Incoming calls over Bridges towards Main Trunk Number

[George Ts]

Hello,

We have 10 3cx servers running the latest version 15.5 SP6 connected with Bridges between one another.
Each 3cx has an interconnection with a VoIP or PSTN provider (SIP Trunk) and a Main Line Number.

What we need is, when say 3cx-01 calls 3cx-02's Main Number, that call is routed over the bridge.

So, in 3cx-01 I configured a very specific outbound rule, based on which when a 3cx-01 extension dials 3cx-02's Main Line number, that call is routed over the bridge connecting 3cx-01 with 3cx-02.
3cx-02 receives that call through the bridge, but since its outbound rules advise it to route local area calls to the provider, it sees its own Mail Line number and simply routes it to the provider, as it is a local area call.

A workaround I have thought in order for 3cx-02 to not send the calls to the provider, is the following:
- Create a Generic SIP Trunk on 3cx-02 with IP address = 127.0.0.1
- When its own Main Line number is dialed, send the calls to that SIP Trunk (to itself)
- When a call is received to that SIP Trunk (from itself), route that thing to the appropriate extensions

Is there an easier way to create inbound rules for calls received from a Bridge?

I assume that another approach would be to create SIP trunks among the offices instead of bridges.

Regards,
George

 

[leejor]

You could strip some of the digits so a "full" outside number is not being sent, only digits that match an extension number. Create an extension using the last 3 or 4 digits. A call could then be sent to a dummy extension and that extensions forwarding rules could be used.

 

[craigreilly]

Now if we could remove "ALL" digits from an outbound rule... that would help. Even in v16 - the limit is 9 digits.

 

[leejor]

Now if we could remove "ALL" digits from an outbound rule... that would help. Even in v16 - the limit is 9 digits.

Agree, that's been an issue for a number of years now.

 

[George Ts]

So, what you are suggesting is:
- On 3cx-01, we create a specific outbound rule that routes calls to 3cx-02's Main Number via their bridge
- Before that call is sent over the bridge, all 3cx-02' Main Number's digits are stripped
- And replace with 3cx-02's extension / ring group that handles incoming calls to Main Number

Nice approach indeed.

Since I cannot test this today, I am curious...are you also saying that there is a limit on the digits that can be stripped?
If the whole number cannot be stripped, then this will not work.
I would therefore need your suggestions on a different approach please.

Thanks a lot,
George

 

[leejor]

There is a limit to the number of digits that can be removed (not really sure why this is still the case).
https://www.3cx.com/community/threads/outbound-rules-stripping-more-digits.47075/
You may have to make use of the remaining digits after removing as many as you can (want). Create an extension, ring group, dummy extension, or whatever, that will use the digits you do send. So if the "main" unaltered number you would normally send was 666 555-1234, you could strip 8, leaving 34, then prepend with 22 (depending on the digit length used in the other PBX), leaving you with 2234. that could be a newly created (non-conflicting) entity on the other PBX.

 

[George Ts]

I see.

Please let us leave this thread open until i have some time to actually test those suggestions.
For now, many thanks to each one of you.

George

 

[George Ts]

Short update: This will take some more time before it is tested. If it makes no trouble to the community moderators, please let us keep this thread open.
Thank you,
George