Ethernet over 16 E1 or T1 NTU

RAD's RICi-16 Ethernet over bonded PDH network termination unit (NTU) is a Fast Ethernet over TDM demarcation device, connecting Ethernet LANs over four, eight or 16 bonded E1 or T1 circuits, or over channelized or clear channel T3 links, to extend broadband service coverage to remote locations. The RICi-16 Ethernet over bonded PDH NTU provides an efficient and economical solution for applications such as inter-LAN point-to-point connectivity and Fast Ethernet transport from IP DSLAMs, as well as cellular WiMAX and microwave backhauling, over PDH, SDH and SONET networks.

Employing standard GFP, VCAT and LCAS encapsulation and bonding protocols for NG-PDH with multi-VCG support, the RICi-16 improves overall network availability by reducing latency and optimizing line utilization and throughput.

• Delivers Ethernet services over legacy PDH/SDH/SONET backbones, facilitating deployments of new, revenue-generating applications using existing infrastructure

• Extends service reach for out-of-footprint subscribers, enabling service providers to rapidly grow their customer base

• Increases bandwidth capacity of available infrastructure with scalable bonding, bridging the bandwidth gap between E1/T1 rates and E3/T3 rates

• Reduces CapEx (capital expenditures) and leased line costs by allowing service differentiation over a single line

• Lowers operating expenditures (OpEx) by increasing network efficiency, freeing up bandwidth to support additional services or user locations

• Minimizes service disruptions via fault propagation and hitless restoration

• Standard encapsulation and bonding protocols support third-party interoperability

The RICi-16 network demarcation device delivers Fast Ethernet services over framed or unframed E1 or T1 circuits or bonded T3 links. In addition, it carries transparent TDM T1s and Ethernet traffic over a channelized T3 connection. Part of RAD’s EtherAccess® portfolio,the RICi-16 works opposite the Egate aggregation gateways, enabling service providers to utilize legacy TDM infrastructure in extending transparent inter-office LAN connections, as well as in provisioning E-Line and E-LAN services to remote locations. Additional applications include backhauling IP DSLAM, cellular IP and WiMAX base station traffic over copper-based or microwave connections.

RAD’s RICi-16 Ethernet over bonded PDH NTU supports standard, next-generation Ethernet over TDM encapsulation. It features uplink redundancy for high service resiliency using generic framing procedure (GFP), virtual concatenation (VCAT) and link capacity adjustment scheme (LCAS) standard protocols. These protocols allow service providers to dynamically allocate bandwidth to their customers by simply changing the number of links bonded to the virtual group, without the need to change the NTU device or stop the service. In addition to supporting easy interoperability with third-party equipment, these protocols eliminate SDH/SONET bandwidth restrictions and provide bandwidth-on-demand flexibility for delay-sensitive applications.

The RICi-16 also features up to 16 GFP VCAT groups (VCG). When serving as a POP aggregator, it supports up to 16 different customers by connecting to up to 16 remote RICi-E1/T1 devices.

By supporting VLAN stacking (“Q-in-Q”), the RICi-16 enables service providers to ensure transparent delivery of user traffic, while minimizing the number of required VLAN IDs in the network.

In cases of error conditions on the GFP port, a fault propagation feature disconnects the Fast Ethernet port, indicating the faulty conditions to the Ethernet network, and allowing routers and switches on both ends of the link to reroute traffic.

The RICi-16 features flexible management capabilities, including local management via an ASCII terminal (RS-232). In addition, remote management can be performed either inband or out-of-band, using the network or user ports, while maintaining separation between management and user traffic via the use of VLANs. Advanced FCAPS (Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance, Security) and diagnostic tools are provided by RADview-EMS, RAD’s carrier-class element management system, via an SNMP-based GUI.

The RICi-16 also supports a variety of configuration access channels, including CLI over Telnet, SNMP, Web server, and TFTP. Incorporated security features include Secure Shell (SSH), Web-based Secure Socket Layer (SSL), SNMPv3, and RADIUS, as well as management access control list (ACL).

The RICi-16 supports diagnostic tools, such as remote and local loopbacks mechanisms, to isolate problems on the TDM physical layer.