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This chapter describes basic system operation and the performance metrics captured as a result of system operation in a Digital Off-Hook (DOH) configuration. Understanding performance statistics is easier if you understand the process that the Cisco 6100 Series system goes through to establish digital off-hook connections.
The following events occur when a Cisco 6100 Series system initiates a connection request to the customer premises equipment (CPE) product:
2. The CO POTS splitter routes the start tone sequence to the subscriber's line interface module (LIM) port.
4. The LIM controller module signals the system controller (SC) module in the multiplexer chassis (MC) that a CAP ATU-C modem connection is requested.
5. Provided that a modem is available in the logical pool, the SC module uses a round robin distribution algorithm to decide which CAP ATU-C modem will handle the connection. (The modem must be in the logical pool to which the subscriber is assigned.) The SC module then instructs the LIM controller module accordingly.
6. The LIM port (subscriber line with ATU-R modem at the far end) and the designated CAP ATU-C modem are then connected, and a successful connection counter is incremented for the logical pool, the line, and the subscriber ID. At this point, the modem training sequence begins.
The Carrierless Amplitude and Phase Modulation (CAP) rate adaptive DSL (RADSL) transceivers used in Cisco ATU-Cs and ATU-Rs can train at a number of different discrete settings within each of three baud rate ranges. Because the upstream and downstream data paths are transmitted in different frequencies, they are trained independently.
Cisco's CAP RADSL implementation supports a number of ADSL training options that can be used to control subscriber traffic. The following background information provides an overview of the training process.
Bit error rate and noise margin are primary factors in achieving subscriber designated parameters.
Because ADSL transceivers seek an upstream and downstream data rate that can be maintained as long as the amount of line noise does not cause a bit error rate (BER) in excess of 1x10-7. Line noise is a function of reach and disturbers. As reach and/or noise in the loop increases, upstream and downstream payload rates decrease. Also, the thinner the copper wire, the more susceptible it is to noise. Since line noise is not constant, a certain amount of line noise fluctuation is tolerated without the trained rates being affected. This fluctuation is known as noise margin. Noise margin must be supplied to the transceivers when you are using the multiband method of training (multiband is discussed further below).
Upstream and downstream payloads are transmitted in different frequency ranges; therefore, the two payload rates are established independently. Layer 2 protocol data units (PDUs) are encoded into Layer 1 (ADSL) transmission frequencies by means of baud rates (also known as symbol rates) and constellations. Different baud rates are used to achieve different payload rates.
CAP RADSL transceivers support one baud rate for establishing upstream payload rate
(136 kilobaud), and three baud rates for establishing downstream payload rate (340, 680, and 952 kilobaud). These baud rates enable CAP RADSL implementations to support downstream payload rates ranging from 7168 kbps to 640 kbps, and upstream data rates ranging from 1088 kbps to
91 kbps.
You can change the noise margins for a subscriber line. This means that a line that was training successfully might not train once you set a new margin. You will see a warning alerting you to use caution when you are changing the margin.
Cisco recommends that the margin be set for 6 dB upstream and 3 dB downstream to provide performance similar to that offered by Cisco 6100 Series releases prior to Release 2.4.0. The default values for margin are 0 upstream and 0 downstream.
For example, if you train a unit provisioned with 3 dB downstream margin and 6 dB upstream margin against 24-ISDN NEXT set to the 0 db reference level (-52.6 dBm), you can turn the noise up to -49.6 dBm at the CPE and -46.6 dBm at the CO and still maintain a bit error rate less than 1 bit in error for every 10 million sent (10-7).
Within each baud rate, transceivers use constellations to encode data into a frequency spectrum, and subsequently enable the discrete payload options shown in Table 9-1.
Valid CAP RADSL constellations are 256UC, 256, 128, 64, 32, 16, 8, and 8ER. The 128, 32, 8, and 8 extended range (ER) constellations are not supported with downstream baud rates of 952 and 680. Because of this, some upstream-downstream constellation combinations cannot be achieved.
