4.2.2
Self-signing a certificate on page 25.
To use the certificate, go to the ssl folder on your vGATE’s desktop again and follow these
two final steps:
 Install the certificate by double-clicking on install certificate. The following
windows opens.
Figure 4.4
Install certificate
 Enable SSL. To do so, double-click the activate ssl file. The window that opens looks
like this.
Figure 4.5
Enable SSL
The unencrypted access to your vGATE via http://your.domain.com has now been deactivated. Your customers will have to enter https://your.domain.com or https://IP-address to gain access to your vGATE through the vGATE Web GUI.
vGATE 17.1
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4
4.3
vGATE installation
vGATE SIM Unit hardware installation
The vGATE SIM Unit holds up to 10 vGATE Modules. At up to 60 SIM cards per SIM 60 Carrier,
a single vGATE SIM Unit contains up to 600 SIM cards. As shown in Figure 4.6, the first three
slots are empty and the vGATE Modules are inserted from left to right.
Figure 4.6
vGATE: Rear View
Table 4.1 describes the numbered arrows shown in Figure 4.6.
Table 4.1
vGATE SIM Unit: Assembly
Number
Description
1.
Connect the vGATE SIM Unit to the Ethernet here.
2.
Each vGATE Board has a slot for a SIM 60 Carrier. Insert the SIMs in the SIM 60 Carrier and then insert the SIM 60 Carrier here (see Chapter 5 The vGATE Module on
page 28). The hardware addresses for the vGATE Boards start with D000 on the left
and go to D900 in ascending order.
NOTE: The PIN for all SIMs must be 0000.
3.
Plug the power cord in here.
4.
Plug your keyboard into one of these two outlets.
5.
Plug your monitor in here.
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5 The vGATE Module
5
The vGATE Module
Each vGATE SIM Unit consist of up to ten vGATE Modules. Each vGATE Module consists of
one vGATE Board and one SIM 60 Carrier, which can be inserted into and removed from the
back of the vGATE Board during operation. The SIM 60 Carrier contains the SIM cards for the
individual mobile channels. Up to 60 SIM cards can be assigned to individual mobile channels
at random.
5.1
The SIM 60 Carrier
SIM cards are mounted on the front and back of the SIM 60 Carrier. As a guide to help you
distinguish top from bottom, the SIMs are numbered at the top and bottom near the center
of the SIM 60 Carrier. You can select the SIM cards you would like to use via the
vGATEDesktop.
When the SIM 60 Carrier is properly inserted, the second LED from the bottom will flash
quickly for 5 seconds and then slowly. If the LED remains off or does not stop flashing quickly,
insert the SIM 60 Carrier more firmly.
Figure 5.1
i
SIM 60 Carrier – Front and Rear View
Insert ONLY the SIM 60 Carrier into the vGATE Board! Make sure all SIMs are clean and grease
free and that their mounts are properly closed.
5.2
Installing additional vGATE boards
The system is only to be installed, replaced or maintained by properly trained technicians. Before installation, the following information must be read and understood.
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5
The vGATE Module
The vGATE Board contain components which are vulnerable to electrostatic (ESD -Electrostatic discharge Sensitive Devices, also known as EGB). Electrical discharge can cause malfunctions or complete system failure. You must therefore observe the following guidelines:
 Wear an ESD wristband as protection from electrostatic discharge. Connect it to the
“ESD bonding point” (system earth).
 Discharge equipment, instruments or metal objects, which come in contact with the
vGATE Boards so that they are earthed.
 Avoid contact between the vGATE Boards and your clothing.
 Do not wear synthetic clothing or shoes with plastic soles.
 Avoid strong electrical constant fields, such as cathode ray indicators, monitors, etc.
To install an additional vGATE Board, attach a keyboard and monitor the vGATE SIM Unit and
use the keyboard to logon to the vGATE SIM Unit as root with the password beamup. Exit
the vGATE SIM Unit’s software by entering shutdown -h now in the command line. Turn off
the system’s power when the message Power down appears.
!
You must shut down the system’s power when the message Power down appears before
installing any new hardware. Failure to do so will result in damage to the system’s hardware
and software.
Danger of electric shock. The mains adapter is loaded with 230 V. You must detach the vGATE
SIM Unit from the power supply before you open the housing.
Unscrew and remove the vGATE SIM Unit’s lid and the bracket on top of the boards.
Set the memory range on each new vGATE Board you install. Boards are numbered D000 to
D900 from left to right in ascending order when looking at the rear of the system, as shown
in Figure 5.2.
Figure 5.2
vGATE Board: Memory Range Settings
vGATE 17.1
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5
The vGATE Module
Turn the dials in the right-hand corner of each vGATE Board until the arrows point to the corresponding letter and number. In Figure 5.3, the dials have been set at D and 1, for a hardware address of D100. This card will appear in the second slot in the vGATE SIM Unit. Bear in
mind that each vGATE Board must have a different address.
Figure 5.3
How to Set the Memory Range
Make sure the new vGATE Board does not contain a SIM 60 Carrier. Not following the correct
procedure to replace the vGATE Board can result in damage to the contacts or conductors.
Insert the vGATE Board in the next available slot and screw it into place. Replace and secure
the bracket and lid.
Reconnect the power supply and turn on the vGATE SIM Unit. The software will automatically
recognize the new hardware within five minutes.
vGATE 17.1
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5
5.3
The vGATE Module
vGATE board LEDs
Each vGATE Board has eight LEDs that provide a quick overview of the vGATE Board’s operational status.
Figure 5.4
vGATE Board LEDs
Each of the upper six LEDs shows the status of ten of the SIMs inserted in the vGATE Board.
The second LED from the bottom shows the status of the database connection. The bottom
LED shows whether any of the SIMs are currently being accessed.
Table 5.1 provides an overview of what the individual LEDs mean.
Table 5.1
vGATE Board LEDs
LED
Meaning
SIM states: Upper six LEDs
On
All ten SIMs are operational.
Slowly flashing
At least one, but not all, of the ten SIMs is operational.
Quickly flashing
At least one of the ten SIMs has an error.
Off
All ten SIM positions are empty.
Database connection: Second LED from the bottom
On
The vGATE Board is connected to the database.
Off
The vGATE Board is not connected to the database.
Flashing: 5 seconds quickly, then
slowly
The SIM 60 Carrier is initializing.
SIM access: bottom LED
On
At least one of the SIMs in the vGATE Board is being accessed.
Off
None of the SIMs in the vGATE Board are being accessed.
vGATE 17.1
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6 Configuration
6
Configuration
Operation of the vGATE depends on the following configuration entries:
6.1
Configuration of the vGATE SIM Unit
The vGATE SIM Unit is a Linux system that makes use of an Ethernet interface.
The eth0 interface enables the vGATE SIM Unit to communicate with the connected mobile
gateways and the vGATE Control Unit. Settings for this interface can be adjusted to adapt
with the needs of individual networks.
After you have installed your vGATE SIM Unit as described in Chapter 4.3 vGATE SIM Unit
hardware installation, log onto the vGATE SIM Unit as root and enter beamup at the password prompt.
If your vGATE SIM Unit is accessible from the Internet, make sure the password for root is
secure. You can change the password using the passwd command.
Delete the vgate user with the following command: userdel -r vgate
and set up a different, secure user and password with: adduser
i
Support for UMTS SIMs occurs only with vGATE SIM Unit software version 28 or higher. If your
vGATE SIM Unit is running an older version, the software must be updated.
The vGATE SIM Unit Version 29 is compatible only with vGATE Version 12.0 or higher.
6.1.1
Editing the IP address using the netconfig tool
To edit the IP address with the netconfig tool, log on as a superuser with the username root
and the password beamup.
Enter netconfig and hit Enter. Answer the queries in the dialog boxes that appear. Table 6.1
contains a description of the queries and the appropriate responses. When you have finished,
restart the system by enterin reboot-n.
Table 6.1
netconfig Dialog Boxes
Dialog Box
Information
ENTER HOSTNAME
Enter the vGATE SIM Unit’s hostname (e.g. simunit1)
ENTER DOMAINNAME FOR
Enter the domain name (e.g. teles.de).
SETUP IP ADDRESS FOR
Select the Static IP Address option to assign a static IP address
or the Use a DHCP Server to configure ethernet option to
assign a dynamic IP address to the vGATE SIM Unit.
SET DHCP HOSTNAME
Enter the DHCP hostname (dynamic IP addresses only).
ENTER IP ADDRESS FOR
Enter the IP address, if you selected the Static IP Address option.
ENTER NETMASK FOR LOCAL
NETWORK
Enter the netmask (static IP addresses only).
ENTER GATEWAY
ADDRESS
Enter the gateway’s IP address (static IP addresses only).
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6
Table 6.1
6.1.2
Configuration
netconfig Dialog Boxes
Dialog Box
Information
USE A NAMESERVER?
If you select Yes, enter the name server’s IP address (static IP addresses only).
CONFIRM NETWORK SETUP
Make sure you check all of your entries! To make changes, select Restart. If you are satisfied, select Accept. Confirm your
accepted settings by hitting Enter.
Editing the IP address using vi
To make any necessary changes to the configuration of the IP address for the network card
(eth0), open the rc.inet1.conf file in the /etc/rc.d folder. Adjust your settings as required:
Example 6.1
Editing the IP address using vi (static IP address)
#
#
#
#
#
/etc/rc.d/rc.inet1.conf
This file contains the configuration settings for network interfaces.
If USE_DHCP[interface] is set to "yes", this overrides any other settings.
If you don't have an interface, leave the settings null ("").
# Config information for eth0:
IPADDR[0]="172.20.25.130"
NETMASK[0]="255.255.0.0"
USE_DHCP[0]=""
DHCP_HOSTNAME[0]=""
# Config information for eth1:
IPADDR[1]=""
NETMASK[1]=""
USE_DHCP[1]=""
DHCP_HOSTNAME[1]=""
# Config information for eth2:
IPADDR[2]=""
NETMASK[2]=""
USE_DHCP[2]=""
DHCP_HOSTNAME[2]=""
# Config information for eth3:
IPADDR[3]=""
NETMASK[3]=""
USE_DHCP[3]=""
DHCP_HOSTNAME[3]=""
# Default gateway IP address:
GATEWAY="172.20.0.1"
# Change this to "yes" for debugging output to stdout. Unfortunately,
# /sbin/hotplug seems to disable stdout so you'll only see debugging output
# when rc.inet1 is called directly.
DEBUG_ETH_UP="no"
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6
Example 6.2
Configuration
Editing the IP address using vi (dynamic IP address)
# /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1.conf
#
# This file contains the configuration settings for network interfaces.
# If USE_DHCP[interface] is set to "yes", this overrides any other settings.
# If you don't have an interface, leave the settings null ("").
# Config information for eth0:
IPADDR[0]=""
NETMASK[0]=""
USE_DHCP[0]="yes"
DHCP_HOSTNAME[0]=""
# Config information for eth1:
IPADDR[1]=""
NETMASK[1]=""
USE_DHCP[1]=""
DHCP_HOSTNAME[1]=""
# Config information for eth2:
IPADDR[2]=""
NETMASK[2]=""
USE_DHCP[2]=""
DHCP_HOSTNAME[2]=""
# Config information for eth3:
IPADDR[3]=""
NETMASK[3]=""
USE_DHCP[3]=""
DHCP_HOSTNAME[3]=""
# Default gateway IP address:
GATEWAY=""
# Change this to "yes" for debugging output to stdout. Unfortunately,
# /sbin/hotplug seems to disable stdout so you'll only see debugging output
# when rc.inet1 is called directly.
DEBUG_ETH_UP="no"
For those unfamiliar with the vi editor, follow these steps:
 Enter cd /etc/rc.d and press the return key.
 Enter vi rc.inet1.conf and press the return key.
 Use the arrow keys to move the cursor to the IP address following the open quotation
mark and delete the old IP address using the delete key.
 Press the i key to enter insert mode and insert the new IP address.
 Delete and enter any other information you would like to change.
 Press the escape key to exit insert mode.
 Enter :wq to save and exit and then restart the computer with reboot -n.
6.1.3
Configuring a DNS server to work with dynamic IP addresses
To ensure that a vGATE SIM Unit that uses dynamic IP addresses can be reached under a single
domain name, you need to set up a DNS server.If you need assistance with that, please contact TELES service.
vGATE 17.1
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6
6.1.4
Configuration
Setting a password for connection from vGATECtrl to the vGATE SIM Unit
To set a password to connect with the vGATE SIM Unit from the vGATECtrl, you must first
stop the SIM-server process with stopvgate. Using the vi editor, follow these steps:




Enter cd /usr/local/bin and press the return key.
Enter vi startvgate and press the return key.
Use the arrow keys to move the cursor to the space in front of the & sign.
Enter the incrypted password as it appears in vGateConfig as follows: Press the i key
to enter insert mode and insert -w <encryption>. Bear in mind that this entry is case
sensitive.
 Press the escape key to exit insert mode.
 Enter :wq to save and exit.
 Restart the SIM-server process with startvgate and press the return key.
We want to set the password test. In vGateConfig, we enter the password test for the
vGATE SIM Unit. It appears as SGVU. We set the password in the startvgate script as follows:
Example 6.3
Setting a password
#!/bin/sh
echo “starting simser...”
/usr/local/bin/simser -p /usr/local/bin/vgate_isa.bit -c
/usr/local/bin/vgate_carrier.bit -l /var/log/vgate.log -w SGVU &
6.2
Configuration of the vGATE Control Unit
Administration of the vGATE is done through the vGATE Control Unit, which is a 1HU, 19”
or 2HU 19” PC. The vGATE Control Unit includes the following:
 vGateConfig is a configuration tool with a graphical interface used to configure the
vGATE Control Unit.
 vGATEDesktop is a frontend application used for controller assignment and SIM
administration.
 vGATECtrl is a background server process with an attached database that
communicates with the vGATE SIM Unit and the mobile gateways.
 MySQL V. 5.1.43 or PostgreSQL 9.1 database contains information on all SIMs in the
vGATE.
The user name and password to log onto the vGATE Control Unit are simdbuser and simdb,
respectively.
vGATE Control Unit 17.1 is compatible with mobile gateway systems running software version 14.6 or higher, and requires MySQL Version 5.1.43 or PostgreSQL 9.1. Do not use or mix
with lower versions.
6.2.1
vGATE Control Unit hardware installation
The vGATE Control Unit is available as base system and base system redundant. Please insert
the plugs as described in the documentation that is included with the hardware.
Please note that as of version 17.0, a dongle is mandatory for vGATE operation. The dongle
is a software protection USB device that you insert in the vGATE Control Unit before configuration. It needs to be plugged in all time for the vGATE to run.
vGATE 17.1
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6
Configuration
The vGATE periodically checks if the dongle is still inserted. If the dongle is not inserted or
broken, an error message window pops up. Reinsert the dongle and restart the vGATE Control Unit. If the problem persists, contact TELES Service to get the dongle replaced. Please note
that the vGATE license must be replaced as well since a new dongle only works with a new
license.
6.2.2
vGateConfig
The configuration tool vGateConfig is used to configure the vGATE Control Unit. To open it,
use the icon from the desktop.
Figure 6.1
i
vGateConfig.
You must restart vGATECtrl following any changes made after the initial configuration.
vGATE 17.1
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6
Configuration
Database
The default Name of the database is simserverdb and do not chang the name. Do not
change the User name simdbuser or the Password simdb. Enter its Host address. 3306 is
the default Port for MySQL, 5432 for PostgreSQL. If you change this port, you must also enter
the new port number here.
Frontend server
The frontend server is the vGATE Control Unit. The default Host is localhost. Do not change
the default Port. Enter a Password and a Password (read only) if you would like to have
password-protected access.
For information on how to set up a remote vGATEDesktop, see Chapter 11.2 Remote access
to the vGATE Control Unit.
SIM Unit
Double-click to edit entries. Enter the vGATE SIM Unit’s IP address in the Host box. Do not
change the default Port. Up to 20 vGATE SIM Units can be defined. Use the context menu to
edit, add or delete vGATE SIM Units from the list. Check or uncheck the check box to select
or deselect vGATE SIM Units. If you use a NAT firewall to translate the vGATE SIM Units’ private IP addresses into public addresses, you must also enter the vGATE SIM Units’ public IP
address at Public Host and Public Port. The connection from vGATECtrl to the vGATE SIM
Unit is password protected when you enter a Password. You must also enter the password
in the vGATE SIM Unit (Chapter 6.1.4 Setting a password for connection from vGATECtrl to
the vGATE SIM Unit on page 37)
Gateways
Do not change the default Port.
Default PIN
The PIN entered here will apply for all of the SIMs. The default PIN for all SIMs is 0000 and
cannot be changed.
Synchronize Carrier Settings
It is possible to hold a list of central carrier information?? (see Chapter 7.8 on page 65) on
a dedicated server. Activate the option Synchronize Carrier Settings to get this information in
addition to the local Carrier List. Fill in the given URL, User name and Password to access
the carrier information database.
Only one vGATEDesktop can be open at a time. Activate If new desktop tries to connect,
close connection to old desktop to close an open vGATEDesktop when another
vGATEDesktop tries to open. A dialog will appear on the old vGATEDesktop, from which you
can choose to leave the vGATEDesktop open with read-only rights or close the
vGATEDesktop.
If this box is not checked, any second vGATEDesktop will only be able to start with read-only
rights or not at all.
6.3
Managing customer and user profiles
Since a hosted platform is integrated into the vGATE, a customer account must first be added
with the Customer Manager. Then add a user name for the customer with the Role Administrator. Before the operation starts, assign all?? SIM Carrier to the customer.
vGATE 17.1
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6
Configuration
Select Start | All Programs | TELES.vGATE | vGATECustomerManager.
Figure 6.2
The vGATECustomerManager
In the vGATECustomerManager you can:
 Add, edit, and delete customer profiles in the Customer section.
 Assign users to customers, edit user profiles, or remove them from customers in the
User section.
 Attribute SIM 60 carriers to customers or release them from customers in the SIM
Carrier section.
6.3.1
Adding customer and user profiles
Select Add from the Customer section. The Add Customer page opens.
Figure 6.3
Add Customer
vGATE 17.1
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6
Configuration
Table 6.2 list the menu items of the Add Customer dialog.
Table 6.2
Items on the Add Customer page
Item
Description
Customer
Enter the name of the customer here.
Path
Enter the path to the root directory. Customer scripts, cdr files, and message
log files are stored in this directory. Customers can create
subfolders to store their data.
Please ensure that you use this root directory for one customer only.
Mail Settings
Click this button to open the Mail Settings page.
Add the e-mail settings next. E-mails to your customers, such as notifications about new users
and user passwords, or new gateways that you assigned to a customer gateway group, are
sent using the settings from this page.
Figure 6.4
Table 6.3
Mail Settings
Items on the Mail Settings page
Item
Description
Send Mail
Check this box if you want to send e-mails to your customer.
To
Enter your customer’s e-mail address. The customer receives notifications about new users and user passwords, or information about new
gateways in his customer gateway group at this e-mail address.
SMTP Server
Enter the IP address or domain name of the SMTP server from which you
send the e-mails.
SMTP Originator
Enter the e-mail address of the sender (the main administrator). The address must comply with the SMTP server.
Logon
Check this box if your SMTP server requires logon.
User
Enter your user name for logon to the SMTP server.
vGATE 17.1
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6
Table 6.3
i
Configuration
Items on the Mail Settings page (continued)
Item
Description
Password
Enter your password for logon to the SMTP server.
Base 64 Encoding
Check this box if the SMTP server requires the password to be encoded
using Base 64 encoding.
Filter
Set this filter to define which kind of e-mails you want to send to your
customers: critical notifications, major notifications, minor notifications,
and / or warnings.
The e-mail settings can also be changed using the vGATECtrl. Access the Options menu, go
to Mail Settings, and select the customer to see the same page.
On the Mail Settings page, click OK to open the Add User page. Alternatively, you can add
user profiles by right-clicking into the Add User section and selecting Add... from the menu.
Customers receive notifications about new users only if the the Send Mail box has been
checked.
Figure 6.5
Table 6.4
Add User
Items on the Add User page
Item
Description
User
Enter the name of the user. The user name is required for logon to the
vGATE Web GUI.
Role
Select the user role. The user role defines the access rights a user has. For
access rights please refer to Chapter 3.4.4 Access rights.
Password
Enter or generate the user’s password for logon to the vGATE Web GUI.
Confirm
Passwords that you entered manually need to be confirmed by re-entering them in this field. When you generate a password you will not see
this field.
vGATE 17.1
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6
6.3.2
Configuration
Assigning SIM 60 carriers
The SIM Carrier section lists all SIM 60 carrier that are available. The SIM Carrier column
shows all SIM units with their SIM 60 carriers. The Customer column tells you which carriers
are assigned to which customers. Use the drop-down in the Customer section menu to navigate between the customers. Use the check boxes in the SIM Carrier section to select or unselect SIM 60 carriers for customers. To shift a SIM 60 carrier from customer A to customer
B, first select Customer A from the customer drop-down menu and uncheck the carrier. Then
select Customer B from the drop-down menu and check the carrier.
6.3.3
Editing customer and user profiles
To edit existing customer profiles, select the customer from the drop-down menu in the Customer section and click the Edit button. The Edit Customer page opens. Refer to
Chapter 6.3.1 Adding customer and user profiles for an explanation of the contents of this
page.
To edit existing user profiles, select the customer from the customer drop-down menu to display the list of users. Right-click the user in the User section and select Edit.... The Edit User
page opens. Go to Chapter 6.3.1 Adding customer and user profiles for details about the
contents of this page.
6.3.4
Deleting customer and user profiles
To delete a customer profile, click the Delete button on the customer section of the
vGATECustomerManager. Confirm the message box.
Figure 6.6
Confirm delete
The following customer settings on the vGATE are deleted:






