The article has been updated successfully.AppNote: External Logger Service (ELS)
What is it?
External Logger Service (ELS) enables MAXCS to send Call Detail Records (CDR) to a system running Microsoft SQL server. By default, MAXCS logs CDR to a local Microsoft Access database. With ELS running, MAXCS can log CDR to both the local database and a SQL database. Should the connection between ELS and the SQL database be broken, ELS will buffer up to 1GB of CDR and write to the database when connectivity is restored.
Why use it?
ELS is recommended for the following scenarios:
-Using AltiReport. AltiReport requires that call detail information is stored in Microsoft SQL database.-Heavy call volume. The local database size is limited to 2GB; Microsoft SQL databases have a much higher capacity. ELS is suggested if a MAXCS system is receiving over 1000 calls per hour.
-CDR archiving. The local database cannot hold more than 12 months worth of data; after 12 months, the existing database is saved and a new database is created. If a client will need to report against more than 12 months of data easily, ELS is suggested.
How to install it:
Installation overview (refer to the CDR Search manual and MAXCS Admin manual for detailed instructions):
- ELS does not require a license to be added to MAXCS.
- ELS can be found in the CDR folder on your MAXCS CDs. Direct download locations are linked on the compatibility chart below.
1) Install and configure ELS on the Microsoft SQL server. This is the recommended configuration. If ELS is installed directly on the SQL server, the ODC connection and database tables will be automatically created. ELS can be installed on a separate server, but the tables must be created manually on the SQL server. ELS should never be installed directly on the MAXCS server. Make sure you're using the correct version of ELS as specified below.
2) Configure ELS within the Call Reports tab in MAXAdmin's System Configuration -- point to the IP address of the server running ELS. Wait for a few seconds for the status to change to "connected".
3) Make a test call in to the system. To confirm ELS is logging properly, either run a SQL query against the CDRMAIN table, or launch CDR Search and select 'External Logger Service' when prompted to connect to a database. Run a search for today's calls and confirm your call is displayed.
Compatibility chart:
The currently installed version of ELS can be determined by browsing to C:\Program Files\AltiGen\External Logger Service directory, right-clicking on logservice.exe, selecting Properties, and looking at the Version tab. As ELS doesn't autoupdate, it's important to make sure you're running the correct version of ELS for your MAXCS server.
The compatibility chart below lists the MAXCS, Microsoft SQL, and Windows versions supported with a particular version of ELS. Please note that at this time ELS is not supported connecting back to Microsoft SQL “Express” installations – a full version of SQL must be installed.
|
External Logger version |
MAXCS version |
MSSQL server |
Windows (32-bit only) |
|
6.0.0.604 |
2000, 2005 |
Server 2000, 2003 |
|
|
6.0.1.404 – 6.0.2.700 |
2000, 2005 |
Server 2000, 2003 |
|
|
6.5.0.930 – 6.5.0.1223 |
2000, 2005, 2008 |
Server 2000, 2003, 2008 |
|
| 6.5.1.406 | 6.5.1.406 - 6.5.1.513 |
2000, 2005, 2008, 2008 Express | Server 2000, 2003, 2008 |
Tech issues/troubleshooting
-ELS uses port 10027/TCP to communicate. Also, ELS gets installed as a Windows service. The AltiGen External Logger Service is installed by default with a startup type of Automatic. If there’s a connection problem between MAXCS and ELS, make sure 10027/TCP is accessible, and that the service is running.
-The most common cause of ELS problems is MAXCS/SQL version compatibility. Refer to the chart above.
-ELS must use the MSSQL ‘sa’ account to authenticate. Currently there is no workaround for this.
-If all above has been checked and verified, and the ELS shows disconnected in MaxCS Admin, then try adding the IP address of the SQL server that the ELS is running on to the 'hosts' file on the MaxCS server (located in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc) that includes the domain name and IP address. After adding the entry, open up a command prompt and type: ipconfig /flushdns.