Table 9-1 shows valid upstream and downstream constellation combinations.
| Upstream | ||||||||||
| Kilobaud | 136 | 136 | 136 | 136 | 136 | 136 | 136 | 136 | ||
| Const | 256UC | 256 | 128 | 64 | 32 | 16 | 8 | 8ER | ||
| Kilobaud | Const | Payload | 1088 | 952 | 816 | 680 | 544 | 408 | 272 | 91 | |
| 952 | 256UC | 7168 | X | X |
| X |
| X |
|
| |
| D | 952 | 256 | 6272 | X | X |
| X |
| X |
|
|
| o | 952 | 64 | 4480 | X | X |
| X |
| X |
|
|
| w | 952 | 16 | 2688 | X | X |
| X |
| X |
|
|
| n | 680 | 256UC | 5120 | X | X |
| X |
| X |
|
|
| s | 680 | 256 | 4480 | X | X |
| X |
| X |
|
|
| t | 680 | 64 | 3200 | X | X |
| X |
| X |
|
|
| r | 680 | 16 | 1920 | X | X |
| X |
| X |
|
|
| e | 340 | 256UC | 2560 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| a | 340 | 256 | 2240 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| m | 340 | 128 | 1920 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 340 | 64 | 1600 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| 340 | 32 | 1280 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| 340 | 16 | 960 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| 340 | 8 | 640 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| 136 | 256UC | 1024 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| |
| 136 | 256 | 896 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| |
| 136 | 128 | 768 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| |
| 136 | 64 | 640 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| |
| 136 | 32 | 512 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| |
| 136 | 16 | 384 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| |
| 136 | 8 | 256 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| |
In Table 9-1 there are
CAP modules support 136 kilobaud training rates, which can be allowed or disallowed when the feature is supported by the SC software revision and the subscriber is locked. If the SC supports per-subscriber provisionable 136 kilobaud or does not support ATUCPARMS, then the Allow 136K Baud toggle in the Cisco 6100 Series Properties dialog box is disabled. If the SC supports ATUCPARMS but does not support per-subscriber 136 kilobaud, then the toggle is enabled.
The service provider is unlikely to be concerned with the technicalities of selecting similar data-rate settings for two different baud rates; consequently, Table 9-2 simplifies the selection process slightly. The table lists valid upstream and downstream rate combinations.
.
| Upstream Rate (kbps)
| |||||||||
| Downstream Rate (kbps) | 1088 | 952 | 816 | 680 | 544 | 408 | 272 | 91 | |
7168
| X1 | X |
| X |
| X |
|
| |
6272
| X | X |
| X |
| X |
|
| |
5120
| X | X |
| X |
| X |
|
| |
4480
| X | X |
| X |
| X |
|
| |
3200
| X | X |
| X |
| X |
|
| |
2688
| X | X |
| X |
| X |
|
| |
2560
| X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
2240
| X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
1920
| X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
1600
| X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
1280
| X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
1024
| X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| |
960
| X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
896
| X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| |
768
| X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| |
640
| X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
512
| X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| |
384
| X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| |
256
| X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| |
| 1x = valid, empty cell = invalid |
The actual training procedure is a function of transceiver-controlled parameter exchange and algorithms designed by Cisco to place parameters around valid data rate selections in Table 9-2.
The following rules apply to the training sequence:
With the above rules, the CAP ATU-C has complete control over upstream and downstream data rate selection. Valid upstream and downstream data rate combinations are selected from within ViewRunner and are communicated to the CAP ATU-C through the following procedure:


This section includes information about receive signal quality, receiver gain, and transmit power where transmit power applies to noise margins on the Cisco 6100 Series systems. (See the "Service Provisioning for Digital Off-Hook" section.) Each of these trained line attributes is displayed in ViewRunner in the CAP ATU-C Module Properties---Port Status dialog box.
You can change the noise margin (upstream and downstream) on an ATU-C module for each subscriber line, but increasing this margin could cause a line that trained previously, to fail to train.
Figure 9-3 shows the CAP ATU-C Module Properties---Port Status dialog box for a session in progress. The various train parameters are identified in the CAP ATU-C Module Properties
dialog box.
Receive signal quality (SQ) is a measure of the signal quality of the upstream channel (from the ATU-R in the case of the Cisco 675). It is represented in decibels.
This value is used to estimate the BER or signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) margin for the received data. It takes into account the total signal-to-interference ratio (SIR), where the interference includes background noise, cross-talk, residual inter-symbol interference, residual echo from the neighboring upstream or downstream data, and distortion.
