Preface

Objectives

Audience

Organization

Document Conventions

Terms and Acronyms

Obtaining Documentation

World Wide Web

Documentation CD-ROM

Ordering Documentation

Documentation Feedback

Obtaining Technical Assistance

Cisco.com

Technical Assistance Center

Cisco TAC Web Site

Cisco TAC Escalation Center

Preface

This preface explains the objectives, intended audience, and organization of the Cisco 6920 RateMux Multiplexer Installation and Configuration Guide for Release 2.6. This section also defines the conventions used to convey instructions and information, defines terms and acronyms, and tells you how to obtain additional information.

Objectives

This guide provides hardware installation procedures for the Cisco 6920 RateMux multiplexer (referred to in this publication as the Cisco 6920). The guide contains procedures to unpack, install, and configure the hardware to process video services.

Audience

This guide is intended for the following cable system personnel:

Installers and technicians who physically install and connect the Cisco 6920 and associated equipment at the cable headend or distribution hub. Cable system installers and technicians should be familiar with their cable plant's base operating parameters and subscriber service offerings.
Cable system administrators or support engineers who configure and maintain the Cisco 6920 and other headend or distribution hub equipment. Cable system administrators should be familiar with Microsoft Windows.

Organization

This guide is organized into the following chapters and appendixes:

Chapter 1, "Product Overview," provides a physical and functional description of the
Cisco 6920.
Chapter 2, "Preparing for Installation," describes site requirements for the Cisco 6920.
Chapter 3, "Installing the Cisco 6920," provides instructions for installing and cabling the
Cisco 6920 hardware.
Chapter 4, "Configuring the Cisco 6920," describes how to use the RateMux Manager software to configure and control the Cisco 6920.
Appendix A, "Site Log," identifies the reason for maintaining a site log and provides a sample site log.
Appendix B, "SNMP Operations," provides information on Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) support along with a table of equivalent procedures using the web interface and SNMP commands.
Appendix C, "Configuration Notes," provides further details for some configuration processes discussed in other sections of this guide.

Document Conventions

This guide uses the following conventions:

Menu items and button names are in boldface font.
Menu item selection is shown by:

: Select Options > Network Preferences > Languages

If items such as buttons or menu applications are grayed out on screens, it means that you do not have permission to use them.

Caution Means reader be careful. You are capable of doing something that might result in equipment damage or loss of data.

Note Means reader take note. Notes contain helpful suggestions or references to materials not contained in this guide.

TimeSaver Means the described action saves time. You can save time by performing the action described in the paragraph.

Tip Means the following information might help you solve a problem.

Warning This warning symbol means danger. You are in a situation that could cause bodily injury. Before you work on any equipment, be aware of the hazards involved with electrical circuitry and be familiar with standard practices for preventing accidents. To see translations of the warnings that appear in this publication, refer to the Regulatory Compliance and Safety Information document that accompanied this device.

Waarschuwing

Dit waarschuwingssymbool betekent gevaar. U verkeert in een situatie die lichamelijk letsel kan veroorzaken. Voordat u aan enige apparatuur gaat werken, dient u zich bewust te zijn van de bij elektrische schakelingen betrokken risico's en dient u op de hoogte te zijn van standaard maatregelen om ongelukken te voorkomen. Voor vertalingen van de waarschuwingen die in deze publicatie verschijnen, kunt u het document Regulatory Compliance and Safety Information (Informatie over naleving van veiligheids- en andere voorschriften) raadplegen dat bij dit toestel is ingesloten.

Varoitus

Tämä varoitusmerkki merkitsee vaaraa. Olet tilanteessa, joka voi johtaa ruumiinvammaan. Ennen kuin työskentelet minkään laitteiston parissa, ota selvää sähkökytkentöihin liittyvistä vaaroista ja tavanomaisista onnettomuuksien ehkäisykeinoista. Tässä julkaisussa esiintyvien varoitusten käännökset löydät laitteen mukana olevasta Regulatory Compliance and Safety Information -kirjasesta (määräysten noudattaminen ja tietoa turvallisuudesta).

Attention

Ce symbole d'avertissement indique un danger. Vous vous trouvez dans une situation pouvant causer des blessures ou des dommages corporels. Avant de travailler sur un équipement, soyez conscient des dangers posés par les circuits électriques et familiarisez-vous avec les procédures couramment utilisées pour éviter les accidents. Pour prendre connaissance des traductions d'avertissements figurant dans cette publication, consultez le document Regulatory Compliance and Safety Information (Conformité aux règlements et consignes de sécurité) qui accompagne cet appareil.

Warnung

Dieses Warnsymbol bedeutet Gefahr. Sie befinden sich in einer Situation, die zu einer Körperverletzung führen könnte. Bevor Sie mit der Arbeit an irgendeinem Gerät beginnen, seien Sie sich der mit elektrischen Stromkreisen verbundenen Gefahren und der Standardpraktiken zur Vermeidung von Unfällen bewußt. Übersetzungen der in dieser Veröffentlichung enthaltenen Warnhinweise finden Sie im Dokument Regulatory Compliance and Safety Information (Informationen zu behördlichen Vorschriften und Sicherheit), das zusammen mit diesem Gerät geliefert wurde.

