A

Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting. A RADIUS-compliant server that authenticates and authorizes users and stores user service profiles. The AAA can allocate IP addresses for MSs and collect accounting records from SSGs.

See APN.

Access Point Name. Identifies a packet data network configured on a GGSN.

See AAA.

B

See BSC.

See BSS.

See BTS.

Border Gateway Protocol. A gateway protocol that routers use to exchange various levels of information.

See BGP.

See BVI.

Base Station Controller. Equipment that manages radio resources in a GSM network (e.g., BTSs).

Base Station Subsystem. A subsystem in a GSM network that refers to the combined functions of the BTS and BSC.

Base Transceiver Station. The equipment in a GSM network that is used to transmit radio frequencies over the air waves.

Bridged Virtual Interface. A virtual interface that provides a bridge between two physical interfaces on the SSG.

C

See CDR.

A Web site that the owner positions as an entrance to other Internet sites. Typically, it offers free E-mail, search engines, instant messaging, personalized web pages, and web hosting. Captive portals are big revenue generators for content providers.

Cisco Applications and Services Architecture. A protocol designed to allow network appliances to selectively control the flow of IP packets through participating forwarding agents (routers and switches).

Code Division Multiple Access. An access technology that combines each phone call with a code that only one cellular phone extracts from the air.

Call Detail Record. A record providing details of a call.

See CHAP.

Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol. An authentication method used when connecting to an ISP that uses a three-way handshake process and encrypted passwords.

See CASA.

See CMX.

Command Line Interface. An interface that uses commands entered on a command line to configure and maintain network elements.

Cisco Mobile Exchange. A network architecture based on Cisco's 6500/7600 switch/router that bridges the gap between the radio access networks and external packet data networks.

See CDMA.

See CLI.

See CSG.

Content Services Gateway. A Cisco high-speed processing module that provides content billing capability.

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. A TCP/IP protocol that enables PCs/workstations to use IP addresses from central servers for a predefined length of time; used by GGSN to assign an IP address to a mobile session.

Domain Naming System. Mechanism for translating host computer names to IP addresses so users are not required to remember the IP address but a name instead.

See DNS.

See DHCP.

Equipment Identity Record. Database used to validate equipment used in mobile telephone service with security features to block calls from stolen mobile stations.

See EIR.

Frequency Division Multiple Access. Method that allocates a discreet amount of frequency to each user to permit many simultaneous conversations.

See FDMA.

GPRS interface to a charging gateway or billing mediation agent using GTP.

See GGSN.

See GMSC.

See GPRS.

See GRE.

GPRS interface that functions as a reference point between a GPRS network and an external PDN using IP.

Gateway GPRS Support Node. A wireless gateway in a GPRS network that allows mobile cell phone users to access the packet data network.

See GSM.

Gateway MSC. An MSC that functions as a gateway to route an MS call to the MSC containing the called party HLR.

GPRS interface between GSNs in a GPRS network that uses GTP as its protocol.

GPRS interface between two GPRS networks that are interconnected using border gateways.

General Packet Radio Service. The data service for GSM networks.

See GSN.

See GTP

Generic Routing Encapsulation. Method of encapsulating one data packet inside another and used by tunnel servers to tunnel through the Internet to provide a secure VPN.

Global System for Mobile Communications. Digital cellular telephone standard.

GPRS Support Node. Generic term that refers to SGSNs and GGSNs in a GPRS network.

GPRS Tunneling Protocol. A layer 3 tunneling protocol used between the SGSN and GGSN.

An extension of GTP that reuses the GTP header and adds some new messages to provide a charging protocol between GSNs and a billing mediation agent.

Home Location Register. Permanent SS7 database used in cellular networks to identify the subscriber, identify features or services subscribed, and track the current location of the mobile subscriber.

See HLR.

See HSRP.

Hot Standby Router Protocol. Cisco routing protocol for fault-tolerant IP routing that enables a set of routers to work together to present the appearance of a single virtual router to the hosts on a LAN; used in environments where critical applications are running and fault-tolerant networks have been designed.

Internet Control Message Protocol. A network-layer protocol that provides message packets to report errors and other information related to IP packet processing.

International Mobile Equipment Identity. Equipment ID that identifies a mobile station and is stored in the EIR.

International Mobile Subscriber Identity. 50-bit field that identifies a mobile subscriber's home country and carrier in a GSM network and is stored in the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).

See IMEI.

See IMSI.

See ICMP.

See IOS.

Internetwork Operating System. Cisco's operating system for routers.

See ISUP.

ISDN User Part. The call control part of the SS7 protocol that is used to set up, coordinate, and take down trunk calls on an SS7 network.

Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol. Standard tunneling protocol for VPNs to provide secure node-to-node communications.

See LAC.

See LNS.

L2TP Access Concentrator. The access endpoint of an L2TP tunnel that is a peer to the L2TP network server (LNS).

Link Access Protocol on the D channel. Link level protocol for ISDN connections.

See L2TP.

See LAPD.

L2TP Network Server. The network endpoint of an L2TP tunnel that is a peer to the L2TP access concentrator (LAC).

Mobile Application Part. Part of the SS7 protocol dealing with registration of roamers and intersystem hand-off procedures; uses TCAP over an SS7 network.

Message Digest 5. Algorithm that takes an input message of arbitrary length and outputs a 128-bit fingerprint that is used to compress large files in a secure manner before encrypting them with a private key under a public-key algorithm.

See MD5.

See MAP.

See MS.

See MSISDN.

See MSC.

See MT.

Mobile station. Handset in a mobile wireless network.

