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oubleshooting/guide/tr1915.html
Troubleshooting E1 Problems
This section describes the techniques and procedures to troubleshoot E1 circuits for dial-in customers.
Troubleshooting Using the show controller e1 Command
The show e1 controller exec command provides information to logically troubleshoot physical layer and data link
layer problems. This section describes how to logically troubleshoot using the show controller e1 command.
This command displays the controller status that is specific to the controller hardware. The information displayed
is generally useful for diagnostic tasks performed by technical support personnel only.
The NPM or MIP can query the port adapters to determine their current status. Issue a show controller e1
command to display statistics about the E1 link.
If you specify a slot and port number, statistics for each 15-minute period will be displayed.
Most E1 errors are caused by misconfigured lines. Ensure that linecoding, framing, clock source, and line
termination (balanced or unbalanced) are configured according to what the service provider recommended.
Show controller e1 Conditions
The E1 controller can be in three states:
• Administratively down
• Down
• Up
Is the Controller Administratively Down?
The controller is administratively down when it has been manually shut down. You should restart the controller to
correct this error.
Step 1 Enter enable mode.
maui-nas-03>en
Password:
maui-nas-03#
Step 2 Enter global configuration mode.
maui-nas-03#configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
maui-nas-03(config)#
Step 3 Enter controller configuration mode.
maui-nas-03(config)#controller e1 0
maui-nas-03(config-controlle)#
Step 4 Restart the controller.
maui-nas-03(config-controlle)#shutdown
maui-nas-03(config-controlle)#no shutdown
Is the Line Up?
If the E1 line is not up, check to see that the line configuration is correct and matches the settings of the remote
end.
Check the framing of the line and the remote end. For E1 lines, the framing is either CRC4 or noCRC4.
Check the linecoding of the line and the remote end. The linecoding is either AMI or HDB3.
Check whether the line termination is set for balanced or unbalanced (75 ohm or 120 ohm).
Consult your service provider for more information regarding the correct settings. Make any changes as
necessary to both local or remote end devices.
If the E1 controller and line are not up, check to see whether you are seeing one of the following messages in the
show controller e1 exec output:
Receiver has loss of frame.
or
Receiver has loss of signal.
If Receiver Has Loss of Frame
Step 1 Check to see whether the framing format configured on the port matches the framing format of the line.
You can check the framing format of the controller from the running configuration or the show controller e1
command output.
To change the framing format, use the framing {CRC4 | no CRC4} command in the controller configuration
mode, as shown here:
maui-nas-03#configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
maui-nas-03(config)#controller E1 0
maui-nas-03(config-controlle)#framing CRC4
Step 2 Try the other framing format to see if the alarm clears.
If this does not fix the problem, proceed to the receiver has loss of signal section below.
Step 3 Check the framing format on the remote end.
Step 4 Check the linecoding on the remote end.
If Receiver Has Loss of Signal
Step 1 Make sure that the cable between the interface port and the E1 service provider's equipment or E1
terminal equipment is connected correctly. Check to see whether the cable is hooked up to the correct ports.
Correct the cable connections if necessary.
Step 2 Check cable integrity. Look for breaks or other physical abnormalities in the cable. Ensure that the
pinouts are set correctly. If necessary, replace the cable.
Step 3 Check the cable connectors. A reversal of the transmit and receive pairs or an open receive pair can
cause errors. Set the receive pair to lines 1 and 2; the transmit pair should be lines 4 and 5.
The pins on a RJ-48 jack are numbered from 1 through 8. Pin 1 is the leftmost pin when looking at the jack with
the metal pins facing you. Refer to Figure 15-12 for more information.
Figure 15-12 RJ-45 Cable
Step 4 Try using a rollover cable.
Step 5 Check to see whether there are far-end block errors. If so, the problem exists with the receive lead on the
local end. Contact TAC for more assistance.
Run the show controller e1 exec command after each step to check whether the controller exhibits any errors.
If the Line Is in Loopback Mode
Check to see whether the line is in loopback mode from the show controller e1 output. A line should be in
loopback mode only for testing purposes.
To turn off loopback, use the no loopback command in the controller configuration mode, as shown here:
maui-nas-03(config-controlle)#no loopback
If the Controller Displays Any Alarms
Check the show controller command output to see whether any alarms are displayed by the controller.
We will now discuss various alarms and the procedure necessary to correct them.
Receiver (Rx) Has Remote Alarm
A received remote alarm means that an alarm is occurring on the line upstream of the equipment connected to
the port.
Step 1 Check to see whether the framing format configured on the port matches the framing format of the line. If
not, change the framing format on the controller to match that of the line.
Step 2 Check the linecoding setting on the remote-end equipment. Contact your service provider for the correct
settings. Correct any misconfigurations, as necessary.
Step 3 Insert an external loopback cable into the port. To create a loopback plug, refer to the section "Performing
Hardware Loopback Plug Test," earlier in the chapter.
Step 4 Check to see whether there are any alarms. If you do not see any alarms, then the local hardware is
probably in good condition. In that case, do the following:
• Check the cabling. Refer to the section "Loss of Signal" for more information.