Carriers
Gateway groups
Timeframes and holidays
SIM card profiles
SIM card messages in the database
Vouchers: Make sure that you or the customer save unused vouchers before deleting
the customer profile. Otherwise all voucher information is lost to the system.
The following settings are released or set to default values:
 Customer gateways: The customer gateways are moved into the the default gateway
group.
 SIM 60 carriers: The SIM 60 carriers can now be allocated to other customers.
 SIM card settings: The SIM card settings are changed to default values.
The following resources remain unchanged:
 Files in the customer’s root directory and all subfolders: Files in the customer folders and
the folder structure remain unchanged.
vGATE 17.1
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Configuration
To delete a user profile, select the customer from the list of customers in the Customer section and right-click the user profile in the User section. Select Delete... from the menu.
6.4
Handling new default gateways
Customers can configure new gateways in two ways:
 They create a gateway together with the right gateway group using the
vGATE Web GUI. Then they configure the gateway’s pabx.cfg file to register the
gateway at the vGATE. On registration, the gateway is included in the right gateway
group. No further action needs to be taken by the main administrator.
 They skip step one and only configure the gateway’s pabx.cfg file for registration at
the vGATE. The gateway is shifted on registration into the default gateway group. The
main administrator needs to assign the gateway to the right customer gateway group.
If a gateway needs to be moved to a customer gateway group, do the following:
 Go to the vGATEDesktop.
 If not done yet, create the customer gateway group in the gateway group section in the
upper left hand corner.
Drag and drop the customer gateway from the default gateway group to the customer gateway group.
6.5
Configuration of mobile gateways
The following configuration entries must be made in each mobile gateway in the network.
!
Do not configure SIMs in the vGATE and mobile gateway simultaneously. This can lead to database failures. Be sure to remove the SIM-card carrier from the mobile gateways used with
the vGATE.
Configuration in the pabx.cfg
The SIMS parameter allows you to connect the system to a vGATE. The first SIM must be defined in the appropriate mobile controller Subscriber line.
i
This parameter cannot be used with the following parameters: <SIM24>, <SIMV> and <SIM+>.
The following example is for iGATE GSM only.
Example 6.4
Configuration of the pabx.cfg for iGATE GSM
...
Subscriber00=TRANSPARENT
NEXT
Subscriber01=TRANSPARENT
Subscriber02=TRANSPARENT
Subscriber03=TRANSPARENT
...
vGATE 17.1
ROUTER GSM[0000,00000,+000000,1,1,1,SIMS] CHADDR ALARM
ROUTER GSM[0000,00000,+000000,1,1,1,SIMS] CHADDR ALARM
ROUTER GSM[0000,00000,+000000,1,1,1,SIMS] CHADDR ALARM
ROUTER GSM[0000,00000,+000000,1,1,1,SIMS] CHADDR ALARM
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6
Configuration
The following example is for ECOTEL GSM only.
Example 6.5
Configuration of the pabx.cfg for ECOTEL GSM
...
Subscriber04=TRANSPARENT
NEXT
Subscriber05=TRANSPARENT
Subscriber06=TRANSPARENT
Subscriber07=TRANSPARENT
...
ROUTER GSM[0000,00000,+000000,1,1,1,SIMS] CHADDR ALARM
ROUTER GSM[0000,00000,+000000,1,1,1,SIMS] CHADDR ALARM
ROUTER GSM[0000,00000,+000000,1,1,1,SIMS] CHADDR ALARM
ROUTER GSM[0000,00000,+000000,1,1,1,SIMS] CHADDR ALARM
The following example is for iGATE 3G only.
Example 6.6
Configuration of the pabx.cfg for iGATE 3G
...
Subscriber00
CHADDR ALARM
Subscriber01
CHADDR ALARM
Subscriber02
CHADDR ALARM
Subscriber03
CHADDR ALARM
...
= TRANSPARENT ROUTER UMTS[0000,00000,+00000,1,1,1,SIMS,BAND(1)]
NEXT
= TRANSPARENT ROUTER UMTS[0000,00000,+00000,1,1,1,SIMS,BAND(1)]
= TRANSPARENT ROUTER UMTS[0000,00000,+00000,1,1,1,SIMS,BAND(1)]
= TRANSPARENT ROUTER UMTS[0000,00000,+00000,1,1,1,SIMS,BAND(1)]
The following example is for ECOTEL 3G only.
Example 6.7
Configuration of the pabx.cfg for ECOTEL 3G
...
Subscriber04
CHADDR ALARM
Subscriber05
CHADDR ALARM
Subscriber06
CHADDR ALARM
Subscriber07
CHADDR ALARM
...
= TRANSPARENT ROUTER UMTS[0000,00000,+00000,1,1,1,SIMS,BAND(1)]
NEXT
= TRANSPARENT ROUTER UMTS[0000,00000,+00000,1,1,1,SIMS,BAND(1)]
= TRANSPARENT ROUTER UMTS[0000,00000,+00000,1,1,1,SIMS,BAND(1)]
= TRANSPARENT ROUTER UMTS[0000,00000,+00000,1,1,1,SIMS,BAND(1)]
The vGATE Control Unit’s IP address must appear in the category IP Configuration in the
[System] section of the mobile gateway’s pabx.cfg file:
SimCtrlUnitAddress=<ip addr>
Configure an additional controller in the last position for DTMF functionality as follows:
Example 6.8
DTMF controller (pabx.cfg)
Controller36=41DTMF
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Configuration
The corresponding Subscriber line will look like this:
Example 6.9
Subscriber entry for DTMF controller (pabx.cfg)
Subscriber36=TRANSPARENT
i
ROUTER DTMF[60] CHMAX[5]
Do not use GSM SIMs on UMTS iGATEs or vice versa.
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vGATEDesktop
The vGATEDesktop is a frontend application used for administration of the vGATE. All SIMs
and mobile gateways can be maintained from a central location using this application.
i
The vGATECtrl application must be started before the vGATEDesktop. Do not open a second
vGATEDesktop if one is already open, as this will cause the first to close. Make sure you set
the clock on the vGATE Control Unit accordingly!
The vGATEDesktop allows you to group mobile gateways together for a targeted overview of
activity. SIMs can be assigned to any mobile gateway connected to the vGATE SIM Unit at any
time of day, making it easy to move SIM activity from one location to another.
The vGATEDesktop contains four windows, from which SIMs can be assigned to specific mobile gateway controllers for specific times. The columns in each window can be rearranged
by drop and drag and renamed by right-clicking the column headings. Figure 7.1 shows the
contents of each window as follows:





groups: Lists groups of mobile gateways.
mobile gateways: Lists all mobile gateways in the selected group.
controllers: Lists all mobile ports on the selected mobile gateway.
SIMs: All or filtered list of SIMs in the vGATE.
Show Positions: The first drop-down list allows you to filter the SIMs displayed based
on SIM positions. The second allows you to filter based on SIM activity and assignment.
 timezones: Shows the times when SIMs are active on specific controllers.
groups
Show Positions
timezones
filters
SIMs
mobile
gateways
Figure 7.1
controllers (ports)
vGATEDesktop
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7.1
Figure 7.2
vGATEDesktop
Automatic mobile gateway registration
iGATE registration
As soon as mobile gateways have been configured and connected to the vGATE, they must
be restarted for automatic registration.
The respective windows shown in Figure 7.2 will then automatically list the connected mobile
gateways and their empty controllers. The inset shows what the icons will look like in the case
of an iGATE 3G.
As soon as a mobile gateway is configured as part of the vGATE, it is automatically assigned
to the Default Group.
The following sections will guide you through a step-by-step example of how to set up your
vGATEDesktop.
7.2
Setting up mobile gateways
To be able to distinguish one mobile gateway from another, it is useful to give it a meaningful
Figure 7.3
Context menu
name. To rename mobile gateways, right-click the mobile gateway you want to rename and
select Edit from the context menu.
Enter the new Name in the window that appears.
Click OK to activate changes.
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If dynamic IP-address allocation is used on the mobile gateway, you must set the following
entry in the pabx.cfg:
SimCtrlUnitCheckInterval=<sec>
We recommend defining 60 seconds for this parameter.
i
For a detailed description of all of the entries in this dialog, see Chapter 7.15 Editing mobile
gateways
7.3
Setting up groups
Once you have named your mobile gateways, you may want to assign them to groups that
will provide you with a more targeted overview of the mobile gateways in your network.
In our example, we have four iGATEs, which we have named Berlin, Chicago, Munich and
New York. All iGATEs are assigned to the Default Group at installation. To define the default group, select Default Group for New GWs from the context menu.
First we want to give the default group a meaningful name. To rename a group, right-click
the group, select Edit Group and enter the new name in the pop-up dialog.
Figure 7.4
Setting groups
For our example, we have renamed the default group Germany. To create new groups, rightclick in the window and select Create Group. Enter the name of the new group in the popup dialog. We have named our new group USA. Ignore the rest of the dialog for now.
Now we have two groups and four iGATEs. All four iGATEs belong to the group named Germany.
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We want the iGATEs Berlin and Munich to remain in the Germany group and the Chicago
and New York iGATEs to move to the USA group.
Figure 7.5
Setting groups
To move iGATEs to another group, right-click the name of the iGATE and select Change
Group from the context menu. Choose the group from the drop-down list and click OK.
When we click either one of our groups, only the iGATEs in that group will appear in the list
of iGATEs.
i
You can also use drag and drop to assign mobile gateways to groups.
7.4
Figure 7.6
Setting up timezones
Setting timezones 1
Using the slide control at the top of the vGATEDesktop, you can easily set the times, called
timezones, when SIMs are active for individual controllers. The SIMs in a particular timezone
will automatically activate and deactivate at the times set. This function allows you to move
SIM activity from one time and place to another.
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For our example, we will first set timezones for one group. We click the Germany group to
activate its timezones. We want to set a timezone from Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. to Wednesday
at 8:00 a.m. To add a marker to the slide control, we press Ctrl and left-click the mouse approximately where the new marker is to appear. Then we use the mouse to slide the marker
to 8:00.
Figure 7.7
Setting timezones 2
After we have added the second marker, we will use another method to set it: we right-click
the new marker and set the time using the arrows in the pop-up dialog that appears. If Use
SIMs started on same GW is active, the same SIMs used at the beginning of the day will be
assigned for this timezone if they are available.
Using either of these two methods, you can set timezones for each group. The timezones will
be the same for each mobile gateway in the group, but the SIMs assigned to each timezone
may differ, depending on your individual setup.
i
The total number of timezones for all groups may not exceed 85.
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7.4.1
vGATEDesktop
Editing and copying timezones
You can also edit timezones by selecting Timezones List from the View menu. A dialog listing all of your timezones appears. Right-click a timezone or an empty space to Edit, Add or
Delete a timezone.
Figure 7.8
Copying timezones
Drag and drop with the right mouse button to copy the contents of one timezones into another for one or all mobile gateways in the group.
To copy the contents of all timezones from one mobile gateway to another in the same
group, go to the mobile gateway view and right-click the mobile gateway to copy. Select
Copy Timezone Configuration to GW. Select the mobile gateway to which you want to
copy from the drop-down menu and click OK.
To copy the contents of an entire timezone into another, open the Timezones List and rightclick the timezone to be copied. Drag the cursor to the timezone you want to copy into. Select
Copy Timezone Configuration from the pop-up menu and follow the directions that appear. To copy only differing rates from one timezone to another, select Copy Differing
Rates from the pop-up menu. Only carriers with differing rates will be copied, but all previous
carrier entries in the new timezone will be deleted. For more information about different
rates, see Chapter 7.4.3 Setting different rates for timezones.
To prevent inadvertent timezone changes, activate Inhibit Modification of Timezones in
the vGATEDesktop’s Options menu. This will lock all timezones into place so that they cannot
be changed. Make sure this option is inactive before attempting to edit the timezones.
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7.4.2
vGATEDesktop
Setting holidays
Using the Holiday slide control to the right, you can also set special times for holidays. Click the icon (shown there) in the toolbar or select Holidays List from the
View menu. Select Add or Edit from the context menu and use the drop-down calendar to set a Date. Enter a Name for the holiday and click OK.
Figure 7.9
Setting holidays
The vGATEDesktop’s date and clock are set according to the clock on the vGATE Control Unit,
which appears in the bottom right-hand corner of the vGATEDesktop. Timezones are set and
change according to this clock and not according to the clock on the PC on which the
vGATEDesktop is installed. Make sure you set the clock on the vGATE Control Unit accordingly!
i
7.4.3
Setting different rates for timezones
You can set different call charges for various carriers within the same timezone and copy
them from one timezone to another. This applies for all carriers entered in the carrier list.
Figure 7.10
Timezones rate list
Select Edit Differing Rates from the Timezones List to open the Timezones Rates List.
Open the Edit Different Rates dialog by selecting Edit, Add or Delete rates from the context menu.
Select a Carrier from the drop-down list. Enter the cost of a minute in the Currency Unit/
Minute box as a decimal number number with a dot as the decimal sign. If, for instance, a
minute costs 20 cent, enter 0.2.
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Charging calls works in the folllowing way:
 At the beginning of each call there can be a number of seconds that are free of charge.
Enter that number in Initial Free Seconds.
 After the free seconds have passed, define how many units you want to charge each
call at the beginning of the next time period. Enter the number of units in Charge Units
and add the length of the time period in seconds in per 1st Billing Time (sec).
 Finally, each call is charged one unit each number of seconds that you define with
Following Billing Time/Unit (sec/unit) (was Charge Unit Generate until version
16.2). Charging is done at the beginning of the time period.
In the Remaining Balance box, enter the number of currency units that are to remain on the
SIM card.
The Balance Factor shows how many units make up a major currency unit (such as 1 Euro).
It is calculated automatically from the entries in Following Billing Time/Unit (sec/unit)
(was Charge Unit Generate until version 16.2) and Currency Unit/Minute. As of Version
14.6 of all mobile gateways, up to two decimal places will be calculated.
In the following example, a minute costs 20 cent. For each call, the first 60 seconds are free
of charge. At the beginning of the following 60 seconds, 5 units are charged. Following that
and every 10 seconds another unit is charged. The balance factor a calculated as follows:
 every 10 seconds a unit is charged which makes 6 units per minute
 A minute costs 20 cent which means 6 units cost 20 cent
 which means 30 units cost 1 Euro (= balance factor).
Figure 7.11
Edit different rates
For a description of how to copy the rates from one timezone to another, see
Chapter 7.4.1 Editing and copying timezones.
i
To set or copy different rates, you must first activate the New Protocol checkbox in the edit
window. After activating the New Protocol checkbox, you must select Reinit or Set Maintenance Mode from the mobile gateway’s context menu to activate this feature. If you deactivate the checkbox, you must restart the mobile gateway.
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7.5
Assigning SIMs
Once you have set a group’s timezones, you can begin to assign SIMs for each controller and
its timezones.
i
With the corresponding iGATE license, 3G SIMs are supported for 2G controllers as of vGATE
SIM Unit Version 36 and iGATE Version 14.3.
The timezones are color-coded as follows: green means the timezone is currently active, white
means it is inactive and blue means it is currently being edited. SIMs that are currently active
appear in the Active Position list. SIMs that are not active but have been reserved to timezones appear in the Limit 1 Reserved Positions and/or Limit 2 Reserved Positions lists (for
more on limits, see Chapter 7.6 Setting time limits and pauses).
i
For an overview of SIMs that were once, but are no longer, inserted in the vGATE SIM Unit,
select Show SIMs not in Simserver from the View menu.
The allocation of one or more SIM cards to one or more mobile controllers is a process called
“assigning SIMs”. Before you start, select a customer group, a mobile gateway and the controller from the controller list. There are different ways to do this:
 per drag and drop: all selected SIMs to the selected controller (mobile port), or all
selected SIMs to all selected controllers.
 per context menu: Add SIM: Add to selected Ctrls, Add to balanced Ctrls, Add Color to
selected Ctrls.
 per key code: Ctrl+ A, Ctrl+ B, Ctrl + Alt + A
The contents of the controller list is summarized in Table 8.1 on page 114. The context menu
is described in Table 8.5 on page 121.
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7.5.1
vGATEDesktop
Reserving SIMs to inactive timezones
For our example, we will reserve SIMs 1.001.01-1.001.04 with Max Limit 1 to controller 0
on the Berlin iGATE in the Germany group:
Figure 7.12
Assigning SIMs to selected controllers
1. We click Germany in the groups window.
2. Then we click Berlin in the list of iGATEs.
3. Next, we click the white space between the markers set at 8:00 and 18:00. Now the
space is blue and SIMs can be reserved for this timezone.
4. We select the controller 0 to which we would like to assign SIMs.
5. We mark the SIMs to be reserved to controller 0, in this case SIMs 1.001.011.001.04.
6. We right-click the SIMs we have marked and select Add to Selected Ctrls or we can
simply drag the SIMs to the corresponding controller while holding down the left
mouse button.
7. A pop-up dialog appears, from which we select Limit 1 and click OK.
8. SIMs 1.001.01-1.001.04 appear in the Limit 1 Reserved Positions column (for a
description of limits, see Chapter 7.6 Setting time limits and pauses).
The SIMs appear in the Limit 1 Reserved Positions list. When this timezone becomes active,
the SIMs will be assigned automatically to the Active Position and the lamp icon will be yellow.
Now we want to assign SIMs 1.001.06-1.001.10 with Max Limit 2 to consecutive controllers
1 to 5:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
We follow steps 1 through 3 above.
We mark controller 1.
We mark SIMs 1.001.06-1.001.10.
We select Add Balanced to Ctrls.
A pop-up dialog appears, from which we select Limit 2 and click OK.
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6. SIMs 1.001.06-1.001.10 appear in the Limit 2 Reserved Positions column.
7. SIMs 1.001.06-1.001.10 are now reserved to controllers 1-5 for this timezone (for a
description of limits, see Chapter 7.6 Setting time limits and pauses).
The SIMs appear in the Limit 2 Reserved Positions list. When this timezone becomes active,
the SIMs will be assigned automatically to the Active Position and the lamp icon will be yellow.
The same steps can be followed to assign SIMs to an active timezone.
7.5.2
Assigning SIMs to active timezones
To assign SIMs to a timezone that is currently active, follow the same steps outlined above,
but make sure all inactive timezones are white in the timezone slide control by clicking the
green timezone.
The SIMs will appear in the Active Position and Limit 1 Reserved Positions or Limit 2 Reserved Positions column.
7.5.3
Copying SIM assignment
You can also copy the contents of one timezone into another for one or all mobile gateways
in the group by left-clicking the timezone to be copied and dragging the curser into another
timezone. You cannot copy into the timezone that is currently active. However, it is possible
to copy the currently-active timezone into another one.
7.6
Setting time limits and pauses
You can limit the number of time units a SIM is used before the mobile gateway switches to
the next SIM or before a SIM is permanently deactivated. The mobile gateway’s default configuration sets these time units at 10 seconds each. Right-click the SIM(s) for which you would
like to set or change a limit and select Change Limits from the context menu.
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If a SIM switches to a new timezone where it has a different limit (Limit 1 to Limit 2), the SIM
will be released unless it is reserved to the same controller in the new timezone. If you want
to release the SIM regardless of where it is reserved, activate Release All SIMs if Timezone
Changes in the vGATECtrl Options menu. If a SIM switches limits during a call, the time will
be deducted from the limit that was active when the SIM was assigned.
Figure 7.13
Settings time limits and pauses
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Table 7.1 list the entries of the limit dialog.
Table 7.1
Setting time limits and pauses (page 1 of 4)
Entry
Description
Prepaid SIM
If the SIM is prepaid, check Prepaid SIM. Since the SIM’s limit
is predefined, you must not set a limit for prepaid SIMs. However, if you would like to set a change limit for prepaid SIMs,
go to the vGATECtrl application and select Use Change Limit
for Prepaid SIMs from the Options menu. For a detailed description of this feature, see Chapter 7.9.3 Setting a change
limit for prepaid SIMs.
Auto Recharge
If you check Auto Recharge, the SIM will recharge automatically (see
Chapter 7.9 Configuring prepaid SIMs). To limit the number of times
a SIM can be recharged per month, enter a value in the Max. Upgrades per Month box. The SIM will no longer be assigned when the
value entered is reached and the line will turn yellow. Unsuccessful recharge attempts will also be counted toward the value entered. The
counter is reset at the beginning of each new month. To limit the
number of times a SIM can be recharged per month, week or day, enter a value in the Max. Upgrades: per Month per Week or per Day
box. The SIM will no longer be assigned when the value entered is
reached and the line will turn yellow. Unsuccessful recharge attempts
will also be counted toward the value entered. The counter is reset at
midnight on Sunday of each new week. If you do not want to limit the
number of recharges, click No Limit (default).
No Limit
Check No Limit if you prefer not to set a limit (default setting). To
change the SIM after a certain amount of 10-second units, deactivate
the No Limit checkbox.
Random
To set a random limit, check the Random box and set two values Between 1 and 65534. The first value must be less than the second value. If the first value is greater than the second, a fixed limit will be set
at the first value. Random limits will change with every SIM release.
Max. Limit 1 / Max. Limit 2
Do the same under Max. Limit 1 and Max. Limit 2 to permanently
deactivate a SIM after a certain number of units has passed. If No Limit has been checked under Change Limit, you can enter a value here
between 1 and 65534. Otherwise, you can enter a value between 1
and 2147483646. Bear in mind that balance verification and expected
amount settings will apply only for Max. Limit 1.
You can set a second max. limit under Max. Limit 2. When assigning
the SIM to timezones, choose one of these two limits for each timezone (see Chapter 7.5 Assigning SIMs). Bear in mind that balance verification and expected amount settings will apply only for Max. Limit
1.
Max Call Duration
To set a maximum call duration, activate the Max Call Duration
checkbox and enter a range of seconds between 1 and 65533. After
a random limit within the range has passed, the call will automatically
be disconnected.
Adv. Limit A / Adv. Limit B /
Adv. Limit C
Additional Adv. Limits are displayed here. Use the Carrier List (see
Chapter 7.8 Setting carriers) to set the limits there. Bear in mind that
balance verification and expected amount settings will apply only for
Max. Limit 1.
Max. SMS
Enter the maximum number of SMS messages that can be sent via the
SIM card until the SIM card is blocked. Check No Limit if this limit
does not apply (default setting).
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Table 7.1
vGATEDesktop
Setting time limits and pauses (page 2 of 4)
Entry
Description
Reset Limits
Visible for postpaid SIM cards only (the Prepaid SIM checkbox has not
been checked).
To Reset Limits once a month, check Day of Month and enter a
date. The limit will reset automatically to the original amount at midnight on the date entered.
To reset the limit once a week, check Day of Week and the reset day.
The limit will reset automatically to its original amount at midnight on
the day checked.
Change Limits to 0 (force
balance check)
Visible only if the Prepaid SIM checkbox has been checked.
In the Change Limits to 0 group box, set a day of the month or a day
of the week to change the limit to 0 and force a balance check. If a
day is set and the prepaid SIM card is blocked, it is automatically reset
to 0 and thereby unblocked.
Only if Limit Reached
If you check Only if Limit Reached, the maximum limit will reset to
its original amount on the day entered only if the limit has been
reached.
Cumulate Limits
If you check Cumulate Limits, instead of resetting the SIM card limit,
the new limit will be added to the remaining limit.
Maximum Call Duration Per
Day
If you activate the checkbox Maximum Call Duration Per Day, the
SIM will be blocked as soon as the number of minutes has been
reached that is entered in the Between and And Minutes fields regardless of any other limits that have been set. Activate Use Daymask
and click the Daymask button to set different maximum durations for
different days.
Minimum Remaining
Minimum Remaining refers to a number of minutes that are left in
the maximum daily duration. The SIM will be blocked for the rest of
the day at the end of any call that crosses this threshhold without
reaching the maximum daily duration. The maximum daily duration
counter is reset every day at midnight. You must set a Timezone
change at 11:50 p.m. Bear in mind that a time offset may be necessary.
Maximum Calls Per Day
You can set an interval for a SIM’s Maximum Calls Per Day by activating the corresponding checkbox and entering two values. Every day
a random value between the two values entered will be apply for the
SIM. You must set a Timezone change at 11:50 p.m. Bear in mind that
a time offset may be necessary.
Maximum Registered Assigns Per Day
Activate the checkbox Maximum Registered Assign Per Day and
enter how often the SIM card is allowed to be registered at the gateway until it is blocked. Enter in both Between ...And ... Assigns fields
the same value to set an exact upper limit. Enter a range of values to
select a random value from this range.
Time Offset
You can set a Time Offset to reset limits. The limits will be reset up
to 14 hours ahead or 12 hours behind the time on the vGATE Control
Unit. This is useful for mobile gateways located in different time zones.
Make sure to reset limits only when SIMs are inactive. If you reset them
while they are active, the settings in the database will no longer correspond with those in the mobile gateway.
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Table 7.1
vGATEDesktop
Setting time limits and pauses (page 3 of 4)
Entry
Description
Minimum Pause after Last
Use
To set an amount of time a SIM is to remain idle between uses, enter
a value in Minimum Pause after Last Use. To set a random pause,
set two values Between 0 and 99.99 hours. The first value must be
less than the second value. If the first value is greater than the second,
a fixed pause will be set at the first value. Be sure to use a period and
NOT a comma when setting unrounded values.
Ignore On Same Gateway
If you activate the checkbox Ignore On Same Gateway, the minimum pause will be ignored if the SIM is reassigned to the same gateway.
Ignore if Minimum Remaining Available
If you activate the checkbox Ignore if Minimum Remaining Available, the minimum pause will be ignored if the Maximum Call Duration per Day option is active. You can shorten the pause set here
by configuring a distance between gateways.
Maximum Usage (Assigns)
Per TZ
When the checkbox Maximum Usage (Assigns) per TZ is activated,
the SIM will be blocked after it has been assigned the number of times
entered within the same Timezone. You can define this value for Limit
1 and Limit 2. A brown icon will then appear. When the Timezone
changes, the counter will be reset and the SIM can be assigned again.
Active Release
When Active Release is checked and the Active SIM Release option
has been set in the vGATECtrl, the active SIMs will be released when
the number of Minutes, Succesful Calls, SMS entered has passed or
the number of Incoming Calls or Call Attempts has been reached.
Values between 2 and 9999 minutes or an unlimited number of calls
or SMS are possible. SIMs in the reserved position will become active.
If no SIMs are reserved, the same SIM will be reassigned (see
Chapter 9.4 vGATECtrl Options menu).
Check Random and the SIM will be released following a random
number of minutes between the figures entered. Check Block if
Reached (next to Successful Calls) and the SIM will be blocked when
the number of succesful calls entered is reached. If you check Don't
Release, Generate Incoming Call, a call from a random SIM of the
same carrier in the vGATE will be sent to the SIM that reached the sucessful call limitation. Check Block if Reached (next to SMS) to block
the SIM card when the number of SMS messages has been reached.
If Maximum Calls Per Day is active, the remaining value there will
apply if it is less than the value entered here.
As of version 17.0, all options can be combined with each other.
You must first activate the New Protocol checkbox in the edit
window to release calls or SMS after assigning them. After activating the New Protocol checkbox, you must select Set Maintenance Mode from the mobile gateway’s context menu to
activate this feature. If you deactivate the checkbox, you must
restart the mobile gateway.
Delay SIM Assignment On
TZ Change, Reset Maintenance, Boot Indication
vGATE 17.1
To delay SIM assignment, activate Delay SIM Assignment On TZ
Change, Reset Maintenance, Boot Indication and enter two figures: the first between 0 and 600, and the second between 0 and
1200. The SIM will be assigned a random number of seconds between
those entered following a Timezone change, a maintenance mode reset or a boot indication received from the mobile gateway.
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Table 7.1
7.7
vGATEDesktop
Setting time limits and pauses (page 4 of 4)
Entry
Description
Block SIM On Low ACD
Activate the checkbox Block SIM On Low ACD to block SIMs with
short calls. Enter the number of times the ACD can fall below the seconds set before it is to be blocked. Choose whether the values entered
are to be calculated within a 24 hour period (In 24 Hours) or consecutively (In a Row) before it is to be blocked. The ACD is checked every
time a SIM is released.
Lower Priority
If you activate Lower Priority and enter a figure On Limit Below, the
SIM will automatically receive lower priority when its limit falls below
the amount entered. Activate Reset Priority If Limit is Upgraded
and the SIM will receive its configured priority when the limit goes
above the amount entered.
Use SIM On Alternating
Gateways
Activate Use SIM On Alternating Gateways to alternate the gateways on which the SIM will be used.
Use SIM On Alternating Locations
Activate Use SIM On Alternating Locations to alternate the locations on which the SIM will be used.
Use SIM Only Once Per Day
And Gateway
If you activate the checkbox Use SIM Only Once per Day and Gateway, the SIM will be used only once for each gateway to which it is
assigned on any given day.
Release SIM Immediately
After TZ Change
When the checkbox Release SIM Immediately after TZ Change is
active, the SIM will be released when the Timezone changes and any
calls will be disconnected. If Release All SIMs if Timezone Changes
has not been set in the vGATECtrl Options menu and the SIM is reserved for the next Timezone at the same controller, it will not be released when the Timezone changes (see Chapter 9.4 vGATECtrl
Options menu). If LimitWODISC=ON has been set in the mobile gateway’s pabx.cfg, the call will continue into the next Timezone if the limit
is reached before the end of the current Timezone.
Setting dynamic SIM pauses
To shorten the pause set in the Limits dialog, you can configure a pause based on the distance between two mobile gateways within a group. The vGATE calculates the pause based
on coordinates that you enter for each mobile gateway. If no other SIMs are available, these
shorter pauses will override the static pause set for the SIM.
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7.7.1
Figure 7.14
vGATEDesktop
Setting the coordinates
iGATE coordinates
To calculate the coordinates for the mobile gateways in a group, place them on a Cartesian
grid as shown in Figure 7.14, where 0 is the center of the group and the increments on the
X and Y axes are units of distance. You can define the units of distance and the increments
freely as you choose.
7.7.2
Entering the coordinates
To set the coordinates you have calculated on your grid, open the edit window by doubleclicking the name of the mobile gateway. Enter the mobile gateway’s Position as shown in
Figure 7.15.
Figure 7.15
iGATE position
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7.7.3
vGATEDesktop
Setting the time/distance ratio
Once you have set the coordinates for your mobile gateways, you can define the amount of
time it takes to travel between two mobile gateways in a group.
Figure 7.16
Dynamic SIM pauses
Double-click the name of the group to open the group editor. Activate the Dynamic SIM
Pause checkbox and enter a Minimum Pause in minutes that is to be applied to all SIMs for
the group, regardless of the pause calculated for the distance between any two mobile gateways.
In the Minutes Per Distance Unit box, enter the average amount of time it takes to travel
one increment of distance on your grid. In Figure 7.16, each unit of distance is equal to three
minutes.
For times when travel occurs faster or slower, you can set two Pause Deviances. The example in Figure 7.16 reflects slower travel between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and faster travel
between midnight and 6:00 a.m.
Click OK. The vGATE will calculate the dynamic pause between mobile gateways automatically.
7.8
Setting carriers
To set carriers, select Carrier List from the View menu or click the icon (shown
there) in the toolbar.
The Carrier List window will appear. Right-click an empty line or an entry and select
Edit, Add or Delete from the context menu.
Figure 7.17
Carrier list
If you select Edit or Add, the carrier list editor will appear. From here you can define new
carriers or edit existing ones.
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If the option Synchonize Carrier Settings is active in the vGateConfig (see Chapter 6.2.2
on page 38) it is possible to download the settings. To do so select the countries whose settings are to be loaded first. Open the menu Options | Configure Load Carrier Settings.
Choose the customer profile and confirm with OK. The following dialog box opens.
Select the countries whose carrier settings will be imported and confirm with OK.
As shown in the screenshot, all settings located on the remote server (T-Online, Vodafone)
will be shown with a gray background. These entries are not editable. To adopt settings from
these entries, click an entry and select new from context menu. All settings will be taken from
the original entry. Enter a new Name.
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The information entered here will also be sent to the mobile gateway for automatic configuration of SIMs and SMS service if New Protocol is activated in the edit window of the mobile
gateway:
Figure 7.18
Carrier editor
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Table 7.2
vGATEDesktop
Carrier editor (page 1 of 6)
Entry
Description
Name
Enter the carrier’s name.
Prefix
Enter all of the carrier’s prefixes that are to be sent to the mobile
gateway when Limit Outgoing Calls to Prefix is active. Separate multiple prefixes with a semi-colon.
Limit Outgoing Calls to Prefix
Activate this checkbox to route only those calls beginning with
the Prefix entered.
LAIN
Enter the carrier’s LAIN.
Carrier Sub ID
You can assign a sub ID (default 1) for individual SIMs (for example, if a carrier uses different recharge numbers for its SIMs).
Mapping Character
Enter the mapping character you configured for the carrier in the
route.cfg.
Prepaid Recharge: DTMF
Check here if the carrier uses DTMF to recharge SIM cards.
Prepaid Recharge: SMS
Check here if the carrier uses SMS messages to recharge SIMs.