Mobile Switching Center. Switching center in a mobile wireless network.

Multilayer Switched Feature Card. The card in the Cisco 7600 series switch/router that provides the server load balancing function.

Mobile Station ISDN. The telephone number of a mobile station.

See MSFC.

Mobile Terminal. GSM/GPRS handset.

Network Access Server. Server that aggregates mobile traffic from the radio access network and provides an interface to the Cisco Mobile Exchange; the GGSN in a GPRS network.

Network Address Translation. Internet standard that enables a LAN to use one set of IP addresses for internal traffic and a second set of addresses for external traffic.

See NAS.

See NAT.

See NSS.

See NTP.

Physical unit for radio transmission/reception with cells in the UTRAN.

Proxy mode that modifies a client request for access to provide additional services.

Network and Switching Subsystem. The part of the GSM network that manages calls and connects to other networks through the GMSC.

Network Time Protocol. Timing protocol that maintains a common time among Internet hosts in a network.

Operations and Maintenance Center. Computer hardware and software that monitors and manages one part of a GSM/GPRS network (e.g., OMC-R manages the radio interface and OMC-G manages the GGSN interface).

See OMC.

Open Shortest Path First. Link-state algorithm that is used to calculate routes based on the number of routers, transmission speed, delays, and route cost.

See OSPF.

See PCU.

See PDN.

See PDP.

See PDSN.

See PDU.

Password Authentication Protocol. Authentication method in which one router connects to another and sends a plain text login and password; see also CHAP.

See PAP.

Port Address Translation. Feature that lets you number a LAN with inside local addresses and filter them through one globally routing IP address; also called NAT.

Packet Control Unit. Unit in the base station controller that directs data traffic to the GPRS network.

Personal Digital Assistant. Electronic device that performs functions such as personal database, calculator, and personal communicator.

Packet Data Network. Generic term for a packet data network.

Packet Data Protocol. GPRS term for a range of protocols (e.g., IP and PPP) that support the transfer of packet data over a 3G wireless cellular network.

The subscriber data stored in the HLR and MT that provides the context to establish a user session to a packet data network.

Packet Data Serving Node. Provides the primary wireless mobile data access to Internet and intranets using the CDMA2000 Radio Access Network environment.

Protocol Data Unit. Generic term for a packet.

See PDA.

Public Land Mobile Network. Communications network for mobile telephones.

See PAT.

Public Switched Telephone Network. Local and long distance telephone communication system in the public domain.

See PLMN.

See PSTN.

See RNC.

See RNS.

Remote Console Access. Cisco product that provides remote console access to CMX network elements.

See RADIUS.

See RCA.

See RME.

Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service. Authentication and accounting system used by many ISPs for user ID/password authentication.

See RLB.

RADIUS Load Balancer. Cisco software and hardware that load-balances user traffic in the uplink direction and RADIUS messages among multiple Service Selection Gateways (SSGs).

Resource Manager Essentials. Part of the Cisco network management system that includes image download, display of system log events, and inventory changes.

Radio Network Controller. Network element that controls one or more Node B transceiver stations in the UTRAN.

Radio Network System. Network system controlled by an RNC.

See SLB.

See SSD.

See SSG.

See SGSN.

Subscriber Edge Services Module. Cisco product that provides session authentication and service selection through a captive portal.

See SNMP.

Server Load Balancing. Cisco feature that balances the user traffic across multiple TCP/IP-based servers.

Simple Network Management Protocol. Common method by which network management applications can query a management agent using a supported management information base.

Serving GPRS Support Node. GPRS node that handles data to and from the MS, maintains MS location information, and communicates between the MS and the GGSN.

Service Selection Gateway. Cisco product that acts as RADIUS proxy and enables service selection flexibility without the requirement to change APNs in a GPRS network.

Service Selection Dashboard. Java-based application that presents users with a menu of services that they can log in and out of and enables service providers to bill based on time and services used rather than a flat rate.

See SESM.

See SGSN.

Time Division Multiple Access. Technology that allocates a discrete amount of frequency bandwidth to each user to separate multiple conversation transmissions over a finite frequency spectrum.

See TDMA.

Proxy mode that makes no modifications to a client request for access

User Datagram Protocol. Layer 4 IP protocol that provides for exchange of datagrams without acknowledgements or guaranteed delivery and used to transport GTP packets between the GGSN and SGSN.

User Equipment. End user equipment in a UMTS network (equivalent to MS).

Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. Third generation wireless standard for supporting data transfer rates of 144 kbs (vehicular), 384 kbs (pedestrian), or up to 2 Mbs in buildings.

See UTRAN.

See UMTS.

See UDP.

See UE.

UMTS SIM. Subscriber identity module used in UMTS user equipment.

UMTS Terrestrial RAN. Radio access network for UMTS networks.

See VSA.

See VLAN.

See VPN.

See VLR.

Virtual Local Area Network. LAN in which users on different physical LAN segments have priority access privileges across the LAN backbone, making them appear to be on the same physical LAN; the CMX uses three VLANs: access VLANs (user traffic and RADIUS traffic between GGSN and SSGs), services VLAN (user traffic toward SSGs), and default VLAN (SESM, AAA, CW4FM interconnections).

Visitor Location Register. Local database maintained by cellular provider in whose territory the mobile subscriber is roaming.

Virtual Private Network. Software-defined network running over a shared private network and offering the appearance (and same functionality) of a dedicated private network.

Vendor Specific Attribute. An attribute that defines the operation of an SSG and is included in the Access-Accept message for user authentication; there are multiple types of VSAs.