Free Web Hosting Provider - Web Hosting - E-commerce - High Speed Internet - Free Web Page
Search the Web

Hardware GUNTUR.JPG (11271 bytes)    Software  

                      HW Spec's    GTR Network   Network Diagram

                      Network Estimate     Sample IP Addresses

Last Modified on: 10 March 2000 06:07:03 PM

GUNTUR TELECOM WELCOMES YOU ........................HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT DOTSOFT

IMPLEMENTATION OF DOTSOFT       

This is the unofficial web site created by the Computer section % Genereal Manager Telecom, Guntur to give an idea about the implementation of DOTSOFT. DOTSOFT is developed by a team headed by  Sri K Ramchand, DGM(CS),%CGMT, Abids , Hyderabad and being implemented in the Guntur Telecom as their First site.  With experience of implementation of DOTSOFT by  computer section, %GMT, Guntur, we share our experience by means of this site.    feed back to: gmtgt@vsnl.com , dotguntur@hotmail.com. Feel free to contact the computer section, %GM Telecom, First lane, Ashok nagar Telephone Exchange, Guntur- 522002.   contact: 0863-248085, 0863-248066.

Table of contents

Field Experience

Stages in Implementation

TRA & Server on same LAN

Hub locations

Installation of PC's

Check points for PC's

Installation of Server

Usage of FTP

User Level Training

E-Mail to Circle Office

Telephone Bill Printing

Quick Delivery of Bills

FAQ

 

IMPLEMENTATION OF DOTSOFT

My experience and observation

GS Rama Prasad, SDE (Computers), GUNTUR

My opinion on DOTSOFT :

DOTSOFT is an excellent package developed by the core group of A P Circle consisting of DGM, AGM, JTO's,SDEs, AO's and JAO's. This package is developed by our own officials with out any help from outside. It is the only package integrated with Commercial, TRA, DQ and FRS. Really I wondered very much when a work order moved electronically to outdoor, MDF, Indoor, TestDesk and was made available to all TRA,DQ and FRS modules after the completion at TD with full security at all the levels. There are lot of enquiries, reports which enable the staff to give full information to subscriber from a remote location. This is the only package implemented throughout the SSA to serve the public.

Any change in the rule by DoT is being implemented immediately without any delay. Our team proved their competence on so many occasions, whenever the rules or the tariff undergo change.

FIELD EXPERIENCE IN IMPLEMENTATION OF DOTSOFT.

            Wide area network (WAN) is entirely a new concept and it is to be installed in the SSA level. I have not seen the WAN because there was no WAN in DOT at SSA level so far. Since it is established and working in Guntur for DOTSOFT, other SSAs who are going to implement have the opportunity to see and have an idea to implement DOTSOFT in their SSA and I hope everybody will make use of this opportunity.

                Development and implementation of DOTSOFT are the two activities that run parallel in Guntur Telecom. The network is established with a central CISCO router having a 2 MB link to a NEWBRIDGE multipleser. The multiplexer has 64K WAN ports to which are connected leased lines from distant locations. All the locations within Guntur are connected using 64K data modems(RAD) & locations outside Guntur are brought on 64K PCM channels. At the distant end the 64K modems are connected to a two port router which in turn is connected to a hub connected to a local Ethernet LAN. All the PCs/Nodes are loaded with windows95, developer 2000 and DoTSOFT application software for Commercial , TRA accounting , DQ and FRS( developed recently) and are connected to the Server having Sco Unix 5.0.4 , Oracle 7.3 database system and DOTSOFT data. 

