Net-Net 4500 Network Interface Units

The rear slot of the Net-Net 4500 accommodates a single Network Interface Unit (NIU) module. Net-Net 4500 NIUs are offered in a variety of configurations to address a wide range of network, service and application scenarios. All Net-Net 4500 NIUs include four Ethernet interfaces for signaling, media and data traffic. The NIUs also integrate the system alarm and management interfaces, including those used for the physical configuration of high-availability (HA) system pairs.

Net-Net 4500 NIUs are offered with the following interface speeds and connection types

• 10/100/1000 Mbps with copper RJ45 connectors
• 10/100/1000 Mbps via small form factor-pluggable (SFP) copper transceiver
• 1 Gbps via small form factor-pluggable (SFP) fiber optic transceiver

To meet the demands of scalable, high-quality interactive communications, Net-Net 4500 NIUs offer a variety of on-board hardware and processor options designed to offload the CPU from processor-intensive functions such as security and QoS monitoring and reporting.

Net-Net 4500 NIUs with SFP interfaces can accommodate on-board processor options for IPsec and SRTP encryption, QoS monitoring and reporting, or both.

On-board encryption acceleration hardware enables secure communications without compromising end user or subscriber quality of experience (QoE).

QoS monitoring and reporting hardware monitors and measures each media flow through the system, calculating quality scores (such as Mean Opinion Score, or MOS), and aggregating the information into data for transmission to external reporting or accounting systems. On-board QoS monitoring and measurement is also utilized for real-time functions such as QoS-based routing and load balancing, also without compromising end user or subscriber quality of experience (QoE).

Net-Net 4500 advanced function NIUs

Net-Net 4500 advanced function NIUs help the Net-Net 4500 deliver a combination of performance, capacity and functionality unmatched by other platforms in its class. With a distributed, multi-processor approach that leverages the latest DSP and multi-core processors, the Net-Net 4500 is capable of performing many of the functions offered by our high-end chassis-based system, the Net-Net 9200, at the reduced capacity levels required by many enterprises as well as smaller service providers.

Transcoding NIU

Acme Packet’s Transcoding NIU for the Net-Net 4500 delivers a mid-range hardware-based transcoding solution that complements the high-capacity transcoding offered on our Net-Net 9200 platform. With this NIU, the Net-Net 4500 supports up to 7200 transcoded sessions. The Transcoding NIU also includes features QoS monitoring and reporting hardware for both transcoded and non-transcoded sessions. The Net-Net 4500 Transcoding NIU may be populated with up to twelve transcoding modules, each supporting up to 600 transcoded sessions, for pay-as-you-grow scalability.

Enhanced Traffic Control NIU

Acme Packet’s Enhanced Traffic Control (ETC) NIU offers a unique and highly-advanced design, with enhanced capabilities that address a wide range of next-generation services and applications. The ETC NIU is a high-performance multi-processor engine for the Net-Net 4500 that combines multiple hardware-accelerated functions including:

• High-capacity SRTP encryption
• High-capacity termination for SIP-TLS
• Separate, dedicated processors for high capacity IPsec encryption and TCP termination
• Integrated hardware for QoS monitoring and reporting

The extensible multi-core, multi-processor architecture of the ETC NIU is also capable of supporting additional applications and functions as new requirements emerge.