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Overview:
In today's networks, surveillance of network characteristics is becoming more important than ever before. Performance monitoring,
security, fraud detection, alarm monitoring, billing verification, remote protocol analysis, failure prediction, and traffic engineering are
some aspects that need to be monitored continuously.
A network operator, service provider, or equipment manufacturer must have the means to perform the above surveillance tasks
cost-effectively, 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 Communications has developed a system, called the GL Net Surveyor, which 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 relational database (Oracle, DB2, Sybase, Microsoft Access, 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.
Architecture and Key Features:
- T1/E1/T3 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.
- Client Users can log into the central system locally/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 (usualy Oracle).
- Listener is modifiable and supportable with MySQL. The source code of the listener will be provided on request for user
customization.
Typical Applications:
- Call Detail Records, Fraud Detection and Location, Remote Protocol Analysis and Troubleshooting, Real-Time Signaling Monitor,
Traffic Optimization Engineering, Statistics.
- 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).
- ISDN (4ESS, 5ESS, ITU, ETSI, BELLCORE, QSIG).
- GR303, V5.X, INAP CS1 & CS2, INAP+, SS7 ANSI AIN.
Protocols for Mobile Networks:
- IS41-C, GSM A and A-bis Interface, GPRS Gb, ETSI MAP.
T1/E1/T3 Probe Interface Characteristics
- Single or Dual T1/E1 Cards with Multiple Cards per PC - up to 4 Dual PCI T1/E1 Cards per PC.
- Multiple Link Sets Per T1/E1 (thru 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.
Typical Client Configuration
- Shown below is a typical client configured for protocol analysis monitoring of GR 303, ISDN, SS7, and Lap D 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 thru 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
Single / Dual PCI T1/E1 Cards
Shown below is a screen shot of single and Dual PCI T1/E1 Cards used at Probe location points in the network.
Picture of Single and Dual PCI T1/E1 Cards
Typical System Configuration
The SS7 Billing / Monitoring System is mainly made of Off-the-Self personal computer, Microsoft's Windows 2000 Professional
Operating System, GL's Dual Ultra T1 Cards, and GL's 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 (for Probe.)
- 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 Ultra T1 Cards
- Two Dual UltraT1 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
- Fairpoint should keep one standby Probe 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 DPT, DPE, PCT, PCE, HDT, HDE, DLT, DLE or UTE depending upon the
hardware.
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