Access Servers

(See also "CiscoSecure Access Control Server Software", the next chapter)

Product Overview

Cisco access servers include the following products:

• Cisco AS5300 universal access server

  • Modular chassis that contains feature card slots and a high-speed, multilayer backplane

  • Three feature card slots:

  One slot for a T1/PRI card or E1/PRI card.
  

  Two slots for carrier cards that either can handle two Microcom 12-port modem modules, or ten MICA 6-port modem modules, or one of each.
  

  • Two Ethernet LAN ports: 10BaseT and 10/100BaseT selectable

  • One console port for local administrative access

  • One auxiliary port for remote administrative access

  • AC or DC power supply

• Cisco AS5200 universal access server

  • Modular chassis that contains feature card slots and a high-speed, multilayer backplane

  • Three feature card slots

  One slot for either a dual T1 or E1 card (An expansion slot on E1 card that can accommodate either a microcom 12-port modem module or a V.110 12-port terminal adapter module.)
  

  Two slots for carrier cards that can handle two of either a Microcom 12-port modem module or a V.110 12-port terminal adapter module
  

  • One Ethernet LAN port

  • Two high-speed synchronous ports

  • AC or DC power supply

• Cisco AS5100 access server

  • 17 card slots

  • Up to 16 network application cards (NACs), which include the following:

  Access server cards
  

  Quad modem cards
  

  Dual-channelized T1 card
  

  • All NACs support hot swapping, which allows you to insert and remove cards while the power is on

  • Two power supplies: one main supply and one redundant supply, which are accessible at the front of the chassis

  • AC or DC power supplies

• Cisco 2500 access servers series

The Cisco 2500 access servers series represents Cisco's low-cost entry into the access server marketplace. This product family gives users the ability to connect asynchronous devices such as terminals, modems, router consoles, slot machines, etc. into a routed network. This product family also allows users to backhaul routed traffic through T1/E1 lines. The Cisco 2500 access server series consists of the following models:

• Model AS2509-RJ and AS2511-RJ dial optimized access servers

• Model Cisco 2509 and Cisco 2509-DC general purpose access servers

• Model Cisco 2509-ET extended temperature general purpose access server (U.S. only)

• Model Cisco 2511 and Cisco 2511-DC general purpose access servers

• Model Cisco 2512 general purpose access server

Standard Features

Interface Options

Hardware

Cisco AS5300 Universal Access Server

The Cisco AS5300 universal access server is a versatile data communications platform that provides the functions of an access server, router, and digital modems in a single modular chassis. The access server is intended for Internet service providers (ISPs), telecommunications carriers, and other service providers that offer managed Internet connections, as well as medium- to large-sized sites that provide both digital and analog access to users on an enterprise network. By terminating both analog and digital calls on the same chassis simultaneously, the access server provides you with a clear, simple, and easy migration path from today's analog dial access services to tomorrow's digital dial access services.

System Components

Figure 10-78 and Figure 10-79 show the front and rear panels of the Cisco AS5300 universal access server.

The access server includes three slots (see Figure 10-79Figure 10-79) in which you can install a combination of feature cards.

• Quad T1/PRI card, see Figure 10-80Figure 10-80

• Quad E1/PRI card, see Figure 10-81Figure 10-81

In the remaining two slots you can install your choice of:

• MICA carrier card, see Figure 10-82Figure 10-82

• Microcom carrier card, Figure 10-84

Quad T1/PRI Card

You can install a quad T1/PRI card (Figure 10-80) in any unpopulated slot of the access server chassis.

The quad T1/PRI card includes four RJ-45 ports. Cables are not included with the card.

A 10-position rotary switch allows the user to chose which of the four ports is selected for monitoring through the bantam jacks (TXMON, TXIN, TXOUT and RXMON, RXIN, RXOUT).

Quad E1/PRI Card

You can install a quad E1/PRI card (Figure 10-81) in any slot of the access server chassis.

The quad E1/PRI card includes four RJ-45 ports for terminating 120-ohm balanced lines or 75-ohm unbalanced lines. Cables are not included with the card.

A 10-position rotary switch allows the user to chose the number of ports that are terminated as 75-ohm unbalanced lines. Jumper settings on the card can be used to configure the 75-ohm unbalanced ports so the receive shield is connected to ground.

MICA Carrier Card

6-Port MICA Modem Modules

Utilizing Cisco's breakthrough MICA DSP technology, network managers are assured of the highest performing, highest flexibility, standards compliant access platform for today and tomorrow. Future technologies and enhancements, such as ITU 56k, are easily implemented via a simple software upgrade. In addition, future software enhancements will provide functionality beyond simple modem call termination.

