Table Of Contents
Cisco Analog Telephone Adaptor Overview
Overview of Media Gateway Control Protocol
Hardware Overview
Software Features
MGCP Versions
Voice Codecs Supported
Additional Supported Signaling Protocols
Other Supported Protocols
Cisco ATA MGCP Services
Fax Services
Supplementary Services that the Cisco ATA Provides
Supplementary Services that the Call Agent Provides
Installation and Configuration Overview
Cisco Analog Telephone Adaptor Overview
This section describes the hardware and software features of the Cisco Analog Telephone Adaptor (Cisco ATA) and includes a brief overview of the Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP).
Cisco ATA analog telephone adaptors are handset-to-Ethernet adaptors which allow regular analog telephones to operate on IP-based telephony networks. Cisco ATAs support two voice ports, each with an independent telephone number. The Cisco ATA 188 also has an RJ-45 10/100BASE-T data port.
This section covers the following topics:
•
Overview of Media Gateway Control Protocol
• Hardware Overview
• Software Features
• Installation and Configuration Overview
Figure 1-1 Cisco ATA Analog Telephone Adaptor
The Cisco ATA, which operates with Cisco voice-packet gateways, makes use of broadband pipes that are deployed by means of a digital subscriber line (DSL), fixed wireless cable modem, and other Ethernet connections.
Note The term Cisco ATA refers to both the Cisco ATA 186 and the Cisco ATA 188, unless otherwise stated.
Figure 1-2 The Cisco ATA 186 as an Endpoint in an MGCP Network
Figure 1-3 The Cisco ATA 188 as an Endpoint in an MGCP Network
Overview of Media Gateway Control Protocol
The Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP) is the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standard for multimedia conferencing over IP. MGCP is an ASCII-based, application-layer control protocol (defined in RFC2705) that can be used to establish, maintain, and terminate calls between two or more endpoints.
Like other VoIP protocols, MGCP is designed to address the functions of signaling and session management within a packet telephony network.
Signaling allows call information to be carried across network boundaries. Session management provides the ability to control the attributes of an end-to-end call.
One aspect of MGCP that differs from other VoIP protocols is that MGCP endpoints rely on instructions from a Call Agent to control call progression, call tones, and call characteristics.
MGCP provides the following capabilities to the control server:
•Determines the location of the target endpoint.
•Determines the media capabilities of the target endpoint. Using Session Description Protocol (SDP), MGCP determines the lowest level of common service between the endpoints. Conferences are established using only the media capabilities that can be supported by all endpoints.
•Determines the availability of the target endpoint.
•Establishes a session between the originating and target endpoint if a call can be completed. MGCP also supports mid-call changes, such as adding another endpoint to the conference or changing a media characteristic or codec.
•Each MGCP endpoint supports up to two connections per device. Each connection has a fixed ID—0, 1, 2, or 3. Connection IDs 0 and 2 are assigned to MGCP Endpoint 0, and connection IDs 1 and 3 are assigned to MGCP Endpoint 1.
MGCP is a client-server protocol. The Call Agent handles all aspects of setting up calls to and from endpoints. Call Agents or control servers provide the feature capabilities that a particular endpoint uses. Endpoints connected to different Call Agents likely will have a different set of features.
Each control-server vendor determines its own set of features.
Hardware Overview
The Cisco ATA 186 and Cisco ATA 188 are compact, easy-to-install devices. Figure 1-4 shows the rear panel of the Cisco ATA 186. Figure 1-5 shows the rear panel of the Cisco ATA 188.
Figure 1-4 Cisco ATA 186—Rear View
Figure 1-5 Cisco ATA 188—Rear View
The unit provides the following connectors and indicators:
•5V power connector.
•Two RJ-11 FXS (Foreign Exchange Station) ports—The Cisco ATA supports two independent RJ-11 telephone ports that can connect to any standard analog telephone device. Each port supports either voice calls or fax sessions, and both ports can be used simultaneously.
Note The Cisco ATA186-I1 and Cisco ATA188-I1 provide 600-ohm resistive impedance. The Cisco ATA186-I2 and Cisco ATA188-I2 provide 270 ohm + 750 ohm // 150-nF complex impedance. The impedance option is requested when you place your order and should match your specific application. If you are not sure of the applicable configuration, check your country or regional telephone impedance requirements.
•Ethernet ports
–The Cisco ATA 186 has one RJ-45 10BASE-T uplink Ethernet port to connect the Cisco ATA 186 to a 10/100BASE-T hub or another Ethernet device.
–The Cisco ATA 188 has two Ethernet ports: an RJ-45 10/100BASE-T uplink port to connect the Cisco ATA 188 to a 10/100BASE-T hub or another Ethernet device and an RJ-45 10/100BASE-T data port to connect an Ethernet-capable device, such as a computer, to the network.
Note The Cisco ATA 188 performs auto-negotiation for duplexity and speed and is capable of 10/100 Mbps, full-duplex operation. The Cisco ATA 186 is fixed at 10 Mbps, half-duplex operation.
•The Cisco ATA 188 RJ-45 LED shows network link and activity. The LED blinks twice when the Cisco ATA is first powered on, then turns off if there is no link or activity. The LED blinks to show network activity and is solid when there is a link.
•The Cisco ATA 186 RJ-45 LED is solid when the Cisco ATA is powered on and blinks to show network activity.
