Using Cisco DialOut Utility

The Cisco DialOut Utility, Release 2.0, starts up automatically when you start Windows. It normally runs a test and then minimizes itself.

When the Cisco DialOut Utility is minimized, an icon appears in the Active Icon tray on the Windows desktop. The icon has two lights that flash red and green as data packets are sent and received. Note that the Cisco DialOut Utility lights and the lights on the Microsoft Dial-Up Networking icon next to it do not flash in unison.

Note If you remove the Cisco DialOut Utility from the Startup group, you will need to start it manually before you start your fax or communications applications. The utility must be running, either maximized or minimized, for the virtual ports to be available. We recommend that you minimize the Cisco DialOut Utility, rather than exit it. If you exit, you will need to restart the Cisco DialOut Utility on the workstation before you can send a fax or use your communications application. If you must exit the Cisco DialOut Utility, click File then Exit.

When Cisco DialOut Utility starts, if the optional user security is enabled, the Secure Login dialog box opens. See Figure 3-1. If user security is not enabled, this dialog box will not open.

Step 2 Enter your NAS password. The Cisco DialOut Utility cannot gain access to your password, so you need to enter it yourself. As you enter your password, asterisks (*) display so that your password is protected, but the data is received by Cisco DialOut Utility correctly.

Step 3 (Optional) You can allow the Cisco DialOut Utility to remember your password so that you do not need to enter it every time you need to access the NAS. To allow this, click the Save Password check box.

Step 4 Click OK when finished. The username and password are sent to the NAS. If the password is entered incorrectly, or if you click Cancel, the Cisco DialOut Utility displays an error message.

If your NAS is not configured for security but you have saved your user information and password, a message displays letting you know that your NAS is not configured for security. This has no effect on the utility. Click OK to acknowledge the message.

To cancel the login, click Cancel. If you cancel, the Cisco DialOut Utility marks the session as a failure.

Cisco DialOut Utility Front Panel

The Cisco DialOut Utility Front Panel window is designed to look like a modem, with a few additions. Use the front panel to access the following menu items:

Com port—Displays and allows you to change the current com port
LEDs—Shows the status of four common communication parameters

More >—Allows you to reconfigure ports, view status and statistics for the port that is currently selected, test the operation of all com ports, and disconnect the current communication session

Caution To close the Cisco DialOut Utility under normal circumstances, from the front panel, click File then Exit. The Disconnect Current Session button is an emergency option that is equivalent to an abrupt End Task or pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del and might cause the com port to hang. Use this button for troubleshooting purposes only.

Step 2 (Optional) To display the hidden File Help toolbar, click the right mouse button, then select DialOut Menu. This allows you to use Cisco DialOut Utility without a mouse. See Figure 3-2.

Note We recommend that you minimize the Cisco DialOut Utility rather than exit it. If you exit, you will need to restart the Cisco DialOut Utility or the workstation before you can send a fax or use your communications application. If you must exit the Cisco DialOut Utility, click File then Exit.

Com Port

The com port drop-down menu displays and allows you to change the com port that is being monitored by the lights and the status button. To select a different com port, click the down arrow to the right of the field and highlight the com port to monitor.

For instructions on adding or removing com ports, see the section "Add Port" or the section "Remove Port" in this chapter.

LEDs

These LEDs are similar to those found on a modem. The front-panel LEDs show the status of four common communication parameters:

CD (carrier detect)—Indicates the current state of the connection with the NAS. The icons simulate LEDs.
Tx (transmit)—Indicates data has been transmitted to the NAS.
Rx (receive)—Indicates data has been received from the NAS.
ER (error)—Indicates an error has been detected in the session with the NAS.

LED Colors

Gray—The com port is not in use by an application.
Red—The com port is in use by an application. There is a session between the client and the access server, but there is no remote session. This is similar to the CD light on a modem being turned off.
Green—The com port is in use by an application. There is a session between the client and the access server and there is a remote session. This is equivalent to the CD light on a modem being turned on.

Gray—The com port is not in use by an application.
Red—The com port is in use by an application, but there is no data being transmitted at this time.
Green—The com port is in use by an application and data is being transmitted.

Note You might not see the Tx light change from green to red. This is due to the speed at which the transmission to the NAS occurs.

Gray—The com port is not in use by an application.
Red—The com port is in use by an application, but no data is being received.
Green—The com port is in use by an application and data is being received.

Note You might not see the Rx LED change from green to red. This is due to the speed at which the data in the Cisco DialOut Utility is being read by the communications application.

Gray—The com port is not in use by an application.
Red—The com port is in use by an application and an error has been detected on the session between the Cisco DialOut Utility client and the access server. Check the More\Statistics window for Last Error information.
Green—The com port is in session with a NAS and no errors have been detected.

More Functions Window

From the front panel window, click More > to open the More Functions window. See Figure 3-3.