These DSPs are incorporated into the MICA 6-Port modem module. As outlined above in the carrier card section, these modem modules are configured with a carrier card for a total of 60 ports per carrier card, with a maximum of two carrier cards per chassis.

The Cisco AS5300 provides complete centrally managed modem capabilities, key requirements for service providers and enterprises building large dial-in pools. The modems can be managed via the same tools used to manage the rest of the network, providing network managers with one solution at a central management point. Cisco provides extensive modem management that no other vendor of access servers on the market provides. This includes the ability to directly access the modem at anytime (including when the modem is connected and on-line) to capture statistics, force a reset or check a modem's configuration. To take advantage of this modem management feature, customers must purchase an IOS "Plus" image as well as a Modem Management Technology License for the appropriate number of modems.

Microcom Carrier Card

You can install up to two Microcom carrier cards (Figure 10-84) in any two slots of the access server chassis. Each Microcom carrier card includes two slots in which you can install two 12-port modem modules, as described below.

The modules connect through the Microcom carrier card and the system backplane to a quad T1/PRI or quad E1/PRI card installed in the access server chassis. Data is transmitted or received on T1 or E1 lines connected to the quad T1/PRI or quad E1/PRI card and then routed to the 12-port modules installed in the Microcom carrier card.

12-Port Microcom Modem Modules

56K 12-port modem module, see Figure 10-86

Power Supply

Product numbers for the Cisco AS5300 are provided in Table 10-50.

For Cisco IOS Feature Set information, please refer to the Cisco AS5300 web page on Cisco Connection On-line at http://www.cisco.com

Cisco AS5200 Universal Access Server

The Cisco AS5200 universal access server (see Figure 10-88) is a versatile data communications platform that provides the functions of an access server, a router, and digital modems in a single modular chassis. The Cisco AS5200 is intended for Internet service providers (ISPs), telecommunications carriers, and other providers that offer managed Internet connections, as well as small- to medium-sized sites that provide both digital and analog access to users on an enterprise network. By terminating both analog and digital calls in the same chassis simultaneously, the Cisco AS5200 provides you with a clear, simple, and easy migration path from today's predominantly analog dial-in services to tomorrow's digital dial-in services. Furthermore, the AS5200 can be deployed in Global Systems for Mobile Telecommunications (GSM) cellular environments to provide remote access to mobile users.

Cisco AS5200 Universal Access Server Summary of Benefits

Universal Access

The Cisco AS5200 universal access server is the first product in an entire line of universal access solutions offered by Cisco Systems. Universal access is more than just providing connections from ISDN or asynchronous modems; it is also the ability to perform the following:

Scalability

The scalability and manageability of a network are a concern for all network managers. With Cisco IOS Software Release 11.2, the Cisco AS5200 universal access server will support call aggregation among multiple chassis. Using multichassis multilink PPP, Cisco Systems has developed the means to aggregate multiple calls terminated on multiple servers. Network managers will have the ability to stack multiple AS5200 universal access servers for high-density applications.

Another important feature of scalability is managing the components of a growing network. The Cisco AS5200 universal access server supports both the command-line interface and the CiscoWorks GUI. Network managers can collect statistics from the modems, upgrade your modem software, group modems for configuration, soft- or hard-busy-out modems, and even monitor call-in-progress signals from individual modems, all from the same platform they already use to manage their routers.

Virtual Provide Dial-up Networks

The Cisco AS5200 complements Cisco IOS Virtual Provide Dial-up Network (VPDN) features to provide substantial cost savings to enterprise and small/medium businesses by eliminating the need for expensive private leased lines. Customers can also benefit by outsourcing non-strategic activities while maintaining security and control. Service providers may also benefit by leveraging the existing infrastructure to generate additional revenue opportunities. Furthermore, since remote access calls are terminated locally, they also reduce the amount of telephony switching capacity consumed by RBOCs, carriers, or PTTs (dial off-load).

Security

Cisco IOS software provides tight security in the core network, and with the Cisco AS5200 universal access server, extends that core security to mixed-media dial-in sites. Some of the features supported by Cisco IOS software are access lists, violation logging, Terminal Access Controller Access Control System (TACACS+), and Remote Access Dial-in User Service (RADIUS).

WAN Optimization

Cisco IOS software offers a wide array of WAN optimization features, including compression, routing filters, snapshot, bandwidth-on-demand, and dial-on-demand routing. These features help control WAN costs--the largest single cost of operating an internetwork.

Compatibility

In multibox, multivendor installations, incompatibility is an issue. Because the Cisco AS5200 universal access server combines the CSU, modems, routers, and access server components in one chassis, you get seamless interoperability among its integrated components. Fewer individual pieces of equipment reduce configuration and incompatibility issues.

