Mid-band Ethernet and Fast Ethernet over Eight E1 NTU

• Connects mid-band Ethernet or Fast Ethernet LANs over up to eight unframed E1 circuits
• Scalable bandwidth of up to eight circuits using MLPPP bonding
• Four 10/100 BaseT user ports or two optional 100BaseFX ports
• VLAN tagging and stacking for transparent delivery of user traffic
• QoS priority queues per port, with classification according to 802.1p and DSCP
• Secure Telnet and Web applications (SSH,SSL); secure SNMPv3 and RADIUS

• Enables quick rollout of new Ethernet services over existing PDH/SDH/SONET infrastructure
• Reduces CapEx (capital expenditures) by providing cost-competitive alternative to complex routing equipment
• Extends carrier reach for out of footprint subscribers across TDM networks
• Supports differentiated services, with user-defined, VLAN-based QoS
• Minimizes service disruption and reduce operating costs with diagnostic tools for quick fault isolation and bi-directional fault propagation

RAD’s RICi-8E1 state-of-the-art NTU connects mid-band Ethernet and Fast Ethernet LANs over multiple E1 circuits. It supports up to eight unframed E1 circuits with Multi-Link PPP (MLPPP) bonding, and features four 10/100BaseT user ports. The RICi-8E1 can be used in point-to-point applications, working opposite other RICi NTUs, or in a hub-and-spoke topology, operating opposite the Egate-100 gateway.

The RICi-8E1 functions as an Ethernet to TDM converter, enabling mid-band Ethernet and Fast Ethernet inter-LAN connectivity over legacy PDH/SDH/SONET backbones. Other typical applications include service extension utilizing widely deployed IP DSLAMs and WiMAX base station backhaul. The RICi-8E1 simplifies service management and control across wide area networks (WANs), by featuring advanced diagnostic and fault propagation attributes for quick isolation of network problems. This enables service providers and operators to minimize service disruptions and lower their operating expenditures (OpEx).

Quality of service and VLAN capabilities

User-defined 802.1p, DSCP and per-port priority schemes, enable users to define different quality-of-service (QoS) levels and assign high priority to real-time applications such as voice and video. VLAN tagging, stacking and stripping capabilities enable transparent delivery of user traffic, keeping all user VLAN settings intact. The built-in Fast Ethernet bridge can operate in VLAN-unaware or VLAN-aware modes.

Diagnostics and fault propagation

The RICi-8E1 supports Syslog to enable system logs to be forwarded to the network according to pre-defined criteria. Its diagnostic capabilities include ping test and trace route, as well as remote and local loopbacks over the E1 lines. A bi-directional fault propagation mechanism notifies the local and remote equipment about faulty conditions and enables routers and switches on both ends of the link to divert traffic when errors are detected. In addition, variable maximum transmission unit (MTU) size and controllable transmit queues enable users to optimize delay versus throughput parameters, compensating for a differential delay of up to 50ms between traffic received on different circuits.

E1 loops are immediately detected when they occur, avoiding the resulting Ethernet loops and Ethernet storms.

SNMP Management

The RICi-8E1 features flexible management capabilities, including local management via an ASCII terminal (RS-232). In addition, remote management can be performed either inband or out-of-band, using the network or user ports, while maintaining separation between management and user traffic via the use of VLANs. Advanced FCAPS (Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance, Security) and diagnostic tools are provided by RADview-EMS, RAD’s carrier-class element management system, via a Web browser.

The mid-band Ethernet and Fast Ethernet over eight E1 NTU also supports a variety of configuration access channels, including Telnet, SNMP, Web server, and TFTP. Incorporated security features include Secure Shell (SSH), Web-based Secure Socket Layer (SSL), SNMPv3, and RADIUS.