This is true. But for some people the ability to use all lines for analog
(and 56K in the future) is important.
> A 4004 can not handle all PRI's fully loaded anyways.
Which is something we have on them - the PM-3 takes 2 full E1/PRI lines and
cooks right along.
> The most interesting use for the 4th PRI is for passing calls out to a
>PBX. You could route calls to the PBX based on clid.
This is something that we do not support, we're not looking to get into realms
like that.
> The MAX also has a 8mb sync serial port. No idea of what realistic
>performance you can get out of it.
Something else we decided wasn't needed for our target market.
> They have someting called "stacking". It isn't really complete.
Another issue with MCPPP from Livingston - we plan, in the next few months,
to have it for the PM-2 family (with ISDN installed). You will be able to
put say a PM-2i and a PM-3 in the same group.
> This part really bites. All the MAX 400x series use the same hardware
>base, just with different software keys to give you the features you want.
Actually I believe the 4002/4004 is a newer base than the 4000, but I'm not
sure.
> You need HA if you want to support both digital and analog calls on a
>MAX. The web pages is rather confused about HA vs Frame Relay. An Ascend
Their web pages are rather confused, period.
> You need the chassis, HA-64, ISDN signalling, and modems at a minimum.
>If you want to connect to Frame Relay, you will need that software option
>too.
All of that is included in the PM-3.
>PRI<->T1 (for conversion between PRI and T1)
What is this used for?
>Multirate
ISDN Multirate -- A network-based ISDN service which allows users
network access equipment to dial network channels of bandwidth in
increments of 64 kbit/s, up to 1536 kbit/s. Access to ISDN Multirate
service is obtained over ISDN PRI lines.
OK - isn't this just like what MP or Livingston's load balancing provides?
>RS-336
RS-366 -- An EIA standard for providing dialing commands to network
access equipment. Uses RS-232 electrical specifications but different
connector pinouts and signal functions.
No need to do this on a PM-3.
>Dynamic Bandwidth
The PM-3 uses location tables like the rest of our line, and we are looking at
BACP and possibly RSVP going forward.
>AIM Nx64
Ascend Inverse Multiplexing protocol (AIM) -- An in-band protocol used
to manage the interconnection of two remotely located inverse
multiplexers. AIM is a feature-rich, widely used inverse multiplexing
protocol developed and supported by Ascend Communications.
Well, this one is obvious.
>V.25bis
V.25 bis -- An automatic calling and answering command set for use
between DTE and DCE which includes both in-band and out-of-band
signaling.
This is used for dialing on ISDN, built in on PM-3
>BONDING
BONDING -- Bandwidth On Demand Interoperability Group. A consortium of
over 40 datacommunications equipment vendors and service providers who
joined together to create a standardized inverse multiplexing protocol
so that inverse multiplexers from different vendors could
interoperate. Also refers to the resultant specification, sometimes
known as the BONDING specification.
Nice - but moot these days. MP is superior for ISP use.
>X.21
X.21 -- A set of CCITT specifications for an interface between DTE and
DCE for synchronous operation on public data networks. Includes
connector, electrical, and dialing specifications.
Since we can take an E1/fracE1/chanE1 directly into the internal CSU/DSU
it is moot.
-MZ
-- Livingston Enterprises - Chair, Department of Interstitial Affairs Phone: 800-458-9966 510-426-0770 FAX: 510-426-8951 megazone@livingston.com For support requests: support@livingston.com <http://www.livingston.com/> Snail mail: 4464 Willow Road, Pleasanton, CA 94588