Cisco AS5200 Universal Access Server Port Modules

Dual T1/PRI and E1/PRI Card

Carrier Card

Microcom 12-Port Modem Module

The Microcom 12-port modem module supports Rockwell's K56Flex technology. Each modem module contains 12 modems. These modems are Flash based, so you can upgrade their microcode remotely. You can order up to two of these modules with a carrier card. Modems can be upgraded via software from basic modem configuration to a managed modem configuration. Managed modems support real-time call-in-progress monitoring. Microcom 12-port modem modules are software upgradable to final K56 standard.

The following conditions apply to the 56K modules:

• K56Flex compatible modems must be present at both ends of a digital connection in a digital network. If not, 56 kbps cannot be achieved. The speed will fall back to 33.6 kbps or lower.

• Only one analog loop can be in the end-to-end communications path.

• There should not be any A-law to U-law conversions, which exist at some international gateways.

V.110 12-port Terminal Adapter Module

The V.110 12-port module includes onboard terminal adapters that can terminate up to 12 V.110 bit rate adapted digital calls. Bit rate adaption protocols map the PC communications port speed to the faster data rate (64000 bps) of Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) B channels. The V.110 module supports a maximum data rate of 19200 bps on all ports simultaneously.

Cisco AS5200 Universal Access Server Product Numbers

Table 10-51 lists the product numbers for the Cisco AS5200 universal access server.

Cisco AS5100 Access Server

The Cisco AS5100 access server (see Figure 10-89) 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.

The Cisco AS5100 access server is built around a three-bus chassis that can be managed by optional SNMP management software.

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.

Cisco AS5100 Access Server Network Management Products

The Cisco AS5100 access server uses two network management products:

• Total Control Manager/SNMP (AS51-NMSW-1)

• 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 "Internetwork Management Applications," earlier in the catalog.

Cisco AS5100 Access Server Product Numbers

Table 10-52 lists Cisco AS5100 access server product numbers. For document product numbers, see the chapter "Documentation," later in this catalog.

Cisco 2500 Access Server Series

The Cisco 2500 access server series represents Cisco's low cost entry into the access server marketplace. Three new products have recently been added to this family; the dial optimized AS2509-RJ and AS2511-RJ, and the temperature hardened Cisco 2509-ET. The Cisco 2500 access server series gives users the ability to connect asynchronous devices such as dumb terminals, modems, router consoles, slot machines, and ISDN TA's into a routed network. This product family contains new features that make them easier to use then ever, and they run the same Cisco IOS software that runs the backbone of the Internet on a high-performance router engine. They also give users integrated synchronous serial ports to backhaul routed traffic through T1/E1 lines.

The Cisco 2500 access server series (see Figure 10-90 through Figure 10-94) provide a variety of models designed for small office and remote site environments. Each model is a fixed-configuration router that supports at least two interface types. Each access server comes standard with Flash EPROM technology for simplified software maintenance. For software, the Cisco 2500 access server series offer a wide choice of feature sets, so you can select the appropriate protocol set for your network environment. These feature sets range from IP and bridging-only to a feature set containing the full array of Cisco's software functionality.

Table 10-53 lists the product numbers for the Cisco 2500 access server series.

Cisco 2500 Access Server Series Summary

The Cisco 2500 access server series runs on the same Cisco IOS that runs the backbone of the Internet. This family of products has sold well over 1,000,000 ports since its introduction in September, 1994. This makes it the most popular remote LAN access server in the world today. Table 10-54 shows the features and benefits of the Cisco 2500 access server series.

Hardware Product Numbers for All Access Server Options

The Cisco access server series supports the hardware options listed in Table 10-55 and Table 10-56. If a product number ends with an equal sign (=), the item can be ordered only as a spare. If a product number does not end with an equal sign, the item can be ordered as a spare or as a configurable part of a system order.

Software

The Cisco IOS software available for the Cisco access servers is described in the following sections:

• Software Feature Sets

• Software Feature Packs

• Cisco IOS Feature Set Upgrades

Cisco access servers support the following software releases:

• Cisco IOS Release 11.2, 11.1, and 11.0 feature sets for the Cisco 2500 series and AS5100 access servers

• Cisco IOS Release 11.2, 11.1, and 11.0 Remote Access Server (RAS) feature set for the Cisco 2500 and AS5100 access server

• Cisco IOS Release 11.3, 11.2, and 11.1 for the Cisco AS5200 universal access server

• Cisco IOS Release 11.1 RMON for the Cisco 2500 and AS5100 access server

• Technology licenses for modem management (Cisco AS5200)

• LAT terminal license

• CiscoSecure Access Control Server

Note that all Cisco AS5100 access server cards (AS51-16A-E) must use the same Cisco IOS release level and feature set.