Different stages of activities in implementing the DOTSOFT

First step is to visit the Guntur to have an idea about the DoTSOFT.
Planning of networking and hardware requirements.
Planning nodes in different locations for doing the network cabling.
Computer Training in windows95 for the user level and windows95 and Oracle for Computer maintenance staff.
DoTSOFT training to the Commercial officer, Accounts officer and one Sub divisional Engineer Computers. Atleast three from each SSA, to aquient them with the commercial, Tra and DBA activities respectively. This team is the implementation team of your SSA.
Procuring the hardware and networking materials.
Installing the server with SCO unix and Oracle database server.
Importing of Data from TBL/ CMC / any existing software to the existing server is the first activity. This work should be carried out immediately as a first step, don’t wait for the completion of whole networking. It will go on simultaneously, other wise your network will be idle after installation.
Creation of tables, synonyms, indexes with proper grants to the roles.
Inputting masters of your SSA
Checking of data with the old data. Corrections/deletions to be made in the new system, if necessary
Inputting the advicenote, offline payments.,etc to maintain equal status of the two servers till the switching over to the DOTSOFT completely. This should be done only after verifying the billing and accounting for atleast 4 months.
Network cabling should be kept ready in all the sites along with the network addresses.
Loading of the windows95, developer2000 ( run versions only ), application software’s at the central location and shift them later to the node points. Configure the nodes with network addresses.
Data reorganisation for Directory Enquiry is must. It should be carried out simultaneously at the trunks.
Inputting of waitlist to bring it to online.
DoTSOFT user level training to be organised by the implementation team. Within the SSA, for different users of software, training should be immediately after the network completion.
Keep the old server till you satisfy with the data in the new server.
Prepare the end user to sit with computer. This is very essential because till now our staff are accustomed to write on the paper. This is the new one coming adjacent to their seat. Ofcourse the information is just a click away from the user. This will definitely attract the user.
Last but not the least a vehicle with a dedicated team for installing the network.

Three Main stages of implementation:
  1. Planning of network & Procurement of Hardware and Network materials.
  2. Installation of server , local LAN ,porting of data, user level training and organising the data for DoTSOFT.
  3. Installation of hardware and network

If the men and material are ready then only we can go to the 2nd and 3rd stages. 2nd and 3rd stages will move in parallel till the completion.

In Guntur, Planning of network was done by the Circle office. P O for Network material and servers released by the circle office with consignee as GMT, Guntur. Network planned in all the buildings. While planning the network provide network cabling to all the possible points in those buildings, keeping in view of the expansion. This will have the advantage of shifting of any node or installation of new node quickly.

LOCATION OF SERVER:

Location of server should be in the exchange building having the PCM / OFC channels pertaining to DOTSOFT. It is must, other wise all channels have to be extended to another building through modems and cable pairs. This involves extra expenditure and maintenance problems are more.

TRA ,DBA and SERVER should be on the same LAN

With my experience on the network at Guntur, I am suggesting that TRA , Computer section and server should be on the same LAN (with in the same building).

Reasons:

The meter reading data will be collected and checked by TRA and The data loading will be done by the DBA.
Performance of the server will be monitored by DBA while process are running, where as the process will be run by TRA.
Normally the lcc process, bill process, ledger process are very big processes and should be run on the same LAN. It cannot be from different location as the maximum bandwidth available to the other location is only 64 KBPS. Where as in the local LAN it is 10mbps. On our observation the process taking 10 minutes in the local LAN is taking one hour time if it is fired from the TRA section in another location which was connected on 64 KBPS.

 

While fixing the hub location, please observe the following points.

It should have a continuous power supply.
Keep the Modem, Router, Hub in the same place.
Fix the location of the hub centrally, so that it consume less cable and should not exceed more than 250 feet from hub to node.
If there are number of floors in the building and the number of nodes exceeds more than four or five in a particular floor then provide another hub keeping in view of the distance and future expansion.
Network cable should pass in parallel with power cable but it can cross the power cable.
Network cable should not expose to sky as lightening may effect the network components.
Purchase one or two RJ45 climping tools and train two persons for climping the RJ45 to network cable.
Network cabling was included in the tender and paid depending on the no. of nodes with an average distance of 20 meters. Cabling should be done with casing and RJ45climping.
Network should be completed as early as possible. This is an independent job and it can be completed as early as possible.
In the networking on of the major issues is planning and installation of DATA circuits. This was entrusted to Sub divisional Engineer UHF installation. This work should go in parallel with network cabling.

Installation of personal computers at the node points

In Guntur, Personal computers were procured by SSA itself. All the PCs where checked for the configuration, loaded with windows95, developer 2000 with only F45Run, R25Run, SQL3.1, TCP/IP and with necessary drivers. Network card installed in all the PCs. Initially we have got some problems like HDD failures in PCs. To overcome this problem, we have used 4 HDDs which were loaded with necessary software and kept ready to replace immediately.

