SatSig topic:

iToolkit Vs Manual Scripting Query

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Jul 27^th, 2009 at 8:22am

we have an iDirect hub with 300 clients , we want to integrate our hub with a billing system , so that if any of our client payment is over due its remote get deactivated automatically without having any human intervention. i talked to TAC and they suggest iToolkit , but is there any other way then using iToolkit ????????

Jul 29^th, 2009 at 6:55pm

Well, you can write a set of perl scripts that would block/unblock certain IP ranges whenever billing event is triggered. I guess you can keep the NMS intact and work this through the routing level - should be possible.

PS: I can probably help with this when I get some spare time. Drop me an e-mail.

Aug 28^th, 2009 at 5:32am

Why are you even going this route. We don't really have this type of model, but have looked into it. We came to the conclusion the best way to attack this was a backend into your billing system, which generates dynamic SQL commands to flag the remote inactive. You have to remember, EVERYTHING happens in the NMS - so even if you deactive the remote, it'll still have an rx lock and wait to be commanded online.

I guess the next question is, what's cheaper and easier.. a list of customers and a guy with a mouse or a machine which does this automatically.

Aug 28^th, 2009 at 7:37am

wbailey: How do you automatically apply this configuration change to the correct network?

You could also trigger a configuration change in your upstream router. If it's Cisco it happens on fly. Actually you could redirect all the webtraffic from this remote/customer to a page telling about the overdue...

Aug 29^th, 2009 at 9:54pm

What do you think iBuilder is doing?? It's just a GUI which is sending sql commands. Anything you can do from iMon/iBuilder - you can do from the command line. And captive portals for billing work, but I wouldn't bother with that.. Chances are if they are overdue on a bill, they probably know about it Wink

Oct 20^th, 2009 at 2:08am

Did you end up using iToolKit?

Oct 25^th, 2009 at 4:29pm

Hi,
we worked out in the last years a workable web based system which interacts with all iDirect NMS versions with many features: Google MAPs, Traffic Graphs, Terminal activation. We have many features integrated which are not available from iDirect at the moment.

Best Regards, Andreas Buxbaum

Oct 27^th, 2009 at 11:20pm

hi nynex_sat,

How did you end up doing this? PHP with SQL?

We are stuck using the iToolKit. I think once we get it up and going we should be fine.
I have also added the google maps code. Just have to give it a crack and see if i can get it to work.
Do you have a URL for me to look at how you implemented the interface? Or maybe a screen shot if it is all confidential?

Cheers,

Dec 4^th, 2009 at 6:40am

Has anybody had any success implementing a captive portal system. Where the clients are told via a webpage that they are cut off?

For example, client tries to get google but gets to page that says their account is in arrears etc..

Lee

Dec 7^th, 2009 at 2:30am

Thats a good idea Thailand_Lee.

Would you need a system like a radius server to perform all the checking though?? not sure. would like to see how you go with this.

Dec 9^th, 2009 at 11:45am

There is a product out there which works quite well with iDirect for captive portal and billing (backend OSS) called "Pronto".. When I talked to my iDirect guys a few weeks ago, that is the only product which has been successfully implemented as of yet on an iDirect network. The good part about that though, is they understand and are able to implement pretty quckly.

As far as the web based gui - I would really dig seeing that. I had a look at a fellow service providers web based GUI a while back, it was pretty nice. They had a lot of roaming remotes, so the google earth kml plugin was pretty cool.

I've heard whispers that iDirect is planning on releasing a web based solution for their service providers that will run on the same box as the NMS. It's really pretty easy to implement, just takes a lot of time.

I can tell you one thing though, when I saw the quote for iToolkit .. I laughed and sent it the way of skymonitor.. my recycle bin.

//warren

Feb 29^th, 2012 at 9:18am

Hi Team,

I am looking for a OSS/BSS Solution that can be integrated with iDirect NMS.

We are looking for a solution for centralizing and managing our iDirect platforms. Our requirements are as below:

Client portal
Customer should be able to view RF statistics + Alams / Warnings
Customer should be able to view utilizations & even protocol breakdown (history also)
Can log trouble ticket
Integrate Satellite coverage map and showing a client / reseller that their remotes are in which country
Web based / online request
Live chatting with NOC/Support

HUB Management:
Centralized management of all the hubs / teleport
HUB utilizations
Hub RF Statistics + Alarms / Warnings
Remote configuration through web based
Reconnection / Disconnection through web based
IP Management Database
Other monitoring which I might be forgetting

Billing integration
Software to integrate billing system with NMS
Remotes should be disconnected automatically if they have outstanding payments
Remote should be reconnected automatically if they have cleared their payments
Invoice generation and should be imported to client portal so they can download from their portal