The data in the next paragraph should provide a perspective of observed SQs. Stating explicit valid SQ ranges for a given loop reach is, however, not particularly valuable. The number and variety of interferers and wiring (outside plant and in-home) creates so many different scenarios that specific data is not always helpful if you are trying to institute, for example, a corrective action by moving a pair to a different binder group as a remedy.
For 7 kft loops, it is fairly common to observe receive SQ of 37 to 44 dB, with average interference and a 6 dB noise margin setting. For 10 kft loops, an SQ range of 32 to 35 dB is common. As loop length increases, the SQ decreases. Long loops (12 to 15 kft) or loops that have bridge taps could have an SQ in the dB range of the low 30s decibel range. Very long loops (over 15 kft) can even train with an SQ as low as 20 dB @ dB margin. If noise margin is reduced to zero, even longer loops can train with an SQ as low as 12 dB.
One of the great values of RADSL is that it removes the need for the operator to figure out these values for optimum performance. The values are presented here primarily as an indicator that the trained loop is exhibiting expected characteristics, rather than for troubleshooting purposes. In a subsequent Cisco 6100 Series system and ViewRunner release, Layer 1 performance statistics will be added, which will be more valuable from a historical review perspective for loops that are experiencing problems. For a given training session, remember that if RADSL cannot overcome loop characteristics such that even the lowest upstream/downstream data rates are not supportable, these layer 1 attributes will not be displayed anyway.
The SQ is not a function of the data rates. In fact the opposite is true, data rates are a function of the SQ. For a given requested upstream/downstream data rate combination (as selected in ViewRunner), if the transceivers cannot maintain the data rates to a 10-7 BER (with a 6 dB noise margin insertion), the transceivers seek the next lowest data rate combination where the BER can be preserved.
Beginning with Cisco 6100 Series Release 2.2.1, the node supports selectable noise margins. The Cisco 6100 Series Systems supported a hardcoded 3 dB down/ 6 dB up noise margin setting. This is valuable if, for example, a subscriber requests 7.168 Mbps x 1.088 Mbps, but the loop quality is not sufficient to hold the BER to less than or equal to 10-7. The subscriber's RADSL train could perhaps settle to 6.272 Mbps x 1.088 Mbps. In this scenario it could be that interference is causing the downstream channel to have just enough noise to prevent the 7.168 Mbps data rate from being achieved with the 6 dB margin hit. Reducing the noise margin (that the transceivers must take into account for determining the best data rates to lock into) to 3 dB might, however, enable the full
7 x 1 service to be provided.
Receiver gain is a measure of loop attenuation over the entire DSL frequency spectrum. The ATU-C or STU-C has an algorithm that enables it to boost receiver gain such that attenuation can be corrected for proper support of a given receive data rate.
The ATU-C or STU-C algorithm attempts to keep gain to a minimum to prevent near-end cross talk (NEXT). However, if loop conditions warrant, the algorithm must boost gain enough to ensure the minimum signal level required is received.
CAP modules support 136 kilobaud training rates, which can be allowed or disallowed when the feature is supported by the SC software revision and the subscriber is locked. If the SC supports per-subscriber provisionable 136 kilobaud or does not support ATUCPARMS, then the
Allow 136 Kbaud toggle on the Cisco 6100 Series Properties dialog box is disabled. If the SC supports ATUCPARMS but does not support per-subscriber 136 kilobaud, then the toggle is enabled.
The service provider is unlikely to be concerned with the technicalities of selecting a similar data-rate settings for different baud rates.
Factors that tend to boost receiver gain are associated with loop impairment. Two primary
factors are:
Table 9-3 lists documented reach and receiver gains.
| Reach (Kft) | Receiver Gain (dB) |
|---|---|
16 | 42 |
14.5 | 39 |
11 | 27 |
9 | 21 |
8.7 | 19 |
Transmit power is a measure of the downstream power spectral density (PSD) mask. T1E1/97-104R2a states that the PSD for the downstream channel shall have an upper limit of -40 dBm/Hz in the nominal passband region with no variation exceeding -37 dBm/Hz.
![]() | Caution Cisco advises you to set the transmit power to -40 dBm/Hz in Release 2.4.0 of ViewRunner. To avoid data transmission errors, do not change the PSD from -40 dBm/Hz. |
Each network provider chooses the maximum transmit power. As power is boosted, reach can be extended for a given data rate. At the same time, however, the boosted signal can disturb
other services.
