With bridging enabled, bridge dial out is supported. Bridge dial out allows the CyberSWITCH to
initiate connections to bridge devices at remote sites. The system accepts bridge data received on
the Ethernet LAN or ISDN network, and initiates a data connection to a bridge device specified in
the device data.

Standard bridge processing attempts to forward non-local MAC frames to configured devices if a
connection is up. Now, with the bridge dial out feature, the system will initiate the call, if necessary,
through the use of bridge filters or a Known Connect list. Refer to the

Bridge Filters

section and the

Known Connect List

section for further information.

The “bridge” determines if a connection already exists, or whether a connection should be initiated.
The MAC frame is simply forwarded if a connection already exists. If a connection does not, the
CyberSWITCH will map the Bridge Address or Dial Out Device Name to a phone number, and
initiate a connection. The normal connection processing, protocol negotiation, and data forwarding
mechanisms are followed once the connection is requested.

The CyberSWITCH handles bridge dial out as follows:
•

If a filter exists, the system checks the filter first. The system will take action on the packet based
on the filter.

•

If no filter exists, or if no action is taken on the packet based on the filter, the system checks the
status of the Known Connect list next. If the packet’s destination address corresponds to a de-
vice on the Known Connect list, and the packet meets other dial out requirements, the packet
is forwarded.

Each of these procedures requires a properly configured Device List. This Device List may be con-
figured locally, or it may be configured on an off-node authentication server.