6/19/2015

TroubleshootingBRILayer2Cisco

ISDN,CAS

TroubleshootingBRILayer2
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Contents

SUPPORT
TECHNOLOGYSUPPORT
DIALANDACCESS
INTEGRATEDSERVICESDIGITAL
NETWORKS(ISDN),CHANNEL
ASSOCIATEDSIGNALING(CAS)
TROUBLESHOOTANDALERTS
TROUBLESHOOTINGTECHNOTES
TroubleshootingBRILayer2

Introduction
Prerequisites
Requirements
ComponentsUsed
Conventions
VerifytheSwitchtype
Understandingthedebugisdnq921Output
IdentifyingtheSourceofLayer2Problems
IdentifyingMessagesIndicatingLayer2Problems
AdditionalTroubleshootingProcedure
RelatedInformation
RelatedCiscoSupportCommunityDiscussions

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Introduction
WhentroubleshootingIntegratedServicesDigitalNetwork(ISDN)BasicRateInterfaces(BRIs),itis
necessarytofirstdetermineiftheroutercanproperlycommunicatewiththetelcoISDNswitch.Oncethishas
beenverified,youcanproceedtohigherleveltroubleshootingissuessuchasdialerconfigurations,interesting
trafficdefinitions,PPPfailuresandsoon.

Prerequisites
Requirements
Readersofthisdocumentshouldbeknowledgeableofthefollowing:
BeforetroubleshootingBRILayer2issues,verifythatLayer1isfunctioning.Ifyouneedhelpto
determinethisortotroubleshootLayer1,RefertoUsingshowisdnstatusforBRItroubleshooting.
Beforeissuingdebugcommands,pleaseseeImportantInformationonDebugCommands.
Note:Activatemillisecondtimestampsfordebugsusingthefollowingcommands:
mauisoho01(config)#servicetimestampsdebugdatetimemsec
mauisoho01(config)#servicetimestampslogdatetimemsec

ComponentsUsed
Theinformationinthisdocumentisbasedonthesoftwareandhardwareversionsbelow.
CiscoIOSSoftwareRelease12.0
Theinformationpresentedinthisdocumentwascreatedfromdevicesinaspecificlabenvironment.Allof
thedevicesusedinthisdocumentstartedwithacleared(default)configuration.Ifyouareworkinginalive
network,ensurethatyouunderstandthepotentialimpactofanycommandbeforeusingit.

Conventions
Formoreinformationondocumentconventions,seetheCiscoTechnicalTipsConventions.

VerifytheSwitchtype
Usetheshowisdnstatuscommandtocheckiftheswitchtypefortheinterfaceiscorrectlyconfigured.A
samplebelowshowsthattheswitchtypeisnotconfigured:
mauisoho01#showisdnstatus
****NoGlobalISDNSwitchtypecurrentlydefined****
ISDNBRI0interface
dsl0,interfaceISDNSwitchtype=none
Layer1Status:
ACTIVE
Layer2Status:
Layer2NOTActivated
!AninvalidswitchtypecanbedisplayedasaLayer1orLayer2problem.
Layer3Status:
0ActiveLayer3Call(s)
Activateddsl0CCBs=0
TheFreeChannelMask:0x80000003
TotalAllocatedISDNCCBs=0

Iftheswitchtypeiseithernotconfiguredorconfiguredincorrectly,configureitontheinterface.
Tip:TheTelcoshouldexplicitlyindicatetheswitchtypethatneedstobeconfigured.Occasionally(especially
inNorthAmerica)theTelcomayindicatetheswitchtypeis"custom"or"national".Insuchcases,usethe

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followingguidelinestodeterminetheswitchtypeconfiguration:
Custom:IftheTelcoindicatesthattheirswitchtypeisCustom,thenconfiguretheswitchtypeonthe
routerasbasic5ess(forBRIwith5essswitch),primary5ess(forPRIwith5ess),basicdms(forBRI
withDMSswitch),orprimarydms(forPRIwithDMS).
National:SwitchtypeconformingtotheNI1standardforBRIandNI2standardforPRI.Ifthetelco
informsyouthattheswitchtypeisNational,thentheCiscorouterconfigurationshouldbebasicni(for
BRI)orprimaryni(forPRI).
Note:ForCiscoIOSsoftwarereleasesupto11.2,theconfiguredISDNswitchtypeisaglobalcommand
(whichmeantyoucouldnotuseBRIandPrimaryRateInterface(PRI)cardsinthesameCiscochassiswith
IOS11.2andearlier).InCiscoIOS11.3Torlater,multipleswitchtypesinasingleCiscoIOSchassisare
supported.
Contactyourtelcotodeterminewhatyourswitchtypeis,thenusetheisdnswitchtypecommandto
configureitontherouterasshownbelow:
mauisoho01#configureterminal
Enterconfigurationcommands,oneperline.EndwithCNTL/Z.
mauisoho01(config)#isdnswitchtypebasic5ess
mauisoho01(config)#exit

