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General

1. Delivery?

   We deliver our software products via our on-line store, where users also have access to software updates during the maintenance period. In parallel we deliver by courier a physical software licensing key and a backup copy of the software, typical on CD.  In some cases the software licensing key is in electronic form and can be sent by email.

2. Technical Support?

   Technical support via e-mail and telephone is available for SOLINET customers with maintenance contracts. Please contact us for assistance.

3. New Features?

   Suggestions for improvements and new features for SOLINET should be sent to our mailing list.

4. Software Updates?

   Product installers included in maintenance packages, and can be downloaded from the SAFIRE World's Support area.

5. Software Demos?

   Online demos can be arranged. Please Contact Us with your preferred date and time.

6. Evaluation License?

   You can download the evaluation version of the state machine/test suite development and execution environment at SAFIRE World website. This easy-to-use, intuitive and graphical environment, enables people with just a basic programming background to produce their first test suite typically in their first day.

    

7. Software-Only Solutions?

   Rather than commit to a full system, you might be more interested in our low-cost, software-only packages. Details are available in the products section of the website. These packages include the test suite development environment, the test execution environment (for running test cases) and the relevant framework test suite.  Framework test suites contain a small number of basic scenarios for you to make some simple tests.

    

   You can then expand the test suite, according to your own specific requirements, and the package includes the signaling libraries required for this.  Naturally, we would help you to get started.  Of course, full version of the ACATS FORUM test suites, conforming to the ETSI and ITU specifications are also available.  Starting from EUR 7,950, these packages represent excellent value for money and can generally be shipped to you within one week.

8. Online Help?

   On every tool we have a help menu. Just click and the PDF file with the related manual will appear. By providing manuals in PDF format we give the user the ability to print them and study the functionality of the system at their desk and away from a potential noisy test environment.

9. What are NEM?

   The Network Emulation Modules (NEM) provide the emulation function to the system.  They behave according to the relevant protocol, and terminate the signaling of interfaces under test. They are complete, functional and self-driven systems.

    

   The emulation modules completely reproduce the signaling processes of the interfaces to be tested.  Depending on the configuration, a local exchange, access, network, SSP, SCP or simple terminals can be emulated and the system under test can be tested under realistic conditions.

    

   The system under test can be connected to the emulator instead of a real interface.  This is useful if the real interface is not available or the system under test cannot be connected to a real interface for certain reasons.

    

   NOTE:  For complete emulation functionality, the relevant LEM modules are required for the lower layers.

10. Professional Test Suites?

    Professional Test Suites provide extensive coverage of their corresponding test specifications. They are based on international standards, such as ETSI, ITU-T and ACATS Forum.

11. Framework Test Suites?

    Framework Test Suites include a selection of key test scenarios, which can be expanded using the graphical editor provided with SAFIRE Professional.

12. What is a Signaling Tester?

    SOLINET's signaling testers enable you to run a selection of key test scenarios against your test object in a controlled and deterministic manner.  You can modify the test schedule, as well as the test cases, using the graphical editor provided by SAFIRE Professional, giving you greater flexibility over what you would like to test and how.  The signaling testers include the relevant protocol stack, API, test harness, framework test suite and protocol analyzer

13. What is ANA, what can we do with the generic LE?

    ANA is an advanced network adapter and can convert the following protocols:  ISUP, ISDN (BA, PRI), V5. It can provide IN functionality (INAP) over SS7 or TCP/IP.  BCS (voice path switching) is possible in between all protocols except for the ISDN BRI, so we cannot provide full PBX functionality.

Specific

 

Hardware Installation

1. What kind of cables should be used with manufacturer's XYZ cards?

   We supply the cables for all supported interfaces. Specifications are available on request.

2. One of my interfaces is not detected by the BIOS.  What should I do?

   See Hardware BIOS Diagnostics

3. One of my interfaces is not detected by the application. What should I do?

   See Hardware BIOS Diagnostics

4. One of my interfaces is not sending or receiving data. What should I do?

   See Hardware Application Diagnostics

5. Can I swap interfaces between machines?

   No. Do not open the machine unless instructed by SOLINET support. Opening the machine will invalidate your warranty.