Avvertenza

Questo simbolo di avvertenza indica un pericolo. La situazione potrebbe causare infortuni alle persone. Prima di lavorare su qualsiasi apparecchiatura, occorre conoscere i pericoli relativi ai circuiti elettrici ed essere al corrente delle pratiche standard per la prevenzione di incidenti. La traduzione delle avvertenze riportate in questa pubblicazione si trova nel documento Regulatory Compliance and Safety Information (Conformità alle norme e informazioni sulla sicurezza) che accompagna questo dispositivo.

Advarsel

Dette varselsymbolet betyr fare. Du befinner deg i en situasjon som kan føre til personskade. Før du utfører arbeid på utstyr, må du vare oppmerksom på de faremomentene som elektriske kretser innebærer, samt gjøre deg kjent med vanlig praksis når det gjelder å unngå ulykker. Hvis du vil se oversettelser av de advarslene som finnes i denne publikasjonen, kan du se i dokumentet Regulatory Compliance and Safety Information (Overholdelse av forskrifter og sikkerhetsinformasjon) som ble levert med denne enheten.

Aviso

Este símbolo de aviso indica perigo. Encontra-se numa situação que lhe poderá causar danos físicos. Antes de começar a trabalhar com qualquer equipamento, familiarize-se com os perigos relacionados com circuitos eléctricos, e com quaisquer práticas comuns que possam prevenir possíveis acidentes. Para ver as traduções dos avisos que constam desta publicação, consulte o documento Regulatory Compliance and Safety Information (Informação de Segurança e Disposições Reguladoras) que acompanha este dispositivo.

¡Advertencia!

Este símbolo de aviso significa peligro. Existe riesgo para su integridad física. Antes de manipular cualquier equipo, considerar los riesgos que entraña la corriente eléctrica y familiarizarse con los procedimientos estándar de prevención de accidentes. Para ver una traducción de las advertencias que aparecen en esta publicación, consultar el documento titulado Regulatory Compliance and Safety Information (Información sobre seguridad y conformidad con las disposiciones reglamentarias) que se acompaña con este dispositivo.

Varning!

Denna varningssymbol signalerar fara. Du befinner dig i en situation som kan leda till personskada. Innan du utför arbete på någon utrustning måste du vara medveten om farorna med elkretsar och känna till vanligt förfarande för att förebygga skador. Se förklaringar av de varningar som förkommer i denna publikation i dokumentet Regulatory Compliance and Safety Information (Efterrättelse av föreskrifter och säkerhetsinformation), vilket medföljer denna anordning.

Terms and Acronyms

To fully understand the content of this guide, you should be familiar with the following terms and acronyms:

bit rate	The rate at which a compressed bitstream is delivered from the channel to the input of a decoder.
CBR	Constant bit rate. Video traffic transmitted using a timing source.
DHEI	DigiCable Headend Expansion Interface. This digital interface protocol was developed by General Instruments, Inc. and is used for the distribution of video within digital cable headends.
DSP	Digital signal processor. A specialized digital microprocessor that performs digital grooming, rate conversion, and all other video processing functions on the Cisco 6920.
DVB-ASI	Digital Video Broadcast-Asynchronous Serial Interface. Established by the Digital Video Broadcasting standards group, DVB-ASI is a high-speed (270 Mbps) asynchronous serial interface used for distribution of digital video, audio, and data within cable headends or hubs.
ECMs	Entitlement control messages. These are a series of encrypted (data) keys that accompany the scrambled video streams in the MPEG transport. These keys are used by set-top boxes in decrypting or descrambling the video streams.
HDTV	High-definition television. A new digital standard for television which provides greater resolution and a wider aspect ratio than is currently provided in the standard television programming widely distributed in North America.
IRT	Integrated receiver transcoder. The IRT receives a compressed digital video multiplex for direct transmission without decompression at the headend.
MPEG-2	Motion Picture Experts Group. Video compression standard defined by ISO/IEC standards 13818-2.
PCR	Program clock reference. This refers to an MPEG timing mechanism for synchronizing various elementary streams (video, audio) with one another.
PID	Packet identifier. A unique integer used to differentiate packetized elementary streams (video, audio, or data) within an MPEG transport stream.
PSI	Program specific information. PSI (as defined by MPEG) is a series of tables that define the actual structure of a transport stream. These tables include the Program Access Table (PAT), Program Map Table (PMT), Conditional Access Table (CAT), and Network Information Table (NIT). The PAT and PMT are used primarily in associating particular programs (and their video, audio, and data components) with specific PIDs within the transport.
PSIP	Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) extensions to the basic MPEG PSI tables to support legacy vertical blanking interval (VBI) data, electronic program guide (EPG), V-Chip, Conditional Access and high-definition television (HDTV) data descriptors.
QoS	Quality of service. Measure of performance for a transmission system that reflects its transmission quality and service availability.
SI	Service information. The DVB consortium extensions to the basic MPEG PSI tables to support a services model and additional data types such as teletext, subtitles, and EPG.
VBR	Variable bit rate. Video traffic transmitted allowing the bit rate to vary within limits.