Understandingthedebugisdnq921Output
Aftereachstepprescribedbelow,usetheshowisdnstatuscommandtocheckifBRILayers1and2are
up.
1. Turnondebugisdnq921tofollowthemessagesthataretransmittedfromtheroutertothetelco
ISDNswitch.
2. YoushouldthenusetheclearinterfacebrinumbertoresettheBRIinterface.Thisforcestherouter
torenegotiateLayer2informationwiththetelcoISDNswitch.
AnexampleofasuccessfulLayer2negotiationisshownbelow:
mauisoho01#undebugall
Allpossibledebugginghasbeenturnedoff
mauisoho01#debugisdnq921
ISDNQ921packetsdebuggingison
mauisoho01#showdebug
ISDN:
ISDNQ921packetsdebuggingison
ISDNQ921packetsdebugDSLs.(On/Off/NoDSL:1/0/)
DSL0>1
1
...
...
mauisoho01#clearinterfacebri0
mauisoho01#
*Mar100:03:46.976:ISDNBR0:TX>IDREQri=29609ai=127
!IDREQ:IdentityRequesttransmitted(Tx)totheISDNswitchrequestinga
!TerminalEndpointIdentifier(TEI)
!ActionIndicator,AI=127indicatesthattheISDNswitchcanassignany
!TEIvalueavailable
*Mar100:03:47.000:ISDNBR0:RX<IDASSNRI=29609AI=96
!IDASSN:IdentityAssignedmessageReceived(Rx)withtheTEIvalue(96)
!assignedbytheISDNswitch
*Mar100:03:47.016:ISDNBR0:TX>SABMEpsapi=0tei=96
!RequesttheconnectionbeputinMultipleFrameEstablishedState
*Mar100:03:47.036:ISDNBR0:RX<UAfsapi=0tei=96
!UnnumberedAcknowledgment(UA)oftheSABMEmessage
!Layer2isnowMultipleFrameEstablished
*Mar100:03:47.040:%ISDN6LAYER2UP:Layer2forInterfaceBR0,TEI96
changedtoup
*Mar100:04:07.340:ISDNBR0:RX<INFOcsapi=0tei=96ns=0nr=0
i=0x08007B3201C3
*Mar100:04:07.352:ISDNBR0:TX>RRrsapi=0tei=96NR=1
!RRrServiceAccessPointIdentifier(sapi=0)indicatesdatalinkservices
!areprovidedtoanetworkLayer.

Forfurtherinformationondebugisdnq921andhowtodecodetheLayer2negotiationsequence,referto
thedebugcommandreference.Youcanalsousedebugisdneventformoredebuginformation.
Foracircuitthatisproperlyfunctioning(Layer2isMultipleFrameEstablished),youshouldhaveperiodic
exchangesofRRpsapi=0andRRfsapi=0messagesbetweentherouterandtheISDNswitch,indicating
thatthelinkisup.TheintervalbetweenReceiverReadypoll(RRp)andReceiverReadyfinal(RRf)sapi
messagesisusually10or30seconds.Anexamplewiththemessagesat30secondintervalsisshown
below:
*Mar101:33:48.559:ISDNBR0:TX>RRpsapi=0tei=96NR=0
*Mar101:33:48.579:ISDNBR0:RX<RRfsapi=0tei=96NR=0
*Mar101:34:18.347:ISDNBR0:TX>RRpsapi=0tei=96NR=0
*Mar101:34:18.367:ISDNBR0:RX<RRfsapi=0tei=96NR=0

IdentifyingtheSourceofLayer2Problems
Layer2problemscannotoftenberectifiedatthecustomersite.However,Layer2debugs(orthe
interpretationofthedebugs)canbeprovidedtothetelcofortheirreference.Thedebugisdnq921

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commandoutputprovidesdetailsontheLayer2transactionoccurringbetweentheISDNswitchandthe
router.
Payattentiontothedirectionofthemessages.Thedebugsindicatewhetherthemessagesweregenerated
bytherouter(indicatedbyTX>)oriftheywerereceivedbytherouter(indicatedbyRX<).Intheexample
below,thefirstmessage(IDREQ)issentbytherouter,whilethesecond(IDASSN)isfromtheISDNswitch:
*Mar100:03:46.976:ISDNBR0:TX>IDREQRI=29609AI=127
*Mar100:03:47.000:ISDNBR0:RX<IDASSNRI=29609AI=96

Youcanidentifythesourceoftheproblembyfollowingthedirectionofaparticularmessageandthe
response.Forexample,ifthetelcoISDNswitchunexpectedlysendsaLayer2disconnect,therouterwill
resetLayer2aswell.ThisindicatesthattheproblemlieswiththetelcoISDNswitch.

IdentifyingMessagesIndicatingLayer2Problems
TherouterandtheISDNswitchtransmitandreceivemanyLayer2messages.Mostofthemessagesare
normalandareusedtoverifynormaloperation.However,somemessagescanindicateLayer2problems.
Thoughoccasionalresetsmaynotaffectservice,ifyouobserveextendedperiodsofLayer2instability,you
shouldtakeacloserlookatthecircuit.
Thefollowingtablebelowhasdebugisdnq921Layer2messagesthatindicateproblems:
Message

Explanation

PossibleSolution

ID
Denied

TheISDNswitchcannot
assigntherequested
terminalendpoint
identifier(TEI).Ifthis
messagehasAI=127,
thentheISDNswitch
hasnoTEIsavailable.It
isusuallyfollowedby
anotherIDREQfromthe
router.