6. Hardware BIOS Diagnostics?

   - Shutdown the hardware and application system (close the 2 STAR windows);

   - Restart the machine;

   - Enter the BIOS (pressing DEL key);

   - Select PnP/PCI Configuration;

   - Select Reset Configuration Data;

   - Set Enabled;

   - Press F10, then Y to save changes.

7. Hardware Application Diagnostics?

   Check if your interface detected by the BIOS <Link to Hardware BIOS Diagnosis>

   Check the Adapter_ID SXCs are correctly configured in the system configuration.

   If you have no success, take the following steps:

    

   - When Windows is ready start Debugview <link to page with contents of DBGVIEW.PPT>

   - Go Edit and select "History Depth..."

   - Type 0 in the History Depth field and press Apply.

   - Start the application

   - Wait until the problem is evident on the GUI then stop Debugview;

   - Save the debugview log file and send to support along with a description of the problem and the following files:

    

   a) Hardware.cfg (<Link to System Files>)

   b) <system>.sxc (<Link to System Files>)

   c) a screenshot   (<Link to How to take a screenshot>)

8. Hardware Link Diagnostics

   Coming soon.

9. System Files

   The location of the system files is dependent on your application. If you have difficulty finding the problem, contact support.

10. Troubleshooting using Debugview software

    Configuring Debugview

    Debugview is very easy to use; the only parameter you need to set is History Depth…

    Please go to Edit and set History Depth; type 0 in the history depth field and press Apply.

     

    Starting capture

    Debugview is capturing if the icon is shown.

    Debugview is not capturing if the icon is shown.

     

    Saving the logfile

    Stop capture pressing the button. Go to File, and then Save as … .

    Choose a folder where to save the log file and press Save.

     

    N.B. Remember to zip the file before sending via mail (the logfile can be quite big).

11. How to take a screenshot?

    - Arrange the windows appropriately

    - Press the PrintScreen button (PrtScr). This key is normally found above the cursor keys.

    - Run Paint (Program Files->Accessories->Paint

    - Press the control key (Ctrl) (Strg in German) and the V key

    - Save the resulting image

Software Installation

1. Initial Installation

   Installation instructions are available on SAFIRE World's Installation Guide.

2. The software sharing device (dongle) is inserted, but why does SAFIRE complain with error message "SXI not licensed" when I try to run the  system?

   Ensure the correct system is being started and that it is licensed.  Contact the Support team.

3. Under XP, during installation of the SAFIRE environment, why doesn't the process complete successfully?

   The cause may be related to WinZip.  Ensure WinZip is installed prior to SAFIRE installation.

4. How do I find out my Software Sharing Device ID?

   a) Insert the security device (USB or parallel) in a machine with SAFIRE software installed.  Note: SAFIRE must be installed to ensure the correct drivers are available in order for the test program to communicate with the key and query the ID.

   b) Run the SAFIRE Organizer.

   c) When the Organizer has completed loading, choose Options -> License Diagnostics.

5. Installation of Service Packs and New Releases?

   Click on Install Products in the product browser of SAFIRE Organizer

6. Are all the old settings copied between installations?

   No, each installation is currently independent.

   Update June 2005: Upcoming versions will reuse environment settings between releases. Configuration files for run time environments will remain independent.

7. Can the software be moved after it has been installed?

   Generally no. It is not advisable to change the directory in which the software is installed.  Executable test suites contain links back to the original source and the software expects specific directory structures.

8. Why do I get an error message saying 'software sharing device invalid'?

   The software sharing device has either been removed from the system, cannot be found or the wrong license file has been installed.  Reconnect the software-sharing device and/or re-install the license disk.

