This section defines terms that are new to the Cisco vocabulary with the advent of Voice Network Switching and common terms that have specific meaning in this VNS manual. The Cisco Internetworking Terms and Acronyms book, which also can be found on the Cisco CD-ROM, defines most common internetworking terms.
BOBI is a VNS feature that allows interworking between Euro-ISDN (ETSI) and other VNS-supported signaling variants, such as DPNSS and QSIG.
Call Detail Record (CDR)
The VNS record of voice or data SVCs, which includes calling and called numbers, local and remote node names, date and timestamp, elapsed time, and Call Failure Class fields.
Channel Associated Signaling (CAS)
CAS is inband robbed-bit signaling performed on T1 lines. CAS PBXs are supported in VNS 2.2 when they are connected to an IGX Universal Voice Module with Model B firmware, supported in switched software release 8.5. The UVM performs CAS-to-QSIG conversion.
The Cisco BPX switch is a standards-based high-capacity (19.2 Gigabit) broadband ATM switches that provide backbone ATM switching and delivery of a range of user services.
Cisco IGX 8400 series wide-area switch
The Cisco IGX switch is a wide-area switch designed to provide a backbone for enterprise data, voice, fax, and video applications. The Cisco IGX switch was formerly referred to as the Cisco StrataCom IGX switch.
Cisco IPX® wide-area switch
The Cisco IPX switch is a wide-area switch that has been replaced in the Cisco product line with the Cisco IGX switch. The Cisco IPX switch was formerly referred to as the Cisco StrataCom IPX switch.
The MGX 8220 is an interface shelf designed to concentrate ATM and Frame Relay traffic on the edge of a WAN switching network. The MGX 8220 was previously referred to as the AXIS interface shelf.
The former name for a range of products adding specific capabilities to Cisco WAN switching networks. Voice Network Switching (VNS) is one INS application, and Dial-Up Frame Relay is the other. (You will occasionally see INS on a product label or on some of the software menus.)
Multihoming
Multihoming is a VNS feature that allows two or more links to the same end-user CPE. A site may be multihomed to multiply the bandwidth capacity to meet increased traffic requirements.
A virtual network over-laid on top of the traditional Cisco WAN switching network through which the VNS processors communicate with one another and with the nodes. This virtual signaling network is primarily created out of frame relay PVCs between the VNS processors.
A Frame Relay connection between two VNS's in different areas or domains. The SPNNI connection gets its name form the Cisco Proprietary Network to Network Interface protocol which operates over this connection.
The network management platform for managing Cisco WAN switching networks. Cisco StrataView Plus®, the application running on the workstation, provides status information for the VNS.
The rack-mounted adjunct processor that is normally co-located with a Cisco wide-area switch (IGX or IPX switch) and has IP connectivity to a StrataView Plus Workstation. VNS will be used to specify the hardware, that is the rack-mounted box, and to the application.This should not cause any confusion because the context will make it clear whether we are talking about an individual processor or a network-wide application. (Occasionally, the INS will be used in this document to refer to the hardware.)
A traditional Cisco WAN switching network which has been enhanced with VNS processors to perform Voice Network Switching. Voice Network Switching provides voice switched virtual circuits (SVCs) across a Cisco WAN switching network for PBXs using Digital Private Network Signaling System (DPNSS), QSIG, or ETSI signaling.
The port (CVM on the IGX switch, or CDP on the IPX switch) on the Cisco wide-area switch which connects to the VNS Network Interface Card. The VNS can connect to up to two voice ports, which carry signaling information to and from the PBXs.