Before sending the PCs to the sites, please check the following points.

PCs were loaded with the necessary software or not.
Fixed the location of PC is fixed or not.
Power arrangements were made or not.
Trained the users or not. If not train them to use their modules.
Network extended or not. If not coordinate with the transmission wing of SSA & got the necessary 64 K Channnels.
Computer furniture was ready or not.

                                                                            TOP              BOTTOM

 

Installation of server with local LAN and data porting

Installation of server will be done by the supplier. If it is on RAID and hotswapable disks are used. we should check it in the beginning only by removing one HDD from hotswapable bay while working. Sco Unix will be loaded by the supplier. Oracle must be installed by the server supplier by going through the DOTSOFT installation manuals. For customizing the DOTSOFT in each SSA in INDIA, as far as my knowledge is concerned there is no specific circle to do this job. Whoever it may be, let us call this as development team. Oracle tuning will be done by the development team. Porting of the data from the old server to the new server is an expertise job. This can be done by the local implementation team with the help of development team. Data verification must be done by implementation team. Both the servers should be at equal level and should run poarallel.

This work should be done immediately after receiving the server. Because we have to run both the servers in parallel for a period of 4 months billing and accounting. In the meanwhile installation of PCs and networking should be completed. A local LAN in the server room mustbe established for feeding the masters data, for doing implementation activities by development team….etc.,

A team with JAO and feeding clerks should feed the data like payments, advicenotes till the commercial activities are made online. Commercial activities in the main town/city, normally which caters to 50% of the DELs should be brought online on priority basis.

A team with four commercial clerks in the main town should feed the waitlist to bring the waitlist to online. Feed the waitlist from bottom to top i.e., latest to oldest if your SSA is having large waitlist, otherwise in reverse. Once fed into the DOTSOFT don’t release A/N manually. It will create unnecessary problems in accounting. Once the commercial officer starts releasing the advice note in the computer then it should be completed in the computer only. Administration should fix the cut off date and give the instructions for online. Once it is online, the advice notes completed in the DOTSOFT should be sent to the old server by taking completed advice note printouts. This process should be continued till it is stopped.

A team with four officials for reorganising the directory enquiry data must be constituted. This is very essential for the operation of directory enquiry. While transferring the data, the data will not be in the respective fields.

Pincode beat wise to deliver the telephone bills quickly.

This activity can be done even without DOTSOFT in consultation with the local postal authorities. First print the phone numbers with Pincode and addresses sorting on Pincode and send it to the postal authorities. They will write the Pincode beats. Write a small program to add/update the pincodes with beats. While printing the telephone bills sort on the Pincode beat wise. This will ease the problem of sorting at the post offices and we can avoid the delay. This activity should be continued to update the new phones Pincode monthly or bimonthly.

Extensive usage of FTP

Initially our team was comprising of one SDE, two JTOs, one TTA and one RM for planning and installation of hardware, software, network in Guntur ssa. We are doing so many works in parallel. Any work if we done once, we thought that it is completed, but the application software is in developing stage and the modules are getting updated very frequently and we have to load each and every file in all the locations through out the SSA. This work has become a big task to me. Then we started using the FTP on our network. This item was included in the user level training and trained the users in FTP.

I will brief the FTP.

The user can send files from his PC to server at Guntur in the following way.

  1. First go to DOS prompt and change to the directory where the required files to send are there.
  2. Type ftp <server address> e.g.,192.9.6.6) at DOS prompt and user will be prompted for his username as well as password. After that user will get log in message. Separate users with passwords created in sco unix server with read-only permission to others in that group.
  3. If user wants to send a file then type put <filename.ext> and press enter key. After the transfer it will again come to prompt.
  4. If the user wants multiple files then type prompt and enter. type mput *.* and press enter key. If you don’t give prompt command ,then system prompts for confirmation and user have to press ‘Y’ for the required file and ‘N’ for the not required file.
  5. Finally after transfer ,type bye at prompt to return to DOS prompt and type exit to return to windows.
  6. To receive file from server, type dir at ftp prompt to list the files in the server. Type get filename.ext and press enter key to receive the file.
  7. Similarly to receive multiple files type mget *.* and press ‘Y’ for required file and ‘N’ to avoid that file.