9. Why do I get an error message saying 'license file not found'?

   The software sharing device has either been removed from the system, cannot be found or the wrong license file has been installed.  Reconnect the software-sharing device and/or re-install the license disk.

10. Why do I get an error message saying 'message corrupt'?

    All SOLINET products include some anti-virus protection.  If the software detects changes, it will not start.  The complete system should be checked with an Anti-Virus program. All SOLINET media are virus checked before shipping.   Floppy diskettes (e.g. the license disk) and downloaded service packs should be checked again for viruses as they may have been infected after receipt.

     

    When the system has been completely checked, the SOLINET software should be completely reinstalled.  Any available service packs should also be installed.

Software Applications

1. Is it possible to export the captured data in *.txt format ?

   Yes, this is possible via the export menus in the SAFIRE tracer.

2. Is it possible to export data to external applications?

   Yes. The export menus have options for exporting in other formats including HEX format.

SAFIRE

1. What is SAFIRE?

   SAFIRE has been designed specifically for rapid prototyping and validation of signaling systems.  Using a graphical representation based on international standards such as SDL, UML, MSC and ASN.1, SAFIRE is intuitive and easy to learn.

    

   With conventional languages like C, C++ and Java, the implementation and validation of signaling systems incurs significant development and maintenance overhead.  With SAFIRE the specification of a system is executed directly, achieving visible results faster and more reliably.

    

   For standard requirements there are signaling libraries and physical interfaces available as plug-in modules.

2. What are the key features of SAFIRE?

   - Integrated solution (Edit - Run - Trace)

   - Based on international standards: SDL, UML, MSC, ASN.1

   - Powerful graphical state-machine editor

   - Automated testing and test report generation

   - Plug-in modules (protocol stacks) for standard telecom and network applications

   - Real-time packet disassembly for standard protocols

   - Step-by-step animation of state machine execution in the graphical editor

   - Support for distributed applications via TCP/IP connections

3. On which (hardware/software) platforms does SAFIRE run?

   - X86-based personal computer (minimum 800 MHz Pentium)

   - Microsoft Windows XP

   - 256MB application RAM

   - 150 MB hard disk space,

   - 80 MB additional temporary disk space available during installation

4. What kind of systems can be developed with SAFIRE?

   SAFIRE is the development environment of the SAFIRE platform, which is used in every area of signaling systems:

    

   - Product Development (Proof of Concept, Prototyping, Pre-Series)

   - Environments (Systems Tests, Type Approval, QA)

   - Networks (Mediation Devices, Tracers)

    

   Building on over 10 years of experiences in the industry, there are standard SAFIRE modules available for all types of networks:

    

   - Trunk (SS7, IN)

   - Access (V5, ISDN)

   - Mobile (GSM, GPRS, UMTS)

   - Internet (VoIP, SS7oIP)

   - Corporate (PBX, Datacoms)

   - Aerospace (Air traffic control)

   - Proprietary (On request)

    

   For more details, please contact us.

5. What is the language supported by SAFIRE?

   SAFIRE conforms to SDL+, the simplest, useful, enhanced SDL subset.  SDL+ is promoted by the SDL Task Force consortium, and is currently under revision by ITU-T. More details can also be found on the SAFIRE.org website.

6. What components does SAFIRE consist of?

   SAFIRE Designer - graphical editor, viewer, compiler

   SAFIRE Campaigner - test execution & report generator

   SAFIRE Animator - slow motion replay (actions, events, behavior)

   SAFIRE Tracer - protocol analyzer

   SAFIRE Organizer - version control & project management

   SAFIRE VM Virtual Machine - high performance virtual machine

7. Why choose SDL over TTCN as a testing language?

   Testing languages, including TTCN are evolving, and we are working at the cutting edge of this evolution; as a qualified organization of the ITU-T, we are working on defining the next generation of languages.  You can find more information about our role in these activities on the SDL Task Force website.  From our experience, here are a few points to help you understand the advantages of using SDL:

    

   Feed-back from industry is that TTCN is too complex, time consuming and support-intensive.

