How to setup the PBX Simulator

Article ID: 51207 - Last Review: May 4, 2015

INFORMATION

You can demonstrate the real time and reporting functionality of Contact Center Management and Contact Center Client using simulation mode. Before installing simulation mode files and configuring Contact Center Management to run in simulation mode, you must install Contact Center Management and verify the installation was successful. For details on installing and configuring Contact Center Management, see the Mitel Contact Center Management Installation Guide.

NOTE: This knowledgebase article includes a package with configuration and data which was created for demonstrating the simulator.  This package was originally created several years ago.  The configuration is outdated and will not function properly with MiCC Version 7.1.  We are in the process of creating a new configuration and demonstration data package, however this is not necessary.  The PBX simulator can replay any raw data given the corresponding configuration.  You can use your own data with the simulator just as easily.

Installing the PBX Simulator

1. Navigate to [InstallDir]\CCM\Support\PBX Simulator\
2. Double click the Setup.exe file and follow the on-screen prompts
3. If you open the Services control panel (services.msc) you should now have a prairieFyre PBX Simulation Service.

Using the attached package

1. Unpack the DemoSystem.ZIP file Restore the package inside (this will import the configuration.)  NOTE: This will replace your current configuration. If you need to mix this simulation with a live environment, unpack and restore the simulation package first then add the live PBXs and synchronize down after.
2. Check in YSE what node # of the simulated PBX. Unzip the raw data files inside the DemoSystem.ZIP (a20050801.zip, and s20050801.zip) into the matching Node folder in [InstallDir]\CCM\Data Directory\. The Simulator service will only read .TXT files, and not ZIP files.

Creating your simulation node

1. In YSE open the simulation Media Server, and go to the Data Collection tab.
2. Verify that the Computer Name field indicates the current MiCC server, where the simulator is running.
3. Set it to Simulation on the left.  In here specify:
1. Run the simulation for this many telephone system days:  This is the number of times in a row the raw data will be played back.
2. Run the simulation at ## times the normal speed:  This is how fast you will play back the data.  Selecting 1 will be real-time.  Higher numbers will push the raw data through faster.  I have seen this pushed as high as 40 in testing.
3. Simulation Start Time:  When in the raw data it will start playing back.  NOTE: With the provided data package, there will be no activity until 8am.
4. Simulation End Time:  When in the raw data it will stop playing back.  NOTE: In the provided data package, SMDR stops at around 20:30
5. Enable MiTAI for this simulation:  Check this box to simulate MiTAI traffic.  Realtime will not display correctly without this.
6. Specify the files to be used for this simulation:  Browse to the Node folder and select s20050801.txt for SMDR, and the file beginning in a20050801.txt for the ACD.
4. Click the Save button at the top of YSE.
5. Open the Services control panel (services.msc) and restart the prairieFyre PBX Simulation Service.
1. NOTE: The service needs to pre-cache all the raw data, so the simulation can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes before it begins.
2. If you changed the computer name in step 2, you must also restart the prairieFyre Collector Service (v5) service before we will begin collecting the simulated data.
6. Open the Contact Center Client and load a profile set to monitor the Queues/Agents in the simulation (filter the lists by media server to pick out the correct devices)
7. If after 15 minutes you see no changes in the realtime monitors, restart the .NET Enterprise Server service (this may also take 5 minutes to fully take effect).

 

Starting simulation mode

To start the Contact Center Management PBX simulation mode;

• Click Start ->Administrative Tools ->Services.
• Click prairieFyre PBX Simulation Service.
• Click Start or Restart to start the service.
• Close the Services window.

Verifying the installation and configuration was successful

To verify that the Simulation environment is working (MiCC Version 7.0 or newer):

• Open YourSite Explorer.
• Click on Media Servers, on the left.
• Select the Media Server configured for Simulation Mode.
• Click the Tools tab at the top of the screen.
• Click Data Link to verify that ACD and SMDR data is streaming. If the media server is online and ACD and SMDR data is streaming you can begin to demonstrate Contact Center Management and Contact Center Client real time and reporting functionality.

To verify that the Simulation environment is working (MiCC Version 6.X or earlier):

• Open Contact Center Client.
• Log in to Contact Center Client using an administrator user name and password.
• In Network Monitor, ensure the Simulation media server you created is online.
• Click Data Link to verify that ACD and SMDR data is streaming. If the media server is online and ACD and SMDR data is streaming you can begin to demonstrate Contact Center Managementand Contact Center Client real time and reporting functionality.

NOTE:  The PBX Simulator needs to pre-cache the raw data before it begins playback.  As such, after you start or restart the service there may be a 5 to 15 minute delay before playback of the raw data begins.

The PBX Simulator needs to pre-cache the raw data before it begins playback.  As such, after you start or restart the service there may be a 5 to 15 minute delay before playback of the raw data begins.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• In a simulated environment, it is important to configure the device the same way you would on a live environment. Agents / Agent Groups / Extensions / Queues will need to be configured with the same reporting number / dialable in order to be in real-time and reporting. Furthermore, licensing rules are the same.
• Your Enterprise Server will run in simulation mode for as long as you specified. If you leave simulation mode on for several days, you may notice discrepancies on subsequent days.  To avoid this, schedule a restart of the .NET Enterprise Server, then (5 minutes later) the PBX Simulation Service shortly after midnight.
• If you are running simulation mode for an extended period you can either store the .TXT files for the raw phone data outside the \Data\Directory\ structure in order to prevent the Maintenance process from zipping up the raw TXT file.
• If you restart the Enterprise Server while in simulation mode, you must restart the prairieFyre PBX Simulation Service once the Enterprise Server becomes operational.
• If you change the state of an agent or extension using Interactive Contact Center, the agent/extension will remain in that state until you change the state again or until simulation mode has scheduled a state change.
• To disable Simulation mode, in YourSite Explorer click back to the TCP tab on the left.
• To disable Simulation mode, in Contact Center Management remove the checkmark beside run in simulation mode.