Answer Tab



Buttons in All Windows


Help

Description: Displays online help for the Java-Based Pipeline Configurator.

Usage: Click the Help button at any time to get online help for the settings in the current tab.

This opens a World Wide Browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer, and displays information about the settings.

To close the help display, close the browser as you would any other program. For example, in Windows 95, click the X button at the upper right of the window or choose Exit from the File menu.

With some browsers, a new window will open each time you click the Help button. If this happens, simply close each window when you're done with it.

Finding setting descriptions: At the beginning of each help window is a table of contents for the window. To go information about a particular setting, click the hyperlink (the underlined text in most browsers) for that setting in the contents. To return to the contents, use the control in your browser for going back, such as the Back button in Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer 3.0.


Update

Description: Sends configuration settings to the Pipeline.

Usage: Click this button to send the settings shown in the Java-Based Pipeline Configurator to the Pipeline.

These new settings replace the previous settings in the Pipeline. You can use this button at any time; you do not have to enter values for all settings before updating the Pipeline.


Save

Description: Saves configuration settings in a file.

Usage: Click this to save the settings shown in the Java-Based Pipeline Configurator in a file on your computer.

You then use your operating system's facility for specifying a name and location for the file, such as the Save To dialog box in Windows 95.

You can later open a file in which you've saved settings by clicking the Open a Configuration File button in the first window that appears when you run the Java-Based Pipeline Configurator.

You can use this button at any time; you do not have to enter values for all settings before saving settings.


Settings


Configure

Description: This setting determines the group of related settings that appears in this tab.

Usage: Choose one of the following:


General settings


Require Connection Profile

Description: This checkbox specifies whether the Pipeline rejects incoming calls for which it could find no Connection Profile and no entry on a remote authentication server.

Usage: If the checkbox is checked, the Pipeline rejects incoming calls for which it can find no Connection Profile and no entry on a remote authentication server. If the checkbox is not checked, the Pipeline does not require a Connection Profile or a remote authentication entry. By default, the checkbox is not checked.

If Require Connection Profile is checked, one of the following must be true for each incoming data call for the connection to be made:

Dependencies: If you get incoming PPP bridging calls (when the Enable IP Routing setting is not checked) and the Require Connection Profile setting is checked, you must also specify that the Pipeline authenticate incoming calls using PAP or CHAP (Authentication setting is PAP or CHAP). A Connection Profile cannot match a PPP bridging call except through the name of the caller that PAP or CHAP authentication provides.


Allow Multiple Connections per Profile

Description: This checkbox controls whether multiple incoming callers can share a Connection Profile.

Usage: Check the box to allow multiple incoming calls to share a Connection Profile.

Dependencies: The Pipeline must first authenticate each caller using the caller's name and password. If an incoming call has an IP address that conflicts with the IP address of another caller, the Pipeline rejects the call.


Authentication

Description: This setting specifies the authentication protocol that the Pipeline uses when receiving and verifying a password for an incoming PPP call.

Usage: Choose one of the following:

Dependencies: Keep this additional information in mind:


Disconnect on Authentication Timeout

Description: This checkbox specifies whether the Pipeline gracefully shuts down a PPP connection on a RADIUS timeout.

Usage:


Idle Timeout

Description: This setting specifies the number of seconds the Pipeline waits before clearing a call when a session is inactive.

Usage: Enter a number between 0 and 65535. If you specify 0 (zero), Pipeline does not enforce a limit; an idle connection stays open indefinitely.

The default setting is 120 seconds.

Dependencies: Keep this additional information in mind:


Compression

Description: This setting turns data compression on or off for a PPP link.

Usage: Choose one of the following:

Dependencies: Keep this additional information in mind:


Max PPP Packet Size

Description: This setting specifies the maximum number of bytes the Pipeline can receive in a single packet on a PPP link.

Usage: The default setting is 1524; you should accept this default unless the device at the remote end of the link cannot support it.

If the administrator of the remote network specifies that you must change this value, enter a number between 1 and 1524.

Dependencies: Keep this additional information in mind:


Data Filter

Description: This button lets you specify a data filter to use for incoming calls. This data filter examines each incoming or outgoing packet on a WAN, and either forwards or discards it.

Usage: Click the Data Filter button. In the window that appears, select a data filter and then click OK.

If you choose None, the Pipeline forwards all data packets. None is the default.