    

   In our standardization activities with ITU-T, we managed to enhance SDL so that it is abstract enough to be easily accessible, while being as powerful as TTCN (support of verdicts, timers and test case structuring). Given that 40% of the product development cycle is dedicated to testing, we sought to improve the testing experience by providing a more accessible and intuitive methodology - leading to faster results for our users and shorter time-to-market for their products. This target was achieved with the SAFIRE Environment.

    

   Do the test suites designed in TTCN by ETSI run and compile on SAFIRE?

    

   The test cases downloaded from the ETSI web page do not compile in any editor, and this is a well documented fact; ETSI is also happy to accept this, as their purpose is to provide "theoretical guidelines" as to how a system should be tested.  The responsibility to make these test suites run in practice is on the user. With SAFIRE the user can develop and test an implementation using the same signal lists which are written in SDL; this re-use of knowledge and resources leads to significant savings of time and cost.

8. Is it possible to specify in a test case a parameter (constraint) that has to match, otherwise the test case fails.  Is there an example?

   Yes

    

   Right click on the input and click Modify.  The EDIT INPUT dialog opens.

   Double-click the chosen parameter in the Constraint column (which contains <ANY> by default).  The CONSTRAINT VALUE EDITOR dialog opens, displaying a tree and a text field.

   The constraint can be edited by right-clicking on a tree node and selecting an action (e.g., to assign an INTEGER value (a literal, constant, or variable) to an INTEGER field of a SEQUENCE).  Note that the <ANY> option is available for fields that you don't care about.

   See the Editor Manual for more about the value editors and the value notation.  We'd like to hear your ideas on how we could make this part of the Editor more intuitive for the user.

9. Does SAFIRE have the capability to generate source code from SDL?

   We follow the JAVA strategy: SAFIRE generates binary files, which can be then interpreted by SAFIRE runtime platform.

10. Can Safire do reverse engineering, i.e. can it generate SDLs from code?

    No. There are currently no SDL tools which would be able to do this.

Monitoring

1. How do I change which protocol to display?

   We have two items coming together:

    

   - stack files (licensed, SOLINET provided ones only)

   - stack configuration files (not license-able SOLINET provided ones, users can change them, or add new own ones).

    

   They work both together to produce a visible decode.

   a) For hand-made single layer protocols, select: Menu:View->Protocols->Load Protocol 

   b) For multi layer protocol stack, select: Menu:View->Protocols->Stack Configuration. There you can either load a delivered stack configuration, or edit a custom one. To do so, select one out of all predefined and licensed stacks. For multi protocol stack buffers, different system/process/gate id's and direction can be selected to distinguish the stacks.

    

   More details on editing stacks can be found in the SAFIRE TRACER user manual.

2. Error messages?

   Why can hex only be seen when trying to decode a protocol?

   Menu: View->Message Detail can be set to hex.

   There was no default stack loaded at system start, and no stack/stack configuration loaded as described above.

    

   When loading, why does the error message, 'Protocol not found or corrupt' appear?

   a) The buffer file was written on a system, which had other protocols licensed. On this system the stack/protocols saved with the buffer are not licensed.

   b) SAFIRE is using a newer protocol archive release in which stacks/protocols have been renamed after the buffer was saved.

3. Can we monitor TCP/IP?

   Yes. TCP/IP monitoring is available along with specialized masks and filters.

Testing

1. Why do we say that the emulator terminates the signaling?

   The emulator can route to a third party the info or terminate it (Answer the call).  A real user can terminate the call routed by the emulator.

2. What is the difference between simulation and emulation?

   SIMULATION (using conformance testing modules/test suites)

   The test tool provides the functionality to drive protocol stacks for conformance testing.  This can be done, for example, with an SDL script actively running test cases against a test object.  Test cases are created and executed against live test objects using a powerful environment, which allows specific messages to be sent and received in a controlled manner.  This measures how well the test object conforms to standards set by the specification bodies.

