Monitor device for use with endpoint devices

An apparatus for use with a system that includes a plurality of Session-Initiation-Protocol (SIP) servers that are configured and arranged to provide data communications services for data communications endpoints, the apparatus comprising:

• a server having at least one processor circuit configured to:
• receive connectivity status of the endpoints;
• assess call quality metrics of services provided by the endpoints using data provided by the endpoints to the SIP servers;
• parse, based upon the received connectivity status and the call quality metrics, endpoints having connectivity problems into a subgroup corresponding to endpoints on a local area network (LAN);
• and
• transmit, based upon potential problem sources indicative of the connectivity problems of the parsed endpoints, a command to a monitor circuit having a LAN interface circuit, wherein the command is to instruct the monitor circuit to perform a diagnostic test involving the LAN interface circuit.