Preface

This section describes who should read this guide, how it is organized, the document conventions used in this guide, how to obtain documentation from Cisco Systems, and how to obtain technical assistance.

Who Should Read This Guide

This user's guide is intended to help administrators implement and use the Cisco Broadband Access Center (BAC) for Broadband Aggregation software. It is intended for network administrators, system administrators, and technical operators in broadband aggregation environments.

Readers of this guide should have a general familiarity with Cisco IOS commands. Readers of this guide should also be familiar with the following:

How This Guide Is Organized

This guide contains ten chapters and three appendices. Chapters 1 through 3 provide introductory material. Chapters 4 through 8 are organized to reflect the order of operations you would follow initially to set up BAC. Chapter 9 describes data management and Chapter 10 describes how to customize BAC templates. The following table describes the organization of this guide in more detail:

Chapter/Appendix	Title	Description
Chapter 1	Introduction to Broadband Access Center	Provides an overview of product features, architecture, role in broadband aggregation, and integration with other Cisco products.
Chapter 2	Getting Started	Provides information about starting and using the web user interface, including a description of the components of the main window.
Chapter 3	Provisioning Flows	Provides an overview of provisioning with BAC; presents an example of provisioning in a PTA over Ethernet over ATM environment; and presents an example of providing differentiated classes of service to subscribers.
Chapter 4	Managing Service Providers and Subscriber Groups	Describes how to set up accounts for service providers, including a description of how BAC uses this information to partition network views; and describes how to use subscriber groups to organize subscribers by technology or geography,
Chapter 5	Managing Network Services	Describes how to use predefined network resources, such as AAA servers, DHCP servers, and QoS features.
Chapter 6	Managing Devices	Explains how to create administrative networks, including a description of how BAC uses this information to partition network views; describes how to set up network devices; and describes how to view network and device events.
Chapter 7	Provisioning Broadband Aggregators	Provides an overview of provisioning broadband aggregators, including an explanation of the roles these devices can play on networks; describes how to add a service profile to a device and then how to add service features.
Chapter 8	Managing Subscribers	Describes how to add subscriber accounts, provision subscribers with profiles and features, and view events that have impacted subscribers.
Chapter 9	Managing Data	Explains how to distribute BAC data to secondary databases to protect against data overflow situations and how to use the BAC backup and restore tools.
Chapter 10	Customizing Broadband Access Center	Explains how to customize BAC templates or create your own templates.
Appendix A	Cisco Security Policy Engine Administration Server User Interface	Explains how to create and manage administrative users and groups.
Appendix B	Acronyms	Lists acronyms and initialisms that appear in the BAC interface.

Document Conventions

You must choose either the confirm option or the execute option. Do not enter the curly brackets at the command line.

You can choose to specify an output file but it is not required. Do not enter the square brackets at the command line.

Obtaining Documentation

Cisco provides several ways to obtain documentation, technical assistance, and other technical resources. These sections explain how to obtain technical information from Cisco Systems.

Cisco.com

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

Documentation CD-ROM

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

Registered Cisco.com users can order a single Documentation CD-ROM (product number DOC-CONDOCCD=) through the Cisco Ordering tool:

All users can order monthly or quarterly subscriptions through the online Subscription Store:

Ordering Documentation

Documentation Feedback

You can submit comments electronically on Cisco.com. On the Cisco Documentation home page, click Feedback at the top of the page.

You can submit comments by using the response card (if present) behind the front cover of your document or by writing to the following address:

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

Obtaining Technical Assistance

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

Cisco.com

Cisco.com offers a suite of interactive, networked services that let you access Cisco information, networking solutions, services, programs, and resources at any time, from anywhere in the world.

Cisco.com provides a broad range of features and services to help you with these tasks:

To obtain customized information and service, you can self-register on Cisco.com at this URL:

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: the Cisco TAC website and the Cisco TAC Escalation Center. The type of support that you choose depends on the priority of the problem and the conditions stated in service contracts, when applicable.

Priority level 4 (P4)—You need information or assistance concerning Cisco product capabilities, product installation, or basic product configuration. There is little or no impact to your business operations.
Priority level 3 (P3)—Operational performance of the network is impaired, but most business operations remain functional. You and Cisco are willing to commit resources during normal business hours to restore service to satisfactory levels.
Priority level 2 (P2)—Operation of an existing network is severely degraded, or significant aspects of your business operations are negatively impacted by inadequate performance of Cisco products. You and Cisco will commit full-time resources during normal business hours to resolve the situation.
Priority level 1 (P1)—An existing network is "down," or there is a critical impact to your business operations. You and Cisco will commit all necessary resources around the clock to resolve the situation.

Cisco TAC Website

The Cisco TAC website provides online documents and tools to help troubleshoot and resolve technical issues with Cisco products and technologies. To access the Cisco TAC website, go to this URL:

All customers, partners, and resellers who have a valid Cisco service contract have complete access to the technical support resources on the Cisco TAC website. Some services on the Cisco TAC website require 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 this URL to register:

If you are a Cisco.com registered user, and you cannot resolve your technical issues by using the Cisco TAC website, you can open a case online at this URL:

If you have Internet access, we recommend that you open P3 and P4 cases online so that you can fully describe the situation and attach any necessary files.

Cisco TAC Escalation Center

The Cisco TAC Escalation Center addresses priority level 1 or priority level 2 issues. 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 automatically opens a case.

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

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

Obtaining Additional Publications and Information

Information about Cisco products, technologies, and network solutions is available from various online and printed sources.

Table of Contents

Preface

Who Should Read This Guide

How This Guide Is Organized

Document Conventions

Obtaining Documentation

Cisco.com

Documentation CD-ROM

Ordering Documentation

Documentation Feedback

Obtaining Technical Assistance

Cisco.com

Technical Assistance Center

Cisco TAC Website

Cisco TAC Escalation Center

Obtaining Additional Publications and Information