The Cisco® IP Transfer Point (ITP) for the Cisco 7600 Series Routers is a comprehensive product for transporting Signaling System 7 (SS7) traffic over traditional time-division multiplexing (TDM) networks or advanced SS7-over-IP (SS7oIP) networks. Because the Cisco 7600 ITP supports traditional, advanced, and combined traditional/advanced networks, operators can control their migration to advanced networks and make sure the transition supports business goals.
The Cisco 7600 ITP offers the complete feature set found in traditional signaling transfer points (STPs). When operating in a TDM mode, the Cisco 7600 ITP provides superior value for transporting SS7 traffic over traditional TDM networks.
Using the standards developed by the IETF Signaling Transport (SIGTRAN) working group, in an SS7oIP mode the Cisco 7600 ITP connects to traditional SS7 nodes or IP-enabled signaling nodes and offloads this SS7 traffic to reliable and cost-efficient IP networks, thus freeing capacity and ports on the costly SS7 network. The Cisco 7600 ITP also operates in mixed SS7oIP and TDM environments.
Additionally, by incorporating the SIGTRAN working group's Message Transfer Part Layer 3 (MTP3) User Adaptation Layer (M3UA) and Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP) User Adaptation Layer (SUA) standards, the Cisco 7600 ITP provides complete signaling gateway functions between traditional TDM networks and IP-enabled signaling endpoints.
The Cisco 7600 ITP thus provides superior value over traditional SS7 transport solutions while providing the foundational infrastructure for the next generation of signaling transport.
Important features and benefits of the Cisco 7600 ITP include:
• Signaling infrastructure cost reduction
• Superior value and flexible scalability for signaling-capacity expansion, for TDM or IP
• Integrated, leading IP routing features, including IP WAN media support and quality of service (QoS)
• Reliability and performance characteristics demanded by signaling infrastructures
• ATM and Q703 Annex A high-speed link (HSL) support
• Traditional Signaling Transfer Point (STP) feature set, including Global Title Translation (GTT) and Gateway Screening (GWS)
• Open industry SIGTRAN standards, including SCTP, M2PA, M3UA, and SUA
• IP investment protection
• Portfolio of industry-leading traditional SS7 and SS7oIP solution partners
• Advanced Short Message Service (SMS) routing
• Mobile Application Part (MAP) operation code routing
• Gateway STP functions, including concurrent multiple variant and conversion
• Flexible Numbering (ARD) and Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
• Support for Non Disruptive Upgrade (NDU)
• Originating Point Code/Destination Point Code (OPC/DPC) routing at MTP/SCCP layer using multilayer routing
Protocol Specifications and Compliance
Figure 1 shows the basic protocol architecture of a Cisco 7600 IP Transfer Point and its any-to-any switching capability.
Figure 1. Cisco 7600 IP Transfer Point Protocol Architecture
IETF RFC 2960: Stream Control Transmission Protocol
IETF RFC 3309: Stream Control Transmission Protocol Checksum Change
MAP
03.40 ETSI Document TS 100 901 V7.5.0
Platform Specifications
The Cisco 7600 IP Transfer Point is implemented on the Cisco 7604, Cisco 7606-S, Cisco 7609-S, and Cisco 7613 Routers. This data sheet specifically discusses the Cisco 7600 ITP. Please refer to the "Cisco IP Transfer Point" data sheet for technical information related to the other ITP platforms.
Note: RAM and flash memory requirements are determined by operational requirements for maximum capacity. Cisco IOS Software images, routing tables, Global Title Translations (GTTs), and run-time data structures consume memory.
Table 2. Platform Specifications
Attribute
Cisco 7604
Cisco 7606-S
Cisco 7609-S
Cisco 7613
Dimensions
(H x W x D)
8.8 x 17.5 x 21.8 in.
(22.2 x 44.5 x 55.3 cm)
12.3 x 17.4 x 21.8 in
(31.1 x 44.1 x 55.3 cm)
36.8 x 17.2 x 20.7
(93.3 x 43.1 x 53.3 cm)
33.3 x 17.2 x 18.1 in.