Dependencies: Keep this additional information in mind:


Request Link Quality Monitoring (LQM)

Description: This setting specifies whether the Pipeline requests Link Quality Monitoring (LQM) when answering a PPP call.

LQM is a feature that enables the Pipeline to monitor the quality of a link. LQM counts the number of packets sent across the link and periodically asks the remote end how many packets it has received. Discrepancies are evidence of packet loss and indicate link quality problems.

LQM causes the generation of periodic link quality reports. Both ends of the link exchange these reports.

Usage:

Dependencies: Keep this additional information in mind:


Minimum LQM

Description: This setting specifies the minimum duration between link quality reports, measured in tenths of a second.

Usage: Enter a number between 0 and 600. The default is 600.

Dependencies: Keep this additional information in mind:


Maximum LQM

Description: This setting specifies the maximum duration between link quality reports, measured in tenths of a second.

Usage: Enter a number between 0 and 600. The default is 600.

Dependencies: Keep this additional information in mind:


Bridging/Routing settings


Enable Bridging

Description: This setting enables or disables protocol-independent bridging for a call. If you disable bridging, you must enable routing by checking Enable IP Routing or Enable IPX Routing.

Usage: Check the box to enable bridging.

This is unchecked by default.

Dependencies: The effect of the Enable Bridging setting depends upon how you set the Enable IP Routing and Enable IPX Routing settings.

Enable Bridging and Enable IP Routing

Enable Bridging and Enable IPX Routing

Additional Dependencies


IPX Options settings


Enable IPX Routing

Description: This setting specifies whether or not the Pipeline requests IPX routing for calls characterized by settings in the Answer tab and not by a Connection Profile.

Usage: If checked, the Pipeline requests IPX routing.

By default, this is not checked.

Dependencies: Keep this additional information in mind:


SAP Filter

Description: This button lets you specify an SAP filter to be applied to any WAN session started by an incoming call. Depending on how the SAP filter has been defined, this setting has one or both of the following effects on the WAN interface of the answered call:

Usage: Click the SAP Filter button. In the window that appears, select a SAP filter or None and then click OK.

If you select None, all SAP data is included in the service table. None is the default.


Bandwidth settings


Force 56K

Description: This setting specifies whether the Pipeline uses only the 56-Kbps portion of a channel, even when all 64 Kbps appear to be available.

Use this feature when you place calls to European or Pacific Rim countries and the complete path cannot distinguish between the Switched-56 and Switched-64 data services. This feature is not required if you are placing calls only within North America.

Usage: Check the box to use only the 56-Kbps portion of a channel.

If the box is not checked, the Pipeline can use 64 Kbps, if available. By default, it is not checked.


DBA Algorithm

Description: This setting specifies which Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (DBA) algorithm to use for calculating average line utilization (ALU) of transmitted data. DBA enables you to specify that the Pipeline uses ALU as the basis for automatically adding or subtracting bandwidth from a switched connection without terminating the link.

The Pipeline uses the historical time period specified by the Sample Time setting as the basis for calculating ALU. It then compares ALU to the amount specified in the Target % setting. When ALU exceeds the threshold defined by Target % for a period of time greater than the value of the Add Time setting, the Pipeline attempts to add a channel. When ALU falls below the threshold defined by Target % for a period of time greater than the value of the Sub Time setting, the Pipeline attempts to remove the a channel.

MP+ supports Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation.

Usage: Choose one of the following:

This graph illustrates the effect of each algorithm:

Dependencies: Keep this additional information in mind:


Sample Time

Description: This setting specifies the number of seconds the Pipeline uses as a sample for calculating average line utilization (ALU) of transmitted data; the Pipeline arrives at this average using the algorithm specified by the DBA Algorithm setting.

When ALU exceeds the Target % threshold for a period of time greater than the value of the Add Time setting, the Pipeline attempts to add a channel.When ALU falls below the Target % threshold for a period of time greater than the value of the Sub Time setting, the Pipeline attempts to remove a channel.

The number of seconds you choose for the Sample Time setting depends on your device's traffic patterns. For example, if you want to average spikes with normal traffic flow, you may want the Pipeline to establish a longer historical time period. If, on the other hand, traffic patterns consist of many spikes that are short in duration, you may want to specify a shorter period of time; doing so assigns less weight to the short spikes.

Usage: Enter a number between 1 and 300. The default value is 15 seconds.

Dependencies: Keep this additional information in mind:


Min Channels

Description: This setting specifies the minimum number of B channels an MP+ call maintains.

