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Table of Contents

Preparing for Installation

Preparing for Installation

This chapter describes the site requirements for installing the Cisco uBR7200 series universal broadband router. The chapter contains the following sections:

Safety Recommendations

The following guidelines will help to ensure your safety and protect the equipment. This list does not cover all potentially hazardous situations, so be alert.

Warning Only trained and qualified personnel should be allowed to install or replace this equipment.
Note For Australia and New Zealand, equipment is to be installed and maintained by service personnel only as defined by AS/NZS 3260 Clause 1.2.14.3 Service Personnel.
Warning Ultimate disposal of this product should be handled according to all national laws and regulations.
Warning There is the danger of explosion if the battery is replaced incorrectly. Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Dispose of used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Lifting Safely

A fully configured Cisco uBR7223 weighs approximately 75 pounds (34.0 kilograms [kg]) and a fully configured Cisco uBR7246 VXR or Cisco uBR7246 weighs approximately 100 pounds (45.4 kilograms [kg]). These chassis are not intended to be moved frequently. Before you install either of the routers, ensure that your site is properly prepared so you can avoid having to move a chassis later to accommodate power sources and network connections.

Whenever you lift a chassis or any heavy object, follow these guidelines (see Figure 2-1):


Figure 2-1: Lifting the Chassis (Cisco uBR7246 Shown)


Safety with Electricity

The port adapters, cable modem cards, and redundant power supplies are designed to be removed and replaced while the system is operating without presenting an electrical hazard or damage to the system.

Caution You must power down the system before removing or replacing the I/O controller, clock card, and network processing engine.

Follow these basic guidelines when working with any electrical equipment:

Warning Before working on a chassis or working near power supplies, unplug the power cord on AC units; disconnect the power at the circuit breaker on DC units.
Warning Before working on a system that has an on/off switch, turn OFF the power and unplug the power cord.

In addition, use the guidelines that follow when working with any equipment that is disconnected from a power source, but still connected to telephone wiring or other network cabling:

Warning Before opening the chassis, disconnect the telephone-network cables to avoid contact with telephone-network voltages.
Warning The telecommunications lines must be disconnected 1) before unplugging the main power connector and/or 2) while the housing is open.
Warning Do not work on the system or connect or disconnect cables during periods of lightning activity.

Preventing Electrostatic Discharge Damage

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage, which occurs when electronic cards or components are improperly handled, can result in complete or intermittent system failures. The network processing engine, I/O controller, each cable modem card, each port adapter, and the clock card consists of a printed circuit board that is fixed in a metal carrier. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, connectors, and a handle are integral components of the carrier. Although the carrier helps protect the boards, use an antistatic strap whenever handling the network processing engine, I/O controller, cable modem cards, port adapters, and the clock card. Handle the carriers by the handles and the carrier edges only; never touch the boards or connector pins.

Caution Always tighten the captive installation screws on the network processing engine, I/O controller, cable modem cards, and the clock card. These screws prevent accidental removal, provide proper grounding for the system, and help ensure that the bus connectors are properly seated in the midplane.

Following are guidelines for preventing ESD damage:

Caution For safety, periodically check the resistance value of the antistatic strap. The measurement should be between 1 and 10 megohm (Mohm).

Site Requirements

To ensure normal operation and avoid unnecessary maintenance, plan your site configuration and prepare your site before installation. Take into account the following criteria:

AC Power

The AC-input power supply uses a power factor corrector that allows the Cisco uBR7200 series to operate on input voltage and frequency within the ranges of 100 to 240 VAC and 50/60 Hz.

Note Cisco recommends an uninterruptable power source to protect against power failures at your site. An AC-input power supply has an electrical current rating of 7A.

See "Specifications and Export Restrictions," for system power specifications, including input voltage and operating frequency ranges.

DC Power

The DC-input power supply operates at -48 volts direct current (VDC) input voltage and supplies +3.5V, +5.2V, +12.2V, -12.2V, +16V, and -16V DC power to the router's internal components through the router midplane.

Note Each DC-input power supply has an electrical current rating of 14A, 700 VA. Use a minimum of 12 AWG (4 mm2) wire for the input to each DC-input power supply. The power input must be protected by a 20A circuit breaker or fuse that is in compliance with your local electric regulations.

