OBi Expert ConfigurationWelcome to OBi Expert Configuration! OBi Expert Configuration is, in essence, a portal within a portal for making any and all service-related configuration modifications to an OBi device. Before we introduce the capabilities of the OBi Expert Configuration pages, let's review the functionality of the OBiTALK portal.
When an OBi device is added to the OBiTALK dashboard, it can be managed via the OBiTALK portal for device-specific things such as setting the device name, time-zone, AA PIN, etc. The OBiTALK portal is also a place where services can be configured on a device – using either a service provider specific drop-down menu or with any service's SIP credentials and the Generic Service Provider template. What's more, the OBiTALK portal can be used to configure network based functionality – applicable to all the OBi devices and the OBi soft phone owned by the user, e.g. Speed Dials and Trusted Caller ID Numbers and devices of his or her friends in Circles of Trust.
Now, that the higher-level OBiTALK portal has been described, let's talk about the OBi Expert Configuration Pages. The OBi Expert Configuration pages are just that, for experts. Users who do not feel comfortable with the on-board web-based OBi device configuration pages should stay away from the OBi Expert Configuration pages. Users who do not feel comfortable reading the OBi Device Administration Guide should stay away from the OBi Expert Configuration pages. When one uses the OBi Expert pages, they need to know that synchronization with settings and service indications as shown on the higher-level OBiTALK portal may display inaccurate configuration information. The settings as shown in the OBi Expert pages trump all settings in the OBiTALK portal pages.
The over-arching philosophy behind the OBi Expert Configuration Menu is to give users the ability to control their devices and services with a cloud-based management approach – affording all (or almost all) the flexibility of configuring the OBi via its integral browser based interface. This capability is useful to Obihai customers and system integrators of Obihai products who gain considerable usefulness from the flexibility the OBi Expert Configuration management provides.
There are two data bases that come into play when interacting with the OBi Expert Configuration pages. The OBiTALK configuration database stores the configurations that enable those functions made available on the OBiTALK portal. Therefore, the OBiTALK portal pages will always represent the configuration settings associated with the OBiTALK database configuration for that particular device. The functionality of the OBiTALK portal is continually changing. With OBiTALK, Obihai is able to expose powerful features to the user which require somewhat complex and complicated configurations of the OBi device when used in conjunction with its owner's service provider accounts, soft phones and other OBi devices.
Note: Neither database maintains storage of passwords used by OBi devices for administrative access or voice service registration. When a password is entered and submitted via the OBiTALK or OBi Expert Configuration web pages, it is sent securely to the device (on the next profile re-sync) and then deleted.
OBi Expert Configuration FunctionsWhen you enter the OBi Expert Configuration Menu, you are presented with the following function buttons:
Enter OBi Expert: Entering the OBi Expert configuration pages provides the user with the full breadth of every service-applicable parameter on the OBi device.
Reset OBi Expert Config: Selecting this option will perform a reset of applicable OBi Expert parameters to their factory default setting.
Revert to OBiTALK: When this option is selected every parameter will follow what is currently stored in the device's OBiTALK database configuration.
Importing a Configuration: At the bottom of the page there is an Import Configuration section, where there resides a function which allows the user to import (or upload) a previously saved XML configuration file as their OBi Expert database configuration.
When this option is selected, the OBi Expert database will import these settings and save them as the device's OBi Expert Configuration settings. Once this configuration is in the database, the user can uncheck the OBiTALK setting box to selectively invoke parameter configurations contained in the imported config file. The OBiTALK box is checked by default because the OBi Expert mode requires that the user understand the changes they make while in the OBi Expert Configuration menus can possibly alter or break functionality associated with their OBiTALK configuration. Also since OBiTALK controlled parameters change overtime, it is safer for the OBi Expert user to have to uncheck the OBiTALK Settings box in that a configuration that they previously knew to not be in conflict with OBiTALK may be in conflict the next time they go to import a config file.
Inside the OBi Expert Configuration pages, you will notice its resemblance to the OBi device web page menu, look and layout. To the right of the configurable parameter value field, there may be a red exclamation mark (
!). When this mark is present, it means the parameter value next to where it appears has an OBi Expert configuration database entry that is different than the OBiTALK database entry. If the Device Default and OBiTALK boxes are left unchecked, then the OBi will use this setting in its active configuration.
On the right side of the OBiTALK Settings check box there may be an asterisk (
*) indicating this parameter is currently being used in the OBiTALK portal for feature configuration. Therefore, if the symbol resides next to a parameter setting that you choose to over-ride with an OBi Expert Configuration setting, the functionality configured by the OBiTALK portal is subject to conflicted operation. It is important to note that the presence of the
* may appear suddenly, when functionality is added to the OBiTALK portal that requires management of the parameter next to which the
* appears. We suggest that users uncheck the OBiTALK box for those parameters NOT marked with the
*, when the particular parameter value is different for a configuration outside the realm of what is available in OBiTALK. Unchecking the OBiTALK box will ensure the custom value will not be overwritten by a future OBiTALK enhancement or modification.
Remember: If you want to configure a value for a parameter as your OBi Expert configuration setting, you must have both the "OBiTALK Settings" and "Device Default" check boxes UNCHECKED. Only then, can you enter a new value to be submitted as an OBi Expert Configuration setting.
Finally, before jumping to a new page to check on settings or make modifications, please do not forget to select the "Submit" button for each page on which you have made a modification that you want to save to the device's OBi Expert configuration file.