Usage: Enter a number between 1 and the maximum number of channels your Pipeline supports. The default setting is 1.

Dependencies: This setting applies only to MP+ calls (Encapsulation setting is MPP). For optimum MP+ performance, both sides of a connection must set these settings to the same values:


Max Channels

Description: This specifies the maximum number of channels allowed on an MP+ call.

Usage: Enter a number between 1 and the maximum number of channels your Pipeline supports.

Dependencies: Keep this additional information in mind:


Add Time

Description: This setting specifies the number of seconds that average line utilization (ALU) for transmitted data must exceed the threshold indicated by the Target % setting before the Pipeline begins adding bandwidth to a session. The Pipeline determines the ALU for a session by using the algorithm specified by the DBA Algorithm setting.

When utilization exceeds the threshold for a period of time greater than the value of the Add Time setting, the Pipeline attempts to add a channel. Using the Add Time and Sub Time settings prevents the system from continually adding and subtracting bandwidth, and can slow down the process of allocating or removing bandwidth.

Usage: Enter a number between 1 and 300.

When the Pipeline is using MP+ (Encapsulation setting is MPP), the default value is 5.

Dependencies: Keep this additional information in mind:


Sub Time

Description: This setting specifies the number of seconds average line utilization (ALU) of transmitted data must fall below the threshold indicated by the Target % setting before the Pipeline begins removing bandwidth from a session. The Pipeline determines the ALU for a session using the algorithm specified by the DBA Algorithm setting.

When utilization falls below the threshold for a period of time greater than the value of the Sub Time setting, the Pipeline attempts to remove a channel. Using the Add Time and Sub Time settings prevents the system from continually adding and subtracting bandwidth, and can slow down the process of allocating or removing bandwidth.

Usage: Enter a number between 1 and 300.

When the Pipeline is using MP+ (Encapsulation setting is MPP), the default value is 10.

Dependencies: Keep this additional information in mind:


Idle Preempt Time

Description: This setting specifies the number of seconds the Pipeline waits before clearing a call when a session is inactive.

Usage: Enter a number between 0 and 65535. If you specify 0 (zero), Pipeline does not enforce a limit; an idle connection stays open indefinitely.

Dependencies: Keep this additional information in mind:


Target %

Description: The Target % setting specifies the percent bandwidth utilization at which the Pipeline adds or subtracts bandwidth dynamically.

This setting specifies the target percentage of bandwidth utilization for an MP+ call (Encapsulation setting is MPP).

The Pipeline uses the historical time period specified by the Sample Time setting as the basis for calculating average line utilization (ALU) of transmitted data. It then compares ALU to the amount specified in the Target % setting.

When ALU exceeds the threshold defined by Target % for a period of time greater than the value of the Add Time setting, the Pipeline attempts to add a channel. When ALU falls below the threshold defined by Target % for a period of time greater than the value of the Sub Time setting, the Pipeline attempts to remove a channel.

Usage: Enter a number between 0 and 100.

The default is 70. When the value is 70%, the device adds bandwidth when it exceeds a 70 percent utilization rate, and subtracts bandwidth when it falls below that number.

Dependencies: When selecting a target utilization value, keep these guidelines in mind:


Idle %

Description: This setting specifies a percentage of bandwidth utilization below which the Pipeline clears a single-channel MP+ call. Bandwidth utilization must fall below this percentage on both sides of the connection before the Pipeline clears the call.

Usage: Enter a number between 0 and 99. The default value is 0; this setting causes the Pipeline to ignore bandwidth utilization when determining whether to clear a call.

Dependencies: Keep this additional information in mind:


Call Placement Filter

Description: This button lets you specify a Call Placement Filter to plug into the Answer tab.

By default, any packet destined for the WAN causes the Pipeline to place a call. In addition, by default, every packet resets the idle timer, the indicator that the Pipeline uses to know when to clear a call. When you set up a Call Placement Filter, only those packets that the Call Placement Filter forwards can initiate a call or reset the Preempt or Idle Timeout settings.

Usage: Click the Call Placement Filter button. In the window that appears, select a filter or None and then click OK.

If you select None, the Pipeline forwards all packets. None is the default.

Dependencies: Keep this additional information in mind:


Filters Are Persistent

Description: This checkbox controls whether the filter or firewall assigned to a Connection Profile persists after the call has been disconnected.

Usage: Check this box to make the filter or firewall assigned to this Connection Profile persist after the connection has been torn down.