Although not currently displayed in the ViewRunner interface, T1E1/97-104R2a also specifies that the PSD for the upstream channel must have an upper limit of -38 dBm/Hz nominal with no variation exceeding -35 dBm/Hz.
Beginning with Cisco 6100 Series Release 2.1.1, an operator can control transmit power. This is helpful in cases where the network provider desires to boost or reduce the power of a given loop.
The ATU-R transceiver determines its transmit power during the training process as it tries to fulfill the upstream data rate request. It tries to support the requested data rate at the lowest possible transmit power so that near cross talk in the Cisco 6100 Series system is minimized.
The Cisco 6100 Series system has a variety of connection counters, train counters, and threshold counters for capturing DOH system performance statistics. These counters follow:
Counters are used to display individual subscriber, LIM port, and CAP ATU-C modem
port statistics.
If the CAP ATU-C modem and ATU-R modem train, a successful train counter increments for the CAP ATU-C modem. If the CAP ATU-C modem and ATU-R modem fail to train, a failed train counter increments for the CAP ATU-C modem. You can view train counter statistics on the Performance Management dialog box.
Once a LIM port and CAP ATU-C modem have been successfully connected, a successful connection counter increments for both the logical pool and the line, allowing the modem training sequence to begin.
If all modems within the logical pool are busy, the SC module sends a busy tone to the ATU-R modem and increments the logical pool blocked-connection and line blocked-connection counters.
After the connection between the LIM port and CAP ATU-C modem has been established, the training sequence described above begins.
If the CAP ATU-C modem and ATU-R modem train, a successful train counter increments for the CAP ATU-C modem. If the CAP ATU-C modem and ATU-R modem fail to train, a failed train counter increments for the CAP ATU-C modem.
Two threshold counters are also available for each logical pool: 80 percent and 100 percent modem use. These two threshold counters provide the number of
The sum of the above three statistics is equal to the total connection requests handled by the
logical pool.
In addition to the integer connection counters, connection activity is also represented in terms of percentage connections in each category.
The Logical Pool Performance dialog box provides feedback on the current performance of each logical pool in a DOH system. The dialog box allows you to select a particular physical and logical pool, and provides the following performance statistics for that selection:
These statistics are captured in the views described below. To access any of these views, right-click the MC and select Cisco 6100 Series Performance.
Each Performance Management dialog box has its own set of associated counters. These counters are reset under certain conditions. The specific counters and the conditions under which a counter is or is not reset are described in the following sections.
Counters are not reset when you
The Performance Management---Pool Summary dialog box provides detailed information about successful and blocked connections, and successful and failed CAP ATU-C trains (see Figure 9-4). Additionally, summary statistics indicating the number of trains at or below 80 percent logical pool use, over 80 percent, and blocked requests for each logical pool are provided.

The Cisco 6100 Series system maintains the following pool summary counters on each defined pool:
Pool summary counters get reset in the following situations:
| Counter | Description |
|---|---|
Total number of minutes that the logical modem pool has been in existence (or since the last system reset). | |
Total number of blocked minutes experienced by the logical modem pool since its creation (or since the last system reset). Note A blocked minute is any minute during which one or more subscribers are refused modem port assignments. This refusal is in response to Digital Off-Hook connection requests and 100 percent modem use. |
The Performance Management---Subscriber dialog box lists data about all successful and blocked connection activity by a specific subscriber. Additionally, summary statistics indicate the number of connections at, below, or over 80 percent logical pool use. Summary statistics also show blocked requests for each logical pool.
The Performance Management---Subscriber dialog box can be accessed by putting your cursor over the outside area of the appropriate LCC, right-clicking, and selecting Pool Properties
(see Figure 9-5).

Table 9-5 describes the fields on the dialog box.
| Field/Tab | Description |
|---|---|
Pool | Contains two parts:
|
Subscriber ID | The unique identifier by which the subscriber is known. |
The number of successful cross connections achieved for that subscriber ID since the last time the counter was reset. | |
The number of blocked cross-connections realized for that subscriber ID since the last time the counter was reset. | |
CPE Signature Rejects | The total number of CPE signatures that were not detected. |
Subscriber Statistics | Keeps track of four parameters.
|
The Cisco 6100 Series system maintains the following subscriber counters:
Subscriber counters get reset if you
The Performance Management---Line Ports dialog box lists data about all successful and failed CAP ATU-C trains by line port (see Figure 9-6).

