ASC adds management to access aggregation
Broadband multiservice access vendor Advanced Switching Communications has introduced an element management system that aims to integrate with myriad other devices in service provider networks.
ASC's rackable and chassis-based boxes take in a diverse stream of access traffic and often act as second-stage aggregation of T-1 lines, DSL and other streams onto carrier ATM backbones.
Because these devices can be placed anywhere from in-building wiring closets to carrier super points of presence, ASC is targeting the new management platform, called ASCmanager, to integrate with many other operations and support services (OSS) products in service provider nets.
The ASCmanager software provides fault management, configuration, accounting, performance and security network management of products ranging from ASC's 24-port A-1240 pizza-box-sized aggregator to its chassis-based A-4000 supporting up to 392 T-1 equivalents.
ASCmanager operates on Sun's SPARCstation server supported by an Oracle database, with either SPARCstation or Windows 2000 client stations. It's the successor to ASC's existing Web-based manager and command-line interface housed within each ASC network element, which ASCmanager can also access.
ASC's object-based data model is designed to support interfaces based on Common Object Request Broker Architecture for integration with other OSS systems. For carrier network administrators, ASCmanager uses autodiscovery features that display ASC switches and their configurations in a topological map.
Part of the goal is to enable carriers to manage all aspects of multiple ASC platforms as a single virtual node, says Larry Kraft, ASC vice president of marketing. That's key as ASC seeks customers among large incumbent local exchange carriers to add to its base of ISPs, competitive local exchange carriers and others.
ASCmanager costs $20,000.
» posted by ITworld staff
Network World
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