See "Specifications and Export Restrictions," for system power specifications, including input voltage and operating frequency ranges.

Site Environment

Table 2-1 lists the operating and nonoperating environmental site requirements. The following ranges are those within which the Cisco uBR7200 series universal broadband router will continue to operate; however, a measurement that is approaching the minimum or maximum of a range indicates a potential problem. You can maintain normal operation by anticipating and correcting environmental anomalies before they approach a maximum operating range.

To provide airflow through the Cisco uBR7200 series, cooling air is drawn in through the air intake vent on the right side of the chassis (when viewing the router from the front) and is exhausted through the left side of the chassis. Keep the right and left side of the chassis clear of obstructions and away from the exhaust of other equipment.


Table 2-1: Specifications for Operating and Nonoperating Environments
Specification Minimum Maximum

Temperature, ambient operating

32 degrees Fahrenheit
(0 degrees Celsius)

104 degrees Fahrenheit
(40 degrees Celsius)

Temperature, ambient nonoperating and storage

-4 degrees Fahrenheit
(-20 degrees Celsius)

149 degrees Fahrenheit
(65 degrees Celsius)

Humidity, ambient (noncondensing) operating

10%

90%

Humidity, ambient (noncondensing) nonoperating and storage

5%

95%

Altitude, operating and nonoperating

Sea level

10,000 feet (3,050 meters)

Vibration, operating

5 to 200 Hz, 0.5 g (1 oct./min.)

-

Vibration, nonoperating

5 to 200 Hz, 1 g (1 oct./min.)
200 to 500 Hz, 2 g (1 oct./min.)

-

Preventive Site Configuration: Maintaining Normal Operation

Planning a proper location for the Cisco uBR7200 series universal broadband router and the layout of your equipment rack or wiring closet are essential for successful system operation. Equipment placed too close together or inadequately ventilated can cause system overtemperature conditions. In addition, chassis panels made inaccessible by poor equipment placement can make system maintenance difficult. Following are precautions that can help avoid problems during installation and ongoing operation.

General Precautions

Follow these general precautions when planning your equipment locations and connections:

Power Considerations

Follow these precautions and recommendations when planning power connections to the Cisco uBR7200 series:

Required Network Information

After you install the chassis, your system administrator must configure the individual and system interfaces before you connect your system to external networks. Refer to the Cisco uBR7200 Series Universal Broadband Router Software Configuration Guide for more detailed information.

Before you begin, be prepared with global (system-wide) parameters such as host names, passwords, and routing protocols, and with configuration information for each interface such as addresses, rates or speeds of operation, routing protocol specifics, and so on.

Following is some of the information you might need, depending on the services you plan to offer:

For complete configuration instructions, refer to the Configuration Fundamentals Configuration Guide and the Configuration Fundamentals Command Reference publications, which are available on the Documentation CD-ROM, CCO, or in print. (See the "Obtaining Documentation" section for more information.)

Tools for Installation

Your Cisco uBR7200 series universal broadband router chassis is fully assembled at the factory; no assembly is required. However, you will need the following tools and equipment to install the chassis and the rack-mount and cable-management kit:

The rack-mount and cable-management kit includes the following parts:

To verify your plant's RF setup, you need the following:

Note For headend RF and data setups, refer to "Connecting and Configuring the Cable Headend." Refer to "Manufacturers for Headend Provisioning Requirements," for a list of manufacturers. Refer to "Coaxial Cable Specifications," for coaxial cabling specifications.

In addition, you might need the following:

Note When the Cisco uBR7200 series starts running, IF downstream output will be generated. For more information, see the "Powering On the Cisco uBR7200 Series" section.

Verifying the Shipping Container Contents

When you receive your Cisco uBR7200 series universal broadband router, use the following procedure to check the contents of the shipping container. Use the Cisco uBR7200 Series Installation Checklist in Table 3-1 and either the Cisco uBR7223 Component List in Table 2-2 or the Cisco uBR7246 VXR and Cisco uBR7246 Component List in Table 2-3 the to ensure you received all the components you ordered.