Recharge by SMS requires the following mapping entry in the
mobile gateway’s route.cfg:
MapAllSMS??=<LAIN>*??01: DATA
;Recharge via SMS
;-------------------------------------------------MapAllSMS??=11111*??01: DATA
MapAllSMS??=22222*??01: DATA
MapAllSMS??=33333*??01: DATA
MapAllSMS??=44444*??01: DATA
NOTE: Recharge by SMS requires mobile gateway version
14.3 or higher.
Prepaid Recharge: USSD Code
Check the box and enter the USSD code used to recharge SIM
cards.
The entry must contain the code that you need to access the
USSD menu, the pauses that you need to wait and the menu entries that you need to select.
In the following example, the USSD code *100# is entered followed by a 5 second pause, the menu entry 1, and a 10 second
pause: *100#&p5m1p10
If your entry plus voucher code, additional pauses, and menu entries exceed 22 characters, enter a placeholder instead. In this
case, you need to configure the pabx.cfg and route.cfg. For
a detailed description please see Chapter 7.9.5 Recharge via
USSD menu.
NOTE: Balance check by USSD code requires mobile gateway version 14.3 or higher.
Prepaid Balance Check: USSD
Code
Check the box and enter the USSD code for retrieving the SIM
card’s balance. To get the available balance via USSD menu, enter the USSD code followed by the pauses and menu entries that
you need to access the balance check option.
In the following example, the USSD code *100# is entered followed by a 5 second pause and the menu entry 1:
*100#&p5m1
NOTE: Balance check by USSD code requires mobile gateway version 14.3 or higher.
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Table 7.2
vGATEDesktop
Carrier editor (page 2 of 6)
Entry
Description
Prepaid Balance Check: SMS To
Check this box if the carrier uses SMS for balance check and enter the destination number into the field to the right of the check
box. In addition, you need to enter the SMS text into the Message field.
Prepaid Balance Check: Message
To receive the balance by SMS message, enter the SMS text into
this field.
Balance check by SMS requires the following mapping entry in
the mobile gateway’s route.cfg:
MapAllSMS??=<LAIN>*??01: DATA
;Balance Check via SMS
;-------------------------------------------------MapAllSMS??=11111*??01: DATA
MapAllSMS??=22222*??01: DATA
MapAllSMS??=33333*??01: DATA
MapAllSMS??=44444*??01: DATA
NOTE: Balance check by SMS requires mobile gateway
version 14.3 or higher.
Service Center Number
Enter the carrier’s service center number.
SMSC Number
Enter the carrier’s SMS service number.
Balance Parse String
Enter a search string for the prepaid SIM’s balance. As of version
14.6 of all mobile gateways, you can set two strings by entering
an & sign between them. The two resulting values will be added
together and calculated with the balance factor (BF) to form the
prepaid limit. If no second value exists, only the first will be calcultated. If no first value exists, there will be no result. Enter a
pipe (|) to search for either value. You can enter a < sign in front
of each search string to parse the balance before the search
string. You can also parse any limits you have set by including
them in curly brackets in front of the parse string as follows:
{0}<string>=Major limit
{1}<string>=Advanced limit A
{2}<string>=Advanced limit B
{3}<string>=Advanced limit C
You can also parse remaining times as follows:
{A}<string>=Time in minutes
{B}<string>=Time in seconds or hour:minute:second
EXAMPLE: {0}balance & {1}bonus.
NOTE: Bear in mind that limits and times cannot be combined in the same string.
Version 17.1 and up use the UTF button to insert UTF8 strings.
Confirm the input with OK.
Use ’.’ As Decimal Separator
Activate this checkbox when a carrier uses periods as decimal
separator. Leave it empty if the carrier uses a comma.
Currency Unit/Minute
Enter the cost of a call per minute.
BF
This value is calculated automatically. As of version 14.6 of all
mobile gateways, up to two decimal places will be calculated.
Remaining Balance (units)
Enter the minimum balance in units that is to remain on the SIM
card. If the balance has been reached the SIM card is blocked
and a limit notification sent to the vGATE.
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Table 7.2
vGATEDesktop
Carrier editor (page 3 of 6)
Entry
Description
Initial Free Seconds
At the beginning of each call there can be a number of seconds
that are free of charge. Enter that number in Initial Free Seconds.
Charge Units
After the free seconds have passed, define how many units you
want to charge each call at the beginning of the next time period. Enter the number of units in Charge Units.
per 1st Billing Time (sec)
Add the length of the time period in seconds in per 1st Billing
Time (sec).
Following Billing Time/Unit (sec/
unit)
Finally, each call is charged one unit each number of seconds
that you define with Following Billing Time/Unit (sec/unit).
Charging is done at the beginning of the time period. Was
Charge Unit Generate until version 16.2.
Worst Case Charge (sec/unit)
Enter the highest possible fee a carrier may charge.
Advanced Limit Charges
This button is green when limits have been set and gray when
nothing has been entered. Click this button to open the Advanced Limit Charges window. You must enter all prefixes for
which the limit is to apply. These limits will not apply if no prefixes are entered.
Enter the charge information for limit A, B, or C. Charging calls
works in the folllowing way:
 At the beginning of each call there can be a number of seconds that are free of charge. Enter that number in Initial
Free Seconds.
 After the free seconds have passed, define how many units
you want to charge each call at the beginning of the next
time period. Enter the number of units in Charge Units and
add the length of the time period in seconds in per 1st Billing Time (sec).
 Finally, each call is charged one unit each number of seconds
that you define with Following Billing Time/Unit (sec/
unit). Charging is done at the beginning of the time period.
Click the Daymask button to set the times for which the limit is
to apply. For postpaid SIMs, limits will all apply simultaneously
unless you activate Use Limits One By One and the limits. For
prepaid cards, the limits will all apply one after the other.
Special Parse Actions
Click here to enter a string from an information message that
the carrier may send to the SIM and the path to a special script
that will run when this string is received. This button is green
when a string has been set and gray when nothing has been entered.
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Table 7.2
vGATEDesktop
Carrier editor (page 4 of 6)
Entry
Description
Info Parse String
Click this button to enter strings in Parse Info 1 and / or Parse
Info 2 from an information message that the carrier may send
to the SIM card.
As of version 17.0, Parse Info 1 and Parse Info 2 can contain
more than one string. Strings are combined with a pipe symbol,
no blanks are allowed, for example: string1|string2|string3.
If more than one string matches, the first match is taken. If an
entry in Parse Info 1 matches, Parse Info 2 is ignored. The matching string is entered in the Info 1, Info 2 or Error column. The
icon appears in front of the SIM cards IMSI. If Release
SIM on Info is active, The SIM will be released after receiving an
info parse string. If Block is also active, the SIM will be released
and blocked. The Info Parse String button is green when a
string has been set and gray when nothing has been entered.
Loudness PCM
Set the PCM volume level between 0 (lowest volume) and 7
(highest volume). The default setting is 4.
Loudness Mobile
Set the mobile volume level between 0 (highest volume) and 3
(lowest volume). The default setting is 1.
Echo Cancelation
Check this box to activate echo cancelation.
No PP Balance Check if Limit
Available
When this checkbox is active, no balance check occurs after prepaid SIM cards with Max Limit 1 are assigned.
No Cyclic PP Balance Check
Activate this checkbox to switch off the automatic balance check
that normally takes place at 12:00 AM and 12:00 PM on the mobile gateway.
No PP Balance Check After Recharge
When this checkbox is active, no balance check of the prepaid
SIM cards occurs after the SIM has been recharged. A balance
check will occur the next time the SIM is assigned.
PP Passive Balance Check
When this checkbox is active, automatic balance checks that
come via SMS are entered in the database. This is useful for SIMs
that do not allow active balance checks.
Don’t Release After Recharge
Activate this checkbox to ensure that a SIM card is not deactivated after recharge.
Block SIM After Succesful Recharge
Check this box to block the SIM card directly after recharge. The
SIM card needs to be unblocked manually.
Reset Too Many Announcements
If Actual Minutes Below Worst
Case
Activate this checkbox to reset the counter for too many announcements to reflect the worst case configuration.
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Table 7.2
vGATEDesktop
Carrier editor (page 5 of 6)
Entry
Description
Too Many Announcements
Check
The mobile port is blocked when the value defined for calls that
result in recorded messages is reached. When this feature is activated, the vGATE will automatically assign the SIM again and a
balance check will occur. Activate Reassign and Test With
One Call Attempt to allow just one call over this SIM. After this
call the SIM will be released again. If the call is successfully connected, the error will be removed and the SIM will be used in
normal service again. If the call is not connected or the setup results in another recorded message, the SIM will be blocked.
If you activate Verify Balance, a balance check will occur. Specify how often by entering the number of balance checks in the
Times Per Day and Times Per Month boxes. If the SIM card
has a positive balance that is within the value entered in Balance
Verification Tolerance, the error will be removed and the SIM
will be used in normal service again. If the error occurs again, the
vGATE will allow just one call over this SIM. After this call the SIM
will be released again. If the call is successfully connected, the error will be removed and the SIM will be used in normal service
again. If the call is not connected or the setup results in another
recorded message, the SIM will be blocked. If the SIM does not
have a balance that is within the Balance Verification Tolerance, the SIM will be released and blocked with a balance verification error.
Bear in mind that the value defined for Too many announcements in theedit window of the mobile gateway must be set at
1 or higher.
The parameter STOP[<val1>,<val2>] must be set on the mobile
gateway for this feature to work (please refer to your iGATE,
ECOTEL GSM, or ECOTEL 3G manuals for an explanation of this
parameter).
Random Balance Verification
To ensure that the vGATE calculation of limits is correct and the
carrier’s rates have not changed since the last time the SIM was
recharged, two additional random balance checks can be started.
After the Random Balance Verification has occurred, a new
limit is calculated for the SIM. If this limit differs from the limit
that the vGATE calculated before the balance check, and the difference is smaller than the Tolerance, the SIM will be released
and blocked, and an error message will be generated. Random
Balance Verification works only for prepaid SIM cards with an
automatic recharge configuration.
Activate Day Based to initiate a random balance check within
the timeframe entered.
Balance Verification Tolerance
This feature is for autorecharge prepaid SIMs. You can enter a
percentage, a number of units, or both if both are to apply.
Please see the descriptions in the entries for Too many announcements check and Random Balance Verification
above.
Reset Too Many Announcements
After Positive Balance Verification
Activate this checkbox to reset the counter for too many announcements following a balance check with a positive result.
Ignore If Balance Check Is Out Of
Service
Activate this checkbox to ignore unsuccessful balance checks.
Enter in Maximum Ignored Balance Checks how many balance checks you want to ignore.
Recharge Time Frame
Activate this checkbox and set one or two timeframes during
which a SIM is to recharge.
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Table 7.2
vGATEDesktop
Carrier editor (page 6 of 6)
Entry
Description
Master Carrier for Balance Transfer
This checkbox is needed for prepaid SIM cards in a balance transfer scenario. Check this box to define a carrier as master and select a balance transfer script into the Transfer Script box. For
more details on balance transfer please see Chapter 7.9.6 SIM
card balance transfer.
Recharge Via Balance Transfer
This checkbox is needed for prepaid SIM cards in a balance transfer scenario. Check this box to define a carrier as production carrier and select a master carrier from the drop-down menu. For
more details on balance transfer please see Chapter 7.9.6 SIM
card balance transfer.
Recharge Via Special Service
Check this box and select a script to recharge SIM cards using
special service scripting commands. You can use this feature to
enforce a balance check before recharging SIM cards or to do
any other verifications in your recharging process. Use the following special service scripting commands:
RECHARGE_IF_LIMIT_BELOW_WOREL
RECHARGE_IF_LIMIT_BELOW
SET_MAX_LIMIT
CHANGE_MAX_LIMIT
For an explanation of these scripting commands, please refer to
Chapter 7.12.1 Script commands.
7.9
Use External Web Recharge API
This feature is planned for a future release.
Use E Recharge
For special external recharge functionality.
Pause Before Release SIM
Activate this checkbox and enter a range of minutes for a pause
to occur before a SIM is released after its last call.
Pause Between Assign And First
Call
Activate this checkbox and enter a range of minutes for a pause
to occur after a carrier’s SIMs have been assigned before the first
call is sent.
Initial Limit of New SIMs
Activate this checkbox and enter a limit value for the first time a
new SIM from this carrier is used. This is useful for prepaid SIMs
that require a call to retrieve balance information.
Call/SMS Generation Timeframes
Allows you to set a Preferred timeframe when you want to send
calls and SMS messages and/or a Forbidden timeframe, in
which you don’t want to send them.
Until version 16.2, this option was included in the vGATECtrl Options menu in the Call/SMS Generation option.
Configuring prepaid SIMs
To set prepaid SIMs, you must activate New Protocol in the edit window of the mobile gateway.
Remote tuneling is required for automatic recharge when a remote connection to the mobile
gateway exists. Only one SIM can be recharged on a mobile gateway at any one time. Up to
two SIMs can be recharged simultaneously if they are assigned two different mobile gateways.
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Configuration in the mobile gateway
To define prepaid SIMs, you must make the following settings on the mobile gateway.
7.9.1.1
Settings in the route.cfg
The following entries must appear in the route.cfg to save the necessary USSD or SMS messages into a file.
For USSD messages: Restrict<LAIN>=@FILE 06
For SMS messages: Restrict<LAIN>=@FILE 05
To automatically recharge prepaid SIMs, the following entries must be made in the mobile
gateway’s route.cfg:
A mapping character must also be defined for each carrier as follows:
MapAll<mapping character>??=<LAIN>*??01:
MapAllDTMF=41DTMF
i
To avoid mapping conflicts, we recommend that you use the last letters in the alphabet as
mapping characters.
In the following example, the carrier with the LAIN 11111 is assigned the mapping character
Z, the carrier with the LAIN 22222 is assigned the mapping character Y, the carrier with the
LAIN 33333 is assigned the mapping character X, the carrier with the LAIN 44444 is assigned
the mapping character W.
Example 7.1
Carrier specific mapping character
MapAllDTMF=41DTMF
MapAllZ??=11111*??01:
MapAllY??=22222*??01:
MapAllX??=33333*??01:
MapAllW??=44444*??01:
7.9.1.2
Settings in the pabx.cfg
Make the following settings in the mobile gateway’s pabx.cfg:
MsgLog=/data/msg.log <saved> <size> <number>
or if no compact flash is included in the system:
MsgLog=/boot/msg.log <saved> <size> <number>
i
We strongly recommend using a compact flash, as the available storage space is limited and
may fill up quickly, causing the system to fail. The CDR license includes the compact flash.
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7.9.2
vGATEDesktop
Defining prepaid SIMs on the vGATEDesktop
Once you have inserted a prepaid SIM into the vGATE, you must define it as prepaid in the
vGATEDesktop in one of the following ways:
 Right-click the SIM and select Define as Prepaid SIM.
 Right-click the SIM and select Change Limits. Activate the Prepaid SIM checkbox. If
the SIM recharges automatically, activate the Auto Recharge checkbox.
The following icons in the SIM window show that the SIM has been defined as prepaid:
Table 7.3
Prepaid SIMs icons
Icon
Description
The SIM in this position is prepaid.
The prepaid SIM in this position recharges automatically.
To deactivate the SIM position’s prepaid status, right-click the SIM and select Change Limits.
Deactivate the Prepaid SIM checkbox.
The SIM’s prepaid limit will always appear in the Max Limit 1 column.
7.9.2.1
Finding the balance parse string
The balance parse string is the reference term used to access the carrier’s recorded message.
On the vGATEDesktop, set one of the carrier’s SIMs as prepaid and assign it to a controller
that has been defined as prepaid for this carrier. After 2 minutes, establish a GATE Manager
connection to the mobile gateway. Open the logfile defined in the configuration. The text will
appear here in front of the currency entry. Now you can enter the text in the carrier configuration (cf. Chapter 7.8 Setting carriers).
After you send the balance code, the following string appears:
your available balance: 10.20€
An appropriate balance parse string would be balance.
7.9.2.2
Calculating the balance factor
The Balance Factor shows how many units make up a major currency unit (such as 1 Euro).
It is calculated automatically from the entries in Following Billing Time/Unit (sec/unit)
(was Charge Unit Generate until version 16.2) and Currency Unit/Minute. As of Version
14.6 of all mobile gateways, up to two decimal places will be calculated.
In the following example, a minute costs 20 cent. For each call, the first 60 seconds are free
of charge. At the beginning of the following 60 seconds, 5 units are charged. Following that
and every 10 seconds another unit is charged. The balance factor a calculated as follows:
 every 10 seconds a unit is charged which makes 6 units per minute
 A minute costs 20 cent which means 6 units cost 20 cent
which means 30 units cost 1 Euro (= balance factor).
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7.9.2.3
vGATEDesktop
Defining the maximum number of allowed balance checks after assign
For Prepaid SIM cards, the maximum number of allowed balance checks after assigning a SIM
card can be limited in the SIM Options dialog. Check the Maximum Balance Checks After
Assign box and enter the number of maximum allowed checks in the field below.
In case the balance check after assignment fails and an entry exists in this field, balance checks
are repeated until the limit has been reached or a balance check has been successful.
Figure 7.19
7.9.3
Maximum balance checks after assign
Setting a change limit for prepaid SIMs
To activate this feature, go to the vGATECtrl application and select Use Change Limit for
Prepaid SIMs from the Options menu. Setting a Change Limit for prepaid SIMs brings the
following advantages:
 A balance query will no longer occur every time the SIM is assigned.
 Automatic balance queries from the mobile gateway will no longer occur at noon and
midnight mobile gateway time.
 SIMs can be switched when the Change Limit is reached and do not have to be active
until the prepaid limit (Max Limit 1) is reached.
A Change Limit on prepaid SIMs works like this:
Define the SIM as a prepaid SIM and set the change limit. After you assign the SIM, the prepaid limit is queried. As soon as the prepaid limit arrives at the vGATE, it is set in the database
as Max Limit 1 and the change limit is activated in the mobile gateway. That means the SIMs
prepaid status is no longer transmitted as such to the mobile gateway. The mobile gateway
will recognize the Change Limit as long as Max Limit 1 (prepaid limit) is less than the Change
Limit. When the Change Limit reaches Max Limit 1, a balance query will occur.
i
This feature is available only as of version 14.6 of all mobile gateways.
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7.9.4
vGATEDesktop
Entering autorecharge vouchers
Once you have set up the Carrier List (cf. Chapter 7.8 Setting carriers), you can set
the automatic recharge. Select Prepaid Recharge List from the View menu or
click the icon (shown there) in the toolbar. The prepaid recharge list will appear.
If you select Edit or Add, the prepaid recharge list editor will appear. From here you can define recharge numbers or edit existing ones.
Figure 7.20
Prepaid recharge list
In the dialog that appears, use the drop-down menu to select the SIM’s Carrier.
Figure 7.21
Prepaid recharge editor
Enter the Recharge String as follows: If you are using USSD, simply enter the digits in the
code.
If the carrier recharges SIMs using DTMF tones, you must first enter DTMF: followed by the
string. The carrier’s service center recording will include various menu options and queries,
which generally require that you configure pauses into the recharge string. Enter a p for a 1second pause and a P for a 10-second pause. You may have to call the service center number
and time the recording, so that you know how long the pauses are to be. If the recharge process takes longer than 240 seconds, the call will be disconnected. A comment can be added
about the specific recharge code in the User Info dialog.
In Figure 7.21, the Recharge String is DTMF:P1PPppp010943667175#PP. That means the
carrier uses DTMF tones to recharge SIMs. The string begins with a pause of 10 seconds followed by a 1. Then comes a pause of 3 seconds followed by 010943667175#. A pause of 20
seconds occurs before the call is disconnected.
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If you are recharching your SIM card by SMS, you must first enter SMS: followed by the
voucher code provided by your carrier.
Enter the total Expected Amount. The Primary Amount is the amount on the voucher and
the Bonus Amount refers to any additional amount that will be added. Bear in mind that the
figure entered here multiplied by the balance factor must be greater than the remaining balance set in the carrier editor.
You can enter any useful User Info in the corresponding dialog box. Make sure the Type is
set at 0.
i
If an error occurs during recharge, the SIM card that is being recharged is blocked with the
”no recharge number found” error message. Once you enter a new voucher, the SIM card is
automatically unblocked.
Use the context menu to perform the following additional functions:
 Delete: Removes the entry from the list.
 Reset: Resets the process to run again.
 Select SIM: Marks the SIM in the vGATEDesktop’s SIM view if the recharge number has
been used.
 Export: Exports the list to a text file. Each file entry will look like this: <carrier id>,
<recharge number>.
 Import: Imports the list to a text file. Each file entry will look like this: <carrier id>,
<recharge number>,,<expected amount (optional)>.
Example: 1,DTMF:Pppp2ppp012345678#ppp,,450
The Prepaid Recharge List includes the following icons:
Table 7.4
Prepaid recharge list icons
Icon
Description
The voucher code has not yet been used and is still available.
The voucher code has been used and is no longer available.
An error occurred in the recharge process.
The voucher code has been used with no result.
The voucher is currently being used to recharge a SIM.
Recharging failed due to problems with the voucher code (default: 3 attempts).
A warning occurred in the recharge process.
Recharging has been interrupted before the voucher has been sent. Voucher can be reused. As of version 17.0.
Voucher has been used for recharging. A subsequent balance check remains unanswered.
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7.9.5
vGATEDesktop
Recharge via USSD menu
To recharge prepaid SIMs via the USSD menu, enter the USSD menu code in the USSD Recharge Code box in the carrier editor. Due to protocol limitations, this string plus voucher
code, additional pauses, and menu entries must not exceed 22 digits. If it does, enter a placeholder instead. In this case you have to adjust the pabx.cfg and route.cfg files, as described in the sections that follow.
7.9.5.1
Settings in the pabx.cfg file
The following new entry must appear in the [system] section of the pabx.cfg file.
GSM<number>=<LAIN> MAP[<mapping character>??<placeholder>~><mapping character>??<USSD menu>~<pause in seconds><USSD menu entry>]
You can create up to four different GSM<number> entries. The number parameter denotes the
different entries. Enter the MCC/MNC combination (the LAIN parameter) to uniquely identify
the carrier. The mapping character is used to group carrier SIMs with the same settings. It
is taken from the Mapping Character box in the vGATE’s carrier editor. The ?? are used to
dynamically locate the port. The placeholder parameter comes from the USSD Recharge
Code box in the vGATE’S carrier editor. The ~ is replaced with the voucher code sent from
the vGATE. The > separates the left from the right side. The USSD menu parameter contains
the command that you need to access the carrier’s USSD menu. Both the pause in seconds
and the USSD menu entry parameters are used to navigate through the USSD menu. They
need to be entered as often as it takes to get to the right menu for recharge.
In the following example, a SIM card is recharged using the USSD menu. The MCC/MNC combination to uniquely identify the mobile operator is 26212. In the vGATE’s carrier editor, the
mapping character to identify all of the mobile operator’s SIM cards which are recharged via
USSD menu is V, the place holder for the USSD menu entry is B. In the pabx.cfg, B is replaced
by *100#~&p5m1p10m2 which is the USSD menu entry *100#, the voucher code coming from
the vGATE, a 5 second pause to enter menu 1, and a 10 second pause to enter menu 2.
Example 7.2
Recharge via USSD menu
GSM1=26212 MAP[V??B~>V??*100#~&p5m1p10m2]
Figure 7.22
7.9.5.2
Recharge via USSD menu
Settings in the route.cfg file
Change the MapAll entry in the route.cfg to include the settings for USSD menu recharge.
Search for the matching MapAll command and extend it as follows:
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MapAll<mapping character>??<place holder>=<LAIN>*??01:<USSD menu>
Example 7.3
Settings for USSD menu recharge (route.cfg)
MapAllV??B=26212*??01:*100#
For an explanation of how to define prepaid SIMs in the route.cfg, please refer to
Chapter 7.9.1 Configuration in the mobile gateway.
7.9.6
SIM card balance transfer
This feature is used to transfer a balance from one or more master SIM cards to different production SIM cards. When a production SIM card needs to be recharged, the vGATE control
unit chooses a master SIM card from the defined master carrier and starts a transfer script to
transfer the balance from the master SIM card to the production SIM card. After a successful
balance transfer, the production SIM card is informed about the new balance via the passive
balance check functionality.
7.9.6.1
Configuring master carrier and master SIM cards
From the carrier list, select the carrier that you want to define as master carrier. Right-click the
carrier and select Edit. In the edit window, activate the Master Carrier for Balance Transfer
checkbox and enter a transfer script.
Figure 7.23
Master carrier: transfer script settings
Make sure that SIM cards from this master carrier will not be used for production purposes
by entering a prefix in the Prefix field that is not used for a real carrier and by checking Limit
Outgoing Calls to Prefix.
Figure 7.24
Master carrier: prefix settings
To connect a master SIM card with the master carrier, right-click the SIM card and select
Change SIM Options... from the shortcut menu. Select the master carrier’s carrier name and
sub ID from the Carrier Name (Sub ID) drop-down menu.
Figure 7.25
Master SIM card: selection of master carrier
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Configuring production carrier and production SIM cards
In the production carrier’s edit window, check Recharge Via Balance Transfer and select
the name of the master carrier from the drop-down menu.
Figure 7.26
Production carrier: selection of master carrier for balance transfer
If the new balance is automatically communicated by the carrier, check the PP Passsive Balance Check box from the production carrier’s edit window to ensure that the vGATE knows
about the new balance.
Figure 7.27
Production carrier:prepaid passive balance check
Production SIM cards must have their own number entered in the SIM Options window,
which you open by right-clicking a production SIM card and selecting Change SIM Options... .
Figure 7.28
Production SIM card: own number
In the same window, ensure that the production SIM card is linked to the production carrier
by selecting this carrier from the Carrier Name (Sub ID) drop-down menu.
Figure 7.29
Production SIM card: selection of production carrier
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Transfer script example
The following transfer script example sends a USSD message including the number of the production SIM card to the carrier of the master SIM card. It parses and handles the USSD answer
including the strings below:
 successful: unblock the port of the master SIM card and end the script.
 successfully: unblock the port of the master SIM card and end the script.
 unsuccessful: write an error string and an error value (10) to the database entry of
the production SIM, release the production SIM (which will be blocked because of the
error value) and end the job.
 _TIMEOUT_: On job timeout, write an error string and an error value (11) to the
database entry of the production SIM, release the production SIM (which will be
blocked because of the error value) and end the job.
Example 7.4
Transfer script
SEND_USSD_WAIT(*444*1*<RECEIVE_NUMBER>*150*0716#,successful,sucessfully,unsucces
sful, _TIMEOUT_,2)
{
UNBLOCK_PORT
END_JOB
}
{
UNBLOCK_PORT
END_JOB
}
{
CHANGE_RECEIVER_DB_STRING(sError, balance transfer unsuccessful)
CHANGE_RECEIVER_DB_INT(iError, 10)
RELEASE_RECEIVER_SIM
END_JOB
}
{
CHANGE_RECEIVER_DB_STRING(sError, balance transfer timeout)
CHANGE_RECEIVER_DB_INT(iError, 11)
RELEASE_RECEIVER_SIM
END_JOB
}
7.10
Automatic mobile gateway configuration via vGATEDesktop
This option applies only for mobile gateways versions 15.0 and higher. All previous versions
require configuration in the mobile gateway’s pabx.cfg for each carrier (see
Chapter 7.9.1.2 Settings in the pabx.cfg).
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Double-click the name of the mobile gateway or select Edit from the context menu to open
the edit window. When you activate the New Protocol checkbox, the following information
is sent to the mobile gateway:
Figure 7.30
Setting new protocol




