•Function button—The function button is located on the top panel of the unit (see Figure 1-6).
Figure 1-6 Function Button
The function button lights when you pick up the handset of a telephone attached to the Cisco ATA. The button blinks quickly when the Cisco ATA is upgrading its configuration.
Note If the function button blinks slowly, the Cisco ATA cannot find the DHCP server. Check your Ethernet connections and make sure the DHCP server is available.
Pressing the function button allows you to access to the voice configuration menu. For additional information about the voice configuration menu, see the "Voice Configuration Menu" section on page 3-20.
Caution Never press the function button during an upgrade process. Doing so may interfere with the process.
Software Features
The Cisco ATA supports the following protocols and services:
• MGCP Versions
• Voice Codecs Supported
• Additional Supported Signaling Protocols
• Other Supported Protocols
• Cisco ATA MGCP Services
• Fax Services
• Supplementary Services that the Cisco ATA Provides
• Supplementary Services that the Call Agent Provides
MGCP Versions
The Cisco ATA supports the following MGCP versions:
•MGCP 0.1
•MGCP 1.0
•NCS 1.0
Voice Codecs Supported
The Cisco ATA supports the following voice codecs (check your other network devices for the codecs they support):
•G.711µ-law
•G.711A-law
•G.723.1
•G.729
•G.729A
•G.729B
•G.729.AB
Additional Supported Signaling Protocols
In addition to MGCP, the Cisco ATA supports the following signaling protocols:
•Skinny Client Control Protocol (SCCP)
•H.323
•Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
If you wish to perform a cross-protocol upgrade from MGCP to another signaling image, see the "Upgrading the Signaling Image from a TFTP Server" section.
Other Supported Protocols
Other protocols that the Cisco ATA supports include the following:
•802.1Q VLAN tagging
•Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP)
•Domain Name System (DNS)
•Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
•Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)
•Internet Protocol (IP)
•Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP)
•Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
•Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP)
•User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
Cisco ATA MGCP Services
For a list of required MGCP parameters as well as descriptions of all supported Cisco ATA MGCP services and cross references to the parameters for configuring these services, see "Cisco ATA-Supported MGCP Services."
These services include the following features:
•Two MGCP endpoints per Cisco ATA
•Two connections per MGCP endpoint
•Multiple audio codecs
•Events and signals available in MGCP software packages
•Automatic MGCP version detection
•Caller ID generation
•Configurable tone (dial tone, busy tone, confirm tone, reorder tone, call waiting tone)
•IP address assignment—DHCP-provided or statically configured
•Cisco ATA configuration by means of a TFTP server, web browser, or voice configuration menu.
•VLAN configuration
•Caller ID format
•Ring cadence format
•Silence suppression
•Low-bit-rate codec selection
•RTP media port configuration
•Hook-flash detection timing configuration
•Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP)
•User interface password
•Type of Service (ToS) configuration for audio and signaling ethernet packets
•Debugging and diagnostic tools
Fax Services
The Cisco ATA supports two modes of fax services, in which fax signals are transmitted using the G.711 codec:
•Fax pass-through mode—Receiver-side Called Station Identification (CED) tone detection with automatic G.711A-law or G.711µ-law switching.
•Fax mode—The Cisco ATA is configured as a G.711-only device.
How you set Cisco ATA fax parameters depends on what network gateways are being used. You may need to modify the default fax parameter values (see Chapter 6, "Configuring and Debugging Fax Services").
Note Success of fax transmission depends on network conditions and fax modem response to these conditions. The network must have reasonably low network jitter, network delay, and packet loss rate.
Supplementary Services that the Cisco ATA Provides
Table 1-1 lists the supplementary phone services that the Cisco ATA provides for MGCP. Table 1-1 includes links to the corresponding parameters that allow you to configure these services.
Supplementary Services that the Call Agent Provides
The Cisco ATA supports the following services that are provided by the Call Agent:
Note For end-user information on how these services work, consult the documentation from the MGCP Call Agent service provider.
•Anonymous Call Rejection
•Call forward—on busy
•Call forward—on no answer
•Call forward—unconditional
•Call hold
•Caller ID
•Calling Line Identification Presentation
•Calling Line Identification Restriction
•Call return
•Call transfer—Blind
•Call transfer—Consultation
•Call waiting
•Call waiting Caller ID
•Distinctive ringing
•Message-waiting-indication (stuttering dial tone)
•Speed dial
•Three-way conference
•Voice mail
Installation and Configuration Overview
Table 1-2 provides the basic steps required to install and configure the Cisco ATA to make it operational in a typical MGCP environment.
Table 1-2 Overview of the Steps Required to Install and Configure the Cisco ATA and Make it Operational
Action
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Reference
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1. Plan the network and Cisco ATA configuration.
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2. Install the Ethernet connection.
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3. Install and configure the other network devices.
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4. Install the Cisco ATA but do not power up the Cisco ATA yet.
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What the Cisco ATA Package Includes
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5. Download the desired Cisco ATA release software zip file from the Cisco web site, then configure the Cisco ATA.
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Chapter 3, "Configuring the Cisco ATA for MGCP"
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6. Power up the Cisco ATA.
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7. Periodically, you can upgrade the Cisco ATA to a new signaling image by using the TFTP server-upgrade method or the manual-upgrade method.
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"Upgrading the Cisco ATA Signaling Image"
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