Note Do not discard the shipping container. You will need the container if you move or ship your Cisco uBR7200 series universal broadband router in the future.
Step 1 Verify that the following are included in the shipping container (the accessories box might be separate):

Step 2 Check the contents of the accessories box against the Installation Checklist and the packing slip to verify that you received all listed equipment, which should include the following:

Step 3 Verify that the port adapters installed in your Cisco uBR7200 series match the port adapter types on the packing list.

Step 4 Verify that the number of cable modem cards installed in your Cisco uBR7200 series matches the number of cable modem cards that you ordered.

Step 5 Refer to "Site Log," then to the "Rack-Mounting the Cisco uBR7200 Series" section to begin the installation.


Table 2-2: Cisco uBR7223 Component List
Component and Description Received

Cisco uBR7223 chassis---Configured with a network processing engine, I/O controller, one AC-input or one DC-input power supply, up to one port adapter, up to two cable modem cards (blank cable modem cards should be installed in empty cable modem card slots), and up to two Flash memory cards

The following accessories might arrive in separate shipping containers:

  • Rack-mount and cable-management kit---Two rack-mount brackets, one cable-management bracket, four M4 x 6-mm Phillips flathead screws, two M4 x 6-mm Phillips panhead screws, and four 10/32 x 3/8-inch slotted binderhead screws

  • AC-input power cables---One AC-input power cable (if AC-input power supply ordered)

  • Documentation1, including the following:

    • Cisco uBR7200 series hardware documentation (the Cisco uBR7200 Series Universal Broadband Router Hardware Installation Guide)---this publication

    • Cisco uBR7200 series software documentation (the Cisco uBR7200 Series Universal Broadband Router Software Configuration Guide)

    • Cisco IOS software documentation set, if ordered

    • Cisco Documentation CD-ROM

    • Configuration notes for installed FRU items

    • Cisco Network Registrar documentation

    • Cisco Information Packet

1Titles and quantities of documents will vary. You must order the Cisco IOS documentation sets separately when you order the hardware.


Table 2-3: Cisco uBR7246 VXR and Cisco uBR7246 Component List
Description Received

Cisco uBR7246 VXR or Cisco uBR7246 chassis---Configured with a network processing engine, I/O controller, up to two AC-input or DC-input power supplies, up to two port adapters (blank port adapters should be installed in empty port adapter slots), up to four cable modem cards (blank cable modem cards should be installed in empty cable modem card slots), and up to two Flash memory cards

Note An optional clock card can be installed in a Cisco uBR7246 VXR.

The following accessories might arrive in separate shipping containers:

  • Rack-mount and cable-management kit---Two rack-mount brackets, one cable-management bracket, eight M4 x 6-mm Phillips flathead screws, four M4 x 6-mm Phillips panhead screws, and four 10/32 x 3/8-inch slotted binderhead screws

  • AC-input power cables---Up to two AC-input power cables (if AC-input power supply ordered)

  • Documentation1, including the following:

    • Cisco uBR7200 series hardware documentation (the Cisco uBR7200 Series Universal Broadband Router Hardware Installation Guide)---this publication

    • Cisco uBR7200 series software documentation (the Cisco uBR7200 Series Universal Broadband Router Software Configuration Guide)

    • Cisco IOS software documentation set, if ordered

    • Cisco Documentation CD-ROM

    • Configuration notes for installed FRU items

    • Cisco Network Registrar documentation

    • Cisco Information Packet

1Titles and quantities of documents will vary. You must order the Cisco IOS documentation sets separately when you order the hardware.

Site Preparation Checklist

Before installing the Cisco uBR7200 series, assemble the equipment needed to support your network configuration and subscriber service offering. Ensure all power and cabling requirements are met based on the equipment to install. Also ensure environmental conditions are met to maintain proper equipment operation.

Table 2-4 is a checklist that identifies the key tasks to complete.


Table 2-4: Site Preparation Checklist
Task Verified By Date
General:

Safety recommendations and guidelines reviewed

Required general CMTS preparations completed

Site power voltages verified

Site environmental specifications verified

Downstream and upstream channel plans created

Cable plant swept, balanced, and certified per NCTA or PAL/SECAM recommendations

Laser receivers tuned to match relative upstream input on Cisco uBR7200 series

Required passwords, IP addresses, device names available

All additional CMTS equipment to support Internet access services, including upconverter and all other RF-related equipment; servers and other host computers; a Cisco uBR900 series cable access router; and console accessory kit to test operation of your network.