SMS center number
USSD balance code
Balance parse string
Balance factor
Remaining balance
Route priority
Charge unit first
Charge unit generate
Loudness PCM
Loudness mobile
Calls after assign
SMS after assign
Maximum call duration per day
Maximum balance checks after assign
No cyclic prepaid balance check
Too many announcements check
Suppress quality indications
Maximum calls per day
Pause between assign and first call
Carrier sub ID
Use of decimal point as separator
Incoming calls
Echo cancelation
Prepaid passive balance check
Automatic transmission of SIMs’ own number
Pause between assign and first call
Adv. limit charges (prefixes, charge unit first, charge unit generate)
Advanced limits
 Call attempts
i
After activating the New Protocol checkbox, you must select Set Maintenance Mode from the
mobile gateway’s context menu to activate this feature. If you deactivate the checkbox, you
must restart the mobile gateway.
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SMS and call options
You can configure individual SIMs to transmit and receive calls and SMS, so that traffic flows
in both directions. Each SIM can send and/or receive up to 99 SMS and 99 calls per day or
month or receiver group.
i
7.11.1
Only active SIMs can send and/or receive calls and/or SMS. No calls or SMS can be sent when
a remote connection to the mobile gateway exists. Remote tuneling is required when a remote
connection to the mobile gateway exists.
Sending SMS and calls
To define call and/or SMS sending, you must define a mapping character for each carrier you
use for SMS and/or call sending (see Chapter 7.9.4 Entering autorecharge vouchers).
Figure 7.31
SIM options
To open the SIM Options dialog, select Change SIM Options from the context menu in the
SIMs view.
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If you want to send calls and SMS daily, activate the appropriate checkboxes. Otherwise they
will be sent monthly. You can send one call and/or SMS immediately for test purposes by
checking the corresponding boxes. Activate Check Only Successful Calls if you do not want
unsuccessful connections to be applied to your settings.
Enter the number of calls and/or SMS that are to be sent to the Destination SIM Cards. Activate the appropriate checkbox(es) to send all calls and SMS to mobile gateways in the same
group or SIMs with the same color. If no calls or SMS are to be sent from the selected SIM,
enter 0.
You can also define up to three Receiver Groups to which the number of calls and/or SMS
entered are to be sent. For more information on defining receiver groups, please see
Chapter 7.11.2 Receiving SMS and calls. Enter a value for the Preferred Receive Numbers
Count to send most of the calls to a limited number of receivers.
If the SIM is to receive calls and SMS originating from the vGATE, enter the SIM’s call number
in the Own Number box and activate the appropriate checkboxes. If you do not want the
selected SIM to receive calls or SMS, leave this box blank.
To send calls and/or SMS messages, the following entries in the route.cfg are also required
to define a mapping character for each carrier that doesn’t already have one:
MapAll<mapping character>??=<LAIN>*??01:
Example 7.5
Mapping character to send calls and/or SMS messages
MapAllZ??=26201*??01:
MapAllY??=26202*??01:
MapAllX??=26203*??01:
MapAllW??=26207*??01:
To send SMS, you must also enter SMS as follows:
MapAllSMS<mapping character>??=<LAIN>*??01: DATA
Example 7.6
Mapping character to send SMS messages
MapAllSMSZ??=26201*??01:
MapAllSMSY??=26202*??01:
MapAllSMSX??=26203*??01:
MapAllSMSW??=26207*??01:
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
You must also set carriers on the vGATEDesktop as described under Chapter 7.8 Setting carriers. If you are not using a carrier’s prepaid SIMs, fill in only the Name, LAIN and Character
for Mapping spaces and leave the others blank.
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7.11.2
Figure 7.32
vGATEDesktop
Receiving SMS and calls
Receive numbers list
You can also create a list of numbers that are to receive SMS and/or calls and assign them to
groups. Select SMS/Call Receiver from the View menu or click the
button in the toolbar. The Receiver Groups window appears. All is the default group that means all messages
are initially placed in one group. To add a new group, right-click in the window and select
Add and enter a name for the new group in the dialog that appears. To rename a group,
select Edit; to delete, select Delete. To open the list, right-click a specific group and select
Explore.... The Receive Numbers list will appear.
Now you can select Add or Edit from the Receive Numbers context menu and fill in the
SIMs Number. Use the drop-down menu to select a group from which the SMS or call is to
come, or select All if you prefer not to limit calls and/or SMS to one group. The Receiver
Group you have selected will appear next. Enter a number of Calls per Month and/or SMS
per Month that the SIM is to receive calls and/or SMS. Up to 9999 are possible. Calls and
SMS will be set randomly to numbers in this list and to SIMs defined to receive SMS and calls
(see Chapter 7.11.1 Sending SMS and calls). Generated calls last between 15 and 60 seconds
(default).
To receive calls at defined mobile gateways, enter the following settings in the mobile gateway’s route.cfg:
Restrict<LAIN>=41DTMF_ 01
To receive SMS at defined mobile gateways, enter the following settings in the mobile gateway’s route.cfg:
Restrict<LAIN>=@FILE 05
7.11.3
Defining SMS messages
To send an SMS, you must, of course, first define what the text contains. Each SMS can contain no more than 160 characters.
Figure 7.33
SMS list
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Select SMS Message List from the View menu or from the toolbar. The Receiver Groups
window appears. Double-click the receiver group whose SMS message list you want to open.
A table containing all defined SMS messages appears. Right-click and select Edit to edit an
existing message, Add to add a new message, Delete to delete an existing message and Import from File to browse for a text file containing SMS. Each line in the text file contains one
SMS of up to 160 characters. The contents of the file will be imported to the SMS Messages
table. Each SMS Message can be moved to another receiver group. For more information on
defining receiver groups, please see Chapter 7.11.2 Receiving SMS and calls.
7.11.4
Sending external SMS
To send targeted external SMS messages to specific defined numbers, activate the Use group
for sending external SMS checkbox in the group view editor and activate Send External
SMS in the vGATECtrl Options menu.
Figure 7.34
Sending external SMS
The default configuration saves SMS files in the folder F:\vGATE\SMS. You can configure another path in the registry under \\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TELES\vGATECtrl\SMSPath.
The file extension must be .sms. The content of the files must have the following syntax:
To:<num>
Msg:<message>
The commands To: and Msg: must appear at the beginning of the line, but more than one
message can be sent to each recipient
In the following example, the message Test1 is sent to both recipients 017112345678 and
017212345678. The messages Test2 and Test 3 are sent only to 017212345678..
Example 7.7
Sending external SMS messages
To:017112345678
Msg:Test1
To:017212345678
Msg:Test1
Msg:Test2
Msg:Test3
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vGATECtrl checks the configured folder once per minute. If new .msg files are in the folder,
the SMS will be sent. Once they have been sent, they are automatically renamed with the extension .old and an entry appears in a .log file that is saved into the same folder.
7.11.5
i
Retrieving a SIM’s own number
This feature requires special service scripting. For more information on special services and
script commands, please refer to Chapter 7.12 Special services.
For SIM’s for which you have an IMSI but no telephone number, you can retrieve the number
by following these steps:
Create a special action script for sending an SMS with the IMSI to a SIM in the vGATE.
In the following special script example, the SIM card’s IMSI is 123456. An SMS with the message IMSI=123456 is sent to the SIM with the number +490179456456.
Example 7.8
Retrieving a SIM card’s own number
SEND_SMS(+490179456456, IMSI=123456)
END_JOB
Open the SIM Options dialog for the SIM sending the message. Activate the appropriate
checkbox, and enter the path for the special script as shown in Figure 7.35. You can also start
the script manually by selecting Start Special Service from the context menu in the Controller view.
Figure 7.35
Send own IMSI
Create another script to save the OAD for the SIM with the IMSI sent. The where part of the
SQL query comes from the parse result.
In the following special script example, the telephone number for the SIM with the IMSI
123456 is entered in the SIM’s OwnNumber column. The 1 is a flag to indicate that the contents of the SMS received (IMSI=123456) is to be the where part of the SQL query.
Example 7.9
Entry in SIM’s OwnNumber column
SAVE_OAD_IN(OwnNumber, 1)
END_JOB
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To perform this function, vGATE must parse incoming SMS messages for the string IMSI=. To
set up the parse configuration, open the Carrier List. Double-click or right-click the carrier’s
name to open the carrier editor. Click the Special Parse Actions button to open the Parse
String Action dialog.
Figure 7.36
Parse string action
Under Parse String enter IMSI=. Under Action enter the path for a special service script to
save the own number.
Click OK to start the special script.
7.12
Special services
The Special Service group box in the SIM Options dialog (select Change SIM Options
from the context menu in the SIMs view) allows you to define special services offered for a
SIM, such as special tariffs or discount offers. These services can then be automatically activated with this function.
Figure 7.37
Special service
The commands for this function are defined by scripts that are entered in defined .ini files.
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These commands can be carried out automatically by activating any or all of the following
checkboxes:
 After Assign will start the script whenever the SIM is assigned. Activate Once per Day
if this is to occur only once on any given day.
 Change Limit Reached will start the script whenever the SIM’s change limit is reached.
This option is also possible with SIMs that are not prepaid.
 Each Limit Ind. (PP) will start the script whenever the prepaid SIM’s limit is reached.
 New SIM will run the script once every time a new SIM is entered.
 Between will start the script daily or on defined days of the month at a random time
between those entered (be sure to enter times based on a 24-hour clock, e.g. 5:00 pm
must be entered as 17). You must enter times on the hour. No decimals are allowed.
You can select whether you would like to activate the commands Daily, Monthly on
the day specified or Weekly on the day or days specified.
 At intervals of ... Minutes will start the script every entered number of minutes.
The .ini file containing the script is saved on the vGATE Control Unit and its path is defined
under Command File in the Special Service group box.
i
7.12.1
If you do not use remote tunneling, make sure the GATE Manager is not connected to the
mobile gateway before you run any scripts. One remote channel is active for special services.
Script commands
The commands must be entered in the .ini file as follows. Please refer to
Chapter 7.12.2 Script example, which is intended as a detailed description of format and syntax:
Table 7.5
Special service script commands (page 1 of 11)
Commands
ADD_MAX_LIMIT
Adds a calculated limit (integer value) to the SIM card’s Max. Limit 1 field. For prepaid SIM cards
only.
BLOCK_DISC_PORT
The port is blocked. If a call is active, it is disconnected. The port’s link status is
checked. If the link status is not idle, the script command is stopped and will be
carried out later.
BLOCK_PORT
The port will be blocked as soon as it is idle.
CANCEL_JOB_BLOCKING
Cancels blocking the SIM or controller. The job will continue to be executed.
CHANGE_DB_INT(<column>,<int>)
The set integer will be entered in the defined SIM column in the database (e.g. Priority, SIMCounter or SIMCounter2).
CHANGE_DB_STRING(<column>,<string>)
The set string will be entered in the defined SIM column in the database (e.g. Userinfo1 or
Userinfo2).
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Table 7.5
vGATEDesktop
Special service script commands (page 2 of 11)
Commands
CHANGE_LIMIT
Writes a fixed calculated limit (integer value) in the SIM card’s Change Limit field. For prepaid SIM
cards only.
CHANGE_LIMIT_ZERO
Can be set as a wait parameter. If the calculated change limit is 0, another command can be carried out.
CHANGE_MAXLIMIT
Writes a calculated limit (integer value) in the SIM card’s Max. limit 1 field. Can also be combined
with SET_MAX_LIMIT. For prepaid SIM cards only.
CHANGE_MSISDN_LIMIT(<MSISDN>,<limit>)
Changes the limit for the SIM with the telephone number entered.
CHANGE_SMSLIMIT
Writes the content of the internal limit variable (that has been filled for instance with the
Parse_String_TO_LIMIT command) into the SMS limit field. Corresponds with the Max. SMS field
on the SIM card’s Limit dialog.
DONT_CARE_SIMSTATUS
The SIM’s current status (registered, etc.) will be ignored.
END_JOB
Ends the job.
END_JOB_IF_VALUE_IS(<column>,<value>)
Ends the job if the value in the simcards column is a given value.
NOTE: This command must always be used before the BLOCK_PORT command.
END_JOB_IF_VALUE_IS_ABOVE(<column>,<int>)
Ends the job if the value in the simcards column is above a given integer value.
NOTE: This command must always be used before the BLOCK_PORT command.
END_JOB_IF_VALUE_IS_BELOW(<column>,<int>)
Ends the job if the value in the simcards column is below a given integer value.
NOTE: This command must always be used before the BLOCK_PORT command.
END_JOB_IF_VALUE_IS_NOT(<column>,<value>)
Ends the job if the value in the simcards column is not a given value.
NOTE: This command must always be used before the BLOCK_PORT command.
LIMIT_FAKTOR_M(<num>)
Defines the factor for calculating a limit from a wait parameter based on money values. The factor
must always be entered as a float value in decimal notation (e.g. 6.0).
Example: For the following example, the entry ChargeUnitGenerate=1 (default is 10) is entered in the mobile gateway’s pabx.cfg. The carrier sends a balance of €10.0. A call costs €0.24
per minute. Enter the result of (€0.24 x 100) / 60 = 0.4. Enter LIMIT_FAKTOR_M(0.4). To calculate LIMIT_FAKTOR_M using the balance factor (BF), enter LIMIT_FAKTOR_M=100/BF.
LIMIT_FAKTOR_T(<num>)
Defines the factor for calculating a limit from a wait parameter based on time values. The factor
must always be entered as a float value in decimal notation (e.g. 6.0).
Example: For the following example, the entry ChargeUnitGenerate=1 is entered in the mobile gateway’s pabx.cfg. The carrier sends a balance of 24 minutes and 10 seconds. To convert
this figure into seconds, enter LIMIT_FAKTOR_T(60.0).
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Table 7.5
vGATEDesktop
Special service script commands (page 3 of 11)
Commands
PARSE_STRING_TO_BUFFER
Parses an incoming SMS or USSD message to an internal buffer PARSE_BUFFER. PARSE_BUFFER
is a placeholder that can be used in a subsequent START_EXTERNAL command.
The incoming message is:
You have an MMS from 491775016082. Demand within 14 days with www.mms.t-mobile.de
with your phone no and password G4KB5A7N
PARSE_STRING_TO_BUFFER(password [S%s])
The parse result PARSE_BUFFER will be filled with 'G4KB5A7N'.
PARSE_STRING_TO_LIMIT(<string>)
Parses an incoming SMS or USSD message to the internal limit value (in units). That value can be
further processed by other limit commands, such as CHANGE_MAX_LIMIT or ADD_MAXLIMIT.
Not for Advanced limits.Example: PARSE_STRING_TO_LIMIT(balance is [M%d.%d]) searches for
the string “balance is” and parses the limit based on the monetary value found behind “balance
is”.
PARSE_TO_SIMCUSTOM_STRING(<bOverwrite>,<value count>,<parse Param1>,<name of param1
in DB>, <parseParam2>,<name of param2 in DB>,…)
Parses an incoming SMS detected via Special Parse Actions in the vGATE carrier settings and saves
the result in the database:
bOverwrite: 0 or 1, 1 means old values in database are deleted before saving the new values.
value count: Count of value pairs (Param, Name in DB)
parseParam: Parse string. The syntax is the same as for wait parameters. Only string parameter (S)
are allowed.
name of param in DB: Name of the value in the database.
PAUSE(<millisec>)
If this command is used, the current job pauses while other jobs waiting in the thread are handled.
RECHARGE_IF_LIMIT_ABOVE(<int>)
Recharge is initiated if the calculated limit is higher than the limit entered.
RECHARGE_IF_LIMIT_ABOVE_WOREL(<int>)
Recharge is initiated if the calculated limit is higher than the limit entered. The SIM is not released
following the recharge process.
RECHARGE_IF_LIMIT_BELOW(<count>)
Initiates SIM recharge and closes job if the current prepaid limit is less than the value entered.
RECHARGE_IF_LIMIT_BELOW_WOREL(<int>)
Recharge is initiated if the calculated limit is lower than the limit entered. The SIM is not released
following the recharge process.
RECHARGE_SIM
SIM is recharged after script has ended. It is best to enter this command at the end of a script to
avoid overlapping remote access.
RECHARGE_SIM_WOREL
SIM recharge is initiated and the SIM is not released following recharge.
RELEASE_RECEIVER_SIM
Releases the production SIM card in a balance transfer scenario. For instance, use this command
to release a production SIM card if a balance transfer from the master to the production SIM card
failed. For more details on balance transfer, please refer to Chapter 7.9.6 SIM card balance transfer
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Table 7.5
vGATEDesktop
Special service script commands (page 4 of 11)
Commands
RELEASE_SIM
SIM is released at the end of the script. If possible, a new SIM will then be assigned. It is best to
enter this command at the end or branching point of a script.
RELEASEBLOCK_IF_LIMIT_ABOVE(<int>)
The SIM will be released and blocked if its balance is above the value entered.
RELEASEBLOCK_IF_LIMIT_BELOW(<int>)
The SIM will be released and blocked if its balance is below the value entered.
RELEASEBLOCK_SIM
The SIM will be released and blocked.
RESTART_PORT
Restarts the current port.
SAVE_OAD_IN(<column>,<flag>
Saves the OAD of a SIM from which an SMS with IMSI=<IMSI> has been sent. Set the flag at 1
to save the number in the SIM’s OwnNumber column.
SEND_DTMF(<string>)
The DTMF string is sent to the service center number. For pauses between DTMF tones, enter a
p for a pause of one second and a P for a pause of 10 seconds.
NOTE: The service center number and mapping character must appear in the Carrier List (see
Chapter 7.9.4 Entering autorecharge vouchers) and the mapping entries must exist in the
route.cfg .
SEND_DTMF_IF_LIMIT_ABOVE(<limit>,<string>)
If the limit goes above the value entered, a connection is set up to the service center and the defined USSD code is sent. The service center number must be entered in the carrier list.
Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response message.
SEND_DTMF_IF_LIMIT_BELOW(<limit>,<string>)
If the limit falls below the value entered, a connection is set up to the service center and the defined DTMF string is sent. The service center number must be entered in the carrier list.
Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response message.
SEND_DTMF_NUM(<num>,<string>)
The DTMF string is sent to the defined number (<num>). For pauses between DTMF tones, enter
a p for a pause of one second and a P for a pause of 10 seconds.
SEND_DTMF_NUM_IF_LIMIT_ABOVE(<num>,<limit>,<string>)
If the limit goes above the value entered, a connection is set up to the defined number (<num>)
and the defined DTMF string is sent.
Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response message.
SEND_DTMF_NUM_IF_LIMIT_BELOW(<num>,<limit>,<string>)
If the limit falls below the value entered, a connection is set up to the defined number (<num>)
and the defined DTMF string is sent.
Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response message.
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Table 7.5
vGATEDesktop
Special service script commands (page 5 of 11)
Commands
SEND_DTMF_NUM_WAIT(<num>,<string>,<waitParam1>,<waitParam2>,...,<timeout>)
The DTMF code is sent to the defined <num>. This string sets a wait for defined query response
messages. For the proper syntax of wait parameters, see the entry for SEND_USSD_WAIT.
Example of a time value:
Parsed string: 10:25:32 in hr:min:sec
Wait parameter: [T%d:%d:%d] (enter [T%d:%d] for min:sec or [T%d] for sec).
Calculation: Limit = hr x 60 x limit factor + min x limit factor + sec x limit factor / 60
Example of a money value:
Parsed string: 11.55 in €.cent
Wait parameter: [M%d.%d]
As of version 16.2, thousand separators can be included. Use [M%d,%d.%d] to parse 1,000.00
or [M%d.%d,%d] to parse 1.000,00.
Calculation:
Limit = (€ x 100 + cent) / limit factor
Example of a string:
Parsed string: The number 1234567890
Wait parameter: the number.[S%s]
Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response message.
SEND_DTMF_NUM_WAIT_IF_LIMIT_ABOVE(<num>,<limit>,<string>,<waitParam1>,<waitParam2>,..., _ELSE_,<timeout>)
If the limit goes above the value entered, a defined DTMF string is sent to the defined number
(<num>) and the system waits for a response defined using the wait parameters as long as the
timeout value entered. If the response comes before the timeout, other commands can be carried
out. If the timeout is set at 0, no timeout will be used. If the limit does not rise above the value
entered, the command defined by _ELSE_ will be carried out. Please note that _ELSE_ must be
defined. This string sets a wait for defined query response messages. For the proper syntax of wait
parameters, see the entry for SEND_USSD_WAIT.
Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response message.
SEND_DTMF_NUM_WAIT_IF_LIMIT_BELOW(<num>,<limit>,<string>,<waitParam1>,<waitParam2>,..., _ELSE_,<timeout>)
If the limit falls below the value entered, a defined DTMF string is sent to the defined number
(<num>) and the system waits for a response defined using the wait parameters as long as the
timeout value entered. If the response comes before the timeout, other commands can be carried
out. If the timeout is set at 0, no timeout will be used. If the limit does not fall below the value
entered, the command defined by _ELSE_ will be carried out. Please note that _ELSE_ must be
defined. This string sets a wait for defined query response messages. For the proper syntax of wait
parameters, see the entry for SEND_USSD_WAIT.
Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response message.
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Table 7.5
vGATEDesktop
Special service script commands (page 6 of 11)
Commands
SEND_DTMF_WAIT(<string>,<waitParam1>,<waitParam2>,...,<timeout>)
The DTMF code is sent to the service center number. This string sets a wait for defined query response messages. For the proper syntax of wait parameters, see the entry for SEND_USSD_WAIT.
Example of a time value:
Parsed string: 10:25:32 in hr:min:sec
Wait parameter: [T%d:%d:%d] (enter [T%d:%d] for min:sec or [T%d] for sec).
Calculation: Limit = hr x 60 x limit factor + min x limit factor + sec x limit factor / 60
Example of a money value:
Parsed string: 11.55 in €.cent
Wait parameter: [M%d.%d]
As of version 16.2, thousand separators can be included. Use [M%d,%d.%d] to parse 1,000.00
or [M%d.%d,%d] to parse 1.000,00.
Calculation:
Limit = (€ x 100 + cent) / limit factor
Example of a string:
Parsed string: The number 1234567890
Wait parameter: the number.[S%s]
NOTE: The service center number and mapping character must appear in the Carrier List (see
Chapter 7.9.4 Entering autorecharge vouchers) and the mapping entries must exist in the
route.cfg.
Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response message.
SEND_DTMF_WAIT_IF_LIMIT_ABOVE(<limit>,<string>,<waitParam1>,<waitParam2>,...,
_ELSE_,<timeout>)
If the limit goes above the value entered, a defined DTMF string is sent to the service center and
the system waits for a response defined using the wait parameters as long as the timeout value
entered. If the response comes before the timeout, other commands can be carried out. If the
timeout is set at 0, no timeout will be used. The service center number must be entered in the
carrier list. If the limit does not rise above the value entered, the command defined by _ELSE_ will
be carried out. Please note that _ELSE_ must be defined.
Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response message. This string sets a wait for defined query response messages. For the proper syntax of wait
parameters, see the entry for SEND_DTMF_WAIT.
SEND_DTMF_WAIT_IF_LIMIT_BELOW(<limit>,<string>,<waitParam1>,<waitParam2>,...,
_ELSE_,<timeout>)
If the limit falls below the value entered, a defined DTMF string is sent to the service center and
the system waits for a response defined using the wait parameters as long as the timeout value
entered. If the response comes before the timeout, other commands can be carried out. If the
timeout is set at 0, no timeout will be used. The service center number must be entered in the
carrier list. If the limit does not fall below the value entered, the command defined by _ELSE_ will
be carried out. Please note that _ELSE_ must be defined.
Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response message. This string sets a wait for defined query response messages. For the proper syntax of wait
parameters, see the entry for SEND_DTMF_WAIT.
SEND_RNDREC_SMS(<recipientcount>,<recipient1>,<recipient2>,...,<message>)
Sends an SMS message to a random recipient out of up to 16 recipients. In recipientcount, enter
the number of recipients.
SEND_RNDREC_SMS_WAIT(<recipientcount>,<recipient1>,<recipient2>,...,<message>,<waitParam1>, <waitParam2>,...,<timeout>)
Sends an SMS message to a random recipient out of up to 16 recipients and waits for a defined
response. In recipientcount, enter the number of recipients. For the proper syntax of the wait parameters, see the entry for SEND_USSD_WAIT.
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Special service script commands (page 7 of 11)
Commands
SEND_SMS(<to>,<msg>)
Sends a defined SMS (<msg>) to a defined recipient (<to>). If you enter OAD as the recipient, the
SMS will be sent to the origination number of a previously received SMS. You can also use this
command to retrieve a SIM’s own number (see Chapter 7.11.5 Retrieving a SIM’s own number).
NOTE: The service center number and mapping character must appear in the Carrier List (see
Chapter 7.9.4 Entering autorecharge vouchers) and the mapping entries must exist in the
route.cfg. SMS service numbers must appear in the pabx.cfg.
SEND_SMS_IF_LIMIT_ABOVE(<limit>,<to>,<msg>)
A defined SMS is sent to the number entered if the limit goes above the value entered.
SEND_SMS_IF_LIMIT_BELOW(<limit>,<to>,<msg>)
A defined SMS is sent to the number entered if the limit falls below the value entered.
SEND_SMS_WAIT(<to>,<msg>,<waitParam1>,<waitParam2>,...,<timeout>)
Sends a defined SMS and waits for a defined response. If you enter OAD as the recipient, the SMS
will be sent to the origination number of a previously received SMS. You can also use this command to retrieve a SIM’s own number (cf. Chapter 7.11.5 Retrieving a SIM’s own number). This
string sets a wait for defined query response messages. For the proper syntax of wait parameters,
see the entry for SEND_USSD_WAIT.
Example of a time value:
Parsed string: 10:25:32 in hr:min:sec
Wait parameter: [T%d:%d:%d] (enter [T%d:%d] for min:sec or [T%d] for sec).
Calculation: Limit = hr x 60 x limit factor + min x limit factor + sec x limit factor / 60
Example of a money value:
Parsed string: 11.55 in €.cent
Wait parameter: [M%d.%d]
As of version 16.2, thousand separators can be included. Use [M%d,%d.%d] to parse 1,000.00
or [M%d.%d,%d] to parse 1.000,00.
Calculation:
Limit = (€ x 100 + cent) / limit factor
Example of a string:
Parsed string: The number 1234567890
Wait parameter: the number.[S%s]
NOTE: The service center number and mapping character must appear in the Carrier List and the
mapping entries must exist in the route.cfg (see Chapter 7.9.4 Entering autorecharge vouchers).
Example: In the following example, the SMS ’send number’ is sent to the number 017234567890
and the system waits for the string ’the number’ and the number that follows will be entered in
the vGATEDesktop SIM View Own Number column.
SEND_SMS_WAIT(017234567890, send number, the number.[S%s], 3)
{
SET_DB_STRING(OwnNumber)
UNBLOCK_PORT
END_JOB
}
NOTE: The service center number and mapping character must appear in the Carrier List (see
Chapter 7.9.4 Entering autorecharge vouchers) and the mapping entries must exist in the
route.cfg. SMS service numbers must appear in the pabx.cfg.
Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response message.
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Special service script commands (page 8 of 11)
Commands
SEND_SMS_WAIT_IF_LIMIT_ABOVE(<limit>,<to>,<msg>,<waitParam1>,<waitParam2>,...,
_ELSE_<timeout>)
If the limit goes above the value entered, a defined SMS is sent to the number entered and the
system waits for a response defined using the wait parameters as long as the timeout value entered. If the response comes before the timeout, other commands can be carried out. If the timeout is set at 0, no timeout will be used. If the limit does not rise above the value entered, the
command defined by _ELSE_ will be carried out. Please note that _ELSE_ must be defined. For the
proper syntax of wait parameters, see the entry for SEND_USSD_WAIT.
Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response message.
SEND_SMS_WAIT_IF_LIMIT_BELOW(<limit>,<to>,<msg>,<waitParam1>,<waitParam2>,...,
_ELSE_<timeout>)
If the limit falls below the value entered, a defined SMS is sent to the number entered and the
system waits for a response defined using the wait parameters as long as the timeout value entered. If the response comes before the timeout, other commands can be carried out. If the timeout is set at 0, no timeout will be used. If the limit does not fall below the value entered, the
command defined by _ELSE_ will be carried out. Please note that _ELSE_ must be defined. For the
proper syntax of wait parameters, see the entry for SEND_USSD_WAIT.
Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response message.
SEND_USSD(<code>)
The USSD code is sent to the service center number. The service center number and mapping
character must appear in the Carrier List.
NOTE: The service center number and mapping character must appear in the Carrier List (see
Chapter 7.9.4 Entering autorecharge vouchers) and the mapping entries must exist in the
route.cfg.
SEND_USSD_IF_LIMIT_ABOVE(<limit>,<string>)
If the limit goes above the value entered, a connection is set up to the service center and the defined USSD code is sent. The service center number must be entered in the carrier list.
Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response message.
SEND_USSD_IF_LIMIT_BELOW(<limit>,<string>)
If the limit falls below the value entered, a connection is set up to the service center and the defined USSD code is sent. The service center number must be entered in the carrier list.
Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response message.
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Special service script commands (page 9 of 11)
Commands
SEND_USSD_WAIT(<code>,<waitParam1>,<waitParam2>,...,_TIMEOUT_,<timeout>)
The USSD code is sent to the service center number. This string sets a wait for defined query response messages. You must set the limit parsing definition[T%d:%d:%d], [M%d.%d] or [S%s]
if a limit is to be parsed based on a string (S) and/or calculated based on time (T) or money (M).
The entry LIMIT_FAKTOR_M or LIMIT_FAKTOR_T must also be set in this case. Wait parameters must be separated by a comma. Two time entries can appear separated by a pipe (|). For example, [T%d:%d:%d | %d:%d]. You can set two strings together by entering an & sign
between them. For example, balance: [M%d.%d:%d] & bonus: [M%d.%d]. The two resulting values will be added together and calculated with the balance factor to form the limit. If
no second value exists, only the first will be calcultated. If no first value exists, there will be no
result. The job is closed if no answer is recognized in the number of minutes set for a timeout.
Each wait parameter requires a branch, defined by {...}. If the timeout is set at 0, no timeout
will be used. If you enter _TIMEOUT_, in front of a defined <timeout>, a new command will be
carried out if a response does not occur for a wait parameter in the allotted time. Each_TIMEOUT_
requires a branch for the alternative command, defined by {...}. Each final set of brackets must
end with the command END_JOB.
Example of a time value:
Parsed string: 10:25:32 in hr:min:sec
Wait parameter: [T%d:%d:%d] (enter [T%d:%d] for min:sec or [T%d] for sec).
Calculation: Limit = hr x 60 x limit factor + min x limit factor + sec x limit factor / 60
Example of a money value:
Parsed string: 11.55 in €.cent
Wait parameter: [M%d.%d]
As of version 16.2, thousand separators can be included. Use [M%d,%d.%d] to parse 1,000.00
or [M%d.%d,%d] to parse 1.000,00.
Calculation:
Limit = (€ x 100 + cent) / limit factor
NOTE: The service center number and mapping character must appear in the Carrier List (see
Chapter 7.9.4 Entering autorecharge vouchers) and the mapping entries must exist in the
route.cfg.
Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response message. This applies for all commands with wait parameters.
SEND_USSD_WAIT_IF_LIMIT_ABOVE(<limit>,<string>,<waitParam1>,<waitParam2>,.., _ELSE_,<timeout>)
If the limit goes above the value entered, a defined USSD code is sent to the service center and
the system waits for a response defined using the wait parameters as long as the timeout value
entered. If the response comes before the timeout, other commands can be carried out. If the
timeout is set at 0, no timeout will be used. The service center number must be entered in the
carrier list. If the limit does not rise above the value entered, the command defined by _ELSE_ will
be carried out. Please note that _ELSE_ must be defined.
Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response message. This string sets a wait for defined query response messages. For the proper syntax of wait
parameters, see the entry for SEND_USSD_WAIT.
SEND_USSD_WAIT_IF_LIMIT_BELOW(<limit>,<string>,<waitParam1>,<waitParam2>,...,_ELSE_,<timeout>)
If the limit falls below the value entered, a defined USSD code is sent to the service center and
the system waits for a response defined using the wait parameters as long as the timeout value
entered. If the response comes before the timeout, other commands can be carried out. If the
timeout is set at 0, no timeout will be used. The service center number must be entered in the
carrier list. If the limit does not fall below the value entered, the command defined by _ELSE_ will
be carried out. Please note that _ELSE_ must be defined.
Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response message. This string sets a wait for defined query response messages. For the proper syntax of wait
parameters, see the entry for SEND_USSD_WAIT.
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Special service script commands (page 10 of 11)
Commands
SET_DB_STRING(<column>)
If a string was parsed in a previous response message, this string will be entered in the defined
SIM column in the database.
SET_DB_STRING_PARSE(<parseparam>,<column>)
If a string was parsed in a previous response message or if the script was started by carrier-specific
actions, this SMS or string will be parsed according to the parse parameter and entered in the
defined SIM column in the database.
EXAMPLE: SET_DB_STRING_PARSE(balance [S%s] , UserInfo2)
SET_DB_TIMEVAL(DBField)
The current timestamp appears in the DBFIELD in the database.
SET_DB_USEREG_STRING(<column>)
Saves a parse result string into the defined column of the user registration table in the database.
SET_MAX_LIMIT(<val x>,<val y>)
Changes the CHANGE_LIMIT to val y if the calculated limit is greater than val x. If the calculated limit is less than val x, the calculated limit will be used. CHANGE_LIMIT must be set
for this command to be carried out.
SET_MIN_LIMIT(<val x>,<val y>)
Changes the CHANGE_LIMIT to val y if the calculated limit is greater than 0 and less than val
x. This command must appear before the WAIT commands.
SET_SIM_BK_COLOR(<r,g,b>)
Enter RGB values, separated with commas, to change the SIM background colors.
SET_TIMEOUT(<count>)
A number of minutes can be entered here to set a timeout for scripts without a WAIT function.
Only whole numbers are allowed.
SLEEP(<millisec>)
Blocks the script for the here entered number of milliseconds. If this parameter is set, all waiting
scripts in this thread are also blocked. Use this command for short pauses (<3 seconds) only. For
longer pauses use the PAUSE command.
START_EXTERNAL(<application>, <command line>, SHOW)
Starts an external application/executable <application> with the optional parameter <command
line>. The SHOW is optional setting for debug reasons. The application window is usually hidden.
The following parameters are available for the command line: <IMSI>, <OWN_NUMBER>,
<PARSE_BUFFER>, <RECEIVE_NUMBER>. If the application is executable it will be closed after
running.
EXAMPLE: To start the application PHP with the script name and other additional command line
parameters.
START_EXTERNAL(D:\ApachePHPBundle\PHP\php.exe, X:\path\to\script\mms-2-email.php --username=<OWN_NUMBER> --password=<PARSE_BUFFER> --d_imsi=<IMSI>)
TARIFF_LIMIT_FAKTOR(<major currency unit/minute>,<ChargeUnitGenerate>)
The limit factor is aturomatically calculated based on the values entered. Eliminated the need to
calculate LIMIT_FAKTOR_M.
EXAMPLE: For charges of €0.25/minute and a ChargeUnitGenerate of 1, the entry would look
like this:
TARIFF_LIMIT_FAKTOR(0.25, 1)
NOTE: This entry cannot be used in conjunction with LIMIT_FAKTOR_T or
LIMIT_FAKTOR_M
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Special service script commands (page 11 of 11)
Commands
UNBLOCK_PORT
The port is unblocked.
WAIT_MSG(<waitparam1>,<waitParam2>,...,<timeout>)
Sets a wait for defined messages. This string sets a wait for defined messages. For the proper syntax of wait parameters, see the entry for SEND_USSD_WAIT.
Example of a time value:
Parsed string: 10:25:32 in hr:min:sec
Wait parameter: [T%d:%d:%d] (enter [T%d:%d] for min:sec or [T%d] for sec).
Calculation: Limit = hr x 60 x limit factor + min x limit factor + sec x limit factor / 60
Example of a money value:
Parsed string: 11.55 in €.cent
Wait parameter: [M%d.%d]
As of version 16.2, thousand separators can be included. Use [M%d,%d.%d] to parse 1,000.00
or [M%d.%d,%d] to parse 1.000,00.
Calculation:
Limit = (€ x 100 + cent) / limit factor
NOTE: Enter a ^ sign in front of each wait parameter to parse the value before the query response
message.
Table 7.6
Special service variables
Variables
<OWN_NUMBER>
This variable is used as a placeholder in special service commands for sending SMS or USSD messages. During script run, the variable is replaced by the SIM card’s own number. If no own number
can be found, the script is cancelled with an error message.
A SIM card’s own number can be set if you right-click the SIM card, select Change SIM Options... and enter the number in the Own Number field.
<RECHARGE_CODE>
This variable is used in a Send command as a place holder within the <code> or <string> parameters. During script run, the variable is replaced by the the SIM card’s recharge code which is taken
from the recharge list. If no code can be found, the script is cancelled with an error message.
<RECEIVER_NUMBER>
This variable is used in a Send command as a place holder within the <code>, <string>, or <to>
parameters. During script run, the variable is replaced by the the receiving (production) SIM card’s
own number. Use this variable in a balance transfer scenario. For an example, please see
Chapter 7.9.6.3 Transfer script example.
7.12.2
Script example
The following example shows a limit factor (LIMIT_FAKTOR_M) based on money, with a calculating factor of 0.4 and a limit factor based on time (LIMIT_FAKTOR_T), whereby the factor
is 60. If the calculated limit is greater than 0 and less than 9, the limit will be set at 10
(SET_MIN_LIMIT(9,10)). The port will be blocked through the remote interface
(BLOCK_PORT). A pause of five seconds will occur before the USSD code is sent
(SLEEP(5000)).
The entry SEND_USSD_WAIT contains one wait parameter and a timeout of five minutes
((*100#, account status: [M%d.%d], 5)). The USSD code *100# (acount-status query)
is sent an the system waits for a response containing the words account status and a monetary value ([M%d.%d]). If the response comes within five minutes, the account status is cal-
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culated using the value entered in LIMIT_FAKTOR_M and the SIM will be recharged if the limit
is below that set in RECHARGE_IF_LIMIT_BELOW (2000). If SIM recharge is to be initialized,
the job will end here.
If not, USSD code *123*12*01# (activation of special service, e.g. special rate) is sent, with
the wait parameters is active (wait parameter 1) and has been activated (wait parameter 2) and a timeout of five minutes.
If wait parameter 1 (is active) comes within five minutes, the port will be blocked and USSD
code *125# for special rate time status is sent (SEND_USSD_WAIT(*125#, special rate:
[T%d:%d], 5)). If the response comes before the timeout of five minutes, the time for the
special raite is calculated using the LIMIT_FAKTOR_T(60.0). The port is blocked through the
remote interface. The calculated limit is set on the mobile gateway and the vGATEDesktop
with the command CHANGE_LIMIT. The port is unblocked and the job is ended.
If the calculated value is greater than 0 and less than 9, a limit of 10 is set on the mobile gateway.
If wait parameter 2 (has been activated) comes within five minutes, the port will be
blocked and USSD code *125# for special rate time status is sent (SEND_USSD_WAIT(*125#,
special rate: [T%d:%d], 5)). If the response comes before the timeout of five minutes,
the time for the special raite is calculated using the LIMIT_FAKTOR_T(60.0). The port is
blocked through the remote interface. The calculated limit is set on the mobile gateway and
the vGATEDesktop with the entry CHANGE_LIMIT. The port is unblocked and the job is ended.
If the calculated value is greater than 0 and less than 9, a limit of 10 is set on the mobile gateway.
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If the wait string account status does not occur within five minutes, the command entered
for _TIMEOUT_ will be carried out: The CHANGE_DB_STRING account status not received will appear in the UserInfo1 field of the database. The SIM will be released and
blocked.
Example 7.10
Script example
LIMIT_FAKTOR_M(0.4)
LIMIT_FAKTOR_T(60.00)
SET_MIN_LIMIT(9,10)
BLOCK_PORT
SLEEP(5000)
SEND_USSD_WAIT(*100#,account status: [M%d.%d], _TIMEOUT_, 5)
{
RECHARGE_IF_LIMIT_BELOW(2000)
SEND_USSD_WAIT(*123*12*01#, is active, has been activated, 5)
{
BLOCK_PORT
SEND_USSD_WAIT(*125#, special rate: [T%d:%d], 5)
{
BLOCK_PORT
CHANGE_LIMIT
UNBLOCK_PORT
END_JOB
}
}
{
BLOCK_PORT
SEND_USSD_WAIT(*125#, special rate: [T%d:%d], 5)
{
BLOCK_PORT
CHANGE_LIMIT
UNBLOCK_PORT
END_JOB
}
}
}
{
}
7.13
CHANGE_DB_STRING(UserInfo1, account status not received)
RELEASEBLOCK_SIM
END_JOB
Defining the SIM’s protocol
Near the bottom of the left side of the SIM Options dialog, you can select which protocol
will be used for dual SIMs. If you select Automatic (default), the vGATE will set the protocol
based on that of the mobile gateway. If the mobile gateway is UMTS, the SIM will be assigned
as a UMTS SIM; if the mobile gateway is GSM, the SIM will be assigned as a GSM SIM.
Figure 7.38
SIM protocol
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If you select UMTS, the SIM will be assigned as a UMTS SIM, regardless of the protocol on
the mobile gateway. If you select GSM, the SIM will be assigned as a GSM SIM, regardless of
the mobile gateway’s protocol. If you try to assign a UMTS SIM to a GSM iGATE or vice versa,
a confirmation dialog will appear.
i
This option is only possible with vGATE SIM Unit Version 29 or higher. The vGATE SIM Unit
Version 29 is compatible only with vGATE Version 12.0 or higher.
7.14
Decommissioning SIM cards
To take a SIM card permanently out of commission, select Change SIM Options from the
SIM’s context menu to open the SIM Optionsdialog. Activate the checkbox Terminate SIM
after and use the drop-down menu to set a termination date. The SIM will be taken out of
commission at the end of that day. Assigned SIMs will not be automatically released after
reaching the decommission date. Decommissioned SIMs will never be assigned again.
The priority assigned to a SIM card can be changed automatically before termination. Check
the Change SIM Priority to box and select a priority level from the drop-down menu.
Figure 7.39
Decommissioning SIM cards
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Editing mobile gateways
In the list of gateways, right-click the gateway which you want to edit and select Edit.
Figure 7.40
Edit window
To set up a mobile gateway and assign it to a group, please follow the instructions in
Chapter 7.1 Automatic mobile gateway registration. You may want to include additional options for mobile gateways, which can be entered into the edit window. Here is a description
of the information that can be entered:
i
These settings must correspond with the settings on the individual mobile gateway. We recommend that you do not change the default port number.
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Edit window (page 1 of 3)
Entry
Description
iGate
This part of the window is for basic setup information.
Name
Enter a meaningful name for the mobile gateway here.
IP Address
Enter the mobile gateway’s IP address here.
Port
To lookup the mobile gateway’s port number.
Number of CTRLs
Select a number of controllers for this mobile gateway in increments of four.
Coordinates
Enter the X and Y coordinates you have calculated for the mobile gateway’s
position.
Serial #
The serial number appears automatically.
Group
Use the drop-down menu to assign a mobile gateway to a group (only possible when adding a new mobile gateway).
Type
The system type appears automatically.
Use Remote Tunnel
Activate this checkbox to reserve port 4446 for tunneling. This ensures that
the connection between the vGATE and the mobile gateways remains unobstructed when the GATE Manager is connected to the mobile gateway. The
vGATE uses this port to generated calls and SMS and for SIM recharging and
special scripting. The following entry must be made in the mobile gateway’s
pabx.cfg:
MoipPort2=4446
The mobile gateway must be restarted to activate this function.
Always Use local SIM
Unit Address
If the local IP address and the public host address are entered in the
vGateConfig, you can set this flag to send the vGATE SIM Unit’s local IP address to the mobile gateway. This is useful when the mobile gateway can
reach the vGATE SIM Unit at its local IP address or if both devices are in the
same location.
New Protocol
Activate this checkbox to send the settings from the carrier list to the mobile
gateways (version 14.6 or higher). See Chapter 7.10 Automatic mobile gateway configuration via vGATEDesktop.
<V14.6
Activate this checkbox to send the settings from the carrier list to the mobile
gateways which have a version older than 14.6.
Telit 3G Modules
Activate this checkbox if the mobile gateway contains Telit 3G modules.
No UTF8 messages
Check this box for all mobile gateways with a software version before 17.1.
Remote Access
Enter the following information if you want to alter or secure remote access
to the mobile gateway using GATE Manager.
Port
Enter the port for GATE Manager access. Leave this space empty to use the
default port.
Password
For added security, enter a password for GATE Manager access.
Use FTP for file
transfer
Activate the checkbox to transfer files in GATE Manager via FTP.
User
Enter the user name configured to transfer files in GATE Manager via FTP.
Password
Enter the password configured to transfer files in GATE Manager via FTP.
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Edit window (page 2 of 3)
Entry
Description
Port
Enter the port for using the GATE Manager to transfer files via FTP. Default
21.
Remote State Actions
This section is for setting the number of registration retries before a SIM is
blocked.
ASR low
If you select Single, an error message will be entered in the database if the
port’s ASR (answer seizure ratio) falls below a certain percentage (per default
30% per 40 calls). If you select Multiple, an error message will be entered
in the database if the port’s ASR falls below that percentage 3 times.
If you set log only (recommended), the SIM card will be released and reassigned after the ASR low event occured one or three times, as defined above.
If you set a number, the SIM will be blocked after that number of ASR low
events has occured.
The answer seizure ratio is the ratio of connected calls sent out via a port to
all calls sent out via this port. In your mobile gateway’s pabx.cfg’s [System]
section, use the GSM(or UMTS)=ASR[<limit>,<calls>] parameter to change
the default ASR low setting from 30% per 40 calls to any other setting.
Too many announcements
Depending on the settings on the individual mobile gateway, an error message will be sent when a certain number of calls result in a recorded announcement. The SIM card will be blocked and reassigned.
If you set log only, an error message will be entered in the database when
the amount set in the mobile gateway is reached.
If you set a number (1 is recommended), the SIM card will be blocked after
that number of Too many announcements events has occured.
Requires that the GSM(or UMTS)=STOP[<val1>,<val2>] parameter is set in
the individual mobile gateway.
SIM blocked (GSM)
When a SIM is blocked, an error message is automatically entered in the database. This setting cannot be changed.
CTRL restart timeout
If a port had to restart the number of times selected it will be blocked. In any
case, an error message will be entered in the database.
SIM barred (GSM)
Enter the number of times SIM registration is to be allowed to fail (4 is recommended) before the SIM and its port are blocked (only occurs when Block
former SIM is activated).
Block former SIM
When this box is checked, SIMs will be blocked after the number of SIM
barred occurrences entered.
Release SIM if RSSI
low occures
Check this box to release SIM cards from a gateway controller that has been
blocked due to low RSSI. The SIM cards can then be used on an alternating
controller or gateway.
Get Files
Activate the checkbox to retrieve the corresponding log file(s) at the time entered.
Get File 1
For second generation mobile gateways enter the following:
/data/cdr%date:ymd-1%0.log. Files will be generated each day. -1
means that they will be retrieved for the day before today (today minus one).
A folder containing the files for each mobile gateway is created here:
F:\vGATE\CDR\iGATE-<name>. For mobile gateways that do not contain a compact flash, enter the following:
/boot/cdr%date:ymd-1%0.log.
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Table 7.7
7.16
vGATEDesktop
Edit window (page 3 of 3)
Entry
Description
Get File 2
You can enter settings for retrieving other log files here. For example, to retrieve CDRs from 3 days ago, enter the following:
/data/cdr%date:ymd-3%0.log. For mobile gateways that do not contain a compact flash, enter the following:
/boot/cdr%date:ymd-1%0.log.
To retrieve a failed log, enter:
/boot/failed%date:ymd-1%0.log
Start Time (for Get
File 1)
Enter the time at which CDRs Filename 1 are to be retrieved daily. Three unssuccessful retrieval attempts will result in a retrieval pause of six hours, after
which a new attempt is made.
Start Time (for Get
File 2)
Enter the retrieval time for CDR Filename 2 here.
Limit Call/SMS
Generation
This group box allows you to set a limit for generation of calls and/or SMS.
Maximum simultaneous calls
This option allows you to set a maximum number of calls that can be started
simultaneously from different mobile gateways. Enter the maximum number
or check No limit if you do not want to set a limit.
Maximum simultaneous SMS
This option allows you to set a maximum number of SMS that can be started
simultaneously from different mobile gateways. Enter the maximum number
or check No limit if you do not want to set a limit.
User Information
You can enter two user information strings, which will then appear in the
User Info 1 and User Info 2 columns. If you activate Save Maintenance
Actions in User Info in the Options menu, an entry will appear in the defined user info column every time maintenance mode is set or reset.
Remove SIMs of Unreachable iGATE
Check this option and select a number of minutes in steps of five to remove
SIM cards from a mobile gateway that could not be reached from the vGATE
for the entered number of minutes. Use this option carefully.
Corresponds with the Free SIMs of dead iGATE option that can be selected
by right-clicking on the mobile gateway to manually free SIM cards from an
unreachable gateway.
SIM card history
Right-click a SIM card and select SIM History from the Reports submenu to call up a window
containing information about that SIM card’s activity.
Figure 7.41
SIM card history
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vGATEDesktop
Entries are color-coded as follows:
 Green=OK
 Yellow=Warning
 Orange=Minor
 Red=Major
 Pink=Critical
For a list of error messages and their respective levels of importance, please see Table 7.8.
The following messages correspond with these warning levels:
Table 7.8
SIM card warning messages
Warning
Message
Warning








