Multiservice Access Concentrators and ATM NTUs

RAD’s ACE-2002 multiservice access concentrator and ATM NTU and ACE-2002E multiservice access concentrator and ATM NTU are carrier-owned demarcation devices designed to deliver Ethernet and voice services over ATM, to improve network efficiency and to ensure end-to-end QoS. Aggregating up to six STM-1 links to STM-1/STM-4 or 16/20 E1/T1 links to an STM-1/OC-3 trunk, the ACE-2002 and ACE-2002E are particularly well suited for cellular backhaul applications, providing a cost-effective method for aggregating traffic from 2G/2.5 G and 3G stations. In other applications, they are used as multiservice concentrators, handling diverse corporate traffic in medium to large enterprises.

• Extend carrier’s management and control reach up to the customer premises

• Allow service providers to offer LAN, ATM, and voice/TDM services over ATM network or terminate ATM services

• Increase service flexibility and reliability

• Enable Service level agreement (SLA) enforcement with traffic monitoring, policing and shaping

• Reduce operating costs with end-to-end ATM QoS control, fault localization, delay measurements and performance monitoring

• Simplify installation with plug-and-play design

The ACE-2002 multiservice ATM access unit and NTU can be used as a carrier-owned demarcation device or as a corporate concentrator connected to the public ATM network.

 

The ACE-2002E multiservice ATM access concentrator and NTU is an enhanced version of the ACE-2002 that can accommodate additional E1/T1 interfaces. Information about ACE-2002 multiservice ATM access unit also pertains to ACE-2002E, unless otherwise specified.

 

As a demarcation device, the ACE-2002 multiservice ATM access unit enables carriers and service providers to define the boundary between their ATM-based public services and the customer private network (customer-located equipment - CLE). A clear demarcation point at the customer premises increases service reliability, improves network efficiency and ensures end-to-end QoS support.

 

The ACE-2002 multiservice ATM access unit can be used for a combination of legacy services, such as voice, LAN and ATM, or as a demarcation device for native ATM traffic.

 

The ACE-2002 has built-in features that enable the extension of ATM network facilities up to the customer premises. These features support various ATM services, such as advanced traffic management (policing, scheduling and shaping) and full I.610 OAM (Operation, Administration and Maintenance) flow support. In addition, the wide range of ATM modules further enhance the flexibility of service offerings.

 

When used as an interworking device, the ACE-2002 enables smooth migration of legacy equipment such as PBXs and routers operating over ATM networks. Using multiport modules and three user slots, the ACE-2002 can be used as a concentrator for medium to large corporations. The unit enables the most efficient utilization of public ATM services for transporting different types of corporate traffic, including ATM.

 

ACE-2002 supports up to 1,024 connections (VPC and/or VCC), enabling both NNI and UNI addressing with full bit range of VPI/VCI fields. In addition, full switching capability is available for each VC or VP (from either the user or the network) to obtain maximum flexibility in connection assignment.

 

To enhance carriers’ service offerings, the ACE-2002 multiservice ATM access unit supports VP tunneling. This enables bundling multiple VCCs into a single VPC while maintaining all the VCC QoS characteristics and I.610 OAM capabilities at F4 and F5 layers. Each tunnel can be shaped as a CBR connection. It can be defined with end-to-end OAM flows and act as a regular VP connection in the public network.

Both users and network operators benefit from spacing bursty traffic. For the user, more traffic can pass through the link at no additional cost. For the operator, spacing enables better statistical efficiency while keeping the same backbone equipment and QoS. ACE-2002 offers a built-in mechanism that supports up to 983 spaced connections.

 

In addition, it supports hierarchical traffic scheduling, setting layers per VC, per VP or VP tunnel and per network interface. In these cases, the ACE-2002 schedules the traffic to meet pre-defined traffic parameters. This ensures fair bandwidth sharing between different connections while preserving the requirements of the individual connections.

 

In order to improve service resilience, ACE-2002 offers a protection mechanism on both the user and network sides, enabling standard SDH/SONET protection for the last physical segment connecting the service exchange to the customer premises.

 

ACE-2002E multiservice ATM access NTU combines up to 20 E1/T1 IMA/UNI links, or up to 20 E1/T1 CES links. Such high E1/T1 port density is especially suitable for cellular applications.

 

The ACE-2002 can be equipped with multiple LAN modules, while the ACE-2002E supporting up to six LAN ports. Each LAN module performs bridging and routing (RFC 1483/2684) with IP ToS and 802.1D priority support. In addition, multiple VLANs can be configured, optimizing the units for LAN and IP access applications.

 

The ACE-2002 is available in a 1U-high enclosure (1.5U for ACE-2002E), suitable for mounting in a 19" rack.