Required tools and cables available

Telco Return Configurations:

Telco return dial-up plan created

Network access server installed and configured

Telephone circuits, connections and all equipment to support telco return

IP Telephony Configurations:

Gatekeeper/gateway equipment installed and configured

Dial plan based on the supported VoIP protocol used---H.323 or SGCP

Provisioning the Headend

The following sections describe necessary preparations at the cable headend before you install the Cisco uBR7200 series universal broadband router.

Two-Way Data and VoIP

To prepare for two-way data operation, including digitized voice and fax, ensure the following is met:

Note For a VoIP system using H.323, ensure that the CMTS has been properly provisioned with equipment such as VoIP gateways/gatekeepers. For SGCP-based VoIP systems, ensure that the CMTS has been properly provisioned with equipment such as VoIP gateways and call-agents.

Telco Return

To support telco return, ensure:

Headend Certification

The cable headend plant must pass both analog and digital certification:

The digital certification process is described in "Connecting and Configuring the Cable Headend."

IF-to-RF Upconverter

To be compatible with cable television system frequency division multiplexing, install an external IF-to-RF upconverter that translates the IF signal to RF carrier frequency. The upconverter also allows you to maintain your existing channel lineup.

Upconverters are available from many manufacturers and can be found in configurations ranging from a fixed number of ports to flexible multislot, multiport models. Install and configure enough upconverter ports to support the number of downstream cable modem card ports installed in each Cisco uBR7200 series universal broadband router you are installing. The number of upconverter units needed depends on the upconverter manufacturer. "Manufacturers for Headend Provisioning Requirements," lists upconverter manufacturers, web sites for more information on upconverter products, and models of upconverters that are compatible with the Cisco uBR7200 series.

The upconverter is installed between the Cisco uBR7200 series and the combiner. (See Figure 4-3 and Figure 4-4.)

Depending on the channel plan you are employing, your upconverter(s) must support different functionality. In a North American channel environment, your upconverter needs to receive a 44-MHz downstream IF transmission from cable modem cards in the Cisco uBR7200 series router and transmit 6-MHz RF channel bands in the 54 to 860 MHz range. In an 8-MHz European channel environment your upconverter needs to receive a 36.125 MHz downstream IF transmission from cable modem cards in the Cisco uBR7200 series router and transmit 8-MHz RF channel bands in the 85 to 860 MHz range.

Refer to the documentation that ships with your upconverter for details on upconverter operation and configuration. See the "Connecting and Configuring the Downstream" section.

Note An analog channel modulator with external IF loops is not suitable for use as a digital Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) upconverter. These units typically do not have the phase noise performance levels required for 64- and 256-QAM digital signals, and they might cause degraded performance and possible system failure.
Note The combiner refers to all cables, amplifiers, and taps at the headend or cable distribution center that connect the Cisco uBR7200 series to the hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network.

Diplex Filters

For coax cabling, diplex filters must be installed in the RF path between the cable modem cards in the Cisco uBR7200 series universal broadband router and cable modems and/or STBs. Diplex filters separate the high-band frequency downstream signals from the low-band frequency upstream signals.

Note For fiber optics, lasers handle the frequency separation of downstream and upstream. Refer to the next section, "Fiber-Optic Laser Receivers."

High-band signals flow in the downstream direction from the Cisco uBR7200 series to cable modems and STBs. Low-band signals flow in the upstream direction from the cable modems to the Cisco uBR7200 series.

A diplexer has three ports: low, high, and common. The downstream attaches to the high port because it runs at high frequency. The upstream attaches to the low port because it runs at a low frequency. The common port attaches to a splitter attached to one or more cable modems and/or STBs.