Maximum limit reached
Prepaid SIM recharge finally failed, SIM blocked
Prepaid SIM: Error in upgrade, SIM blocked
Daily duration limit reached, SIM blocked
Prepaid SIM limit reached, SIM blocked
Prepaid SIM: maximum upgrade count reached
Prepaid SIM: No recharge number found
Remote client GW xxx: link on Ctrl xxx active
Minor




SIM broken (TCP connection) occurred
SIM broken occurred
Balance check failed, maximum retries used
Error in special recharge job. Prepaid SIM limit reached, SIM blocked.
(e.g. maximum upgrade count reached)
SIM blocked by script
Recharge SIM: Error while sending recharge call
Sending recharge call (OK), cannot start wait timer, no limit indication
after approximately xxx minutes. Recharge Number xxx was used with
code xxx for GW xxx, Addr xxx, IMSI xxx
Error while sending balance call. Recharge Number xxx was used with
code xxx for GW xxx, Addr xxx, IMSI xxx




Major





Too many CTRL sleep occurred
Balance verification failed. New Balance is xxx smaller than maximum
vGATE limit
Error in special job
GW:[xx] Ctrl:[xx] SIM blocked after announce check, remoteStatus:[Port
blocked (too many announcements)] occurred 2 times
Too many announce check failed, count = 0
GW:[xxx] Ctrl:[xxx] RemoteStatus:[SIM barred (GSM)] Release SIM
Remote client GW xxx: Recharge SIM xxx error: [Counter<=1]




CTRL: SIM broken (TCP connection) occurred
CTRL: SIM brocken occurred
No SMS sending of error on CTRL
CTRL was incorrectly configured (pabx.cfg)