User level training:

After implementing in four locations, daily our helpdesk used to get lot of queries from the users. When answering the phone calls and replying for all silly questions from our helpdesk, I came to a conclusion that a user level training is must. We prepared training modules with the experience of frequent interaction with the users at the helpdesk and the users were called for training from all the subdivisions, where the network is completed. The modules are ready with me. If any body wants it during the implementation stage, I will send it through e-mail.

Effective usage of circle office E-mail for file transferring.

It is absolutely not possible for the development team to stay at the implementation sites. During that time if there is any change in the modules, they will put in the circle office mail server and inform us. We will get those files and will be loaded in the locations by the FTP.

 Telephone Bill printing

The billing data in 7 files by running through SQL queries was given to printers to print the data in single sheet. The advantages of printing outside.

Subscriber satisfaction
Inkjet printing with two colors on front side and one color on backside. It looks more impressive and subscribers are very much satisfied (A sample of telephone bill kept at annexure – 1).
Trunk details/STD details printing on the same bill, so that 90% of the subscribers getting their bill in a single sheet.
Latest changes in tariff or rulings in the DoT are being printed on the back side, so that subscriber is aware of changes in billing.
The data positions are not fixed and are so flexible. If more than one debit is there it will print any no. of debits one after another and the later positions will be adjusted.
Low cost when compared to the printing of telephone bill and attaching the STD details processed and printed a outside.
Bill numbers are printed using barcodes. At online terminals, each PC is provided with a barcode scanner which are to be mounted on a stand. Each bill scanned displays all the information of the bill as well as customer name on the screen. The clerk has to input only the cash/draft/cheque details to take out the receipt.

 

FAQ’s

  1. who will install the PCs and network ?

    2. 1A. The PCs will be installed by the supplier, before that, the site should be prepared by concerned Sub divisional Engineer . network cabling should be done by the contractor, if the tender is finalised so.

    Hint: Plan to provide a PC at each point where Commercial, TRA, DQ & FRS.

    Commercial points: Operator Newlines,Operator Working lines, CO Newlines, CO Workinglines, Customer service counters, SDE(Outdoor),SDE(MDF),SDE(Indoor)

    TRA Points: Online cash counters, Offline feeding, AO(TR), JAO(TR),AO(Computers), CAO(TR), Trunkcallfeeding,phonogram feeding,AO(Cash)

    Directory enquiry: 197 &183 posn's

    FRS : All FC's and Major MDF's

    Administrative Points: At all GMs, DGMs,DFAs,AGMs, Concerned DEs, Computer sections.

    Each SDCA should be  provided with atleast three Computers 1.SDE  2.JTOie Indoor, 3,MDF (it can be used for FRS also). In the towns having more than 4000 connections at outdoor also PC s should be provided for OD/ FRS activities.

  2. computer not getting connected ?

2A. check following points

  1. powering up of modem/router/hub in that site.
  2. Check the connectivity through ping command.
  3. Check the LAN cable at PC and hub.
  4. Check TCP/IP configuration in the Network in control panel
  5. Check Tnsnames.ora file
  6. Check the lsntctl stat in the server.

3.computer hanging and not responding. What to do ?

    3A. Press Ctrl+Alt_Del keys and restart and check for virus and cure it.

4.  Some times a message Ignore, abort, retry is coming ?

    4A. Press Ctrl+Alt_Del keys and restart and check for virus and cure it.

5. Module not working?

5A. Some times users say module not working. Insist for oracle error. Check for the possible fault and do the need full.

  This may be due to

  1. concerned file missing at the client.
  2. No grants to the user.
  3. Module error
  4. Version mismatch.

Find out the reason and act accordingly.

        6. DOTSOFT icon is missing on the desk top. What to do ?

    6a. This question will come frequently in the beginning of implementation. It is due to the deletion of icon by the user unknowingly. Check in the recycle bin and drag to the desk top. Otherwise hint the user to create another shortcut icon.