(82.3 x 42.5 x 44.7 cm)
Rack units (RU)
5 RU
7 RU
21 RU
19 RU
Dual processor
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dual power
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Network Equipment Building Standards (NEBS)3
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Main processor
SUP720-3B and 3BXL
SUP720-3B and 3BXL
SUP720-3B and 3BXL
SUP720-3B and 3BXL
Main processor flash memory
512 MB
512 MB
512 MB
512 MB
Main processor DRAM (minimum)
512 MB
512 MB
512 MB
512 MB
Main processor DRAM (recommended)
1G
1G
1G
1G
FlexWAN SDRAM (minimum)
512 MB per bay
512 MB per bay
512 MB per bay
512 MB per bay
Table 3. SS7 Interfaces Supported
Interface Type
Cisco 7600 Series Interface Card
Channelized T1/DS-0 and E1
PA-MCX-8TE1-M
HSLs (ATM over T1/E1)
PA-A3-8T1IMA and PA-A3-8E1IMA
HSLs (Q703)
PA-MCX-4TE1-Q
STM-1 & ATM-HSL
PA-A6-OC3 (MM, SMI, and SML)
T1 Compliance
• ANSI T1.403
• United States (UL 1950, 1459, T1)
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Part 68
• Canada (C1950, T1)
• Unites States (FCC part 15J Class A, T1)
• United Kingdom (BS6301, EN60950, EN41003)
• Canada (CSA C108.8 Class A, T1)
• Bellcore-AT&T Accunet (62411)
• ATT 54016
• Japan (VCCI Class 2, T1)
E1 Compliance
• Germany (TUV GS)
• Germany (VDE 0878 part 3 and 30)
• France (NFC98020)
• France (EN60950, EN41003)
• Sweden (SS447-2-22)
• Europe (EN55022 Class B, EN55102-1, EN55102-2)
• CCITT/ITU G.703, G.704, I.431
• ETSI NET5, ETS300156
• CTR-4, CTR-12
• TBR-13
• ETS 300011
• ITU I.431
IP Media Support
• Fast Ethernet
• ATM over T1, E1, OC-3 single mode, OC-3 multimode
Note: SS7 over IP (SCTP, M2PA, M3UA, SUA) is supported over Fast Ethernet, ATM OC-3 single mode, and ATM OC-3 multimode. Support for other media types can be considered upon request.
Capacity and Performance Specifications
• Individual links are capable of running at 1.0 Erlang.
• Traffic rates shown in Table 4 are 100-byte, without GTT.
• For the purpose of estimating MSUs-per-second performance, a packet that enters and then exits the ITP is counted as a single MSU (not as two MSUs). Performance data in Table 4 reflects this methodology and is bidirectional.
• SCTP associations limit is 1000 per ITP and 100 per processor.
• Multilayer routing introduces a typical 10 percent processor overhead.
• GTT introduces up to 20 percent processor overhead.
• Gateway screening introduces up to 10 percent processor overhead. Gateway screening logging introduces an additional 10 percent overhead.
Table 4. Capacity and Performance Using the Cisco 7600 IP Transfer Point
Maximum Number of:
Cisco 7604 Router
Cisco 7606 Router
Cisco 7609 Router
Cisco 7613 Router
Low-speed TDM links
504
1008
1764
2772
M2PA links
400
800
1000
1000
HSLs (ATM)
32
64
112
176
HSLs (Q703 Annex A)
16
32
56
88
Low-speed TDM links MSUs per second
28,000
56,000
98,000
154,000
HSLs (ATM) MSUs per second
40,000
80,000
140,000
220,000
HSLs (Q703) MSUs per second
36,000
72,000
126,000
198,000
M2PA MSU per second
27,000
54,000
95,000
150,000
M3UA MSUs per second
30,000
60,000
105,000
165,000
SUA MSUs per second
20,000
40,000
70,000
110,000
Table 5. Cisco 7600 IP Transfer Point Software Features
Feature
Cisco 7600 IP Transfer Point Capability
SS7 routing
SCCP, GTT, and MTP3 any-to-any routing between all link types including OPC/DPC-based routing using MLR
Quality of service
QoS per SCTP association with classification based on:
• Service indicator
• Destination Point Code, Global Title Address, M3UA/SUA routing key
• Input link set
• Service (translation type)
• Access lists
• M3UA/SUA routing key
Global Title Translation (GTT) support
• Full traditional SCCP and GTT support including ANSI GTI2 and ITU/China GTI 2 and 4
• Address translation and variant/instance conversion
Gateway screening
ITP Gateway Screening is an advanced STP screening capability. At any stage during the screening process, the message can be routed to its destination, sent to MLR for application level handling or be discarded.