Obtaining Documentation

The following sections explain how to obtain documentation from Cisco Systems.

World Wide Web

You can access the most current Cisco documentation on the World Wide Web at the following URL:

http://www.cisco.com

Cisco 6920 documentation can be found under the Digital Video subject heading in the Broadband/Cable section.

Translated documentation is available at the following URL:

http://www.cisco.com/public/countries_languages.shtml

Documentation CD-ROM

Cisco documentation and additional literature are available in a Cisco Documentation CD-ROM package, which is shipped with your product. The Documentation CD-ROM is updated monthly and may be more current than printed documentation. The CD-ROM package is available as a single unit or through an annual subscription.

Ordering Documentation

Cisco documentation is available in the following ways:

Registered Cisco.com users (Cisco direct customers) can order Cisco product documentation from the Networking Products MarketPlace:

: http://www.cisco.com/cgi-bin/order/order_root.pl

Registered Cisco.com users can order the Documentation CD-ROM through the online Subscription Store:

: http://www.cisco.com/go/subscription

Nonregistered Cisco.com users can order documentation through a local account representative by calling Cisco corporate headquarters (California, USA) at 408 526-7208 or, elsewhere in North America, by calling 800 553-NETS (6387).

Documentation Feedback

If you are reading Cisco product documentation on Cisco.com, you can submit technical comments electronically. Click the Fax or Email option under the "Leave Feedback" at the bottom of the Cisco Documentation home page.

You can e-mail your comments to bug-doc@cisco.com.

To submit your comments by mail, use the response card behind the front cover of your document, or write to the following address:

Cisco Systems
Attn: Document Resource Connection
170 West Tasman Drive
San Jose, CA 95134-9883

We appreciate your comments.

Obtaining Technical Assistance

Cisco provides Cisco.com as a starting point for all technical assistance. Customers and partners can obtain documentation, troubleshooting tips, and sample configurations from online tools by using the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) Web Site. Cisco.com registered users have complete access to the technical support resources on the Cisco TAC Web Site.

Cisco.com

Cisco.com is the foundation of a suite of interactive, networked services that provides immediate, open access to Cisco information, networking solutions, services, programs, and resources at any time, from anywhere in the world.

Cisco.com is a highly integrated Internet application and a powerful, easy-to-use tool that provides a broad range of features and services to help you to

Streamline business processes and improve productivity
Resolve technical issues with online support
Download and test software packages
Order Cisco learning materials and merchandise
Register for online skill assessment, training, and certification programs

You can self-register on Cisco.com to obtain customized information and service. To access Cisco.com, go to the following URL:

http://www.cisco.com

Technical Assistance Center

The Cisco TAC is available to all customers who need technical assistance with a Cisco product, technology, or solution. Two types of support are available through the Cisco TAC: the Cisco TAC Web Site and the Cisco TAC Escalation Center.

Inquiries to Cisco TAC are categorized according to the urgency of the issue:

Priority level 4 (P4)—You need information or assistance concerning Cisco product capabilities, product installation, or basic product configuration.
Priority level 3 (P3)—Your network performance is degraded. Network functionality is noticeably impaired, but most business operations continue.
Priority level 2 (P2)—Your production network is severely degraded, affecting significant aspects of business operations. No workaround is available.
Priority level 1 (P1)—Your production network is down, and a critical impact to business operations will occur if service is not restored quickly. No workaround is available.

Which Cisco TAC resource you choose is based on the priority of the problem and the conditions of service contracts, when applicable.

Cisco TAC Web Site

The Cisco TAC Web Site allows you to resolve P3 and P4 issues yourself, saving both cost and time. The site provides around-the-clock access to online tools, knowledge bases, and software. To access the Cisco TAC Web Site, go to the following URL:

http://www.cisco.com/tac

All customers, partners, and resellers who have a valid Cisco services contract have complete access to the technical support resources on the Cisco TAC Web Site. The Cisco TAC Web Site requires a Cisco.com login ID and password. If you have a valid service contract but do not have a login ID or password, go to the following URL to register:

http://www.cisco.com/register/

If you cannot resolve your technical issues by using the Cisco TAC Web Site, and you are a Cisco.com registered user, you can open a case online by using the TAC Case Open tool at the following URL:

http://www.cisco.com/tac/caseopen

If you have Internet access, it is recommended that you open P3 and P4 cases through the Cisco TAC Web Site.

Cisco TAC Escalation Center

The Cisco TAC Escalation Center addresses issues that are classified as priority level 1 or priority level 2; these classifications are assigned when severe network degradation significantly impacts business operations. When you contact the TAC Escalation Center with a P1 or P2 problem, a Cisco TAC engineer will automatically open a case.

To obtain a directory of toll-free Cisco TAC telephone numbers for your country, go to the following URL:

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/687/Directory/DirTAC.shtml

Before calling, please check with your network operations center to determine the level of Cisco support services to which your company is entitled; for example, SMARTnet, SMARTnet Onsite, or Network Supported Accounts (NSA). In addition, please have available your service agreement number and your product serial number.

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