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Cisco Intelligent Network Server

Cisco Intelligent Network Server

Product Overview

The Intelligent Network Server (INS) provides a general-purpose processor for advanced wide-area network (WAN) applications including call processing services, management and data correlation services, and point of presence (POP) server applications.

The INS is a scalable, flexible platform that provides advanced data and voice networking services on wide-area networks. It offers intelligent call processing for ATM WANs, provides any-to-any connectivity, and enables network operators to customize and enhance their service offerings. INS enables the construction of virtual enterprise networks. Virtual enterprise networks address the need for extending high-speed access to many different users in diverse geographies while facilitating the dynamic allocation of circuits and bandwidth capacity.

The INS design is based on approved standards and implementation agreements from the ITU-TSS (CCITT), ANSI, ETSI, ECMA, and the Frame Relay Forum.

Standard Features

The Intelligent Network Server (INS) offers the following standard features:

The INS is based on a reliable hardware and software platform. A one-to-one redundancy is available for the INS, and multiple INSs can be deployed in a network to support load-sharing. The implementation of specific features, such as ISDN access to Frame Relay networks, provides further robustness by allowing any access port to serve any user, thus enhancing the overall reliability of the entire wide-area network.
INS performance is completely scalable through the deployment of more powerful hardware platforms or the deployment of additional servers within the network. Capacity can be added cost effectively as user demand requires.
The INS is a standards-based platform that complies with NEBS certification requirements. INS features support industry-standard signaling protocols for ISDN and Frame Relay. The flexibility of the INS platform also enables Cisco to respond rapidly to changes in networking standards.
Dial access switching (DAS) provides ISDN dial access into Frame Relay networks through BPX/AXIS, IGX, or IPX switches.
The three primary applications for dial access switching include the following:

  • ISDN backup of leased line access to a Frame Relay network

  • ISDN access to Frame Relay as an overflow for an existing leased line

  • ISDN access to Frame Relay for occasional users (such as small branch offices or telecommuters) at a significant savings over the cost of leased lines

DAS can be configured as a dial-up or as a dial backup application. When configured as a dial-up application, connections are made from the ISDN line to preconfigured permanent virtual circuits (PVCs), and unique data-link connection identifiers are assigned. This application can also be used to provide additional bandwidth over ISDN if a leased line becomes overloaded.
If dial access switching is configured for dial backup, dial access switching tears down the existing PVCs used by the leased line and replaces them with PVCs connected to the ISDN line. For the ISDN connection, dial access switching uses the same DLCIs used for the leased line.
The dial access switching functionality of a single server can be distributed throughout an IPX/IGX or BPX/AXIS network. PRI ports on many different switches can be configured as dial access switching dial-up ports, and the dial access switching server performs the connection setup for these ports on remote switches.
DAS 1.2 is offered as a trial feature on IPX/IGX/BPX Release 8.1 DAS 1.4 will be offered in conjunction with switch software Releases 8.1, 8.2, and 8.4. DAS 2.1 will add the capability to have redundant DAS servers.
INS Voice Network Switching hardware and software can be used in conjunction with IGX and IPX switches equipped with channelized voice interface modules or universal voice interface modules. This configuration provides switched virtual circuit capability over the ATM wide-area network for voice and data calls originating from private branch exchanges (PBXs).
Voice Network Switching provides direct call-by-call routing for PBX voice, data, video, image, and fax connections across a Cisco ATM WAN. This advanced switching is accomplished in conjunction with the Q.SIG, DPNSS, JISDN, 4ESS common-channel signaling protocols, or channel-associated signaling protocols using T1 wink-start signaling and DTMF digit processing. Voice Network Switching support for these industry-standard protocols provides advanced PBX networking features and transport of high-quality compressed voice over Cisco ATM WANs.
Voice Network Switching also supports circuit-based synchronous data transmission for video-conferencing and data connectivity. PBX data switching modules connect to video coder-decoders (codecs), and data terminals and controllers. The Voice Network Switching System provides switched, clear channel 64-kbps connections for the data applications and switched compressed connections for voice. Different compression levels can be configured for voice calls, and fax/modem detection allows these connections to be carried over an ATM network, using the appropriate compression level.
Another advanced capability of Voice Network Switching is support for PBX "feature transparency" across the WAN. This allows PBX networks to provide advanced features such as calling name and number display, camp-on/callback, network call forwarding, centralized attendant, and centralized message waiting. Usually these capabilities are available only at a single site where users are attached to the same PBX.
Voice/data switching and PBX networking capabilities of the Voice Network Switching System provide the same benefits for PBX networks that Frame Relay provides for router networks:

  • Consolidation of traffic over fewer physical interface ports

  • Direct routing of calls from the source to the destination

  • Elimination of tandem connections

Voice Network Switching Q.SIG Release 2.1 and 3.0 are offered in conjunction with IGX/IPX Release 8.2.57. Voice Network Switching DPNSS Release 2.1 is offered in conjunction with IGX/IPX Release 8.4. Voice Network Switching Release 2.1 adds support for the Q.931A, Japanese ISDN PBX networking protocol CAS Release 2.2 in conjunction with SW Release 8.5 offers channel associated signaling for T1 trunks. Table 11-21 lists the voice and ISDN standards supported by the Voice Network Switching System.


Table 11-21: Voice and ISDN Standards Supported by Voice Network Switching
Category Standard
Voice Network Switching System ETSI standards for Q.SIG PBX networking protocol including support for generic functional procedures

BTNR 188 standard for DPNSS PBX networking protocol

Japanese PBX consortium protocol Q.931A

ETSI Euro ISDN protocol

TR41459/4ESS

Channel-associated signaling using T1 trunks for North America

Dial access switching 4ESS/5ESS protocol

DMS 250 protocol

ETSI Euro ISDN protocol

NTT (Japan) protocol

AUSTEL (Australia) protocol

Product Numbers

Table 11-22 lists the product numbers you can use to order the Intelligent Network Server.


Table 11-22: Intelligent Network Server Product Numbers
Description Product Number
Voice Network Switching-PBX Wide Area Networking
Voice Network Switching System (redundant) with AC power VNS-AC-E
Voice Network Switching System (redundant) with DC power VNS-DC-E
Voice Network Switching Additional Port License
CDP/CVM T1/E1 port software license--additional 10 ports--maximum 30 PRI ports supported per Voice Network Switching System VNS-LIC-10PRI
Voice Network Switching Feature Software
Q.SIG protocol feature

4ESS protocol feature

 VNS-SW-QSIG-2.1

VNS-SW-Q.SIG-3.0

DPNSS protocol feature VNS-SW-DPNSS-2.1
Japanese ISDN protocol feature VNS-SW-Q931A-2.1
CAS protocol feature VNS-SW-CAS-2.2
Dial Access Switching-ISDN Dial-Up Frame Relay
Dial access switching system with AC power, nonredundant DAS-AC-NR
Dial access switching system with AC power, redundant DAS-AC-R
Dial access switching system with DC power, nonredundant DAS-DC-NR
Dial access switching system with DC power, redundant DAS-DC-R
Dial Access Switching Additional Port License
T1/E1 ISDN/Frame Relay Port software license--additional 5 ports DAS-LIC-5PRI
Dial Access Switching Software
Dial-up Frame Relay software (nonredundant) DAS-SW-1.2
Dial-up Frame Relay software (nonredundant) DAS-SW-1.4
Dial-up Frame Relay software (redundant or nonredundant) DAS-SW-2.1

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