Glossary

Table Of Contents

Glossary

A
accounting	Collection of SS7 accounting statistics.
adjacent node	In SGM, for a given pair of connected nodes, the node that SGM discovered second. SGM considers the node that it discovered first to be the primary node, and the other node to be the adjacent node. If, in the next Discovery, SGM discovers the adjacent node first, it considers that node to be the primary node and the former primary node to be the new adjacent node. Thus, in SGM, linkset sgm-2600a-to-sgm-7500j is equivalent to sgm-7500j-to-sgm-2600a. See primary node.
adjacent point code	Point code of the adjacent node for the linkset. Contrast with local point code.
alias point code	See capability point code.
annotation	User-defined descriptive string attached to a node or linkset.
ANSI	American National Standards Institute.
auto save	Setting that enables SGM to save changes automatically when you exit SGM.
auto start	Setting that enables SGM to start a process automatically when the Process Manager is started. See Data Server, Message Log Server, Process Manager, Trap Receiver.

B
browser	GUI-based hypertext client application, such as Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator, used to access hypertext documents and other services located on innumerable remote servers throughout the World Wide Web (WWW) and Internet.

C
capability point code	Point code shared by more than one node, each of which is also assigned a "real" point code. Also called alias point code.
circle layout	Topology map layout in which nodes are arranged in a circle, connected by links. Contrast with spring layout. See topology map.
Cisco IOS software	Cisco Internetwork Operating System software. Cisco system software that provides common functionality, scalability, and security for many Cisco products. The Cisco IOS software allows centralized, integrated, and automated installation and management of internetworks, while ensuring support for a wide variety of protocols, media, services, and platforms.
CLI	Command line interface. An interface that allows the user to interact with the Cisco IOS software operating system by entering commands and optional arguments.
client	Node or software program that requests services from a server. The SGM user interface is an example of a client. See also server.
client view	User-customized subset of the DEFAULT view. See also DEFAULT view, view.
CLLI code	COMMON LANGUAGE Location Code for a node. A CLLI code is a standardized 11-character identifier that uniquely identifies the geographic location of the node.
command line interface	See CLI.
community name	See community string.
community string	Text string that acts as a password and is used to authenticate messages sent between a management station and a router containing an SNMP agent. The community string is sent in every packet between the manager and the agent. Also called community name, read community.
congestion	Condition in which a link has too many packets waiting to be sent. This condition could be caused by the failure of an element in the network. Possible levels are None, Low, High, and Very High, which correspond roughly to equivalent ANSI, China standard, and ITU congestion levels.
console log	Log containing unexpected error and warning messages from the SGM server, such as those that might occur if the SGM server cannot start.
cost	Measure of the suitability of a route to a destination, relative to other routes. Costs range from 1 (lowest cost and highest priority) through 9 (highest cost and lowest priority).
current view	View that is currently in use on an SGM client. The view can be the DEFAULT view or a customized view. Also called current view. See client view, DEFAULT view.

D
Data Server	Multi-threaded process that handles most of the work done by SGM, including Discovery, polling, and scheduling. See also Message Log Server, Process Manager, Trap Receiver.
DEFAULT view	View into which SGM places all discovered nodes, linksets, and links when discovering the network. The DEFAULT view is stored on the SGM server and shared by all SGM clients, but it cannot be modified by the clients. See current view, view.
demand polling	User-initiated poll of selected nodes. Contrast with status polling.
destination linkset	In ITP route tables, linkset associated with the destination point code. Also called the output linkset. See linkset, destination point code, route table.
destination point code	In ITP route tables, point code of the adjacent node, the destination for packets on the selected node. See destination linkset, point code, route table.
device	See node.
device type	In SGM, the type of a discovered device, either a Cisco ITP-capable router or a legacy SS7 device. Also called system object ID. See legacy device.
diamond	In topology maps, indicator for a link that is part of a configured linkset, associated with the closest node. See topology.
discovered	Node, linkset, or link that has been discovered by SGM. Also called known. Contrast with unknown.
Discovery	Process by which SGM discovers nodes, linksets, and links in your network. See also nonrecursive Discovery, recursive Discovery.
display name	User-specified name for a node. Contrast with DNS name. See also node name.
domain name	The style of identifier—a sequence of case-insensitive ASCII labels separated by dots ("bbn.com.")—defined for subtrees in the Internet Domain Name System [R1034] and used in other Internet identifiers, such as host names, mailbox names, and URLs.
Domain Name System	See DNS.
DNS	Domain Name System. System used on the Internet for translating names of network nodes into addresses.
DNS name	Initial name of a node, as discovered by SGM. Contrast with display name. See also node name.

