We use VSM as a diagnostic tool for CDV and HSI. Queries can be made using the customer’s C-MAC address, FQDN, IP Address, Phone number, Subscriber name or Account number. Most often however we use the customer’s C-MAC as the most efficient way to look up a modem or eMTA.
Depending on the circumstances, there are many points that one would look at on a regular modem. The first column is the Docsis Cable Modem Status directly from the modem, and the most important piece is the modem’s IP Address which you will use most often for registration. The CMTS indicates which server section this customer is serviced by. The center column is the Status from the modem. It gives you the make and model of modem you’re looking at, the modem’s levels, the ip addresses of the servers it’s using, and the configuration file the modem currently has. Column 3 shows the Provisioning/Billing information that comes from CADM. If this column has the wrong information or no information then there’s usually something wrong with the communication between the billing system and the provisioning system. The 3 buttons at the bottom will give you further information about these 3 columns
Extended CM Data is the button from the center column and is something we use most often to give the techs further information on the modem. The Uncorrectable Error Rate and Overall Error rate are also referred to as the MUR and BUR. These should optimally end in E-6 to E-9. Anything from Zero to E-5 indicates that the modem is resetting itself on a regular basis, or has recently been reset. When a modem has been reset it will go back to zero and will take several hours to repopulate. The Reset Standby Button will appear when a modem has a standby button that can be toggled, and this area will appear red if the modem is in standby.
If at any time you’re not sure what one of the fields means, click on the link of the title and it will bring up the glossary to give you more information.
For eMTA’s, VSM shows the same and more information, and it’s moved around a little. The Top Left column gives us the Provisioning/Billing status from CSG. The top center column gives us information from the switch about the customer’s TN(s). The Top Right column gives us information from the eMTA and BACC about the status of the eMTA and the line cards.
The Bottom half of the eMTA screen shows the modem side status of the eMTA. The bottom left column shows the information from CMTS. The center column shows the modem’s make, model, levels, and configuration file as well as the familiar extended CM Data button. The Right column shows HFC Status which is the node health. This will indicate how many modems and eMTA’s are on or offline in that particular node.
If this eMTA was a 402 it would have a button here where you could toggle the standby on the eMTA. And of course you get the same MUR and BUR information as on the regular cable modem.
