ACE-101

ATM NTU and Multiservice Access Concentrator

• Creates a demarcation point between private and public networks
• Extends carrier management and control up to the customer premises
• Allows service providers to terminate ATM services or offer LAN (routing and bridging), voice/TDM and frame forwarding services over ATM networks
• Supports CBR, VBR (rt and nrt) and UBR
• Supports VP/VC connections
• Traffic management includes multiple class traffic shaping, traffic policing and monitoring
• Enhanced control capabilities include fault localization, delay measurement and performance management
• Implements ITU-T I.610 OAM standard, providing end-to-end ATM QoS control
• Plug-and-play installation
• ATM UNI interfaces supported:
• - 155 Mbps over fibre, up to 110 km (69 miles)
• - 155 Mbps over UTP and coax
• - E3/T3 over coax and fibre
• - Inverse multiplexing for ATM (IMA)
• - ATM 25 Mbps
• - E1/T1 over coax
• Allows media and rate conversion
• Interworking interfaces:
• - Ethernet/Fast Ethernet
• - E1/T1 and E3/T3 CES
• - HDLC
• Service Level Agreement (SLA) enabled by events and statistics collection
• In-band and out-of-band SNMP management and software download
• RADview-HPOV network management application (UNIX-based); descriptor file enables integration with Alcatel 5520/5620 NMS platform
• Local or remote management connection (PPP for SNMP/Telnet) via the control port (terminal or dial-up)
• Optional redundant network interfaces and power supplies
• Compact, 1U high, suitable for mounting in 19" racks

ACE-101 is an ATM access device which can be used as a network termination unit for native ATM services (ATM NTU), or a multiservice access concentrator for data and voice services. Located at the customer premises, it is controlled by an ATM service provider, or as part of a corporate ATM-based WAN network. As an ATM NTU, ACE-101 enables smooth and flexible connectivity between a user network and a public network. It allows carriers to guarantee Quality of Service (QoS) by collecting and measuring localized and segment parameters. This provides detailed performance information and end-to-end network control. ACE-101 has three slots. One is for user interfaces for native ATM, Ethernet/Fast Ethernet, HDLC and voice services. The other two slots are for network interfaces. Hence ACE-101 can be connected via two network links for protection. ACE-101 controls the user traffic transmitted to the public ATM network. It monitors, polices (by cell tagging or cell discarding) and shapes user traffic in order to protect the public ATM network from service agreement violations. Single and dual leaky buckets are used for UPC (Usage Parameter Control) measurements. This mechanism could apply for each open connection (VP/VC). Traffic congestion control also includes support of AAL5, EPD, PPD and EFCI marking. An optional traffic shaping feature, with up to 148,000 cell buffers, adds effective traffic engineering. As an NTU and access concentrator, ACE-101 enables better utilization of WAN links. Rate conversion between dissimilar interfaces is performed by extracting ATM cells from one interface and sending them to the other. This feature makes ACE-101 an ideal "ATM DSU" because it can be connected to all types of SDH/PDH interfaces. The IMA module delivers incremental bandwidth (4 x E1 or 4 x T1). This network module supports the ATM Forum Specifications 1.0 and 1.1 for Inverse Multiplexing over ATM. ACE-101 measures the QoS, availability and performance separately in each layer: - E1/T1, IMA, E3/T3, STM-1/OC-3 - ATM layer (AAL1, AAL5) - LAN and IP ACE-101 fully supports I.610 OAM flows that monitor and control end-to-end performance of ATM service. OAM flows are run in both the physical layers (F1-F3) and the ATM layers (F4-F5). Parameters such as connectivity, delay, error rates and the cell loss ratio are used to quantify the QoS offered by the ATM network. SLA support requires an elaborate collection of various data parameters. ACE-101 collects these parameters in real-time into statistical figures. Statistics gathered by ACE-101 are collected in 15-minute intervals and stored for a period of 24 hours (96 intervals). This includes PHY layer faults, F4/F5 OAM events and non-ATM traffic statistics. These statistics can be used to analyze ATM network behavior and to detect service degradation or generate billing information. ACE-101 features a LAN module that contains one auto-negotiating Ethernet/Fast Ethernet port. The LAN interface performs both IP routing and transparent bridging (RFC 1483) with IP ToS and VLAN 802.1D priority support. This module offers local Layer 2 switching of incoming cells that enables creation of star applications where a single ACE-101, located at a central site, switches LAN traffic between up to 125 remote sites. The interworking functionality of the ACE-101 is further enhanced by a single or quad Circuit Emulation Services (CES) port. The CES port enables users to connect their PBX or any TDM device to the ACE-101, and emulate circuits over the public ATM network. This feature supports unstructured and structured services with or without CAS. The CES port synchronizes with the network clock in structured services, while in the unstructured mode, SRTS and adaptive synchronization methods can be used. The quad CES module is offered as a standalone module, or as a hybrid module integrated with a single LAN port. ACE-101 has a hybrid LAN and CES E3/T3 module that can maximize the use of fibre or wireless links in point-to-point applications. This module offers CBR connectivity for channelized equipment with an E3/T3 TDM port. Frame forwarding modules offer seamless connectivity for routers equipped with HDLC data interfaces. These modules offer four regular data ports (up to 8 Mbps) or a single HSSI port for up to 52 Mbps rates. The ACE-101 comes in a 1U high enclosure suitable for mounting in a 19" rack.

ACE-101 as an ATM NTU