    Command: c:orawinin 45run.exe c:aptsoftapmain.fmx, wkg dir is : c:aptsoft

  1. Bottom task bar is not visible ?

    2. 7a. this may due to auto hide on or task bar dragged to edge, unknowingly. Keep the task bar at auto hide only and ask the user to drag the taskbar to onestep.

  2. Module taken on the FTP not working?

    3. 8a. down load the module again by typing bin at FTP prompt.

  3. For howmany nodes, one site is to be connected on 64KBPS ?

    4. 9a. All the sites with the commercial activities in the SSA should be connected on the WAN or sites having more than 2nodes.

  4. SDO's office is out side the exchange. How to extend the network?

    5. 10A.SDO’s office is more than 500 meters from mux then 64k data channel can be extended through cable pairs by placing G703 at exchange and v.35 interface modem at SDO office. If it is less than 500 meters form mux G-703/v.35 converter is sufficient.

  5. Not connecting to server on dial up ?

    6. 11a. please check up the modems and phone numbers at both ends. First connect to the server and then only start using the DOTSOFT.

  6. What is the Maximum distance from hub to node ?

    7. 12a. 100meters.

  7. What is the maximum distance form data circuit (mux) to modem ?

    8. 13a. 500meters

  8. Performance is very slow. What to do?

    9. 14a. please know the name of the module, check for the server whether it is busy or not. If the server is busy inform the same. If not check for the relevant indexes.

  9. What are the equipment required for the location connected on the 64 k data cct?

    10. 15a.Two nos. of 6channel data cards, one G703 to V35 converter , v35 interface cable, router and hub

  10. What are the equipment required for the location connected on the cablepairs ?

    11. 16a. one G703 modem at server room and v35 modem and interface cable, router, hub at the other end.

  11. What is the Maximum distance from the server to the site connected on a cable pair?

    12. 17a. 5 km

  12. which printer is compatable for oracle reports ?

    13. 18a. Prepared 3 inches preprinted cash counter receipts. Oracle reports not stopping after 3 inches. Tried to stop the printer by giving the page size 3 inches. Printer not supported. Later purchased the printer LX300 and set the pagesize to 3 inches and enabled auto tear off for cash counters. Any printer through which different page sizes from 3 inches may be procured.

19. what scanner is compatable at cash counters?

19a. keywedged scanner is compatable. Tried with RS232 connectivity is not useful to DOTSOFT.

20. whether client should be loaded with windows95,developer and DOTSOFT ?

20a. Need not, you can use VXL think pads with flash memory technology and windows NT – terminal server software with citrix on one of server which is located on the server LAN.

Tried in Guntur with VXL terminals at the remote locations and found the following advantages.

  1. Need not load the modules at clients. Centrally loaded software in the windows NT terminal server can be shared by all the clients.
  2. User level training on windows95 can be eliminated.
  3. Clients are virus free.
  4. No floppy disks, so more secure.
  5. Robost and maintainance free.
  6. Can be accessed by paralelly by the administration to verify.

 

21. Howmany floppies required for taking the DOTSOFT software?

21a. Software will not be supplied by Guntur Telecom. Contact DGM(CS) , Sri K Ramchand, Hyderabad through the HEAD of SSA for information.

22. Whether STD detailed billing attached to DOTSOFT?

22a. STD details are processed in the computer section.Conversion programmes available.A magnetic tape drive required for reading the spools of E10B and EWSD exchanges.At present printing telephone bills through private agency.

23. How is the networking at Guntur ?

23a. Network installed is very stable. The problems are with local cable pairs. so provided two cable pairs as stand by. Sometimes we have to restart the branch router. This is very rare, once in a moth

24. Howmany cable pairs are required to connect a local site?

    24a. Two cable pairs for working and two cable pairs as standby.

25. How to report an error and whom to report ?

25a. Oracle error to be reported to DBA of your SSA. While reporting the error, some users simply say module is not working. This is not correct. Please inform oracle error which will come in the bottom of the module. With this oracle error DBA can analyze the type of error.

TOP                                                           MIDDLE

 ©GS Ramaprasad,SDE(Computers), Guntur, gogunta@hotmail.com

20530