E
Erlang (E)	The international (dimensionless) unit of the average traffic intensity (occupancy) of a facility during a period of time, normally, a busy hour. The number of Erlangs is the ratio of the time during which a facility is occupied (continuously or cumulatively) to the time this facility is available for occupancy. Another definition is the ratio of the average call arrival rate into the system, to the average call duration. One Erlang is equivalent to 36 ccs (completed call seconds), which is another traffic intensity unit.
exclude	Removing a node from a view, while retaining the node in the SGM database.

G
graphical element	Graphical representation of a node, linkset, or link in the topology map. See topology map.
graphical user interface	See GUI.
GUI	Graphical user interface. User environment that uses pictorial as well as textual representations of the input and output of applications and the hierarchical or other data structure in which information is stored. Conventions such as buttons, icons, and windows are typical, and many actions are performed using a pointing device (such as a mouse). Microsoft Windows and the Apple Macintosh are prominent examples of platforms utilizing a GUI.

H
host	Computer system on a network. Similar to the term node except that host usually implies a computer system, whereas node generally applies to any network system, including access servers and routers. See also node.
host address	See host number.
host number	Part of an IP address that designates which node on the subnetwork is being addressed. Also called a host address.
HSL	High-speed link. An HSL link is one that uses use the SS7-over-ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) high-speed protocol.
HTML	Hypertext Markup Language. Simple hypertext document formatting language that uses tags to indicate how a given part of a document should be interpreted by a viewing application, such as a Web browser. See also hypertext and browser.
hypertext	Electronically-stored text that allows direct access to other texts by way of encoded links. Hypertext documents can be created using HTML, and often integrate images, sound, and other media that are commonly viewed using a browser. See also HTML and browser.
Hypertext Markup Language	See HTML.

I
ignore	Exclude a linkset or link when aggregating and displaying SGM status information.
installation log	Log containing messages and other information recorded during installation.
internal ID	Unique identifier assigned by SGM, for its own internal use, to every event, link, linkset, and node.
Internet Protocol	See IP.
IP	Internet Protocol. Network layer protocol in the TCP/IP stack offering a connectionless internetwork service. IP provides features for addressing, type-of-service specification, fragmentation and reassembly, and security. Documented in RFC 791.
IP address	32-bit address assigned to hosts using TCP/IP. An IP address belongs to one of five classes (A, B, C, D, or E) and is written as 4 octets separated by periods (dotted decimal format). Each address consists of a network number, an optional subnetwork number, and a host number. The network and subnetwork numbers together are used for routing, while the host number is used to address an individual host within the network or subnetwork. A subnet mask is used to extract network and subnetwork information from the IP address. CIDR provides a new way of representing IP addresses and subnet masks. See also IP.
ITP	Part of Cisco's hardware and software SS7-over-IP (SS7oIP) solution. ITP provides a reliable, cost-effective medium for migrating Signaling System 7 (SS7), the telecommunications network signaling technology, to the mobile wireless industry IP environment. ITP off-loads SS7 Short Messaging Service (SMS) traffic onto the IP network, replacing the mobile service provider's signaling network with a redundant IP cloud.
ITP router	Cisco ITP-capable router. See ITP.
ITU	International Telecommunication Union.

K
known	See discovered.

L
legacy device	In SGM, an SS7 device that is not a Cisco ITP-capable router. Legacy devices include MSCs, SCPs, SSPs, and STPs. See ITP router, MSC, SCP, SS7, SSP, STP.
link	In ITP, the connection between nodes. See ITP, linkset, node.
link type	In SGM, the type of a discovered link, either SCTP IP or serial. See SCTP, serial.
linkset	In ITP, a grouped set of links. In SGM, a representation of two linksets associated with two nodes, one for each side of a logical connection. See ITP, link, node.
linkset type	In SGM, the type of a discovered linkset, either SCTP IP, serial, HSL, mixed, or other. Other means no links have been defined for the linkset. See HSL, SCTP, serial.
local authentication	Type of SGM security authentication that allows the creation of user accounts and passwords local to the SGM system. When using this method, usernames, passwords, and access levels are managed using SGM commands. Contrast with Solaris authentication. For more information on Solaris authentication, see the "Implementing SGM User-Based Access (Solaris Only)" section.
local IP address	IP address used by the SGM client to connect to the SGM server.
local point code	Point code of the primary node for a linkset. Contrast with adjacent point code.
local VPN IP address	IP address used by the SGM client to connect to the SGM server via VPN. See local IP address, VPN.