Critical
Select the Export to File from the context menu to export the report to a .txt, .xls or .slk file
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The window contains the following information:
Table 7.9
SIM card history
Column
Description
Timestamp
Time at which the action described in the status message occurred.
Position
The SIM’s position in the vGATE SIM Unit.
Gateway
The mobile gateway to which the SIM is assigned.
Ctrl #
The controller number to which the SIM is assigned.
Status
The SIM’s status.
Category
Status category: 0=status OK, 1=Warning, 2=Minor, 3=Major, 4=Critical.
The following icons appear in the upper left-hand corner of the window:
Table 7.10
SIM card history icons
Icon
Description
Click this icon to actualize the information displayed in the history. All new information
will be retrieved from the database.
Click this icon to call up a dialog to set filters. Check the filters you would like to set and
enter the corresponding information. Click OK to activate the filters. Only the information you have selected will be displayed.
Click this icon to deactivate the filters you have set for this SIM. All available information
will be displayed in this SIM’s history if you click this icon.
7.17
vGATE statistics
You can call up SIM statistics and call statistics for SIMs, controllers, mobile gateways and for
groups. The vGATEDesktop can also display line charts with various statistical information for
mobile gateways and for groups. Values are calculated serially every 5 to 60 seconds, depending on the number of controllers. Statistics from the current and previous months are saved
in the database. The following values appear in at least one of the various statistic windows:
Table 7.11
vGATEDesktop statistics
Statistic
Definition
ACD
The Average Call Duration is the average length of calls on the SIM.
ASR1
The Answer Seizure Ratio is the percentage of calls that result in a connection.
ASR1 does not regard connection attempts aborted by the A subscriber as aborted connections.
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Table 7.11
7.17.1
vGATEDesktop
vGATEDesktop statistics (continued)
Statistic
Definition
ASR2
The Answer Seizure Ratio is the percentage of calls that result in a connection.
ASR2 regards connection attempts aborted by the A subscriber as aborted connections.
Assign Time
Shows the amount of time the SIM was assigned.
Carrier
Shows the name of the carrier.
Connected Calls
Shows the number of successfully connected calls placed using the SIM.
Ctrl
Shows the controller on which the SIM was active.
Dur/Asn
Shows the percentage of the Assign Time that the card was connected.
Duration
Shows the amount of time the SIM was connected while it was assigned.
Gateway
Shows the name of the mobile gateway on which the SIM was active.
Incoming Calls
Shows the number of incoming calls placed using the SIM.
Outgoing Calls
Shows the number of outgoing calls placed using the SIM.
Position
Shows the SIMs position number.
Remote Busy
Shows the number of calls that resulted in a busy signal.
Timestamp
Shows the time when the SIM was released.
IMSI
Shows the SIM’s IMSI.
Own Number
Shows the call number for the SIM.
Disconnected
Shows the number of disconnected calls.
SIM card statistics
You can access averaged SIM statistics for marked SIMs, controllers and mobile
gateways clicking the corresponding icon (shown there) in the toolbar and use the
drop-down menu to select beginning and ending dates for the statistics displayed.
Figure 7.42
SIM card statistics
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vGATEDesktop
You can also access averaged SIM statistics for marked SIMs, controllers, mobile gateways
and groups through the context menu in the respective view:
 SIM view: select SIM Statistics from the Reports submenu in the context menu.
 controller view: select Show SIM Statistics from the context menu or from the context
menu in the Show Call Statistics window (see Chapter 7.17.2 Call statistics).
 mobile gateway view: select Show SIM Statistics from the context menu in the Show
Call Statistics window (see Chapter 7.17.2 Call statistics).
 group view: select Show SIM Statistics from the context menu in the Show Call
Statistics window (see Chapter 7.17.2 Call statistics).
7.17.2
Call statistics
You can access averaged call statistics for mobile gateways or groups by clicking the
icon in the toolbar.
Figure 7.43
Call statistics
Select Show Call Statistics from the context menu in the controller, mobile gateway or
group view to display statistics for the marked element. Using the drop-down menu, you can
set filters in the dialog that appears. Select a Carrier to display call statistics only for one carrier. Use the drop-down calendar in Begin and End to limit the statistics to calls for a specific
time frame. To display call statistics for a specific Timezone, select a Timezone from the list.
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7.17.3
vGATEDesktop
Call charts
You can access a line chart with averaged call statistics by clicking the icon in the
toolbar or by selecting Show Call Chart in the mobile gateway or group view.
Figure 7.44
Call chart
Using the drop-down menu, you can set filters in the dialog that appears. Select a Carrier to
display call statistics only for one carrier. To limit the statistics to calls for a specific Week, select daily for the current day, current for the current week, current - 1 for last week, current
- 2 for two weeks ago, and so on.
Figure 7.45
Call chart filter
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8 Summary of vGATEDesktop user interface
8
Summary of vGATEDesktop user interface
This chapter summarized all elements of the vGATEDesktop user interface.
8.1
What the information on the vGATEDesktop means
The windows listing mobile gateways, controllers and SIMs appear in table form. Each window contains information listed in columns. You can change the position of the columns by
left-clicking the column heading and dragging it to the desired position. You can reverse the
order of the rows in each window by clicking the heading with the arrow.
This is what the columns means:
Table 8.1
vGATEDesktop columns (page 1 of 4)
Column
Description
Mobile Gateways
Name
Lists the mobile gateways in the selected group by name.
Address
Shows the IP address for the corresponding mobile gateway.
Status
Contains status messages and the serial number.
Serial#
Shows the mobile gateway’s serial number (second generation mobile gateway’s only).
System Type
Lists the type of system in the vGATE.
User Info 1
Contains the maintenance information if Save Maintenance Actions in User Info ... from the Options menu has been selected for
Gateway User Information 1. Can also be used for manual entries.
User Info 2
Contains the maintenance information if Save Maintenance Actions in User Info ... from the Options menu has been selected for
Gateway User Information 2. Can also be used for manual entries.
Controllers
CTRL
Lists the controller numbers.
Active Position
Lists the SIMs that are currently active at the corresponding port.
Limit 1 Reserved Positions
Refers to the position of all SIMs reserved with Max Limit 1 to the
controller.
Limit 2 Reserved Positions
Refers to the position of all SIMs reserved with Max Limit 2 to the
controller.
Limit Choice
Lists which settings have been defined in Advanced Limit Choice
(see context menu Table 8.5). All is the default setting.
Current Limit
Shows which limit is currently being used.
Remote State
Contains status messages for the controller sent by the mobile gateway
.
CTRL Info
Shows comments you have entered for this controller.
Action
Lists actions currently being carried out. Possibilities are Release and
Search and Assign.
SIM Info 1
Shows Info 1 comments you have entered for the SIM that is currently active.
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Table 8.1
Summary of vGATEDesktop user interface
vGATEDesktop columns (page 2 of 4)
Column
Description
Error
Lists errors that occur at the corresponding port (UMTS).
Status
Lists the controller’s status:
0 = Okay
1 = Waiting for an action
UMTS
If an X appears in this column, the controller is a UMTS controller.
RSSI
Lists the RSSI values for the controllers.
ASR1
Lists the ASR1 values for the controllers
ASR2
Lists the ASR2 values for the controllers
ACD
Lists the ACD values for the controllers
SIMs
Position
Lists SIM cards by their positions in the SIM 60 Carrier. The syntax for
the position numbers is <vGATE SIM Unit>.<vGATE Module>.<SIM
position>. The list is color-coded, so that all the positions listed on
the same background color represent one vGATE Module.
Color
Lists the colors that have been set to mark individual SIMs, e.g. according to carrier.
IMSI
Lists the SIMs’ International Mobile Subscriber Identity number.
Change SIM Limit
Shows the limit (in 10-second time units) at which the mobile gateway will change to the next SIM.
Max Limit 1
Shows the number of 10-second units after which the SIM will no
longer be used for timezones to which it has been assigned with
Max Limit 1.
Count (L1)
Shows the Max Limit 1 units that have been used.
Max Limit 2
Shows the number of 10-second units after which the SIM will no
longer be used for timezones to which it has been assigned with
Max Limit 2.
Count (L2)
Shows the Max Limit 2 units that have been used.
Limit A/B/C
Shows the advanced limits that have been set for this SIM.
Count A/B/C
Shows the number of advanced limit units that have been used for
this SIM.
Last Use
Shows when the SIM was last active.
Status
Lists the SIMs status:
0=OK
1=database error
Pause
Shows the length of the pause set for this SIM after each release.
Priority
Lists the SIMs’ defined priority.
Error
Shows error messages. The line also appears highlighted in red or yellow.
Count (L1) Yesterday
If Reset SIM Counter Daily is set in the vGATECtrl, this column
shows the Max Limit 1 units used on the previous day.
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Table 8.1
Summary of vGATEDesktop user interface
vGATEDesktop columns (page 3 of 4)
Column
Description
Count (L2) Yesterday
If Reset SIM Counter Daily is set in the vGATECtrl, this column
shows the Max Limit 2 units used on the previous day.
Current Count
Shows the number of units used in the current call.
Own Number
Shows the SIM’s call number.
SMS Count
Shows the ratio of the number of SMS that have been sent to the
number configured to be sent.
Next SMS
Shows when the SIM will send the next SMS.
Call Count
Shows the ratio of the number of outgoing calls that have been sent
to the number configured to be sent.
Next Call
Shows when the SIM will make the next outgoing call.
Info 1
Shows comments you have entered for this SIM.
Info 2
Shows comments you have entered for this SIM.
Active Release
Shows the number of minutes you have defined that a SIM will be
active before it is released.
Max Call Duration
Shows the number of seconds after which calls will be disconnected.
Call/SMS Flags
Shows any flags that have been set for sending and receiving SMS.
The following are possible:
RC
Receive calls
RS
Receive SMS
CoS
Count only successful calls
Grp
Send only to same group
Col
Send only to same color
Special Service Flags
Shows any flags that have been set for special services. The following
are possible:
A
After Assign
L
On Change Limit Reached
D
Daily between the defined times
E
On Each Limit Ind. (PP)
Assign Offset
Shows a random number of seconds between those defined in the
Limits dialog (see Chapter 7.6 Setting time limits and pauses).
Used per TZ
Lists how often the SIM has been assigned .
Upgrades/Week
Lists how often a SIM has been recharged in the current week/how
many recharges per Week have been set.
Upgrades/Month
Lists how often a SIM has been recharged in the current month/how
many recharges per month have been set.
Carrier Sub ID
Lists the carrier’s sub identification. Default 1.
Route Priority
Lists the priority set for calls over this SIM. Route priority is available
in versions 14.6 or higher and is set between 1 and 10, with 10 being
the highest priority (default 5).
NOTE: Route priority is only active if New Protocol has been set in
the edit window.
Serial Number
Lists serial numbers entered for SIMs using the Change Serial Number function in the context menu. If no serial number has been entered, none will appear.
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Table 8.1
8.2
Summary of vGATEDesktop user interface
vGATEDesktop columns (page 4 of 4)
Column
Description
Known Since
Shows when the SIM entered the system.
PPCount SLR
Prepaid Count Since Last Recharge shows the number of 10-second
units that have been used since the last time the SIM was recharged.
The counter is reset after the SIM has been recharged.
Max Daily Duration
Shows the number of minutes the SIM will be used on any given day
before it is blocked.
vGATEDesktop icons
Table 8.2 lists the icons that appear on the vGATEDesktop and their meanings.
Table 8.2
vGATEDesktop icons
Icon
Definition
Groups
No errors exist on the mobile gateways in this group.
An error exists on at least one mobile gateway in the group.
A mobile gateway in this group is currently in maintenance mode. Select Reset Maintenance Mode from the context menu to reactivate the group’s mobile gateway.
A light-blue line around the icon signifies that the groups has been defined as the default
group.
Mobile Gateways
No errors exist on this mobile gateway.
This mobile gateway is not available.
This mobile gateway is currently in maintenance mode. Select Reset Maintenance
Mode from the context menu to reactivate the mobile gateway.
This mobile gateway has been improperly configured. Check the configuration and, if
necessary, install the proper driver for vGATE implementation.
Controllers
A SIM has been assigned to this port.
No SIM has been assigned to this port.
This port is in the process of carrying out an action.
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Table 8.2
Summary of vGATEDesktop user interface
vGATEDesktop icons (continued)
Icon
Definition
This is a UMTS port from a iGATE 3G.
SIMs
This GSM SIM is currently assigned to a port.
This GSM SIM is not currently assigned to a port.
This GSM position is empty. No SIM is inserted.
A previously set pause is currently active on this GSM SIM or the value set for Maximum
Usage per TZ has been reached.
This SIM is a UMTS SIM. This icon also appears in all of the above colors, depending on
the SIM’s status.
This icon indicates a dual SIM. This icon also appears in all of the above colors, depending
on the SIM’s status. A gray U on the icon indicates that the SIM has been set to GSM, a
gray G indicates it has been set to UMTS. If neither the U nor the G are gray, the SIM has
been set to automatic.
Signifies a prepaid SIM that does not recharge automatically.
Signifies a prepaid SIM that recharges automatically.
Indicate SIMs that have been blocked. Only inactive SIMs can be blocked manually.
Indicates that the SIM has been decommissioned. Decommissioned SIMs will never be assigned again. An assigned SIM will not automatically be released after reaching the decommission date.
8.3
vGATEDesktop menu bar
The following table describes the commands you can carry out from the vGATEDesktop menu
bar:
Table 8.3
vGATEDesktop menu bar
Command
Definition
File Menu
Exit
Closes the vGATEDesktop.
View Menu
Timezones List
vGATE 17.1
Click here to open a list containing an overview of timezones for the selected
group.
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Table 8.3
Summary of vGATEDesktop user interface
vGATEDesktop menu bar (continued)
Command
Definition
Carrier List
Click here to open and edit a list of carriers.
Prepaid Recharge List
Click here to open and edit a table containing information about prepaid recharge numbers.
SMS Message List
Click here to open and edit a table containing SMS messages sent by the system.
SMS/Call Receiver
Click here to open receiver groups and edit a table containing numbers that
are to receive calls and/or SMS.
Holidays List
Click here to open the list of holidays set in the Holidays timezone.
Status Bar
Click here to hide or display the status bar. The number of SIMs and SIM 60
Carriers is displayed in the middle of the status bar and the time and date of
the vGATE Control Unit is on the right.
Toolbar
Click here to hide or display the toolbar.
Split
Click here for a resize cursor to adjust the size of the windows on the
vGATEDesktop.
Refresh
Click here to update the information displayed.
SIMs not in SIM Unit
Click here to call up a list of SIMs once in the vGATE SIM Unit that have been
removed. Right-click a SIM to Delete from Database.
SIMCarrier Status
Calls up a window containing the status of the SIM 60 Carriers in the vGATE
SIM Unit.
Custom Colors
Call up a color palette, from which you can color-code SIM cards, e.g. by carrier. The color selected appears in the Color column, the Active Position
column of the controller window and in the SIM Route window.
Please note that as of version 17.0 the color combination black (0,0,0) can
no longer be used since it cannot be handled in the SIM card routing.
Options Menu
Inhibit Modification
of Timezones
Click here to lock timezones in their current position. To deactivate this option, click here again.
Save Maintenance
Actions in User Info...
Click here to open a dialog box where you can choose where to store the
maintenance information.
Configure SIMView...
Click here to open the list of columns that are available for the SIMView.
Choose from this list which columns you want to display. As of version 17.0,
background colors can be switched off by deselecting the Show Background Color option.
Help
About vGATEDesktop
vGATE 17.1
Click here to view version information for the vGATEDesktop and vGATECtrl
installed.
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8.4
Summary of vGATEDesktop user interface
vGATEDesktop toolbar
The vGATEDesktop toolbar facilitates quick access to the following functions and information:
Table 8.4
vGATEDesktop toolbar buttons (page 1 of 2)
Icon
Function
Click here to open a list of all Timezones for the selected group.
Click here to open the list of holidays set for the Holiday Timezone.
Click here to call up a window containing the status of the SIM 60 Carriers in the vGATE
SIM Unit.
Click here to open and edit the list of carriers.
Click here to open and edit a table containing information about prepaid recharge
numbers.
Click here to open and edit a list of SMS sent by the system.
Click here to open and edit a list of SIMs receiving SMS and calls.
Call up a color palette, from which you can color-code SIM cards, e.g. by carrier. The
color selected appears in the Color column, the Active Position column of the controller window and in the SIM Route window.
Click here to open the GATE Manager. This button is active only when a mobile gateway is selected.
Click here to open a table containing information about the SIM route for the selected
mobile gateway.
Click here to open a table containing information about the SIM route for the selected
controller.
Click here to open a table containing information pertaining to the selected SIM’s configuration.
Click here to open a table containing information about the selected SIM’s implementation schedule.
Click here to open a table containing information on the selected SIM’s implementation
history.
Click here to call up a record averaged statistics for the marked SIMs, controllers or mobile gateways, depending on which of these icons you click.
Click here to open a table containing information on how much and when selected
SIMs have been used.
Click here to open a table containing information about when the selected SIMs were
last released.
Click here to call up a table containing information on SIM’s released below a defined
count.
Click here to call up a table containing information on SIM’s that have reached their
defined change limit.
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Table 8.4
Summary of vGATEDesktop user interface
vGATEDesktop toolbar buttons (page 2 of 2)
Icon
Function
Click here to call up a table containing information on SIM’s that have reached their
defined maximum limit.
Click here to call up a table containing information on SIM errors that have occurred.
Click here to call up a table containing call statistics for the selected mobile gateway or
group.
Click here to call up a line chart of call statistics for the selected mobile gateway or
group.
Click here to refresh the vGATEDesktop.
Click here to view version information pertaining to the vGATEDesktop and vGATECtrl.
8.5
Context menus
The following table describes the commands you can carry out with the context menus on
the vGATEDesktop:
Table 8.5
vGATEDesktop context menus (page 1 of 7)
Command
Definition
Groups
Create Group
Click here to add a new group and to set dynamic pauses.
Edit Group
Click here to change the name or dynamic pauses for an existing group.
Delete Group
Click here to delete a group.
Show Call Statistics
Contains a record of the averaged statistics for all calls that have gone
through this group.
Show Call Chart
Contains statistic charts for all calls that have gone through this group.
Copy Holidays to
Group
Opens a dialog into which you can select a group to which you can import
the holiday settings for the group marked. Activate the checkbox Delete
Destination to delete the current settings in the destination group. If this
checkbox is not active, the new settings will be added to the old ones.
Default Group For
New GWs
Click here to define the marked group as the default group. New gateways
will automatically be added to this group.
mobile gateways
Add New
Click here to call up the edit window (cf. Chapter 7.15 Editing mobile gateways). Use the edit window to add a new mobile gateway. We recommend
that you use automatic mobile gateway registration to add new mobile gateways (cf. Chapter 7.1 Automatic mobile gateway registration).
Delete
Click here to remove a mobile gateway from the vGATE.
Edit
Click here to call up the edit window (cf. Chapter 7.15 Editing mobile gateways). Use the edit window to change an existing mobile gateway.
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Table 8.5
Summary of vGATEDesktop user interface
vGATEDesktop context menus (page 2 of 7)
Command
Definition
Copy Timezone
Configuration to GW
Use the drop-down list box to select a mobile gateway and click OK. The timezone configuration for the marked mobile gateway will be copied into the
mobile gateway you select from the list.
Change Group
Use the drop-down list box that appears to switch this mobile gateway to another group.
Free SIMs of dead
iGate
When an interruption occurs in the connection between the vGATE Control
Unit and the mobile gateways, traffic continues but the SIMs are locked, so
that they don’t log onto another mobile gateway. Click here to allow other
mobile gateways access to these SIMs.
NOTE: Select this option only if you are sure that the SIM will not log on
twice, as SIMs registered with more than one mobile gateway can alert a
GSM carrier to block the SIM.
If you use this command, be sure to look for and eliminate the problem that
caused the interruption.
Set Maintenance
Mode
Causes the mobile gateway to release all of its SIMs immediately. All calls will
be torn down. If you have activated Save Maintenance Actions in User
Info in the mobile gateway’s Options menu, a dialog will appear where you
can edit the information that will appear in the defined user info column every time maintenance mode is set or reset.
Reset Maintenance
Mode
Reconnects the SIMs released when Set Maintenance Mode was selected.
If you have activated Save Maintenance Actions in User Info in the mobile gateway’s Options menu, a dialog will appear where you can edit the
information that will appear in the defined user info column every time maintenance mode is set or reset.
Reinit
Initiates a check of the mobile gateway’s status against the database. Inconsistencies will correct themselves automatically. Wherever possible, SIMs will
be assigned to empty controllers.
Start Remote
Opens GATE Manager for remote access. A folder with the name Remote is
automatically created in the vGateControl directory the first time you start
GATE Manager. Sub-folders for each mobile gateway selected will also be
created automatically.
Show Gateway History
Calls up a table containing an overview of the gateway’s status changes. The
following status information is possible:
 gateway stopped: the mobile gateway can no longer be accessed from
the vGate
 gateway running: the mobile gateway is accessible again
 set maintenance: the mobile gateway is in maintenance mode
 reset maintenance: the mobile gateway is no longer in maintenance
mode.
The info column displays the details of each status.
Once a week, the information that is older than a week is automatically removed from this table and written into the GW_History_YYYYMM_Week.txt
file. This file is then stored in the vGate’s logfiles folder.
Show SIM Route
Calls up a table containing an overview of reserved positions. Right-click to
refresh the window.
Show SIM Statistics
Contains a record of the averaged statistics for all SIMs used by this mobile
gateway.
Show Call Statistics
Contains a record of the averaged statistics for all calls that have gone
through this mobile gateway.
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8
Table 8.5
Summary of vGATEDesktop user interface
vGATEDesktop context menus (page 3 of 7)
Command
Definition
Show Call Charts
Contains statistic charts for all calls that have gone through this mobile gateway.
Default Configuration For New GWs
Select this option to use the configuration for this mobile gateway as the default configuration for all new gateways. The following configuration settings apply:
 Use Remote Tunnel
 Always Use Local SIM Unit Address
 Remote Access
 Use FTP for File Transfer
 Remote State Actions
 Occurrence Before Reassign SIM
 Get Files (Get CDR, Failed Log)
Controllers
Release SIM
Click here or press Ctrl+R to deactivate a SIM.
Release SIM and
Block
The SIM will be released and the controller will be blocked.
Release SIM
Immediately
Click here or press Ctrl+I to release the SIM immediately, even if traffic is running on it.
Release SIM
Immediately and
Block
The SIM will be released immediately, even if traffic is running on it, and the
controller will be blocked.
Assign SIM
Click here or press Ctrl+A to activate a reserved SIM. If multiple SIMs are reserved, the one that has the highest assign priority will be activated. If no assign priority has been set, or if SIM’s share the same assign priority, the SIM
that has the highest route priority will be used. Route priority is available in
versions 14.6 or higher and is set between 1 and 10, with 10 being the highest priority (default 5).
NOTE: Route priority is only active if New Protocol has been set in the edit
window.
Reassign SIM
Click here or press Ctrl+S to release and reassign the SIM or SIMs. This is useful when an active SIMs parameters (e.g. limits) have been changed.
Stop Recharging
Click here to cancel the recharge process running. It is possible to select more
than one controller for this command.
Stop Assigning
Click here to interrupt the assign phase for the marked controller(s). This is
useful when a SIM has been assigned to two controllers simultaneously,
blocking one controller. This function will unblock the controller.
Start Special Service
Opens a browser to allow manual selection of special service (see
Chapter 7.12 Special services).
Stop Special Service
Special service is stopped and the SIM is released. It is possible to select more
than one controller for this command.
Edit Advanced Limit
Choice
Click here to open a dialog where you can define which SIM limits will be
assigned to this controller. Set Preferred to use SIMs with different limits if
the set limits are not available. Set Mandatory if only SIMs with the defined
limits are to be used. Major refers to max limits and limits A, B, and C are
advanced limits. Bear in mind that no prepaid SIMs will be assigned to controllers where Mandatory has been set here. Postpaid SIMs will be assigned
only if Use Limits One By One is active in the Carrier List Advanced Limit
Charges.
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8
Table 8.5
Summary of vGATEDesktop user interface
vGATEDesktop context menus (page 4 of 7)
Command
Definition
Edit CTRL Info
Click here to edit the information that appears in the CTRL Info column.
Edit SIM Linkage
Click here to call up a dialog from which you can add or delete individual
SIMs from their reserved Limit 1 and/or Limit 2 positions.
Remove SIM Linkage
Use the submenu to remove SIMs from All, Limit 1 or Limit 2 reserved positions on the marked controller(s). SIMs that are currently active cannot be
removed.
Block CTRL
Click here to block the controller.
Reset Error/Unblock
CTRL
Click here to remove error entries from and unblock this controller. After the
message has been removed, the SIM can be reassigned.
Show SIM Route
Calls up a table containing an overview of reserved positions. Right-click to
refresh the window.
Show SIM Statistics
Contains a record of the averaged statistics for SIMs that have been active at
this controller.
Show Call Statistics
Contains a record of the averaged statistics for all calls that have gone
through this controller.
SIMs
Change Limits
Click here or press Ctrl+L to call up a dialog that allows you to set and
change a SIM’s settings, such as limits and pauses. Bear in mind that you
must reassign the SIM after you change a SIM’s limit (see Chapter 7.6 Setting
time limits and pauses).
Change Priority
Calls up a drop-down list box from which you can define the SIM’s Assign
Priority and Route Priority. If multiple SIMs are reserved, the one that has
the highest assign priority will be activated. If no assign priority has been set,
or if SIM’s share the same assign priority, the SIM that has been idle longest
will be used.
Route priority sets a priority for calls over the SIM. The assigned SIM with the
highest route priority will be used to terminate calls. Route priority is available in versions 14.6 or higher and is set between 1 and 10, with 10 being
the highest priority (default 5).
NOTE: New Protocol must be active in the edit window.
Change SIM Options
Calls up a dialog in which you can enter and edit the number of SMS or calls
sent per month, information that will appear in the Info 1 and Info 2 and
the SIMs own number. Special services can also be activated here.
Change Color in Sim
Route View
Click here to call up a color palette, from which you can color-code SIMs, e.g.
by carrier. The color selected appears in the Color column, the Active Position column of the controller window and in the SIM Route window.
Change Serial Number
Click here to enter or change a SIM’s serial number. The number will appear
in the Serial Number column.
Define as Prepaid SIM
Click here to designate a SIM as prepaid.
Change PIN
All PINs in the vGATE are set at 0000. If a SIM has a different PIN, select this
option to change the PIN to 0000. This option is active only when the selected SIM’s PIN is not set at 0000.
Edit User Registration
Data
Click here to open a dialog into which you can enter user registration for the
selected SIM.
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8
Table 8.5
Summary of vGATEDesktop user interface
vGATEDesktop context menus (page 5 of 7)
Command
Definition
Add SIM(s)
The following options are possible:
 Add to Selected Ctrls: Click here or press Ctrl+A to assign the marked
SIMs to the selected controllers
 Add Balanced to Ctrls: Click here or press Ctrl+B to reserve the marked
SIMs individually to consecutive controllers, beginning with the selected
controller.
 Add Color to Selected Ctrls: Click here or press Ctrl+Alt+A to reserve
all SIMs in this color to the selected controllers. The SIM that has been
idle longest will be used first. Only one color can be reserved at a time
to each controller for each Limit (1 or 2). If you reserve a new color where
one already exists, the old color setting will be deleted. Color-based
routing and position-based routing may not be used simultaneously.
 Reserve SIM Like: Click here to call up a dialog where you can enter a
SIM number. The marked SIM will then adopt the same reservation
properties as the SIM you enter. Check Limit 1 and/or Limit 2 and the
marked SIM will also adopt the entered SIM’s limits.
Remove SIM(s)
The following options are possible:
 Remove SIM(s) from all Routes: All selected SIM(s) will be removed
from their Reserved Positions. Active SIM(s) and color routings will not
be removed.
 Remove SIM Color Group from All Routes: All SIM(s) in the selected
color group will be removed from their Reserved Positions. Active
SIM(s) will not be removed.
 Remove SIM(s) from Currently Edited TZ: Click here to remove all
SIM(s) from the Timezone you are currently editing. Active SIM(s) will not
be removed.
 Remove SIM Color Group from Currently Edited TZ: Click here to remove all SIM(s) in the selected color group from the Timezone you are
currently editing. Active SIM(s) will not be removed.
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Table 8.5
Summary of vGATEDesktop user interface
vGATEDesktop context menus (page 6 of 7)
Command
Definition
Color Template
The following options are possible:
 Apply Template Settings To Selected SIM: The individual color template settings will by applied to all selected SIMs.
 Apply Template Settings To All SIMs With Current Color: The template settings will be applied to all SIMs with the same color as the SIM
marked.
 Save Settings as Template For Current Color: The settings for the
marked SIM will be saved as the template for that color.
A
will appear in the Status column of any SIMs to which the color template settings have been applied.
The color template applies for the following settings:
 Maximum Call Duration
 Maximum Call Duration Per Day
 Minimum Remaining
 Maximum Calls Per Day
 Minimum Pause after Last Use
 Active Release:
o Calls After Assign
o SMS After Assign
o Incoming Calls
o Call Attempts
 Delay SIM Assignment on TZ Change
 Reset Maintenance
 Boot Indication
 Block SIM On Low ACD
 Use SIM on Alternating Gateways
 SIM Opeions Dialog:
o Call/SMS generation parameters
o Special Services parameters
 Priority:
o Assign Priority
o Route Priority
Reset
vGATE 17.1
The following options are possible:
 Reset Count: Resets the Count column at 0.
 Reset Limits: Click here to reset Max. Limits manually to their configured maximum limit.
 Reset Daily Call Duration: Click here to reset the Daily Call Duration
counter manually to its configured value.
 Reset Daily Calls: Click here to reset the Daily Call counter manually
to its configured value.
 Reset Error/Unblock SIM: Click here to remove error entries from or
unblock this SIM. After the message has been removed, the SIM can be
reassigned.
 Reset TZ Change Counter: Resets the Timezone counter (see
Chapter 7.6 Setting time limits and pauses: Maximum Usage per TZ).
 Reset Recharge Counter: Click here to reset the number of recharges
used in this month to zero.
 Reset Prepaid Block: Click here to reset SIMs that have been blocked
as a result of mistakes during the recharge procedure.
 Reset Info Flag and User Info: Click here to clear the text from the Info
1 or Info 2 field.
 Reset Info Flag and Error String: Click here to clear the Error field.
 Set Last Special Service Runtime: Click here to manipulate the special
service runtime.
 Reset Last Special Service Runtime: Click here to rerun a script on a
new SIM the next time it is assigned.
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8
Table 8.5
Summary of vGATEDesktop user interface
vGATEDesktop context menus (page 7 of 7)
Command
Definition
Block SIM
Click here to manually block this SIM. Only inactive SIMs can be blocked
manually.
Stop Pause
Deactivates Minimum Pause after Last Use one time. The pause will be reactivated following the next release.
Select CTRL
Marks the controller where the selected SIM is currently active.
Select Last Used Prepaid Recharge Number
Click here to select the prepaid recharge number that was used last.
NOTE: This feature applies only for auto-recharge SIMs.
Show SIM Route
Calls up a table containing an overview of reserved positions. Right-click to
refresh the window.
Reports
Use the submenu to call up one of the following tables:
 Sim History: contains information about the activity of the selected SIM
(see Chapter 7.16 SIM card history).
 SIM Usage: contains a record of the SIM’s assignment.
 SIM Statistics: contains a record of the SIM’s averaged statistics.
 SIM Statistics of SIM Color Group: contains a record of averaged statistics for SIMs in the same color group.
 Last Released: contains information about when the SIM was last released.
 Released with Count Below: contains a record of SIMs released below
a defined count within a defined number of days. Check Report SIMs
only once per day and each SIM will be entered only once on any given
day.
 Change Limit Reached: contains a record of SIMs released after a limit
was reached. Use the drop-down menu to select the number of days the
report contains.
 Maximum Limit Reached: contains a record of SIMs permanently removed from traffic after their maximum limit was reached. Use the dropdown menu to select the number of days the report contains.
 SIM Errors: contains a record of errors occurring on the SIM. Use the
drop-down menu to select the number of days the report contains.
All reports can be exported and saved to a .txt, .xls or .slk files.
SIM Information
Click here to call up a table containing all of the information pertaining to
the SIM’s vGATE configuration.
Incoming Messages...
Click here to open a browser which shows all messages that have been received for the selected SIM card and the current day. Make sure that Save
Incoming SMS/USSD in Database is checked in the vGATECtrl’s Options
menu.
Export to File
Click here to open a browser into which you can save a text file containing
the current status of all SIMs. Any filters set will apply.
Export User Registration to File
Click here to open a browser into which you can save a text file containing
the SIM’s user registration.
Import User Registration from File
Click here to open a browser from which you can select a text file to implort
the SIM’s user registration.
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9 vGATECtrl
9
vGATECtrl
The vGATECtrl application is the vGATE Control Unit’s background server. You can
use it to record and display a log of activity, send email error messages, and to perform a variety of functions on vGATE connections. Open the vGATECtrl by doubleclicking the button in the bottom right-hand corner of the taskbar.
Figure 9.1
i
vGATECtrl
You must select Exit from the File menu or from the context menu in the taskbar to close
vGATECtrl. Using the Windows Task Manager to close vGATECtrl can cause database failure!
9.1
Logging activity
The current logs describing all activity at the vGATE Control Unit are shown on the screen. All
entries are written to the log file, which is generated every day at midnight. This file is saved
in the logfiles folder in the vGATECtrl directory.
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9
9.2
vGATECtrl
Sending error messages via e-mail
To send error messages via e-mail, select Mail Settings from the Options menu. In the popup dialog, activate Send Mail and enter the recipient’s e-mail address, the SMTP Server and
the name of the sender in SMTP Originator. To secure access to the mail server, activate
Logon and enter a Username and Password. Activate Base64 Encoding to encode logon.
Check one or more of the Filters to select the errors for which messages are to be sent.
Figure 9.2
9.3
Mail settings
Tearing down connections
To tear down all connections to the vGATE, select Exit from the File menu or right-click the
vGATECtrl icon on the right-hand side of the taskbar. The SIMs will disconnect as soon as any
calls are terminated. If you select Exit Immediately, all SIMs disconnect immediately, regardless of whether or not a call is in progress. If you select Exit without releasing SIMs the
mobile gateways will not be informed that the connection to the vGATE is torn down. This
option is recommended for updates to the vGATECtrl when you don’t want to lose your network connections. Use that option carefully.
Confirm the close confirmation dialog with OK.
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9
9.4
vGATECtrl
vGATECtrl Options menu
The Options menu allows you to perform a variety of tasks in regard to connections on the
vGATE:
Table 9.1
vGATECtrl
options (page 1 of 2)
Command
Description
Check SIM Status
The vGATE SIM Unit’s SIM status is checked automatically every 5 minutes. The cycle time can be configured in the registry. Access
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TELES\vGATECtrl\Settings\GetSIMStatusCycle to set the cycle time in micro seconds.
Remove Controller Warnings...
Calls up a dialog where you can enter a number of minutes between 10
and 3600. Warning messages will remain on the vGATEDesktop for the
number of minutes entered. Check Never if you would like error messages to remain indefinitely (default). Activate Also Remove Errors to
include major and minor error messages.
Export SIM Settings
Exports the SIM settings and their current status to a text file.
Disconnect all Desktops
All remote vGATEDesktops will shut down.
Log Settings
Allows you to select what kind of log entries you would like. Default settings are Error and Debug. Select Detail to receive detailed entries.
Mail Settings...
Allows you to send error messages via e-mail (see Chapter 9.2 Sending
error messages via e-mail).
Reset History
Select from the list that opens how often you want to reset the history
tables CdrFailedLog, CustomSIMData, GW_History, GW_Usage, SIMHistory, SIMHistory2, SIMStatistic, and IncomingMessages. Contents from
these table are saved in a text file each and stored in the log folder. Resetting the history tables is recommended to prevent the database from
getting to full which could be disadvantageous for performance.
Script File Settings...
Allows you to select and run an API script. For details on API scripts and
a complete list of all API scripting commands, please refer to the vGATE
API manual.
Call/SMS Generation Settings...
You can set a maximum number of calls or SMS messages that can be
sent simultaneously from the system. Enter the maximum number in the
dialog that appears or check No limit if you do not want to set a limit.
To set different limits for individual iGATEs, see Chapter 7.15 Editing
mobile gateways. The setting in vGATECtrl will take priority over limits
set for any individual iGATEs.
Automatically Delete
SIMs Not in SIMUnit...
Allows you to determine when SIMs that are no longer in the SIMunit
can be deleted from the database.
Additional SIM Search
Strategy
Use this option to define one or two search strategies which the
vGATECtrl uses to assign a SIM card to a controller. Allows you to Prefer
Prepaid SIMs with No Limit, Prefer SIMs with Highest Maximum
Limit, or Prefer SIMs with Lowest Count. Set the first flag to use a
prepaid SIM card with no limit whenever it is available. If you set the second flag, the assigned SIM card with the highest maximum limit will be
used whenever it is available. If you set the third flag, the SIM card with
the lowest count will be used whenever it is available. You can combine
the first with the second or the first with the third option. In such a combination, Prefer Prepaid SIMs with No Limit always has the highest
priority.
vGATE 17.1
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9
Table 9.1
i
vGATECtrl
vGATECtrl
options (page 2 of 2)
Command
Description
Active SIM Release
When this option has been set and Active Release is checked in the
Limits dialog of the vGATEDesktop, the active SIMs will be released
when the number of minutes entered in the Limits dialog of the
vGATEDesktop has passed. (cf. Chapter 7.6 Setting time limits and
pauses.)
Release All SIMs if
Timezone Changes
Click here for all SIMs to be released at the beginning of a new timezone. The next reserved SIM will be activated or the released SIM will be
immediately reactivated if there are no other SIMs reserved.
Reset SIM Counter Daily
The limit 1 and limit 2 counters will be reset at zero every day at midnight. The vGATEDesktop Count (L1) Yesterday and Count (L2) Yesterday columns will show the Max Limit 1 or Max Limit 2 units used
on the previous day.
Initially Block New SIMs
New SIMs that are inserted in the vGATE SIM Unit will be blocked following initialization.
Suppress Quality
Indications
The Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) status will not be sent to
the vGATE. Bear in mind that that New Protocol must be set in the mobile gateway’s edit window for this feature to work.
Reset Gateway Port
Statistic on SIM Change
New statistics will be logged for a controller when a new SIM is assigned. Old statistics for the previous SIM are sent to the vGATE.
Use vGATEWatch
Sets the watchdog function. If vGATECtrl or the database shut down improperly, they will automatically restart following one minute.
Send External SMS
vGATECtrl will check once a minute whether you have entered external
SMS to send. If you do not wish to send external SMS, deactivate this
function.
Use Change Limit For Prepaid SIMs
The change limit is applied to prepaid SIMs. You must restart the
vGATEDesktop to activate the feature.
Use External Recharge
This feature will be available in a future version.
Use Impersonator
This functionality is currently not being used.
Save Incoming SMS/USSD
in Database
Incoming SMS and USSD messages will be saved in the database.
Save Incoming SMS/USSD
in Logfiles
Incoming SMS and USSD messages will be saved in a logfile named
ReceiveMSG_date_number.log in the data folder in the SMS subfolder.
A logfile is created every six hours. Each entry contains the time, IP address of the sending gateway, controller number, IMSI, OAD, and message.
Save CDR/Failed Logfile in
Database
CDR and failed logfiles will be saved in the database.
If you are using a dial-up connection, wait at least twenty seconds following your last command before you disconnect.
vGATE 17.1
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10 vGATEWatch
10
vGATEWatch
The vGATEWatch is a watchdog function that causes vGATECtrl, the database, iMNP, and/or the
vGATERoutingManager to restart if they shut down improperly.
Figure 10.1
vGATEWatch window
To activate vGATEWatch, select Use vGATEWatch from the Options menu in the vGATECtrl
application (default setting). Now vGATEWatch will start up automatically when vGATECtrl
starts up, and the icon will appear in the taskbar’s right-hand corner.
If you select Stop Watching from the context menu, the icon will appear in the taskbar and
the watchdog function will shut down. Click Restart Watching to restart the function.
Double-click the icon or select Restore from its context menu to open vGATEWatch. From the Options menu, you can turn sound on or off, so that an alarm sounds when vGATECtrl or the database
shuts down. Select which application you want to watch. Select Reboot if Database Not Running
and the computer will restart whenever the database shuts down. Select Watch Database Service
to check if the database is still running. If it is not running, the database is restarted or, if Reboot if
Database Not Running is checked, the computer rebooted. Finally, select Set Database Service
Name ... to enter the service name of your database.
vGATE 17.1
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11 Appendix
11
11.1
Appendix
Starting the Windows2003 control unit without logon
To start up the Windows2003 Control Unit without logging on, for example in the case of
power failure, click the RegTool AutoLogon.reg.
Bear in mind that if the user name: simdbuser and password: simdb have been changed,
you must also change AutoLogon.reg accordingly.
ClearAutoLog.reg deactivates startup without logon.
11.2
Remote access to the vGATE Control Unit
To install a remote client, simply start the versions setup program and select Remote in the
Setup Type dialog. You will find the program on the vGATE Control Unit:
E:\vGate_Version.
The following programs are required for remote access to the vGATE Control Unit:
 vGATEDesktop.exe
 vGateConfigRemote.exe
 libmySQL.dll
i
The remote PC must be connected to the vGATE Control Unit with an Ethernet connection of
at least 10 MB.
Configuration for remote access
The configuration tool vGateConfigRemote is used to configure the vGATE for remote access
.
Figure 11.1
Configuration for remote access
Use the desktop shortcut to start the program vGateConfigRemote.exe. Answer all queries
with OK.
In the Database section, leave the default Name as simserverdb. Enter the vGATE Control
Unit’s IP address in the Host space and the Port. Enter the User name simdbuser and the
Password simdb.
vGATE 17.1
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11
Appendix
In the Frontend Server section, enter the vGATE Control Unit’s IP address again in the Host
space and do not change the Port. Click Apply or OK.
You can now open the vGATEDesktop for remote access to the vGATE Control Unit. Enter
the password configured or check Read Only and enter the password configured for readonly access if one has been set (see Chapter 6.2.2 vGateConfig).
i
Bear in mind that only one vGATEDesktop can be open at a time, regardless of its location.
11.3
Updating the simserverdb database (MySQL only)
To update the database simserverdb, you must first close the programs vGATECtrl.exe and
vGateDesktop.exe.
The following instructions are for updating the MySQL database only. They update vGATE
version 15.0.0 to 17.1.0. If you are updating to or from another version, enter the relevant
version numbers in the appropriate places.
Updating the PostgreSQL database will become relevant with the next vGATE version..
i
vGATE version 17.1 is compatible only with MySQL Version 5.1.43. Check your MySQL version
before updating the vGATE. If you have an older version, we recommend updating to MySQL
version 5.1.43. If you have trouble, please contact TELES service for your update.
vGATE 17.1
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11
Appendix
 Start the MSDOS command prompt at Start | Programs | Accessories | Command
Prompt.
 Enter D: and press Return.
 Enter cd mysql\bin and press Return.
 Enter mysql -u simdbuser -p and press Return.
 Enter the password simdb and press Return.
 Enter the command \. (backslash period space) and the path to the script (in this
example, on the E: drive):
\. E:\vGATE_Version\V17.1\Disk1\DatabaseScripts\DIFF_V1500_V1700.sql
 Press the Return key.
 Enter exit to exit mysql.
 Restart the MySQL service by going to Start | Programs | Administrative Tools |
Services, selecting the MySQL service from the list of services, right-clicking on it, and
selecting Restart.
 Uninstall the old version.
 Start the setup.exe from the folder E:\vGATE_Version\V17.1\Disk1.
 Select Install.
 Click Next when the TELES logo appears.
 When the setup wizard opens, click Next.
 To select an installation folder, click Browse and choose D:\vGATEControl.
 Click Next.
 The default setup type is Control Unit.
 Click Next.
 Click Next again to confirm installation.
 Click Close when installation is complete.
 Open and confirm all queries with Yes.
 If necessary, reenter any settings in the shortcuts’ Properties.
You can now start vGATECtrl.exe and vGATEDesktop.exe.
11.4
Creating a backup of the database
To secure your database, we strongly recommend that you create a backup.
Creating a MySQL backup
To create a backup of the MySQL database, execute the batch file SimBD-Dump.bat, which
you will find in the folder E:\Backup-Database . The file simdbdump.sql will be created and
saved in the folder E:\Backup-Database.
To restore the database with the backup file, please contact TELES service.
Creating a PostgreSQL backup
To
create
a
backup
of
the
PostgreSQL
database,
execute
the
batch
file
backup_simserverdb.bat, which you will find in the PostgreSQL installation folder. The file
simserverdb_date.backup will be created and saved in the PostgreSQL installation folder.
To restore the database with the backup file, please enter the name of the backup file that
you want to restore in restore_simserverdb.bat, save the batch file and excute it. The
batch file can be found in the PostgreSQL installation folder. If you need any help, please contact TELES service.
vGATE 17.1
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11
11.5
Appendix
Troubleshooting
Table 11.1 contains a list of problems you may incur and how to solve them.
Table 11.1
Troubleshooting
Error
Cause
Solution
vGATEDesktop
Status
Missing IMSI

