The Cisco AS5100 access server is a versatile data communications platform that combines in one chassis the functions of a Cisco access server with analog and digital modems, CSUs, and T1 channel banks.
The Cisco AS5100 access server provides the greatest benefit for organizations that need to centralize processing capabilities for remote offices and LANs. It enables organizations to aggregate their modem traffic onto analog or digital telephone lines and route it through the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
The Cisco AS5100 access server is optimized for high-speed modem access and is ideally suited for all traditional dial-up applications, such as access to a host, electronic mail, file transfer, and dial-in access to a LAN.
The Cisco AS5100 access server is available with Quad V.34 modems that connect at rates up to 33.6 kbps. These modems are available as digital, analog, or analog/digital.
Figure 6-23: Cisco AS5100 Access Server Rear View
The Cisco AS5100 access server consists of the following components:
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One 19-in. chassis with 17 card slots and a high-speed, multilayer midplane that spans the length of the chassis.
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Up to 16 NACs that are inserted into the front of the chassis. The NACs are paired with associated network interface cards (NICs) that are inserted into the rear of the chassis.
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One management NAC (always in slot 17) and its associated NIC.
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One or two power supplies inserted into the front of the chassis. The second power supply provides redundancy in case of failure.
Hardware
The Cisco AS5100 access server is built around a three-bus chassis that can be managed by optional SNMP management software.
The midplane design supports a wide array of NACs and NICs that can be configured and installed in the chassis to meet diverse connectivity needs. The chassis provides 17 connectors in front for NACs, and 17 connectors in the rear for NICs. All NACs and most NICs can support hot-swapping, which allows you to insert and remove cards while the power is on.
Optional AC or DC-powered chassis are available. DC power is supplied to the installed NICs and NACs via connectors in the midplane. All configured chassis include two power supplies. One unit provides sufficient power to a fully loaded chassis, and the second provides full redundancy.
The T1 NIC provides a four-wire T1 interface to the Cisco AS5100 access server, and the T1 NAC provides mapping of individual DS-0s to the quad modem NACs across the Time Division Multiplexer (TDM) bus.
The T1 NIC is available as a dual-trunk version, which handles up to 48 DS-0 channels from two trunks. Each channel carries either a pulse code modulation (PCM)-encoded voice channel or digital data. The T1 NAC supports 64-kbps clear channel operation for data channels, and supports Feature Group B for voice channels. Again, each of the DS-0 channels connect to other NACs via the midplane.
The T1 NIC provides RJ-48 connectors to terminate the trunks. It also provides an RJ-45 connector for the EIA/TIA-232 interface port. The T1 NIC performs all CSU functions including auto equalization and auto gain functions to support 6000 ft of 24-gage shielded cable. This card complies with all Bellcore standards relating to T1 alarms, loopbacks, error detection, and so forth. The T1 NIC is compatible with an external CSU if desired, and provides a serial interface to the T1 NAC.
The T1 NAC allows you to use dial number identification string (DNIS) and automatic number identification (ANI) information provided by the public 950 services, Feature Groups B and D, and enhanced 800 services to route data. Using this call information, the Cisco AS5100 access server chassis can independently configure the specific modems according to the dialed number requirements.
The T1 cards support the following features:
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Dual T1 interface supports up to 48 DS-0s
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D4 or ESF frame formats
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AMI or B8ZS line coding
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Integral CSU
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Internal and loop timing source from either span line
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Automatic fallback to alternate timing source
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Configurable E and M Type II signaling support
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Supports ground start and loop start supervision
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Supports MF and DTMF addressing
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LEDs for Run/Fail, Carrier, Loopback, and Alarm status
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Bantam monitor jacks for span lines on T1 NIC
The network management NAC and NIC cards act as proxy agents for the T1 and modem cards in the chassis. The NAC and NIC cards communicate with the T1 and modem cards over a dedicated management bus on the midplane. An SNMP console communicates with the management cards via a serial console port or over a LAN interface. Total Control Manager (TCM) software provides users with easy and immediate access to configuration/management of the modem and T1 card sets.
The access server NAC and associated NIC cards function as a communications server system with 16 asynchronous serial ports, one synchronous serial port, and one 10BaseT Ethernet port. Up to three access server cards can be installed in each Cisco AS5100 access server chassis. Each one is functionally equivalent to a standalone Cisco 2511, with the following exceptions:
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Each of the two 68-pin asynchronous serial ports supports eight EIA/TIA-232 serial ports.
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A supplied breakout cable splits each 68-pin port into two 50-pin connectors, which each support a quad modem card connected at the modem NIC.
Each chassis houses up to 48 high-speed analog or digital modems. Digital modems connect to the phone system by a direct T1 link through the T1 NIC. Modems can be managed with software ranging from a simple terminal interface menu system for device configuration or via SNMP using the network management card.
The quad modem cards provide four dial-up modems on a single card. Each modem is capable of supporting V.32 or V.34 and MNP-5 or V.42/V.42bis error correction and data compression.
The modem can also make use of the DNIS and ANI information provided by the public 950 services, Feature Groups B and D, and enhanced 800 services to customize the configuration of the modem before answering a call. For example, the dialed phone number can be associated with specific applications, and the same modem pool can be dynamically configured on a call-by-call basis to adjust to the requirements of the application.
The Quad EIA/TIA-232 NIC provides the physical interface for four EIA/TIA-232 ports via a 50-pin connector on the rear of the card.
Each EIA/TIA-232 port supports the full complement of EIA/TIA-232 signals necessary for synchronous or asynchronous operation. The ports support operation at speeds up to 115.2 kbps, and provide four serial interfaces to the quad modem NAC.
The modem cards support the following features:
Software
The Cisco AS5100 access server uses two network management products:
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Total Control Manager/SNMP (AS51-NMSW-1)
Total Control Manager/SNMP is a Windows-based SNMP host software package that runs on any IBM-compatible 486 PC. This package communicates with the management card in each Cisco AS5100 access server chassis to perform all network management functions for the modem and T1 cards.
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CiscoWorks Windows (CWPC-x.x-OV or UPG-CWPC-x.x)
CiscoWorks Windows includes the Configuration Builder application. The Configuration Builder application allows you to create configuration files for your access server without requiring you to remember complicated command-line language or syntax. For more information, refer to "CiscoWorks Windows" in the chapter "Network Management Applications," in the catalog.
Product and Part Numbers
Table 6-79: Part Numbers for the Base Systems
