Cisco T1/E1 Network Interface Module
Q. What voice T1/E1 network interface modules (NIMs) are available on the Cisco
®
4000 Series Integrated Services Routers (ISRs)?
A. The cards are described in Table 1.
Table 1. Cisco T1/E1 Network Interface Modules
| Part Number |
Description |
| NIM-1MFT-T1/E1 |
1-port multi-flex trunk voice/clear-channel data T1/E1 module |
| NIM-2MFT-T1/E1 |
2-port multi-flex trunk voice/clear-channel data T1/E1 module |
| NIM-4MFT-T1/E1 |
4-port multi-flex trunk voice/clear-channel data T1/E1 module |
| NIM-8MFT-T1/E1 |
8-port multi-flex trunk voice/clear-channel data T1/E1 module |
| NIM-1CE1T1-PRI |
1-port multi-flex trunk voice/channelized data T1/E1 module |
| NIM-2CE1T1-PRI |
2-port multi-flex trunk voice/channelized data T1/E1 module |
| NIM-8CE1T1-PRI |
8-port multi-flex trunk voice/channelized data T1/E1 module |
Q. How many NIMs are supported on Cisco 4000 Series ISR platforms?
A. Table 2 lists the NIMs supported.
Table 2. NIMs Supported on Cisco 4000 Series ISR Platforms
| Platform |
Number of NIMs |
Support for NIMs |
| 1-Port NIM |
2-Port NIM |
4-Port NIM |
8-Port NIM |
| Cisco 4451 |
5 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Cisco 4431 |
3 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Cisco 4351 |
5 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Cisco 4331 |
3 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Cisco 4321 |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Q. How do the NIM cards differ from the Cisco Voice/WAN Interface Card 3 (VWIC3) cards?
A. The NIM cards are supported only on the Cisco 4000 Series ISR platforms. These cards are the next-generation form factor of the Cisco Ethernet High-Speed WAN Interface Card (EHWIC) modules.
Q. Can I use the Cisco Packet Voice Digital Signal Processor Module 3 (PVDM3) Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) with the NIM multiflex trunk (MFT) modules?
A. No, you cannot use PVDM3 DSPs with the NIM MFT modules.
Q. What DSPs can I use with the NIM MFT modules?
A. The NIM MFT modules use PVDM4 DSPs.
Q. What features are supported on the NIM MFT modules?
A. NIM MFT modules have complete feature parity with the VWIC3 MFT modules. Table 3 lists the different features supported.
Table 3. Features Supported on the Cisco NIM MFT Modules
| Part Number |
Number of Ports |
Clear-Channel Data |
T1 and E1 Support |
Voice Support |
Channelized Data Support |
Unstructured E1/G.703 Support |
| NIM-1MFT-T1/E1 |
1 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| NIM-2MFT-T1/E1 |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| NIM-4MFT-T1/E1 |
4 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| NIM-8MFT-T1/E1 |
8 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| NIM-1CE1T1-PRI |
1 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| NIM-2CE1T1-PRI |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| NIM-8CE1T1-PRI |
8 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Q. Can Cisco NIM MFT T1/E1 modules support T1 and E1 ports on the same 2- or 4-port card?
A. No, all ports can support T1 and E1, but all ports must be of the same type on the same card.
Q. What version of Cisco IOS
® Software is required for supporting the Cisco NIM MFT cards, and what are the Cisco IOS Software license requirements?
A. The modules are supported with Cisco IOS XE Software Release 3.9.1 on Cisco 4451-X ISRs, and the rest of the platforms are supported with Cisco IOS XE Software Release 3.13.1.
Data applications require a minimum of the IP Base Technology package, and voice applications require a minimum of the Unified Communications Technology package.
Q. Can the 2-, 4-, and 8-port NIMs support different clocking domains?
A. When the 2-, 4-, or 8-port NIM is used in data-only deployments, each port can connect to a different clocking domain, for example, when two different T1/E1 carriers are used. When the NIM is used for voice applications, all voice T1/E1s have to be synchronized to a single clock source, and any difference in clocks risks clock slips or interface flaps. When the NIM is used for mixed data and voice applications, each data port can use an independent clock, and the voice ports can use a clock source independent from the data ports.