In two-way data cable networks, the diplexer takes the upstream and downstream and combines them on one cable for the cable modem. The downstream output signal from the Cisco uBR7200 series runs through the upconverter and then enters the high filter port of the diplex filter. The signal exits the common port of the filter and is distributed to the cable modems. The upstream signal from the cable modems enters the low port of the diplex filter and flows to the upstream receive ports of the Cisco uBR7200 series cable modem cards.

Note "Manufacturers for Headend Provisioning Requirements," provides a list of diplex filter manufacturers and web sites for more information.

Fiber-Optic Laser Receivers

If the upstream channels of your cable plant terminate at the headend over fiber-optic lines, ensure you have a fiber-optic laser receiver allocated for each upstream channel in your network.

Note Laser receivers need to be properly tuned so that the frequency of their output signal matches the receive frequency of the upstream channel on the Cisco uBR7200 series with which they have been paired.

DHCP, DNS, TFTP and TOD Servers

A DHCP server must be installed at the headend. The DHCP server must also offer a time-of-day (TOD) server option that is compliant with RFC 868.

In conjunction with the DHCP server, a Domain Name System (DNS) server must be installed to translate names of network nodes into IP addresses. A Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server must be installed to facilitate the transfer of DOCSIS configuration files over the broadband network.

Cisco provides a configuration tool with every Cisco uBR7200 series universal broadband router---Cisco Network Registrar (CNR)---to automate dynamic IP address allocation to cable modems, PCs, and other devices on the broadband network. CNR provides integrated DHCP and DNS services for your network configuration.

Telco Return

The following sections describe CMTS equipment necessary to support telco return service.

Dial-Up/Remote Access Servers

Because a telco return cable network relies on the local telephone system to complete the upstream data path to the Cisco uBR7200 series, you need to be sure you provision your network with a dial-up access server and other required equipment through which remote cable modems will gain access to your headend.

RADIUS Dial Security Servers

After remote telco return cable modems have initiated dial-up to the CMTS via the network access server, a RADIUS dial security server typically authenticates their respective usernames and passwords and/or MAC address and password(s) and then determines whether or not to allow the connection.

In addition to the dial-up numbers provided in TCD messages originating from the Cisco uBR7200 series, username and password information is included in TCD messages to validate the cable modem's upstream connection. After dialing in to the network access server, the username and password portions of the TCD messages are passed through a RADIUS dial access server for authentication before the upstream data path can be completed. (See Figure 2-2.)


Figure 2-2: Servers on an HFC Network


Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting Servers

Authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) servers are essential to the network because they typically monitor usage for subscriber billing and record keeping. AAA features call upon a RADIUS security server to help authenticate and monitor users' access.

VoIP Gateways and Gatekeepers

To support digitized voice transmission using Cisco IOS Release 12.0(5)T1 CMTS images, be sure to include VoIP gateways and gatekeepers in your configuration. Cisco IOS Release 12.0(5)T1 supports VoIP using the H.323 protocol. VoIP gateways convert IP-based voice packets into standard PSTN voice traffic, making the process of placing calls over the IP network transparent to users.

VoIP gatekeepers manage H.323-compliant gateways throughout the network. Gatekeepers also manage traffic between their local cable system networks, as well as the networks of other VoIP gatekeepers.

VoIP SGCP Pass-Through

To support digitized voice transmission using Simple Gateway Control Protocol (SGCP), be sure to include VoIP gateways and external call control elements (often referred to as call-agents) in your configuration. Cisco IOS Release 12.0(6)T and later versions of Cisco IOS Release 12.0 T and Cisco IOS Release 12.0(6)XR and later versions of Cisco IOS Release 12.0 X support VoIP communication using the SGCP 1.1 protocol. Just as with H.323 systems, VoIP gateways in an SGCP environment convert IP-based voice packets into standard PSTN voice traffic, making the process of placing calls over the IP network transparent to users.

Call-agents manage SGCP-compliant gateways throughout the network, allowing them to engage in Common Channel Signaling (CCS) over a 64-kbps circuit emulation service (CES) circuit.

Headend Wiring

This section provides guidelines for setting up the headend wiring and cabling at your site. When planning the location of the new system, consider the distance limitations for signaling, EMI, and connector compatibility, as described in the following sections.