Table 9-6 describes the fields in the dialog box.
| Field/Tab | Description |
|---|---|
Pool | Contains two parts:
|
Line Port | The line port location by chassis, slot and line port number. |
Successful Trains | The number of successful trains achieved for that line port since the last time the counter was reset |
Failed Trains | The number of failed trains realized for that line port since the last time the counter was reset |
Non-timer Failed Trains | The number of failed trains realized for that line port, not regulated by a timer |
The Cisco 6100 Series system maintains the following for each line port counter:
The Cisco 6100 Series system maintains the following for each line port counter:
Line port counters are reset if you
The Performance Management---CAP ATU-C Ports dialog box in Figure 9-7 lists data about all successful and failed ATU-C trains by the CAP ATU-C modem port.

Table 9-7 describes the fields in the dialog box.
| Field/Tab | Description |
|---|---|
Pool | Contains two parts:
|
CAP ATU-C Modem Port | CAP ATU-C modem port location by chassis, slot, and line port number |
Number of successful trains achieved for that CAP ATU-C modem port since the last time the counter was reset | |
Number of failed trains realized for that CAP ATU-C modem port since the last time the counter was reset |
The Cisco 6100 Series system maintains the following counters on each ATU-C port:
CAP ATU-C port counters are reset if you
Two current connection activity displays are provided.
For CAP ATU-Cs or LIMs in a pooled DOH configuration, the Status dialog box displays a Connected To group box (Figure 9-8). This box identifies the specific LIM and CAP ATU-C ports currently connected to one another, and provides a Properties button that you can use to open the opposing port's module property tab.
This group box is dimmed when the port's Usage state is Idle.

The Active Connections dialog box lists a snapshot of all currently active connections in the
Cisco 6100 Series system. To open the Active Connections dialog box, right click the MC and select Active Connections. The dialog box in Figure 9-9 appears, showing the far left position. Figure 9-10 and Figure 9-11 present the Active Connections dialog box scrolled to the right.



Table 9-8 describes the fields in the Active Connections dialog box.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
Pool | Displays the name of the physical and logical pool. |
Active Connections | Displays the number of active connections associated with a physical or logical pool. |
In Service Modems | Displays the number of in-service modules that you have assigned to a logical pool and which modules and ports are unlocked. |
% Usage | The Active Connections field divided by the In Service Modems field. |
Subscriber ID | Displays the identifier by which the subscriber is known. |
Line Port | Displays the chassis, slot, and port number to which the subscriber ID is associated. |
ATU-C Port | Displays the chassis, slot, and port number to which the line port is connected. |
Pool | Displays the physical or logical pool of which the line port and ATU-C modem port are members. |
Modem State | Displays whether the modem is trained, training, or not trained. |
Actual Up | Displays the actual upstream train rate at which the subscriber is training. This rate may never be higher than the Provisioned Up rate. |
Actual Down | Displays the actual downstream train rate at which the subscriber is training. This rate may never be higher than the Provisioned Down rate. |
Rx SNR | Signal-to-noise ratio for ADSL upstream (receive side) data channel. |
Provisioned Up | Displays the upstream rate set by the CO, the maximum upstream rate at which the subscriber can train. |
Provisioned Down | Displays the downstream rate set by the CO, the maximum downstream rate at which the subscriber can train. |
Provisioned Up Margin | Displays the upstream noise margin provisioned by the operator. |
Provisioned Down Margin | Displays the downstream noise margin provisioned by the operator. |
Actual Up Margin | Displays the upstream noise margin actually occurring within that margin provisioned by the operator. |
Actual Down Margin | Displays the downstream noise margin actually occurring within that margin provisioned by the operator. |
The Active Connections dialog box includes fields for provisioned upstream and downstream bit rates, actual trained upstream and downstream bit rates, and received signal-to-noise ratio. In addition, the dialog box includes totals for active connections by pool and the current usage level of each pool.
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Posted: Tue Oct 5 13:12:00 PDT 1999
Copyright 1989-1999©Cisco Systems Inc.