Net-Net 9000 Supports Converged Fixed-mobile Architectures being Defined by 3GPP

US : Acme Packet unveiled its next-generation session border control (SBC) platform - the Net-Net(R) 9000. The Net-Net 9000 supports next-generation, converged fixed-mobile architectures being defined by 3GPP IMS, ETSI TISPAN, the Multi-Service Forum, PacketCable and the DSL Forum.

Within these architectures, Acme Packet Net-Net session border controllers provide service providers with critical support for real-time interactive IP-based voice, video and multimedia sessions in five areas - security, service reach maximization, SLA assurance, revenue and profit protection, and regulatory compliance. They satisfy service provider requirements at both the subscriber access and the network interconnect border points.

As a next-generation platform the Net-Net 9000 offers the industry's highest levels of performance, capacity and availability in a single session border control platform:

-- Signaling performance - up to 1,150 CPS using multiple CPUs with dedicated memory in a signaling pipelining architecture

-- Management performance - dedicated CPUs for management and related services (EMS, CLI, SNMP, DNS, etc.)

-- Media capacity - 32,000 to 128,000 media sessions w/hardware-based QoS reporting

-- Transcoding capacity - up to 16,000 transcoded calls

-- Wireline codecs - G711, G.729, G.723.1, G.726, G.727, G.728, T.38 fax, iLBC

-- Wireless codecs - EVRC, AMR, SMV, QCELP

-- Network interfaces - up to eight active 1 Gbps Ethernet, fully redundant

-- High-availability - intra-system or inter-system

-- 100% hardware redundancy in chassis

-- State check-pointing - signaling, media & configuration - for no loss of service

"As the acknowledged leader in session border control, Acme Packet is in a unique position relative to understanding service provider requirements for next-gen SBCs," declared Patrick Melampy, CTO of Acme Packet. "The Net-Net 9000 is simply the result of discussions with our 150 service provider customers and our 25 distribution partners around the world - including all the tier one providers and vendors."

Flexible and scalable platform

The Net-Net 9000 may be configured to support either SBC models - integrated and distributed. As an integrated SBC, the 9000 tightly integrates signaling and media control within the platform. Distributed SBC configuration options include signaling only control with H.248 communication to a media controller, or media only control with H.248 control to a signaling controller. Configurations supporting subscriber access, both integrated and distributed, are available with and without IMS P-CSCF functionality to complement the IMS CSCF functions offered by Acme Packet's partners in their products.

Configuration flexibility and scalability is achieved using a 7U chassis with mid-plane connecting 7 slots in the front and 6 slots in the rear for five different SBC functional units. These include signaling processing, network processing, transcoding, network interface and management interface units. This modular design enables easy upgrades to incorporate new component technologies as they become available - faster CPUs, more powerful network processors, higher capacity DSPs and CAMs, etc. - for even greater performance and capacity.

Increasingly, transcoding is becoming a real requirement at a variety of network interconnect borders. Examples include:

-- Interconnect to PSTN termination networks with media gateway codec limitations - G.711 only

-- Wireless-wireless network interconnects - CDMA EVRC to UMTS AMR

-- Wireline-wireless network interconnects - G.7XX or iLBC to EVRC, AMR, etc.

High capacity transcoding for up to 16,000 calls is an optional feature of the Net-Net 9000. It supports transcoding between both wireline codecs - G711, G.729, G.723.1, G.726, G.727, G.728, T.38 fax, iLBC, and wireless codecs - EVRC, AMR, SMV, QCELP.

The Net-Net 9000 operates Acme Packet's Net-Net OS, providing comprehensive support for SIP, H.323, SIP-H.323 interworking, MGCP/NCS and H.248 signaling. Net-Net OS offers robust, unequaled border control features in the areas of security, service reach maximization, SLA assurance, revenue & profit protection and regulatory compliance. The Net-Net 9000 also complies with Net-SAFE, Acme Packet's security requirements framework for SBCs, and features powerful SBC denial-of-service protection capabilities. Net-Net OS offers proven signaling interoperability with all major softswitches, SIP servers, H.323 gatekeepers, call agents, application servers, media servers, media gateways, IP PBXs and numerous IP-based voice and video endpoints.

The Net-Net 9000 can be managed by the Net-Net EMS, a GUI/browser-based client/server application supporting configuration, fault, performance and security management for multiple SBCs in multiple networks. Other management tools include CLI, telnet, FTP, XML, RADIUS, SNMP and syslog.

About Acme Packet

Acme Packet, the leader in session border control, enables service providers to deliver premium, interactive communications - voice, video and multimedia sessions - across IP network borders. Our Net-Net family has been selected by over 150 service providers, including 13 of the top 14 providers in the world, to satisfy critical security, service assurance and regulatory requirements in wireline, cable and wireless networks. These deployments support all applications - from trunking to hosted enterprise and residential services; all protocols - SIP, H.323, MGCP/NCS and H.248; and all border points - network interconnect, subscriber access and data center.