Converging voice and data services over a unified Ethernet, IP or MPLS network, a single ETX-212A device delivers IP VPN, VoIP and dedicated Internet access over the same physical link as a Layer 2 LAN-to-LAN service, all with differentiated quality of service and end-to-end monitoring.
As a high-capacity mobile demarcation device, the ETX-212A combines an aggregation-site gateway with Ethernet demarcation functionalities to provide end-to-end service control and performance management across packet backhaul for 3G, HSPA and LTE services. The ETX-212A is installed at cellular tower and controller sites to help backhaul and transport providers, as well as fixed-mobile carriers, guarantee differentiated SLAs for mobile operators. As an all-in-one device, it cuts down provider costs by minimizing equipment needed for timing and demarcation.
The ETX-212A features two Gigabit Ethernet network ports and up to eight GbE user ports. All ports are SFP compatible. In addition, two pluggable modules support up to 16 E1/T1 ports for TDM pseudowire emulation over packet.
Alternatively, one of the modules can be equipped with two 10-GbE ports for G.8032 ERPS.
The ETX-212A combines Ethernet demarcation with test-head functionalities, featuring a complete Ethernet OAM suite that includes Ethernet Link OAM (IEEE standard 802.3-2005, formerly 802.3ah), Ethernet Service OAM (IEEE 802.1ag) and performance monitoring (ITU-T Y.1731). These are enhanced with a built-in RFC-2544 test generation engine for unidirectional and bi-directional testing of throughput, latency and frame loss. In addition, the device features Layer 1, 2 and 3 diagnostic loopback capabilities with MAC and IP address swap.
Featuring ultra-fast, hardware-based processing capabilities, the ETX-212A performs OAM and PM measurements in under 1 microsecond with maximum precision, offering the following powerful benefits:
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Immediate detection of loss of continuity (LOC) to ensure under 50 ms protection switching
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Highly accurate frame loss measurements with live-traffic testing
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Flow-level monitoring enables simultaneous processing of hundreds of OAM sessions
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Loopback testing at line rate
The ETX-212A offers advanced SLA assurance tools, including user-defined KPI (key performance indicators) threshold configuration, real-time SLA violation alerts and per-flow daily statistics reporting.
Fault propagation mechanisms include subscriber port shutdown, as well as alarm indication signal (AIS) and remote defect indication (RDI) per Y.1731, to allow immediate notification and containment of service-affecting problems.
Synchronization and timing accuracy is critical for the quality of mobile services over asynchronous packet networks. These introduce packet delay variation and packet loss, which may lead to service disruptions, impaired cell hand-offs and excessive dropped calls. In addition to frequency and timing accuracy, LTE requires phase synchronization between neighboring eNode Bs and between eNode Bs and aGWs.
Incorporating RAD’s SyncToP synchronization and Timing over Packet feature set, the ETX-212A utilizes standard technologies to ensure highly accurate clock recovery and distribution over both the physical and packet layers:
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Synchronous Ethernet (Sync-E) master and slave clock support per ITU-T G.8261-G.8264, with primary/secondary clock redundancy
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1588v2 Precision Time Protocol slave and transparent clock with hardware-based timestamping
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1 PPS, E1/T1 and 2 MHz signal frequency extracted from Sync-E, E1/T1 or 1588v2 slave
The ETX-212A also supports simultaneous use of multiple timing and synchronization technologies, to reconcile different methodologies used in various network segments, thereby eliminating the need for costly upgrades. Such powerful clock transfer capabilities allow backhaul providers to ensure SDH/SONET-level performance, including frequency accuracy of 16 ppb (parts per billion) or better, without investing in dedicated hardware.
The ETX-212A features advanced softcore architecture for efficient handling of multipriority traffic on a per-flow basis, with ultrahigh capacity that enables simultaneous processing of hundreds of service flows. The device enables multi-criteria traffic classification as well as metering, policing and shaping to help carriers rate-limit user traffic according to pre-defined CIR (committed information rate) and EIR (excess information rate) profiles.
Enhanced quality of service is further supported by a hierarchical scheduling mechanism that combines Strict Priority (SP) and weighted fair queue (WFQ) scheduling, to efficiently handle real-time, premium and best-effort traffic. The ETX-212A also uses weighted random early detection (WRED) policy for intelligent queue management and congestion avoidance. Packet editing functionalities, such as color-sensitive P-bit re-marking, ensure metering continuity across color-aware and color-blind metro networks and WANs.
The ETX-212A offers various tools to ensure five nines (99.999%) availability and speedy restoration in the event of network outages. These include dual homing link redundancy and Link Aggregation (LAG) using 802.3ad LACP. Path protection is supported with Ethernet Linear Protection Switching per ITU-T G.8031, to ensure end-to-end service is maintained when a fault is detected in one of the logical EVCs. In addition, the ETX-212A supports Ethernet 1-GbE or 10-GbE Ring Protection Switching (ERPS) per G.8032.
The ETX-212A features flexible management capabilities, including local management via an ASCII terminal (RS-232). In addition, remote management can be performed either inband using the network or user ports, or out-of-band using a dedicated management port, while maintaining separation between management and user traffic via the use of VLANs. Advanced FCAPS (Fault, Configuration, Administration, Performance, Security) and diagnostic tools are provided by RADview-EMS, RAD’s carrier-class element management system, via an SNMPbased GUI.
The ETX-212A also supports a variety of access protocols, including CLI over Telnet, SNMP, and TFTP. Incorporated security features include Secure Shell (SSH), Web-based Secure Socket Layer (SSL), SNMPv3, RADIUS and Terminal Access Controller Access-Control System (TACACS+), as well as management access control list (ACL).
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