This functionality supports combinations of the following MSU parameters: MTP3 layer, SCCP layer, ISUP message type, byte pattern and byte offset.
In addition to Gateway Screening, the ITP also supports Multilayer Routing (MLR)-based screening features. More information on the MLR feature is described below.
SS7 load sharing
Advanced MTP3 and SCCP load sharing for links, link sets, and combined link sets for any link types
Multiple point codes
Primary, secondary, and capability point codes and M3UA/SUA routing keys. With multiple instances feature, up to 256 TDM links to adjacent nodes
Multiple instances
The Multiple Instance feature enables multiple variant and network-indicator combinations to run concurrently on one Cisco 7600 ITP. Up to eight instances can be configured. Each instance is a separate domain with a defined variant, network indicator, Cisco 7600 ITP point code, optional capability point code, and optional secondary point code.
• Instance translation: The Cisco 7600 ITP Instance Translation feature enables the conversion of packets between instances of the same variant.
• Instance conversion: The Cisco 7600 ITP Instance Conversion feature enables conversion between ITU and ANSI instances for point code and global title.
Multilayer Routing (MLR)
The Cisco 7600 ITP MLR feature enables intelligent routing and screening of all SS7 messages at the MTP, SCCP, TCAP, and MAP-user layer based on a flexible schema including, but not limited to, OPC/DPC/SI and CdPA parameters, CgPA parameters, and any TCAP-layer operation code. This provides very granular control of specific message flows.
For SMS-specific operation codes, such as mobile-originated/mobile-terminated (MO/MT) messages, MLR allows for routing on additional MAP-user-layer parameters such as sending short message entity (SME), destination SME, originating IMSI, and MAP-layer service center address.
MLR supports IS-41 SMS message routing, next to full operation code routing for GSM.
MO Proxy
Enables the routing of segmented GSM MAPv2 and higher messages based on application-layer parameters by terminating the MO dialogue. This capability helps ensure that the SMS MO dialogues for a given B-address are handled by the same Short Message Service Center (SMSC).
SMS notification proxy
The purpose of the IS-41 SMS Notification Proxy feature is to perform a broadcast of incoming ANSI-41 SMS Notifications to a group of SMSCs and to provide a reply to the Home Location Register (HLR) after receiving the first positive acknowledgement message from any of the SMSCs in the distribution.
Network management and monitoring
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)-based network management for nodes, links, and routes (using a GUI); interoperates with CiscoWorks, CiscoView, HP OpenView products. For additional information, please refer to the Mobile Wireless Transport Manager Product section further below.
Table 6. IP Routing Protocols
Protocol
Definition
BGP
Border Gateway Protocol
EIGRP
Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol
OSPF
Open Shortest Path First
Table 7. Standard Cisco IOS Software QoS Features
QoS Feature
Description
Class-based traffic treatment
Industry-leading class-based matching, marking, queuing, and scheduling
CAR
Committed access rate
DiffServ
DiffServ-compliant Weighted Random Early Detection (WRED)
Flow-based WRED
Flow-based WRED
Traffic Shaping
Generic traffic shaping
LLQ
Low Latency Queuing
RED/WRED
Random Early Detection/WRED
Table 8. Other Cisco IOS Software Features in the Cisco 7600 ITP
Feature
Description
AAA
Authentication, authorization, and accounting
Access lists
Access lists
Cisco Discovery Protocol
Cisco Discovery Protocol
NTP
Network Time Protocol
RADIUS
Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service
SAA
Cisco Service Assurance Agent
SNMP
SNMP, SNMPv1, SNMPv2C
TACACS
Terminal Access Controller Access Control System, TACACS SENDAUTH function, TACACS single connection
Cisco Mobile Wireless Transport Manager
Cisco Mobile Wireless Transport Manager (MWTM) Release 6.0 provides monitoring and management capabilities to the Cisco ITP solutions. Cisco MWTM addresses the element-management requirements of mobile operators and provides fault, performance, configuration, and troubleshooting capability as mobile operators make the transition from first-generation fixed, leased-line networks to a converged IP-based infrastructure.
