| 1.
|
What about security in my access
infrastructure? |
| A.
|
Security is only as sound as the weakest link in the
network connection between two points, and the access infrastructure is often
that link. Clearly fiber has certain physical advantages over copper in this
area - eliminating the ability to tap or otherwise eavesdrop by proximal
contact with the access medium. The fundamental choice of the fiber topology
can also eliminate a significant degree of vulnerability. Something as simple
as eliminating a "broadcast and select" network architecture can go a long way
in addressing security concerns. |
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| 2.
|
How does your system inhibit or prevent the
stealing of services and content? |
| A. |
The QoStream system guards against theft of service
on several levels:
-
VLANs may be assigned to separate services and/or service providers into
service VLANs. To prevent unauthorized access to the services, end users are
connected only to the service VLANs to which they subscribe.
-
For higher level security a VLANS may also be assigned to specific end users to
create an isolated layer 2 connection or network.
-
The network switches traffic to endpoints based on destination MAC addresses
and not to endpoints with other MAC addresses. MAC addresses are inserted into
network elements at manufacture and learned by the network at network element
boot up time. These MAC destination addresses are known by the network elements
and QoStream Director, but are not visible at other network nodes, which
receive traffic based only on their own MAC addresses.
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| 3.
|
What is the expected Mean Time Between Failures
(MTBF) for the QoStream products? |
| A.
|
The AS5000 Aggregator Switch has primary and backup power and redundant
circulation fans that is designed for 99.99% (four nines) availability,
assuming a one hour repair time. The AS5000 dissipates less than 130 watts
fully equipped and maximally active, requiring no supplementary air
conditioning in a stack mounted on a 19" or 23" rack.
The PG1000 Premises Gateway has primary and backup power, and it is designed
for 99.99% (four nines) availability, assuming a one hour repair time. The
PG1000 dissipates less than 24 watts, requiring no fans. |
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| 4.
|
What is the ability to manage network faults? |
| A.
|
Each of the QoStream network elements
detect internal failures and incoming signal failures and reports these in
band over the network. For the AS5000 information is reported
to the QoStream Director out of band via a Data Communication Network. The
QoStream Director performs alarm correlation and maps the failure to the node
or to the fiber and produces a trouble ticket for the NOC. On clearing of the
alarms, the QoStream Director sees the cleared alarms in the network and
enables the trouble ticket closure. |
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| 5.
|
What is the craft interface capability? |
| A. |
Each QoStream Network Element supports SERVICE ports (RJ-45 connector for
PG1000, RJ-45 and RS-232 connectors for AS5000) for craft or
installer interface using an IOS Command Line Interface or SNMP. Alternatively,
the craft/installer can access a SERVICE port at the AS5000 and
access the other NEs in band over the network. Functionality at SERVICE ports
include:
-
Security privileges, including login/password support and read/write and
read-only user options.
- Immediate termination of the local craft session when the laptop is physically
disconnected from the SERVICE connector.
-
A super-user procedure at the QoStream Director to force a logout of a local
craft session
-
No SERVICE port read or write transaction causes bit errors or other
performance degradation to the traffic traversing the NE.
-
All NE traffic analysis results and performance monitoring results at any data
plane termination are available to the NE SERVICE port.
-
The NE SERVICE ports shall provide access to the event log for diagnostic or
troubleshooting purposes, including events such as configuration changes,
security logons and logouts, failures and restorals, debug queries, and system
operations (e.g. boots).
-
Software download using the service port is a configurable option with the
default being to allow software download from the SERVICE port.
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| 6.
|
How can I serve my Multi-Dwelling Units with
ESON? |
| A.
|
ESON is ideal for MDUs. If, as is often the case, a
CAT-5 riser exists in a building, then placing a AS5000 inside that building
allows for a 100 Mbps signal to interconnect with a PG1000 in an individual
unit up to 100 meters away. If the building is outfitted with fiber, then the
maximum 40km reach between the AS5000 and the PG1000 applies. |
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| 7.
|
Is your solution "open platform"? |
| A.
|
The QoStream System is a completely Open Systems
Architecture adhering to the OSI model and using only standards-based
protocols.
The Management Plane uses the QoStreamT Director to support the element
management layer 1, the network management layers 2 and 3, and extensions to
services management layer 4. These extensions to layer 4 support deployment of
higher level customer NMSs and third party solutions at that layer. The
QoStream Director provides generic northbound adaptors to allow the QoStream
Director to interface with customer Service Management or Business Management
layers.
One such adaptor, the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA)
adaptor, is based on Common Object Model and IDL standardized in the
TeleManagement Forum (e.g. Connection and Service Management Information Model
CORBA IDL Solution Set v1.5 - TMF.807). Another such adaptor is an SNMP version
3 northbound interface.
The Control Plane links the processing configurations of the network elements
to the QoStream Director by means of an SNMP version 3 interface southbound
from the Management Plane to the network elements. The network elements employ
industry standard operating systems, drivers, and tools. |
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| 8.
|
Are you a member of any industry associations? |
| A.
|
Amedia Networks is actively engaged in the FTTH
Council, United States Telecommunications Association, Telecommunications
Industry Association and several others. For a complete list, see the "affiliations" menu on out website. |
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| 9.
|
PON? ESON? Which is the right FTTP solution? |
| A.
|
Many of the current A/BPON systems were deployed
prior to a standard for ESON and may have been selected for their compatibility
with ATM. With the adoption of a standard for switched Ethernet, and the
migration to IP/Ethernet Metro facilities, those justifications evaporate. More
recently, network providers have begun to recalibrate the bandwidth
requirements of their subscribers in the "HDTV era" and find the PON-based
approaches coming up short.
While we'd like to tell you that ESON is always the right solution, the reality
is that this is not an easy question to answer. But to succeed in answering it,
you'll need facts - not assumptions. We'd be glad to provide you with the
information about ESON that you'll need to evaluate the right solution for your
very specific requirements.
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