    

   EMULATION (using network emulators/NEMs)

   Emulators behave according to the relevant protocol, and terminate the signaling of interfaces under test.  They are complete, functional and self-driven systems.  In this way, they enable users to check the behavior of a test object against the standard.

3. What is PDH?

   Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy <communications> (PDH) A transmission system for voice communication using plesiochronous synchronization.

    

   PDH is the conventional multiplexing technology for network transmission systems. The transmitter adds dummy information bits to allow multiple channels to be bit interleaved. The receiver discards these bits once the signals have been demultiplexed.

   PDH combines multiple 2 Mb/s (E1) channels in Europe and 1.544 Mb/s (DS1) channels in the US and Japan.

   PDH is being replaced by SONET and other SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) schemes.

4. What is SDH?

   SDH = SONET

   SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) is a standard technology for synchronous data transmission on optical media. It is the international equivalent of Synchronous Optical Network. Both technologies provide faster and less expensive network interconnection than traditional PDH (Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy) equipment.

   In digital telephone transmission, "synchronous" means the bits from one call are carried within one transmission frame. "Plesiochronous" means "almost (but not) synchronous," or a call that must be extracted from more than one transmission frame.

    

   SDH uses the following Synchronous Transport Modules (STM) and rates: STM-1 (155 megabits per second), STM-4 (622 Mbps), STM-16 (2.5 gigabits per second), and STM-64 (10 Gbps).

5. SIGTRAN/SS7oIP - Backhaul or Peer-to-Peer?

   Backhaul is used when the customer needs to connect to the IP network using the existing SS7 network. It uses M2UA, which transports MTP2-User signaling (such as MTP-3) over IP, using SCTP.  It is used between a Signaling Gateway and a Media Gateway Controller in VoIP networks.

    

   Peer-to-Peer is used when the customer replaces the entire SS7 network with the IP network or where no SS7 network is available. It uses M2PA, which supports the transport of MTP-3 signaling over IP using SCTP.  It is used between the SS7 Signaling Points which use MTP3, as well as an IP network to connect the two points.  M2PA provides the same services to MTP3 in IP network as MTP2 does in SS7 Network.  Backhaul is the most requested option.

Emulators

1. Can we emulate different SSPs at the same time?

   Yes with the same number of cards as SSP to emulate.  The more cards there are the more powerful the CPU has to be.  It is therefore better to emulate 1 per unit.

2. Not all data link layers are established?

   Check C paths settings to verify that each protocol is on the correct HW channel

   Check HW configuration for PRI_1_P and PRI_2_P both need three channels configured channel A= TS 16, channel B= TS 15, channel C= TS 31

3. How many phones do we support on the V5AN?

   2 ISDN phones (Phone 1 and 2)

   2 PSTN phones (Phone 3 and 4)

4. How many ISDN and PSTN ports does the V5LE support?

   4 ISDN ports

   4 PSTN ports

5. Where is the TGEN log file and what format is it?

   The log file is in the root of c:\ and is called log.txt

   It is formatted text and can be imported in excel

6. What traffic can we generate?

   We can generate traffic on ISUP, ISDN (BA, PRI), INAP and for the V5LE, and mixed traffic from ISDN to V5 or ISUP.

Upgrade

1. What are advantages of upgrading an old system to a new machine?

   - All the ordered modules are offered at 50% discount (new ones at normal price).

   - The unit would contain the latest generation of hard- and software.

   - The unit would be fully integrated & tested for correct functionality before shipping

   - The customer would have all the normal warranty benefits of a new machine.

   - The customer can continue to use the old system.

All Programs

1. Why do the windows not close when attempting to exit the program?

   Check that the save or save as dialogue box used by any components of SAFIRE are not open.

2. Why do I get en error message saying that a required .DLL file is missing?

   A .dll file is either corrupt or missing from the system.  Reinstall the software from the distribution media.  Any available service packs should also be installed.

 

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