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Protocol Analysis
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Overview:
The SS7 network is the backbone for fast and efficient signaling irrespective of network type - whether wireless,
wired, or VoIP. Also, the inherent database features of SS7 make today’s advanced intelligent features and services a
reality. To keep pace with this evolution, GL has enhanced its SS7 monitoring and diagnostic system. Not only can it be
used for billing verification, remote protocol analysis, and traffic engineering, but now it can also provide key performance
indicators, failure analysis, and call trace capability, to name a few.
A network operator, service provider, or equipment manufacturer must have the means to perform the above
surveillance tasks remotely, automatically, and non-intrusively. Fortunately, the network backbone contains a wealth
of information that can be monitored and collected to support these activities.
GL's SS7 (and ISDN) Network Monitoring System uses an open three tier distributed architecture driven by non-intrusive
hardware probes, intelligent software, and a database engine. The architecture is shown above and consists of a scalable
and flexible system, so the user can use it for multiple sites and various applications. T1/E1/T3 Probes are deployed in the
field to monitor various protocols and conditions which are then collected at a central site into a database. Data records
are stored into a centralized database (Oracle, SQL-Server, DB2, etc.) using ODBC. Various Client applications can be
written (in VB, Power Builder, etc.) to interrogate database records and provide a user friendly interface for query and
display. With the use of web server, the monitoring can also be facilitated using simple web browser interface, called
NetSurveyor™.
The essential elements of the non-Intrusive network monitoring system are:
Architecture and Key Features:
- T1 / E1 Probes non-intrusively monitor physical lines of the network.
- The probes connect via TCP/IP to ODBC compliant real-time database loader.
- Only precise and filtered data (user selectable) is collected into the centralized database.
- Users can log into the central system locally or remotely to view the collected data.
- Users view the collected data for different purposes like Troubleshooting, Call Detailed Records, Traffic Monitoring,
Quality of Service, etc.
- Modular and distributed architecture is capable of theoretically 'infinite capacity'.
- Interface between the probes and the database is well defined and is called "Listener". Listener is located at the
central site and is responsible for listening to the streaming data from probes and entering into the database (usually
Oracle).
- Listener is modifiable and supportable with MySQL.
Typical Applications:
- Call Detail Records, fraud detection and location, remote protocol analysis and troubleshooting, real-time signaling
monitor, traffic optimization engineering, statistics.
- Determine actual call signaling routes to verify network functionality under all situations including congestion and
loss of SS7 nodes
- Revenue and billing verification, alarm monitoring, intrusive testing.
- Quality of service measurements, call trace and recording.
Conventional Protocols:
- CAS (R1- now, R2 - future), SS7 ISUP/TUP (Different Variants), SS7 ANSI AIN.
- ISDN (4ESS, 5ESS, ITU, ETSI, BELLCORE, QSIG).
- GR303, V5.X, INAP CS1 & CS2, INAP+.
Protocols for Mobile Networks:
- IS41-C, GSM A and A-bis Interface, GPRS Gb, ETSI MAP.
T1 / E1 Probe Interface Characteristics
- Portable USB T1/E1 units or Universal T1/E1 Cards with multiple cards per PC - up to 6 Dual T1/E1 Cards per PC.
- Multiple Link Sets per T1/E1 (through Digital Cross Connect Grooming) - multiple 64 kbps signaling channels per
T1/E1 can be monitored simultaneously by grooming through a digital cross-connect - see diagram below.
- T1/E1 Cards can also be connected non-intrusively in Monitor or Bridge Modes, or alternatively the data can be
looped through the cards.
- Scalable network solution for capture, analysis, and recording of TDM protocols (signaling, & traffic)
- 50 to 100 SS7 signaling links per 4U rack PC probe
- Redundant configurations for reliability
- Collection and transmission of processed signaling data to central site database
- Web based access to near real-time CDRs and statistics
- SS7 Redundancy supported
- ISUP/INAP/MAP supported
Picture of USB T1E1 unit, Universal PCI T1E1 cards
Typical Client Configuration
- Shown below is a typical client configured for protocol analysis monitoring of ISDN and SS7 from four different T1/E1
probes in the network. Data is shown being captured in real time and displayed at a central site.
- The probes are accessible through IP addresses and programmable for capturing only the data required for
database storage.
- At the Client location database records can be accessed, processed, and displayed in a variety of ways.
Screen Shot of Typical Client Configuration
Typical System Configuration
The SS7 billing and monitoring System is mainly made of Off-the-Self personal computer, Microsoft Windows 2000 or
higher operating system, and GL's T1 /E1 Analyzer Software. Following is a typical system configuration for higher reliability
- High Availability Personal Computer (for Probe) consisting of
- Motherboard with SATA RAID-1 Array Controller
- Motherboard with 5 PCI Cards (for future expansion)
- Two SATA Hard Drives as part of RAID-1 Array
- Hot swappable power supplies.
- 10/100 Ethernet Port (with Static IP Address)
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional OS or higher
- With Latest Service Packs
- Stop non-essential Services
- Connect to network time server (like NIST) to synchronize time of all probes and Central systems.
- GL's Dual T1/E1 cards / units
- Two Dual T1/E1 cards per Probe
- Include Front End Bridge taps to isolate Probes from SS7 (T1) network. If probe goes down for any reason, it should not
adversely affect SS7 Trunk operation. Front End Bridge Tap is a passive device with built in bridge resistor.
- GL's Analyzer Software suite
- Basic Graphical User Interface based Analysis software
- SS7 Analyzer Software and associated license
- Data Collector Utility software (At Probe)
- Companion software (like FTP Server etc) will require once
KVM over IP is recommended instead of Microsoft Net-Meeting software to access remote probes. NetMeeting
software operation could have effect on performance of the probe. Since KVM over IP is an external device and should
have no effect on performance and availability of the probe.
Accessibility to probes can be greatly improved from any distance, at any time, regardless of the probe's state.
This network element can also provide real-time access to Probe for diagnostic and near real-time call details. Static IP
address is usually provided to the KVM Switch.
- Centralized Computing Platform
- High Availability MS-Windows based computer
- Centralized File Collector Software
- TCP/IP Connectivity with Probes
- 10/100 Ethernet port with Static IP Address
- UPS is recommended for all Probes, KVM Switch and Central System
- One standby probe is recommended for disaster recovery
- Probe Maintenance downtime consideration
- Analyzer software upgrade will require to stop analyzer
- Follow MS-Windows operating system guidelines which may require periodic cycling through power
Buyer's Guide:
Please Note: The XX in the Item No. refers to the hardware platform, listed at the bottom of the Buyer's
Guide, which the software will be running on. Therefore, XX can either be HDT, HDE, HUT, HUE, UTA or UEA depending
upon the
hardware.
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