TL1 Configurable Applications

The Ribbon Signaling System supports the following TL1-configurable applications:

• ISM (default) - ISM provides event notification of system state and Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) sensor states for all cards, power supplies, and fan trays on the Ribbon Signaling System. 
  
  
• ATM Hardware (optional) - ATM Hardware provides the utilities to configure the ATM interface and links. The support of the asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) interface and links is an optional feature of the Ribbon Signaling System that can be enabled by installing the Asynchronous Transfer Mode Peripheral Component Interconnect Mezzanine Card (ATM PMC) module in the AMC348 or PCE382 card(s) and by obtaining the required licensing.
  
  
• MTP2 Hardware (default) - Message Transfer Part Level 2 (MTP2) Hardware provides the utilities to configure and connect the time division multiplex (TDM) Channels (may be referred to as Signaling Channels).
  
  
• MTP3 (default) - MTP3 provides the utilities to configure the Ribbon Signaling System chassis internal communication, Network Appearances (NAs) supported by this platform, SS7 linksets and links and routesets and routes processed by the platform.
  
  
• SNMP (default) - Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) provides the utility to configure Ribbon Signaling System features on an SNMP-managed network. SNMPv1, SNMPv2c, and SNMPv3 are supported.
  
  
• Switch Monitor (default) - The Switch Monitor application (switchmon) monitors of the physical IP cable connections between the respective Ribbon Signaling System and the remote node. This software application is accessible through the Web UI and provides the following:
  • displays the number and type of Ethernet Switches in the  Ribbon Signaling Systems chassis
    
    
  • shows the availability of the Ethernet Switches
    
    
  • shows the Ethernet Switch configuration.
    
    
• Slot Monitor (default) - The Slot Monitor (slotmon) application monitors the status of all slots and system cards installed in the slots on a Ribbon Signaling System. Specifically, slotmon monitors the physical status of a card and slot, the status of the IP address or addresses of a card, and the status of individual applications on a card if any exist.
  
  
• SCCP (optional and dependent) - Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP) provides the utilities to configure MTP4 applications. SCCP is only available and visible in the UI if you purchased the GTT, PCE, or Signaling Gateway (SG) applications.
  
  
• GTT (optional) - Global Title Translation (GTT) provides the utilities to configure Global Title routing. GTT works in conjunction with SCCP.

• SG (default) - SG provides the utilities to configure transparent interworking of SS7 signaling between Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and IP networks. The application supports the following protocols:
  • Circuit Identification Code (CIC) User Adaptation (UA) layer for ISUP messages using CIC ranges and originator (PTI proprietary; default)
    
    
  • MTP3 User Adaptation Layer (M3UA; default)
    
    
  • Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP) User Application (SUA; default)
    
    
  • SDA Functionality Gateway User Application (SFG UA, optional)
    
    

• GWS (optional) and MSU Tracing (default) - Gateway Screening (GWS) provides the utilities to control the flow of SS7 messages into and through a signaling network from the SS7 links. A Ribbon Signaling System that supports this process examines the contents of incoming messages and determines whether the message is authorized and accepted or is unauthorized and rejected. If a message is accepted, it is sent to MTP, SCCP, or Integrated Service Digital Network User Part (ISUP) for further processing. If a message is rejected, it is discarded.

  
  

  Message Signal Unit (MSU) Tracing allows you to trace SS7 messages throughout system processes such as MTP3, SCCP, GTT, and Signaling Gateway. MSU tracing uses the GWS tables to specify the tracking criteria.

  Traffic redirection (optional) is a GWS feature that can be used to redirect successful gateway screening traffic to local applications through an application identifier name. The message or a copy of the message is redirected to an application. If a copy of the message is redirected, the original message is routed normally.

• PCE (optional) - Point Code Emulator (PCE) provides the utilities to transparently configure and manipulate SS7 nodes without disrupting or reconfiguring the public SS7 network. PCE is similar to Network Address Translation (NAT) on an IP network, whereby private network addresses are hidden from the outside world and incoming messages are rerouted to their proper destination.
• NP Gateway (optional and dependent) - Number Portability (NP) Gateway (also referred to as NPGW) utilizes the DSC Platforms and the Ribbon Policy Server (PSX) to enable Local NP of Triggerless Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) User Part (ISUP) messages.
• DSC (optional) - The Ribbon DSC provides the utilities for Diameter protocol-based signaling in a carrier IP network. This signaling comprises control and monitoring of this IP network, efficient routing of messages, and feasible use of network resources.
  
  
• DSC DB (optional) - The Ribbon DSC Database (DB) allows the Diameter Routing Agent (DRA) to look up session information to primarily determine which Policy and Charging Rule Function (PCRF) to use and to ensure that future transactions from the same session use the same PCRF.
  
  

• IWF (optional and dependent) - The Interworking Function (IWF) maps traffic between the SS7/MAP and LTE networks. The Ribbon Signaling System handles the SS7 routing while the Ribbon DSC handles the Diameter routing. IWF is only available and visible in the UI if you purchased the DSC and SCCP applications. Based on the installation requirements, GTT may also be required.
  
  

• INAPGW (optional) - The Intelligent Network Application Protocol (INAP) Gateway (INAPGW) provides the utilities to intercept a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Sending Routing Information for Short Message (SRI-for-SM) request and launches a corresponding INAP Initial Detection Point (Initial-DP) request to its associated external Number Portability (NP) partner. Based on the response (INAP Connect or Continue), the INAP GW routes the original SRI-for-SM request to its new destination using GTT.

• VNFR -  The Virtual Network Function Representative (VNFR) application runs on the DSC SWe (OpenStack) management VM and is used to handle the communication between DSC SWe (OpenStack) and the Virtual Network Function Manager (VNFM). VNFR handles all life cycle management operations via the ve-vnfm REST API based interface.