PM-4 FAQ

| # Lucent Technologies PortMasterTM 4 Frequently Asked Questions Q. What is the Lucent Technologies PortMasterTM 4 Integrated Access Concentrator? A. Lucent's PortMaster 4 is a multiservice InterNetworking Systems concentrator for high-end network operators, including public carriers, large Internet Service Providers, and large enterprises. The carrier-class PortMaster 4 provides higher port density in a standard rack than products from leading competitors, giving network providers greater revenue potential per square foot of floor space. The PortMaster 4 also supports any service on any port at any time, offering network operators unrivaled service flexibility. The product's next-generation design delivers top performance today and can easily grow to accommodate emerging technologies such as Voice over IP and xDSL in future releases. Q. What is the significance of this announcement? A. The PortMaster 4 marks Lucent's entry into high end of the InterNetworking Systems market. This carrier-class segment is estimated to be growing at 50% annually, representing a substantial opportunity for Lucent's focus on data networking. With our entry into this market, Lucent is offering network operators a clear alternative to other available products. In addition to its industry-leading capacity, the PortMaster 4 is the first product to deliver an embedded ATM switch fabric, providing the fixed low latency that sets the stage for emerging technologies such as voice over IP and xDSL. The switch fabric also delivers a full 155 Mbps to each slot, ensuring top performance even as new modules are added. Q. For what kinds of applications can the PortMaster 4 be used? A. The PortMaster 4 allows network operators (carriers, ISPs, enterprise corporations, etc.) to offer a wide range of access applications from a single chassis, including traditional Internet access applications as well as new services such as wholesale Internet access and outsourced corporate InterNetworking Systems. For large enterprises, the PortMaster 4 combines a high capacity InterNetworking Systems server with remote LAN access and high performance routing. Q. What distinguishes the PortMaster 4 as a carrier class product? A. The PortMaster 4 offers network operators advantages in critical areas such as Port density - The PortMaster 4 offers higher port density (4,320 dial-up connections) in a standard 7-foot rack than other comparable products from leading vendors. Multiservice flexibility - The PortMaster 4 supports any service on any port at any time - automatically. Other products require network operators to populate their concentrators with cards dedicated to specific services (e.g., ISDN, modem). To accommodate even normal swings in traffic (such as from heavy ISDN use during the usual business day to heavy modem use in the evening), these other products require operators to buy excess capacity to ensure they have a sufficient number of ports of any service available when needed. Top performance, even under full load -- The PortMaster 4's advanced architecture enables providers to add capacity while maintaining top performance. The product features an embedded ATM switching fabric, which provides fixed low latency even under a full load. Other products still use bus architectures, which inherently create higher latency and arbitration, which slows performance as modules are added. The PortMaster 4 also provides a full 155 Mbps to each slot, compared with other products which offer 155 Mbps for all slots combined. Future proof - The PortMaster 4 features a passive backplane that is technology agnostic. As new technologies emerge, the PortMaster 4 will be able to accommodate them with simple upgrades. Other products do not have this flexibility. Q. What do you mean when you say the PortMaster 4 provides any service, any port, any time flexibility? What are the advantages of the PortMaster 4's approach? A. When a call arrives at any of its ports, the PortMaster 4 intelligently determines whether that call is, for example, ISDN, ISDN data-over-voice, or 56K modem, and automatically switches service on that port to accommodate that type of call. No other product offers this level of intelligence across this range of services. This intelligence simplifies management of large hunt groups, meaning: There is no need to assign end users different dial-in numbers for different kinds of access: the same number will work for V.90, K56flex, ISDN, etc. The traffic changes that occur at different times of the day (for example heavy use of ISDN and T1 by corporate customers in the daytime, followed by heavy K56flex and V. 90 by recreational customers in the evening) can be easily accommodated. Consequently: The number of idle ports should be cut dramatically--an important bottom-line benefit. Q. What is the PortMaster 4's "advanced architecture," and what benefit does it provide? A. The