SIM card is missing or defective.
Dust or contact
problems on the
SIM or in the SIM
60 Carrier.

SIM card line is red.
Registration process failed repeatedly.
TCP/IP connection from the
iGATE to the
vGATE SIM Unit
is inadequate or
unavailable.
Check the TCP/IP connection between the iGATE
and the vGATE SIM Unit.
SIM card and controller lines are red. Entry
in the controller line’s
Remote State column.
GSM network is
overloaded.
Missing TCP/IP
connection to
the vGATE SIM
Unit.
SIM card has
been blocked.
Replace the SIM card after the third failed registration attempt.
SIM card and controller lines are red. Entry
in the controller line’s
Remote State column.

SIM Broken


SIM Blocked




Insert another SIM
card at this position.
Clean the contacts on
the SIM and the SIM
60 Carrier with alcohol.
Ping Timeout
Missing TCP/IP connection to the iGATE.
Check the TCP/IP connection between the vGATE
Control Unit and the
iGATE.
Group and iGATE
lines are red.
Connection refused
iGATE cannot be
reached.

Group and iGATE
lines are red.

Check the TCP/IP
connection.
Check the status of
the iGATE.
Improperly configured
Missing vGATE driver
on the iGATE.
Check the iGATE’s vGATE
driver.
Group and iGATE
lines are red.
SIM 60 Carrier not
recognized by vGATE
SIM Unit
Hardware or software failure on the
vGATE Module.
Inform TELES NetService.
SIM positions do not
appear in the SIM
window of the
vGATEDesktop.
vGATE 17.1
Page 139
11
Table 11.1
Appendix
Troubleshooting (continued)
Error
Cause
Solution
vGATEDesktop
Status
SIM barred


Restart the corresponding mobile port
manually.
Check the TCP/IP
connection between
the iGATE and the
vGATE SIM Unit.
Replace the SIM card.
Check vGATE configuration in the iGATE.
Entry in the controller
line’s Remote State
column.
Change the PIN. All
SIM cards in the
vGATE must have the
same PIN.
Reassign the SIM
card.
Entry in the controller
line’s Remote State
column.

Registration process unsuccessful.
SIM card is
blocked.



Wrong PIN
SIM’s PIN is incorrect
or different from that
of the other SIMs.


CTRL incorrectly configured
Controller has not
been defined as prepaid.
Assign SIM to a correctly
configured controller or
configure controller as
prepaid.
Entry in the controller
line’s Error column
and controller line
appears in red.
No recharge number
found
Recharge number
missing from recharge list.
Enter a recharge number
in the list.
SIM line highlighted
in yellow and entry
appears in the Error
column.
Sending recharge call
(OK), no answer, no
limit indication after
2 minutes.

Carrier does not
respond to recharge call within 2 minutes.
Wrong recharge
number.
Try again with the same
SIM.
SIM line highlighted
in yellow and entry
appears in the Error
column.
Scripting error.
No answer to
USSD query.

SIM line highlighted
in red and entry appears in the Error
column.

Job timeout during
wait.
11.6



Check script for mistakes.
Try again.
Supported mobile gateways
Table 11.2 contains information about the gateways supported by the vGATE and their compatibility requirements. A vGATE license is required for each mobile gateway.
Table 11.2
Supported mobile gateways
Hardware
vGATE License
As of Version
iGATE GSM
SIM
14.6
iGATE 3G
SIM
14.6
ECOTEL GSM
SIM
14.6
ECOTEL 3G
SIM
14.6
vGATE 17.1
Page 140
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