• Check the settings at the remote end, and verify that they match your port settings.
• If the problem persists, contact your service provider.
Step 5 Remove the loopback plug and reconnect your E1 line.
Step 6 Check the cabling. Refer to the section "Loss of Signal" for more information.
Step 7 Power-cycle the router.
Step 8 Connect the E1 line to a different port. Configure the port with the same settings as that of the line. If the
problem does not persist, then the fault lies with the port:
• Reconnect the E1 line to the original port.
• Proceed to the "Troubleshooting E1 Error Events" section.
If the problem persists, then do the following:
• Perform a hardware loop test, as described in the section "Performing a Hardware Loop Test,"
• Replace the E1 controller card.
• Proceed to the "Troubleshooting E1 Error Events" section.
Transmitter Sending Remote Alarm (Red)
A red alarm is declared when the CSU cannot synchronize with the framing pattern on the E1 line.
Step 1 Check to see whether the framing format configured on the port matches the framing format of the line. If
not, change the framing format on the controller to match that of the line.
Step 2 Check the settings at the remote end, and verify that they match your port settings.
Step 3 Insert an external loopback cable into the port. To create a loopback plug, refer to the section "Performing
Hardware Loopback Plug Test," earlier in the chapter.
Step 4 Check to see whether there are any alarms. If you do not see any alarms, then the local hardware is
probably in good condition. In that case, do the following:
• Check the cabling. Refer to the section "Loss of Signal" for more information.
• If the problem persists, contact your service provider.
Step 5 Connect the E1 line to a different port. Configure the port with the same settings as that of the line. If the
problem does not persist, then the fault lies with the port:
• Reconnect the E1 line to the original port.
• Proceed to the "Troubleshooting E1 Error Events" section.
If the problem persists, then do the following:
• Perform a hardware loop test, as described in the section "Performing a Hardware Loop Test."
• Replace the E1 controller card.
• Proceed to the "Troubleshooting E1 Error Events" section.
• Contact your service provider.
Troubleshooting E1 Error Events
The show controller e1 exec command provides error messages that can be used to troubleshoot problems. We
will now discuss several error messages and how to correct the errors.
To see whether the error counters are increasing, execute the show controller e1 command repeatedly. Note
the values of the counters for the current interval.
Consult your service provider for framing and linecoding settings.
Slip Secs Counter Is Increasing
The presence of slips on E1 lines indicates a clocking problem. The E1 provider (telco) will provide the clocking
that the customer premises equipment (CPE) will need to synchronize to.
Step 1 Verify that the clock source is derived from the network. This can be ascertained by looking for "Clock
Source is Line Primary."
Note If there are multiple E1s into an access server, only one can be the primary, while the other E1s derive the
clock from the primary. In that case, verify that the E1 line designated as the primary clock source is configured
correctly.
Step 2 Set the E1 clock source correctly from the controller configuration mode.
maui-nas-03(config-controlle)#clock source line primary
Framing Loss Seconds Counter Is Increasing
Step 1 Check to see whether the framing format configured on the port matches the framing format of the line.
You can check this by looking for "Framing is {CRC4|no CRC4}" in the show controller e1 output.
Step 2 To change the framing format, use the framing {CRC4 | no CRC4} command in the controller
configuration mode, as shown here:
maui-nas-03(config-controlle)#framing crc4
Line Code Violations Are Increasing
Step 1 Check to see whether the linecoding configured on the port matches the framing format of the line. You
can check this by looking for "Line Code is {AMI/HDB3}" in the show controller e1 output.
Step 2 To change the linecoding, use the linecode {ami | hdb3} command in the controller configuration mode,
as shown here:
maui-nas-03(config-controlle)#linecode ami
Verifying That isdn switchtype and pri-group Are Configured Correctly
Use the show running-config command to check whether isdn switchtype and pri-group timeslots are
configured correctly. Contact your service provider for correct values.
To change the isdn switchtype and pri-group, use these lines:
maui-nas-03#configure terminal
maui-nas-03(config)#isdn switch-type primary-net5
maui-nas-03(config)#controller e1 0
maui-nas-03(config-controlle)#pri-group timeslots 1-31
Verifying the Signaling Channel
If the error counters do not increase but the problem persists, verify that the signaling channel is up and
configured correctly.
Step 1 Run the show interface serial x:15 command, where x should be replaced by the interface number.
Step 2 Check to see whether the interface is up. If the interface is not up, use the no shutdown command to
bring up the interface.
maui-nas-03#config terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
maui-nas-03(config)#interface serial 0:15
maui-nas-03(config-if)#no shutdown
Step 3 Ensure that encapsulation is PPP. If the interface is not using PPP, then use the encapsulation ppp
command in the interface configuration mode to correct it.
maui-nas-03(config-if)#encapsulation ppp
Step 4 Check to see whether loopback is set. Loopback should be set only for testing purposes. Use the no
loopback command to remove loopbacks.
maui-nas-03(config-if)#no loopback
Step 5 Power-cycle the router.
Step 6 If the problem persists, contact your service provider or Cisco TAC.