M
managed object	Node, linkset, or link that is being managed by SGM. See link, linkset, node.
Management Information Base	See MIB.
mask	Bit combination used in SGM to indicate the significant bits of the point code. For ANSI and China standard networks using the default 24-bit point code format, the default mask is 255.255.255. For ITU networks using the default 14-bit point code format, the default mask is 7.255.7.
Message Log Server	Multi-threaded process that logs messages from the Data Server, Process Manager, and SGM client. See also Data Server, Process Manager, Trap Receiver.
MIB	Management Information Base. Database of network management information that is used and maintained by a network management protocol such as SNMP. The value of a MIB object can be changed or retrieved using SNMP commands, usually through a GUI network management system. MIB objects are organized in a tree structure that includes public (standard) and private (proprietary) branches.
mobile switching center	See MSC.
mouse over help	Popups that display information about nodes, linksets, and table entries.
MSC	Mobile switching center. Provides telephony switching services and controls calls between telephone and data systems.

N
name server	Server connected to a network that resolves network names into network addresses.
network management system	See NMS.
network view	See view.
new node	Node that SGM has newly discovered, and that has not yet been added to the current view.
node	Endpoint of a network connection or a junction common to two or more lines in a network. Nodes can be processors, controllers, or workstations. Nodes, which vary in routing and other functional capabilities, can be interconnected by links, and serve as control points in the network. In ITP, a node is a Cisco ITP-capable router or legacy SS7 device (SSP, SCP, or STP). See ITP router, legacy device.
node name	Name of a node. This is either the DNS name of the node, or a user-specified name. See display name, DNS name.
nonrecursive Discovery	Discovery of seed nodes only. SGM discovers all seed nodes and attempts to manage them, then marks all nodes that are adjacent to those seed nodes as Unmanaged. Contrast with recursive Discovery.
NMS	Network management system. System responsible for managing at least part of a network. An NMS is generally a reasonably powerful and well-equipped computer such as an engineering workstation. NMSes communicate with agents to help keep track of network statistics and resources.

O
output linkset	See destination linkset.

P
ping	Packet internet groper. ICMP echo message and its reply. Often used in IP networks to test the reachability of a network device.
point code	A unique address code that identifies a service provider within a signaling network. Also called primary point code. See capability point code, destination point code, local point code, secondary point code.
polling	Access method in which a primary network device inquires, in an orderly fashion, whether secondaries have data to transmit. The inquiry occurs in the form of a message to each secondary that gives the secondary the right to transmit.
poll interval	Time between polls.
poll response	Time taken by a node to respond to SGM poll requests.
port	In IP terminology, an upper-layer process that receives information from lower layers. Ports are numbered, and each numbered port is associated with a specific process. For example, SMTP is associated with port 25. A port number is also called a well-known address.
preferences	Settings that enable a user to modify the way SGM presents information.
primary node	In SGM, for a given pair of connected nodes, the node that SGM discovered first. SGM considers the node that it discovered first to be the primary node, and the other node to be the adjacent node. If, in the next Discovery, SGM discovers the adjacent node first, it considers that node to be the primary node and the former primary node to be the new adjacent node. Thus, in SGM, linkset sgm-2600a-to-sgm-7500j is equivalent to sgm-7500j-to-sgm-2600a. See adjacent node.
primary point code	See point code.
primary SNMP address	IP address used by SNMP to poll the node. Contrast with secondary IP address.
process	Internal component of SGM. See Data Server, Message Log Server, Process Manager, Trap Receiver.
Process Manager	Multi-threaded process that handles the management of registered SGM processes. See also Data Server, Message Log Server, Trap Receiver.

Q
QoS	Quality of service. Measure of performance for a transmission system that reflects its transmission quality and service availability.
Quality of Service	See QoS.

R
read community	See community string.
recursive Discovery	Discovery of the entire network. SGM discovers all seed nodes and attempts to manage them; then attempts to discover and manage all ITP nodes that are adjacent to those seed nodes (unless the nodes are connected by serial links only); then attempts to discover and manage all ITP nodes that are adjacent to those nodes; and so on, until SGM has discovered the entire network. Contrast with nonrecursive Discovery.
route	Path through an internetwork.
route table	Table used in ITP to locate a destination linkset for a packet whose destination point code does not match the router's local point code.
router	Network layer device that uses one or more metrics to determine the optimal path along which network traffic should be forwarded. Routers forward packets from one network to another based on network layer information.