Configure Ports—Add, remove, and configure com ports
Statistics—View status and statistics for the port that is currently selected
Test All Com Ports—Tests the operation and status of all com ports

Disconnect Current Session—Disconnects the current communication session

Change User Information—Allows you to change your NAS username and password. The change applies to the current session only and will not change this information on the NAS.

Configure Ports

Add Port

Step 2 Enter the Com Port Name, either COM1, COM2, COM3, or COM4. SETUP.EXE has already automatically selected the name of the next available com port. If necessary, you can change this setting now or after the Cisco DialOut Utility is installed. You can use any name your application allows; however, we recommend you use COM1, COM2, COM3, or COM4.

Step 3 Enter the Server ID, either the TCP/IP address of the Cisco NAS through which you will dial out, or a DNS name associated with the server.

Note Check with your system administrator for the TCP/IP address or DNS name of the NAS on your network.

Step 4 Enter the Port ID—Represents the modem on the NAS. Normally this number will be 6001, 6002, and so on; or 7001, 7002, and so on. See your system administrator for the number to use. To stop the definition of this com port and start again, click Cancel.

Remove Port

Step 3 To make the change effective, you will be prompted to reboot the PC at the appropriate time. See the README.DOC file for additional information.

Save User Information in Memory

If Save User Information in Memory is enabled, Cisco DialOut Utility asks for a username and password at startup. The initial value (enabled or disabled) is detected when the com port is added. Change this field only if there has been a change in the security configuration on the NAS.

Modem Sounds

Note Because the sounds are generated using .wav files, the computer on which you are using the utility must have a multimedia package installed and working correctly, and the sound must be turned on.

Step 5 Enter the name(s) of the wave file(s) you want to change in the applicable dialog box in the Sounds window. The default sound files are:

Opening Server Sound—DOUTOPEN.WAV
Dial Tone Sound—DOUTDT.WAV
Ringing Sound—DOUTRING.WAV
Connected Sound—DOUTCONN.WAV
Line Busy Sound—DOUTBUSY.WAV
No Dial Tone Sound—DOUTNODT.WAV
No Answer Sound—DOUTNOAN.WAV

Test Port

Resolve Server ID to Address—Converts the server address to an IP address or DNS name
Connect to Access Server—Attempts to connect to the maintenance port on the NAS
Connect to Access Server Port—Connects to the server and port ID you entered during configuration

During the test, Cisco DialOut Utility displays Testing next to the item being tested. If the tests are successful, the Test Connection window will display Good next to each item. See Figure 3-7.

If a test is unsuccessful, Cisco DialOut Utility displays Error next to the item. Check the Help window for information on resolving any problems.

Step 2 When all tests are complete, click OK to return to the More Functions window.

Statistics Window

The Cisco DialOut Utility Statistics window displays the statistics of the selected com port. The data presented is a snapshot of information that can be used to monitor the connection with the NAS as well as provide information for troubleshooting.

Step 3 Click Refresh to refresh the values in the Statistics window. The window is updated to the current values. However, clicking Refresh does not reset the values. You can use the Refresh feature to indicate progress of transmission or download (receiving).

Port—IP address of the NAS to which this com port is assigned.
Status—Status of the com port as listed below:

Not In Session—Currently not connected to a NAS.
In Session—Currently in session with a NAS.

Bytes Received—Number of bytes received from the NAS. This number might differ from a counter reported by a communications package. The difference is the number of bytes in the Cisco DialOut Utility buffer that have not been received by the package. The counter is a 32-bit value and can count to over 4 billion bytes.
Bytes Transmitted—Number of bytes transmitted to the NAS. The number might differ from a counter reported by a communications package. The difference is the number of bytes in the Cisco DialOut Utility buffer that have not been transmitted yet. Additionally, bytes transmitted via the transmit immediate facility are not counted, because they are usually control characters. The counter is a 32-bit value and can count to over 4 billion bytes.
Pending Receive—When there is a command waiting to receive data from the NAS, the value of Pending Receive is Yes. When there is no receive command waiting, the value is No. Under normal operations, the only time this value is No is when the receive buffer is full while the communications package is reading data from the buffer but the minimum receive size value prevents another receive command from being issued.
Pending Send—When there is a command in the process of sending data, the value of Pending Send is Yes. When there is no Send command in process, the value is No. This value will normally be No. The period of time needed to transmit information is usually very short. If a single send command takes more than a fraction of a second, there might be a network or network card problem.
Last Error—If an error has occurred, this item will show a number that indicates where the error occurred, along with an explanation of the error. This might indicate a license violation.
Telephone Number—The telephone number to which you are connected. This information appears after you have dialed.

Test All Com Ports

Resolve Server ID to Address—Converts the server address to an IP address
Connect to Access Server—Attempts to connect to the maintenance port on the NAS
Connect to Access Server Port—Connects to the server and port ID you entered during configuration

Step 2 When all tests are complete, click OK to return to the More Functions window.

Disconnect Current Session

In the unlikely event your application hangs, you might need to terminate the session. From the More Functions window, click Disconnect Current Session.

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