Features
Table 9 includes a list of new features available with the Cisco MWTM 6.0 release.
Table 9. Cisco Mobile Wireless Transport Manager 6.0 Features
Features
Description
Extensive Cisco ITP support
Supports all Cisco ITP platforms:
• Cisco 2811 Integrated Services Router
• Cisco 7204VXR and 7206VXR Routers
• Cisco 7301 Router
• Cisco 7600 Series Routers
Event monitoring
Displays a real-time event list that supports acknowledgement, annotation, customized filtering, and field viewing that conform to ITU-T X.733 standards.
Receives native traps from hardware devices in the Cisco ITP solutions and uses SNMP polling to identify the status of each managed Cisco ITP device and the status of links and link sets. Cisco MWTM uses easy-to-recognize, color-coded icons to report the status.
Wizard-based provisioning
Assists in provisioning Destination Point Code (DPC) route tables, Global Title Translation (GTT) tables, Multilayer Routing (MLR) address tables, application servers, application server processes, interfaces, links, and link sets by providing GUI-based editing; reduces errors by checking syntax and semantics before deploying the tables to the Cisco ITP device.
Performance reporting
Provides extensive Web-based accounting and network statistics reports.
Displays real-time data rate and usage line graphs.
Includes network efficiency and detailed interface-level statistics as well as Q.752-based statistics reports, point code inventory reports including Message Transfer Part Level 3 (MTP3), GTT, MTP3 User Adaptation (M3UA) or Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP) User Adaptation (SUA), Message Signal Unit (MSU), and multilayer routing reports.
Autodiscovery and topology
Discovers the entire Cisco ITP network and displays each network element, neighboring equipment, and physical/logical connectivity in a network topology drawing that users can customize.
Troubleshooting
Customizable troubleshooting tools aid in reducing the total time to resolution of network/device problems.
OSS integration
Receives SNMP traps and generates Cisco MWTM-specific traps for forwarding to external SNMP-based network management applications such as Cisco Info Center or IBM Tivoli Netcool.
Statistics are stored in comma-separated value (CSV) format files for extracting performance and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) metrics information.
Northbound: Cisco ITP Extensible Markup Language (XML)/Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) APIs for events, traps, and inventory allow third-party OSSs to programmatically manage events by retrieving a list of events or providing access to inventory data.
Northbound: Cisco ITP Provisioning XML/SOAP APIs allow third-party OSSs to programmatically configure Cisco ITP tables and objects.
Security
Supports multiple user-authentication methods - OS-based and standalone.
Optional SSL-based encryption between client and server supports optional Secure Shell (SSH) Protocol-based encryption between server and network element.
Client/server architecture and OS support
Based on client/server architecture, Cisco MWTM supports Windows and Solaris clients and Solaris and Linux servers and provides data access through a Web browser.
The Cisco 7600 ITP maximizes system capacity and availability of the Cisco 7600 Series Routers by providing full redundancy and Non Disruptive software upgrades. The Cisco 7600 Series is widely deployed in industry segments that require a carrier-class, highly reliable, and highly available platform.
Cisco monitors mean time between failure (MTBF) and mean time to repair (MTTR) data for Cisco 7600 Series hardware and software in large service provider networks. Customer results show that a single Cisco 7600 ITP achieves "five nines" or 99.999 percent availability and, with an MTTR of 30 minutes, can achieve "six nines" or 99.9999 percent availability. Mated-pair Cisco 7600 ITP system availability far exceeds 99.9999 percent.
Ordering Information
To place an order, visit the Cisco Ordering Home Page.