PVDM4
A. The PVDM4 DSP modules are the fourth-generation DSP modules that are supported only on the Cisco 4451-X ISR. DSPs are required for time-division multiplexing (TDM) services and for IP services such as conferencing and transcoding. PVDM4 is used with the T1/E1 NIMs for TDM voice termination.
Q. What are the different PVDM4 modules?
A. Table 4 lists the different PVDM4 models.
Table 4. PVDM4 Models
| Name |
Description |
| PVDM4-32 |
32-channel, high-density, voice DSP module |
| PVDM4-64 |
64-channel, high-density, voice DSP module |
| PVDM4-128 |
128-channel, high-density, voice DSP module |
| PVDM4-256 |
256-channel, high-density, voice DSP module |
Q. What codecs do the PVDM4 modules support?
A. Table 5 lists supported codecs.
Table 5. Supported Codecs
| High-Complexity Codecs |
Medium-Complexity Codecs |
Low-Complexity Codecs |
| G.728, G.729, G.729B, Internet Low Bit Rate Codec (iLBC), and Modem Relay |
G.729A, G.729AB, G.726, G.722, and Fax Relay |
G.711, Clear Channel, and Fax and Modem Pass-Through |
Q. Where are the PVDM4 DSPs installed?
A. Unlike previous generations of PVDM2 and PVDM3 DSP modules, the PVDM4 modules are installed directly on the T1/E1 NIM. Depending on the number of channels required, the appropriate DSP module is installed on the NIM.
For IP services such as transcoding and conferencing, the PVDM4 DSP module can be installed on the motherboard of the 4451-X ISR platform.
Q. Can the NIMs use an available PVDM4 on the motherboard for T1/E1 voice services?
A. No, the NIM cannot use the motherboard PVDM4 for T1/E1 voice services.
Q. Can the NIM PVDM4s be shared with motherboard PVDM4?
A. Yes, extra PVDM resources on the NIMs can be shared with motherboard PVDM4s to provide for the IP-to-IP voice services.
Q. Do PVDM4 DSPs have feature parity with the PVDM3 DSPs?
A. Yes, all features are supported on the PVDM4 DSPs with the exception of video conferencing and video transcoding. Video is not enabled on the PVDM4 DSPs.
Q. Are PVDM3 modules supported on the Cisco 4451-X ISRs?
A. No, the 4451-X ISRs use a different DSP module slot on the motherboard, and only PVDM4 modules are supported.
Q. Can I replace a PVDM3 with the PVDM4 in Cisco 2900 and 3900 Series platforms?
A. No, the PVDM4 modules are supported only on the Cisco 4451-X ISR platform.
Q. How many voice sessions does each PVDM4 module support?
A. Table 6 lists the maximum number of supported voice channels on each PVDM3 module.
Table 6. Supported Channels
| Complexity |
PVDM4-32 |
PVDM4-64 |
PVDM4-128 |
PVDM4-256 |
| Low-complexity voice |
32 |
64 |
128 |
256 |
| Medium-complexity voice |
24 |
48 |
96 |
192 |
| High-complexity voice |
16 |
32 |
64 |
128 |
Q. How many conferences can the PVDM4 support?
A. The PVDM4s can support:
● Up to 88 G.711 conferences
● Up to 42 G.729, G.729A, and G.722 conferences
● Up to 32 iLBC conferences
Q. How many conference participants can the PVDM4s support?
A. The PVDM4s can support:
● Up to 64 participants per G.711 conference
● Up to 32 participants per G.729, G.729A, G.722, and iLBC conference
Q. How many secure conference participants can the PVDM4s support?
A. The PVDM4s can support:
● Up to eight participants per G.711, G.729A, G.722, and iLBC conference
Q. Are the PVDM4 modules field-upgradable?
A. Yes. PVDM4 modules are field upgradable.
Q. Are the PVDM4 modules hot-swappable?
A. There are two places where PVDM4 DSPs are installed. For TDM services, the DSP is installed on the T1/E1 NIM. Because the NIMs support online insertion and removal (OIR), they can be removed without powering down the 4451-X ISR, and the DSPs on the NIM can be removed. For IP services, the DSP is installed on the motherboard of the 4451-X ISR. The router must be shut down to insert or remove a PVDM4 on the motherboard.
For More Information
For more information about the Cisco 4451-X ISR, please visit http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/routers/ps10906/ps12522/ps12626/qa_c67-728261.html.
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