Chapter 3 System Features
System Capabilities
3-2
255-700-025
PacketStar
™
Access Concentrator 60 User Guide
, Issue 1
Release 6.3.0
While voice, video, and data traffic have traditionally been carried on
separate overlay networks, the
PacketStar
™
Access Concentrator systems
aggregate all traffic types into a common network infrastructure. Even
though such consolidation means that traffic, in effect, competes for the same
physical resources, the traffic management and bandwidth utilization
capabilities of the Access Concentrator systems help to ensure that the
required quality-of-service (QoS) levels are satisfied within the available
constraints of the network. Unique features of the systems include:
•
Variable-speed ATM access technology, implemented via the LANET
(Limitless ATM Network Protocol), to support a wide range of interfaces
•
An advanced queuing and cell-switching algorithm, provided by the
AQueMan
™
(adaptive queue management) firmware algorithm, a
patented technology offered by Lucent Technologies to differentiate
voice, video, and data requirements, thus helping to ensure QoS levels
•
Cell-counting capability to allow ATM usage-based billing
•
A connection gateway application programming interface (API) that
provides an interface to the AC 60 by which an external workstation
(gateway) can control the AC 60 ATM switching using non-native ATM
networking protocols
Through the use of the API, the gateway and the AC 60 can combine to
perform powerful interworking of ATM, Integrated Services Digital
Network (ISDN), SS7, channel associated signaling (CAS), and other
protocols
•
Inverse multiplexing over ATM (IMA) to create virtual access lines that
are faster than E-1 lines, but not as expensive as T-3/E-3 lines
•
Live insertion of hot-swappable modules
•
An integrated local management interface (ILMI) feature that supports
bidirectional exchange of ATM interface parameters between two
connected ATM interface management entities (IMEs) using Simple
Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and an ATM interface
management information base (MIB)
•
An alternate rerouting feature, known as dual-homed permanent virtual
circuits (DHPVC), that improves reliability of PVC connections and
supports redundancy options to deliver near-zero downtime using circuit
emulation, terminal emulation, frame relay, Ethernet, and ATM
interfaces
•
A switched virtual circuit (SVC) feature, to provide dynamic allocation of
connections through the use of interim interswitch signaling protocol
(IISP) or private network-network interface (PNNI) for call setup and
(automatic) rerouting
•
A soft PVC (SPVC) feature, which is a semipermanent virtual connection
used for call setup and (automatic) rerouting that has attributes of both a
switched virtual connection and a permanent virtual connection