Interference Considerations

When wires are run for any significant distance in an electromagnetic field, interference can occur between the field and the signals on the wires. This fact has two implications for the construction of headend wiring:

If you use twisted-pair cable in your headend wiring with a good distribution of grounding conductors, the wiring is unlikely to emit radio interference. If you exceed the recommended distances, use a high-quality twisted-pair cable with one ground conductor for each data signal when applicable.

If wires exceed recommended distances, or if wires pass between buildings, give special consideration to the effect of a lightning strike in your vicinity. The electromagnetic pulse caused by lightning or other high-energy phenomena can easily couple enough energy into unshielded conductors to destroy electronic devices. If you have had EMI problems in the past, you might want to consult experts in electrical surge suppression and shielding.

Distance Limitations and Interface Specifications

The size of your networks and the distances between connections depend on the type of signal, the signal speed, and the transmission media (the type of cabling used to transmit the signals). For example, standard coaxial cable has a greater channel capacity than twisted-pair cabling. The distance and rate limits in the following descriptions are the IEEE recommended maximum speeds and distances for signaling; however, you can usually get good results at speeds and distances far greater than these. For example, the recommended maximum rate for V.35 is 2 Mbps, and it is commonly used at 4 Mbps without any problems. If you understand the electrical problems that might arise and can compensate for them, you should get good results with rates and distances greater than those shown here; however, do so at your own risk.

Note Cisco recommends that you do not exceed specified transmission rate and distance limits.

When preparing your site for network connections to the Cisco uBR7200 series universal broadband router, you must consider a number of factors related to each type of interface:

Before installing the Cisco uBR7200 series, have all additional external equipment and cables available. The information listed above is contained in the documentation that is shipped with each port adapter. For example, if you need Ethernet distance limitations and pinouts, refer to the document PA-8E Ethernet 10BASE-T Port Adapter Installation and Configuration (Cisco document number 78-3141-10). This document accompanies each 8-port Ethernet port adapter that is shipped from the factory as an installed item in a Cisco uBR7200 series and as a field-replaceable unit (FRU).

For ordering information, contact a customer service representative. (See the "Obtaining Documentation" section for more information.)

Equipment Racks

The rack-mounting hardware included with the Cisco uBR7200 series universal broadband router is suitable for most 19-inch equipment racks and telco-type racks. To easily access FRUs while the router is installed in a rack, ensure that you have access to the front and rear of the router.

Before using a particular rack, check for obstructions (such as a power strip) that could impair rack-mount installation. If a power strip does impair a rear rack-mount installation, remove the power strip before installing the Cisco uBR7200 series in the rack, then replace it after the chassis is installed. As an alternative, you can mount the Cisco uBR7200 series on an equipment shelf if the rack dimensions allow you to secure the router to the shelf, and the overall configuration permits safe installation and access. However, Cisco recommends rack-mounting the Cisco uBR7200 series. shows the Cisco uBR7200 series footprint and outer dimensions.

To use the rack-mounting hardware provided with the Cisco uBR7200 series, consider the following guidelines:


Figure 2-3: Cisco uBR7200 Series Footprint and Outer Dimensions


When planning your rack installation, consider the following guidelines:

Note Cisco recommends the rear bracket mounting system for four-post racks, as this method enables you to keep cables from protruding too far out in front of the Cisco uBR7200 series and simultaneously manage the cables at the front of the chassis with the cable management bracket.

In addition to the preceding guidelines, review the precautions for avoiding overtemperature conditions in the "Site Environment" section. To properly install the Cisco uBR7200 series universal broadband router chassis in a rack, refer to the instructions in the "Rack-Mounting the Cisco uBR7200 Series" section.

Caution To prevent chassis overheating, never install the Cisco uBR7200 series in an enclosed rack or room that is not properly ventilated or air conditioned. The Cisco uBR7200 series will overheat if the input air temperature reaches 105 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius).These applications would not be used for residential Internet access services. You would be too constrained with RF path impairments on the upstream to possibly connect enough homes, such that there would be more than 1000 cable modems on a single upstream interface. At 20% customer penetration, this is 5,000 homes passed per upstream. Twenty percent penetration is considered very high for Internet residential subscription.


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Posted: Tue Mar 28 08:50:32 PST 2000
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