advanced architecture of the PortMaster 4 features Embedded ATM switch fabric - Unlike the typical bus-based designs, the PortMaster 4's ATM switch fabric provides fixed low latency, important to performance now and to accommodate in the future services such as voice over IP and xDSL. Such emerging, high bandwidth technologies cannot be properly supported by other products because of the delays inherent in their design. Passive backplane -- There are no active components on the PortMaster 4's backplane. This means that emerging technologies can be accommodated without wholesale changes. Distributed multiprocessor per slot -- Routing and forwarding decisions are made on each of the PortMaster 4's cards. There is no need to put the packet on the backplane or system manager card in order to make decisions. This means that as cards are added, processing power and service capacity are added. Q. What is the significance of the PortMaster 4's hot-standby modem cards? A. They help maximize uptime: the PortMaster 4 has 98 modems in each of its modem pools to support 96 connections. If a modem fails, the PortMaster 4 automatically detects this, takes that modem out of service, assigns one of the extra modems, and informs the operator. Competing products do not have these hot stand-by modems. Q. Does the PortMaster 4 support Signaling System Number 7 (SS7)? A. The PortMaster 4 will support management of a SS7 mode in a future release of ComOS. Q. How much capacity does the PortMaster 4 provide? A. Today the PortMaster 4 supports each single 19w" x 18d" x 15.75h" PortMaster 4 10-slot chassis allows: Up to 864 dial-in modem or ISDN sessions (810 for E1-based systems) Up to 864 64Kbps leased line connections (810 for E1-based systems) Up to 27 E1 leased lines. Three per card, nine cards. One T3 or E3 multiplexer Perhaps even more important is that network operators can stack as many as five of these chassis into a standard 7-foot rack to achieve 4,320 dial-up connections. This density translates into more revenue potential per square foot of real estate, a key concern for network operators. The PortMaster 4 also supports a full T3 of access in a single chassis. Q. Will the PortMaster 4 support xDSL, SONET and ATM? A. The PortMaster 4 has one port of 622 Mbps full duplex capacity bandwidth on its switching fabric in reserve, in order to support such emerging technologies as xDSL, SONET and ATM in the future. As you can see, the PortMaster 4 is much more future-proof than competing products. Q. What access modules are available? A. Initially available modules for the PortMaster 4 include a channelized T3 and E3 module that multiplexes T1/E1 streams within T3/E3, a quad T1 98-modem module and a tri E1 98-modem module featuring "True Digital" Lucent DSP modem architecture, and ISDN/frame relay/leased line module. Q. Are all these modules hot-swappable? A. Yes. All the PortMaster 4's modules, including the System Manager Module, are hot-swappable. Q. How can the PortMaster 4 Quad T1/PRI (or Tri E1/PRI) module be used? A. The Quad T1/PRI WAN module can be used to interface to numerous carrier data services: Primary Rate ISDN--ISDN is supported for both T1 and E1 lines. Both modem and ISDN B channel calls can be originated or answered over PRI service. Fractional T1/E1--Up to 24 (T1) or 30 (E1) 64Kbps channels are supported. Each channel can be independently configured for PPP or Frame Relay WAN service. In-band Robbed Bit--A T1 configured for robbed bit signaling supports up to 24 dial-up modem or ISDN data-over-voice calls. R2 Signaling--An E1 line configured for R2 signaling can support up to 30 dial-up modem calls. Q. What is the significance of the PortMaster 4's System Management Module? A. The PortMaster 4's System Management Module (SMM), which maintains control functions and manages all chassis modules, contributes to the high levels of performance delivered by the PortMaster 4. Its embedded, high-speed switching fabric is directly linked to a virtual backplane on the unit's chassis, independent from the physical backplane. This provides dedicated, high capacity 155 Mbps service to each module and enables a cost-effective migration path for future enhancements. The SMM also provides two physical network interfaces and maintains statistics on temperature, power consumption, number of modules installed, module type, serial numbers and configuration data. A second, redundant SMM can be installed, on stand-by for a hot crossover without any loss of routing information. Q. What powers the PortMaster 4? A. The PortMaster 4 is native -48vdc, so no power supply is required for DC operation. There is a dual input -48vdc connector on the rear panel. For AC operation, power modules are available, each with its own DC to DC converter. The PortMaster 4 has three AC power module bays to provide an N+1 redundancy scheme if needed. Q. What security features does