ResettheBRIinterface
usingclearinterfacebri
numberorshut/noshut
ontheinterface.If
AI=127,thencontactthe
telco/provider.

IDREM

TheISDNswitchhas
removedtheTEI(ID)
fromtheconnection.
Theroutermustdiscard
allexiting
communicationusing
thatTEI.

Checktoseeifanew
TEIisassignedatalater
time.Ifnot,contactthe
telco.

DISC

Thesidesendingthe
DISConnectmessage
hasterminatedLayer3
operationonthelink.It
maybeUAcknowledged
bytheotherside.The
routershouldthensend
aSABMEmessage
reestablishingthelink

Ifthedisconnect
messageoriginatedfrom
therouter,resetthe
interfaceusingclear
interfacebrinumberor
shut/noshutonthe
interface.IftheDISC
messageoriginatedfrom
theISDNswitch,contact
thetelco.Iftherouter
doesnotinitiatea
SABME,resetthe
interfacefirst.

DM

Acknowledged
DisconnectMode.The
devicesendingthis
messagedoesnotwish
toentertheMultiple
FrameEstablished
state.Therouterwill
remaininLayer2state
TEI_ASSIGNED.
SABMEsare
retransmitteduntilthe
othersiderespondswith
aUAinsteadofaDM.

IftheDMisgeneratedby
therouter,resetthe
interfaceusingclear
interfacebrinumberor
shut/noshutonthe
interface.IftheDM
messageoriginatedfrom
theISDNswitch,contact
thetelco.

FRMR

AFrameReject
Response(fromthe
ISDNswitch)indicates
anerrorthatcannotbe
recoveredby
retransmission.The
routerwillinitiatea
Layer2resetand
transmitaSABMEfor
transitiontostate
MultipleFrame
Established.

Iftherouterdoesnot
initiateaSABME,reset
theinterfaceusingclear
interfacebrinumberor
shut/noshutonthe
interface.

AnexampleofaReceivedDISCmessageshowninthetableisprovided:
Jan3010:50:18.523:ISDNBR1/0:RX<RRfsapi=0tei=71NR=0
Jan3010:50:23.379:ISDNBR1/0:RX<DISCpsapi=0tei=71
Jan3010:50:23.379:%ISDN6Layer2DOWN:Layer2forInterfaceBR1/0,TEI71
changedtodown
Jan3010:50:23.383:ISDNBR1/0:TX>UAfsapi=0tei=71

AdditionalTroubleshootingProcedure
Herearesomeadditionalstepsfortroubleshooting:

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1. IfyouobservethattherouterissendingISDNQ.921IDREQsandisreceivingnoresponsefromthe
ISDNswitch,checkthattheSPIDsareconfiguredcorrectly,verifytheSPIDswiththetelco,andif
necessary,havethetelcotracktheSPIDs.
Anexampleisshownbelow:
19:27:31:TX>IDREQRI=19354AI=127dsl=0
19:27:33:TX>IDREQRI=1339AI=127dsl=0
19:27:35:TX>IDREQRI=22764AI=127dsl=0
19:27:37:TX>IDREQRI=59309AI=127dsl=0

ObservethateachIDREQhasanAI=127requestingthattheISDNswitchcanassignanyTEIvalue
available.
2. Normally,therouterisassignedtheTEIbytheISDNswitchduringpowerup.However,sometimes
(notablyinEurope)switchesmaydeactivateLayers1or2whentherearenoactivecalls.Insuch
situations,itisnecessarytoconfigureisdnteinegotiationfirstcallundertheBRIinterface,sothat
TEInegotiationcanoccurwhenthefirstISDNcallisplacedorreceived.Typically,thissettingisused
forISDNserviceofferingsinEuropeandconnectionstodms100switchesthataredesignedtoinitiate
TEInegotiation.
mauisoho01(config)#interfacebri0
mauisoho01(configif)#isdnteinegotiationfirstcall

Inthiscase,youmayhavetoinitiateadialoutorreceiveacallfortheTEInegotiationtooccur.For
dialout,ensurethatyourDDRconfigurationiscorrect.
3. Reloadtherouter.
4. IfyouhaveperformedalltheaboveproceduresandcontinuetohaveLayer1and2notproperly
established,contactthetelcoforfurthertroubleshootingassistance.

RelatedInformation
UsingtheshowisdnstatusCommandforBRITroubleshooting
TroubleshootingISDNBRISPIDs
DialupTechnology:TroubleshootingTechniques
TechnicalSupportCiscoSystems

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RefertoCiscoTechnicalTipsConventionsforinformationonconventionsusedinthisdocument.

Updated:Nov15,2005

DocumentID:5707

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