Everett/Seattle 56k

[Robert Dinse <nanook@eskimo.com>]

     56K / ISDN  Seattle/Everett Problems               
 
     The 56k problem is still not completely properly resolved, however,
there is a work-around in place.

     The problem with the software marking a modem busy and leaving it
that way still exists.  However, there is a ten minute idle timeout that
will eventually release any given modem.

     As a work-around, the changed the hunt group to the type that I have
here for our hunt group where it hunts for the most-idle modem which means
that unless it's nearly full, the chances of trying to connect to a modem
that is still hung and hasn't been released by the idle timeout is
minimal. 

     This should greatly reduce the dead-air/re-order/cutoff problems.  To
further reduce the problem while the vendor is working on a fix to the
software, they are going to install additional modems such that there are
more modems than ports so that even with the modems that hang it will
always have enough to service the calls. 

     The engineer I talked to today was hopeful that they'd have a fix for
the software within the week. 

     We however received no more complaints monday night after they made
the change to the hunt groups so hopefully this work around will prevent
it form being service impacting while the correct fix is being worked
upon.

     Additionally, here are some other numbers into the Seattle group in
case the problems reoccur, these may allow you to bypass the problem span
or modems: 

	206-812-4571    Seattle 
	206-812-4572    Seattle
	206-812-4573    Seattle
	206-812-4574    Seattle
	206-812-4575    Seattle

     If you do encounter ring-no-answer, re-order, cut-offs,
failure-to-authenticate, or other problems on the Seattle or Everett 56k
POP, please let us know right away as we need to get this information to
the MegaPOP people.  There may be seperate unrelated trunking issues
causing some re-orders from certain areas and to determine that we need
both the number you called, the number you originated the call on, and the
time and date of the call, and the nature of the failure. 

     Thank you for your patience in this matter.