the PortMaster 4 have? A. The PortMaster 4's ComOS operating system provides many security features for both dial-in and dedicated access, including PAP, CHAP and Callback, as well as ChoiceNet, a packet filter management application. Lucent's RADIUS ABM (Authentication and Billing Manager) software package allows centralized management and provides support for many third-party token-based products. For Virtual Private Networking (VPN) applications, the PortMaster 4 supports IPIP and L2TP tunneling standards. Q. Does the PortMaster 4 interoperate with equipment from other vendors? A. The PortMaster 4 supports industry standards and is proven to interoperate with numerous vendors' access equipment. Some of the more common standards supported include PPP; PAP, CHAP; Multilink PPP, BACP; Stac LZS and MS Stac compression; V.90 (56Kbps modem), V.34; MNP and V.42/42bis error control and compression. Q. What protocols does the PortMaster 4 support? A. The PortMaster 4's ComOS operating system supports a wide variety of IP routing and WAN protocols. IP routes can be configured statically or learned through dynamic routing protocols such as RIP, OSPF and BGP4. Flexible WAN options include dial-in (Modem and ISDN B channel), channelized T1/E1, ISDN PRI, leased line (FT1/CE1), frame relay and channelized T3/E3. The PortMaster 4 also provides comprehensive support for Novell wide area networking, including support for Novell IPX/SPX, as well as RIP for dynamic routing table updates. Q. What reliability and fault tolerant features does the PortMaster 4 offer? A. The PortMaster 4 supports the redundancies and fault tolerant features network operators expect. The PortMaster 4 delivers high reliability through both software and hardware. It runs on Lucent's industry-proven ComOS®, which was specifically designed for InterNetworking Systems applications. Tested and refined for nearly a decade, ComOS provides the most stable routing protocol implementation and exceptional scalabilty features. The PortMaster 4's fault-tolerant hardware design virtually eliminates down time. Design features include "hot standby" modem DSPs, redundant, hot-swappable, load sharing power supplies, hot swappable fans, hot insertion of the system management and other modules. All the PortMaster 4's modules, including the System Manager Module, are hot-swappable. Q. Is the PortMaster 4 NEBS certified? A. Lucent is dedicated to providing the same high levels of reliability customers associate with our voice products to our data products. The PortMaster 4 was designed for high reliability and incorporates several NEBS Level 3 features. Q. What kinds of network management support does the PortMaster 4 offer? A. The PortMaster 4 supports SNMP (for monitoring and traps), MIB I and II, plus a full complement of enterprise extensions. It supports Telnet, BOOTP and CLI. Configuration and management can be facilitated and enhanced by using Lucent PM Console and by using Lucent Technologies RADIUS ABM (Authentication Billing Manager), a Java-based, integrated InterNetworking Systems management, security and billing application. The PortMaster 4 will be supported in a future release of Lucent's OneVisionTM Network Management solution. Q. Will the PortMaster 4 replace the PortMaster 3? A. No. The PortMaster 3 will ship alongside the PortMaster 4. While the PortMaster 4 brings significant technological advantages to the carrier class concentrator market, the PortMaster 3 will continue to be ideal for small to midsize Points of Presence. Q. What are the advantages of Lucent Technologies ComOS operating system? A. The PortMaster 4, like other Lucent Technologies InterNetworking Systems products, runs on the ComOS operating system. Designed specifically for access routing, this powerful software tool has been proven and continually improved through nearly a decade of use, supporting millions of Internet end users worldwide. ComOS is highly scaleable, allowing providers to add additional applications to their implementation seamlessly. Adding modules to a system running the ComOS operating system is literally a plug and play process. And ComOS is unique in its ability to run on multiple InterNetworking Systems platforms--the same software with the same interface--simplifying training and system management. Q. When will the PortMaster 4 ship and how will it be priced? A. The PortMaster 4 is available for ordering now and will ship in Q2 1998. List price for a system configured with chassis, power supply, System Manager Module and modem modules is $519 per port. All configuration, management and routing software (ComOS) is included. (Note: This is not the case for competing products, which charge for additional software.) ##### ComOS and PortMaster are registered trademarks and OneVision, PortMaster and IRX are trademarks of Lucent Technologies, Inc. Java is a trademark of Sun® Microsystems, Inc.