S
SCP	Service control point. An element of an SS7-based Intelligent Network that performs various service functions, such as number translation, call setup and teardown, and so on.
SCTP	Stream Control Transmission Protocol. An end-to-end, connection-oriented protocol that transports data in independent sequenced streams.
secondary IP address	Alternate or backup IP address used by a node. Contrast with primary SNMP address.
secondary point code	Alternate or backup point code used by a node. See point code.
seed file	List of seed nodes. See seed node.
seed node	Node used by SGM to discover the other nodes, linksets, and links in your network.
serial	Method of data transmission in which the bits of a data character are transmitted sequentially over a single channel.
server	Node or software program that provides services to clients. See client.
service control point	See SCP.
service switching point	See SSP.
signal transfer point	See STP.
Signaling System 7	See SS7.
Simple Network Management Protocol	See SNMP.
SNMP	Simple Network Management Protocol. Network management protocol used almost exclusively in TCP/IP networks. SNMP provides a means to monitor and control network devices, and to manage configurations, statistics collection, performance, and security.
Solaris authentication	Type of SGM security authentication that uses standard Solaris-based user accounts and passwords, as specified in the /etc/nsswitch.conf file. Authentication can be provided by the local /etc/passwd file or from a distributed Network Information Services (NIS) system. Contrast with local authentication. For more information on Solaris authentication, see the "Implementing SGM User-Based Access (Solaris Only)" section.
spring layout	Topology map layout in which nodes are arranged in a spring layout. Nodes with the most links are drawn closer to the center of the map, while nodes with fewer links are drawn farther away. Contrast with circle layout. See topology map.
SS7	Signaling System 7. Standard CCS system used with BISDN and ISDN. Developed by Bellcore.
SSP	Service switching point. Element of an SS7-based Intelligent Network that performs call origination, termination, or tandem switching.
status	Current condition, such as Active or Unknown, of a node, linkset, or link.
status polling	Regularly scheduled polling of nodes performed by SGM. Contrast with demand polling.
STP	Signal transfer point. Element of an SS7-based Intelligent Network that performs routing of the SS7 signaling.
Stream Control Transmission Protocol	See SCTP.
super user	User specified in SGM to be able to perform most functions that otherwise require the user to be logged in as the root user. For more information, see the "Specifying a Super User (Solaris Only)" section.
system object ID	See device type.

T
TCP	Transmission Control Protocol. Connection-oriented transport layer protocol that provides reliable full-duplex data transmission. TCP is part of the TCP/IP protocol stack. See also TCP/IP.
TCP/IP	Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. Common name for the suite of protocols developed by the U.S. DoD in the 1970s to support the construction of worldwide internetworks. TCP and IP are the two best-known protocols in the suite. See also IP and TCP.
thread name	Task name.
timeout	Event that occurs when one network device expects to hear from another network device within a specified period of time, but does not. The resulting timeout usually results in a retransmission of information or the dissolving of the session between the two devices.
topology	See topology map.
topology map	Graphical representation by SGM of the network. Also called topology.
Transmission Control Protocol	See TCP.
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol	See TCP/IP.
trap	Unsolicited message sent by an SNMP agent to an NMS, console, or terminal to indicate the occurrence of a significant event, such as a specifically defined condition or a threshold that has been reached.
Trap Receiver	Multi-threaded process that receives SNMP traps for SGM. See also Data Server, Message Log Server, Process Manager.

U
UDP	User Datagram Protocol. Connectionless transport layer protocol in the TCP/IP protocol stack. UDP is a simple protocol that exchanges datagrams without acknowledgments or guaranteed delivery, requiring that error processing and retransmission be handled by other protocols. UDP is defined in RFC 768.
unknown	Device type for which SGM is unable to determine the device type. If a node, the node failed to respond to an SNMP request. If a linkset or link, either the associated node failed to respond to an SNMP request, or SGM found that the linkset or link no longer exists. Contrast with discovered.
unmanaged	Node status in which the node is known indirectly by SGM (SGM knows the device exists but there is no known SNMP stack on the device for SGM to query), or a user has set the node to this status to prevent SGM from polling the node.
User-Based Access	SGM security scheme that provides multi-level password-protected access to SGM features. Each user can have a unique username and password. Each user can also be assigned to one of five levels of access, which control the list of SGM features accessible by that user. For more information, see the "Configuring SGM User-Based Access" section.
User Datagram Protocol	See UDP.

V
view	View that is currently in use on an SGM client. The current view can be the DEFAULT view or a customized view. See client view, current view, DEFAULT view.
Virtual Private Network	See VPN.
VPN	Virtual Private Network. Enables IP traffic to travel securely over a public TCP/IP network by encrypting all traffic from one network to another. A VPN uses "tunneling" to encrypt all information at the IP level.

W
World Wide Web	See WWW.
WWW	World Wide Web. Large network of Internet servers providing hypertext and other services to terminals running client applications such as a browser. See also browser.