Software Feature Sets

This section describes the Cisco IOS feature sets available for Cisco access servers.

Cisco access servers offer the following types of feature sets:

The Cisco IOS feature set tables use the following conventions to identify features:

• X : the feature is offered in the basic feature set

• - : the feature is not offered in the feature set

• Plus: the feature is offered in the Plus feature sets

• Encrypt: the feature is offered in the Encryption feature sets

Software Feature Packs

Software feature packs consist of CD-ROMs that contain Cisco IOS software feature set images and a Windows 95 application, which loads the images onto a router.

The Remote Monitoring (RMON) MIB (RFC 1757) allows you to monitor all nodes and their interaction on a LAN segment. Standard Cisco IOS Release 11.1 feature sets provide support for RMON events and event groups only. If you prefer more network management support, you can order an enhanced RMON feature set that includes full support for the following nine groups: statistics, history, alarms, hosts, hostTopN, matrix, filter, capture, and events.

In Cisco IOS Release 11.2, the feature RMON full is available in the Plus feature sets.

Software Product Numbers

This section describes the software product numbers for Cisco access servers. Table 10-57 lists the software feature set and feature pack product numbers and minimum memory requirements for the Cisco 2500 series and AS5100 access servers for Cisco IOS Release 11.2. Table 10-59 lists the software feature set product numbers and minimum memory requirements for the Cisco 2500 series and AS5100 access servers for Cisco IOS Releases 11.1 and 11.0. For additional details about how to order software updates and upgrades, see the section "Cisco IOS Feature Set Upgrades" later in this chapter.

Table 10-60 lists the software feature set product numbers and minimum memory requirements for the Cisco AS5200 universal access server for Cisco IOS Release 11.2, and Table 10-61 lists the software feature set product numbers and minimum memory requirements for the Cisco AS5200 universal access server for Cisco IOS Releases 11.1.

There are two types of DRAM memory in the Cisco 2500 series and AS5100 access servers: primary and shared (packet). Primary memory is used to store the operating configuration, routing tables, caches, queues, and packets. Shared memory is used to store incoming and outgoing packets. In Table 10-62, the physical configuration column lists the amount of fixed DRAM and DRAM SIMM memory supported. The system usage column lists how the system allocates the total DRAM memory installed.

Cisco IOS Feature Set Upgrades

Cisco IOS feature set upgrades are easy to order for Cisco access servers. The following is an example:

You have a Cisco 2511 access server running the Cisco IOS Release 11.2 IP Routing feature set. You want to upgrade to the Cisco IOS Release 11.2 Enterprise Plus 40 feature set. You are crossing two feature sets: one to get from IP to Enterprise, and one to get to the Plus 40 feature set. To complete the upgrade, use the following guidelines:

• Order FL25-CA= (IP to Enterprise upgrade license, charged item)

• Order FL25-W= (Plus 40 upgrade license, charged item)

• Order DRAM (if you do not have the minimum required DRAM for the new feature set)

• Order SW25AW-11.2.1= (Cisco 2500 Enterprise Plus 40 software on diskette, charged item)

Feature sets for Cisco IOS Release 11.2 can be upgraded as described in Table 10-63. Adding a feature set or feature pack might require you to purchase additional memory. The minimum memory requirements for Cisco 2500 series, AS5100, and AS5200 universal access servers are listed in Table 10-57 and Table 10-59. The minimum memory requirements listed were chosen for typical branch and remote office applications. If your network is very large, using complex routing protocols, or using RMON, you may need more memory. Configuration analysis and testing are encouraged.

Feature sets for Cisco IOS Release 11.1 and 11.0 can be upgraded for the Cisco 2500 series and AS5100 access servers as described in Table 10-64. To order an upgrade, you must use two product numbers; one represents the upgrade license, and the other represents the software. For example, to upgrade from an IP feature set to an IP feature set with IBM base functionality, order product number FR25-CCS= (the upgrade license) and SW25CS-xx.x.x= (the software). To upgrade to a feature set with APPN, you must first purchase the upgrade license for the desired feature set and then purchase the upgrade license and upgrade software for the APPN feature set.

Table 10-65 lists the feature set upgrades and corresponding product numbers for Cisco IOS Release 11.2 and 11.1 for the AS5200 universal access server.

Technology Licenses

The AS5200 offers technology licenses for modem management that can be ordered separately. Table 10-66 lists the technology licenses and upgrades available and the corresponding product numbers.

LAT Terminal License

A LAT terminal license is required for each asynchronous interface to which a LAT terminal is connected. Table 10-67 lists the licenses available and the corresponding product numbers.