Satellite in Offline Mode

In normal operation the Master controls the entire telephone traffic in the AIN (AIN operating mode), so Master and satellite must be able to exchange signalling data at any time. If contact is lost, the satellite is no longer operational in the AIN operating mode. The satellite is switched to the offline operating mode to enable at least limited telephone traffic in this emergency situation. In offline mode the satellite operates as a single system and accesses the local configuration data while offline (offline configuration).

Switching to offline mode

  • The signalling connections between Master and satellites are permanently supervised by connection monitors. The monitoring interval can be configured and ranges from a few seconds to several minutes.

  • As soon as the connection monitors of the Master and the satellite concerned detect an interruption, the satellite is restarted. The Master deactivates the AIN configuration data of this satellite and generates the event message Node x lost. If configured, a user-definable text is displayed on the system phones during offline operation.

  • The satellite restarts and loads the offline configuration data, and starts up offline operation. The offline mode is signalled in the operation status indication. Mitel 470: Offline is indicated on the user interface).

Switching back to AIN operation mode

  • During offline operation the satellite regularly tries to re-establish contact with the Master.

  • The satellite restarts after the satellite's connection monitor detects the contact to the master via a configurable minimum duration (Minimum connection duration setting).

  • When it starts up, the satellite logs back on with the Master and resumes AIN operation. The Master generates the event message Node x reestablished.

Restricted functions in offline mode

The following functions are not available in offline mode:

  • The voice mail system is set up centrally on the Master for the entire AIN and is not available to a satellite operating in offline mode.

  • All the properties licensed centrally in the Master for the AIN mode Exceptions: The licensed voice channels for VoIP, SIP access and QSIG are enabled for 36 hours so that connected IP terminals or QSIG nodes are available also in offline mode, provided they have been configured accordingly (refer to your communication server's system manual).

  • All the applications of the CPU2 application card (provided one is used in the master).

  • OIP server and all OIP-based applications

  • Server-based third-party applications

  • PSTN overflow.

The following functions are available only to a limited extent in offline mode:

  • External phone traffic:

    If the satellite does not have its own exchange line circuit, users on the satellite can no longer be reached directly from the outside.

  • DECT System:

    Only those cordless phones that are registered for offline operation are recognised by the communication server.

  • IP system phones:

    Only those IP system phones that are registered for offline operation are recognised by the communication server.

Configuring offline operation for the satellites

You can make the settings for a satellite's offline operation directly on the satellite. Please note the following points:

Parameter

Remarks

VoIP channels

Check that the satellite is equipped with a sufficient number of VoIP channels for the offline mode and expand if necessary.

Tip:

Mitel CPQ always calculates a sufficient number of VoIP channels to operate the IP system phones on the satellites in offline mode.

Numbering plan

Assign the users the same call numbers as in the AIN operating mode so that the users on the satellite can be reached on the usual numbers in offline mode.

call routing

If the satellite has an exchange line circuit, for the most important users at the other nodes set up virtual PISN users that can be dialled via the public network (PISN user view). Allocate the PISN users the same call numbers as those used by the corresponding users in the AIN. Your internal contact partners connected to a different node can then still be reached on the usual call numbers.

Tip:

Instead of setting up a separate PISN number for each user, you can define a PISN number with a wildcard that covers all the users. For instance PISN number 3xx covers all the internal users from 300 to 399.

IP system phones

The IP system phones are basically logged on to the Master. They can also be set for offline operation "Putting IP system phones in the AIN into operation".

Cordless phones

The cordless phones are registered with the master server in regular AIN operation mode. To ensure the cordless phones can be used also in offline mode, register the handsets in offline mode of the satellites with the DECT system.

Tip:

Register the cordless phones using a system other than in the Master (e.g. System B) and set the cordless phones on System = Auto so that the cordless phones automatically log on to the active system.

Displaying offline mode

You can use the idle text of the system phones to display a text in offline mode Set idle text globally.