- Email: [email protected]
All under control?
DATA COM MUNICATIONS
All under control? W e continue our review of network m a n a g e m e n t and control systems. S p a c e limitations mean that w e can only give very brief details of what are often very sophisticated systems, and we therefore strongly r e c o m m e n d readers to enquire for further details of any systems they may be interested in.
Coherent Communications Systems The Intelligent Speech Plus from Coherent C o m m u n i c a t i o n s S y s t e m s offers centrally controlled testing and fault diagnosis for a number of remote unattended terminals. The system incorporates microprocessor technology and a number of software options to ensure that testing is carried out without encroaching on the data-carrying capacity of the network. Control commands can be input manually via a visual display unit or teletypewriter, or may be programmed directly from a computer. The system will handle up to 64 remote addresses each with a maximum of 16 lines. Circle number 086 on enquiry card.
Infotron Systems Infotron's Supermux 790 provides central control of all network resources. Amongst many other functions, the operator can monitor, interact with or busy out any channel as well as initiate local and remote loopbacks, transmit test messages and measure channel response time. The 790 can also provide for alternate routeing in the event of a complete line failure. The 790 gathers performance statistics about the network, which can include hard-copy reports on link and channel utilisation, showing average and peak loads, buffer utilisation reports and event summaries for all network devices. Circle number 087 on enquiry card.
Lion Systems T h e Incad II from L i o n uses a microprocessor-based architecture to give central control of network diagnostics and reconfiguration including interface switching, monitoring and recording. The central operator position is equipped with a colour visual display screen with graphics facilities, keyboard and printer. The screen gives an overall DECEMBER 1981/JANUARY 1982
view of the network operation with alarm and control verification information. The printer provides a hard copy log with a time stamp for each control command issued by the operator. The keyboard is function-oriented for ease of use. Incad II can support a number of operator positions which can be sited locally or remote from the data network. The system is modular and can be configured to handle very small to very large networks; the manufacturer says that its modular approach allows for future growth and ease of maintenance. Circle number 088 on enquiry card.
RacaI-Milgo The CMS Series from Racal-Milgo is a minicomputer-based system available in a variety of configurations according to the user's requirements. The manufacturer says the system offers total flexibility in the monitoring, testing and reconfiguration of up to 10,000 addressable devices. The system will handle pointto-point, muhipoint and distributed processing networks. Essential information about all devices and sites in the network is held in the data store for display on the operator's visual display screen at any time. Monitoring and alarm handling are performed on a dedicated secondary channel overlaid on the network so that the main data channels are unaffected by the CMS Series system. Management reports are available at all times. A key feature of the system is the optional colour graphic display. Circle number 089 on enquirY card.
Tech-Nel T e c h - N e l ' s network management system offers advanced V-24 A/B switching with local or remote control via an easyto-use operator's console with visual display screen and " q w e r t y " style keyboard. The system gives full reporting of events, alarms and status conditions and provides a hard-copy log on an associated printer. The user is guaranteed flexibility by retaining manual override for the individually addressable and programmable switches, and the modular design allows the system to be expanded to over 8,000 switches per controller. A variety of operator interchangeable
modules allows a range of fast fault detection and correction facilities to be applied to any data channel. Tech-Nel emphasises that it believes its system offers a particularly cost-effective solution to the problems of identifying and remedying network faults. Circle number 090 on enquiry card.
Timeplex The Alpha Star network management system is specifically designed for use with Timeplex's Series II Microplexer networks. The unit incorporates a powerful microcomputer with floppy disc storage to gather and store network statistics from up to 16 Microplexer intelligent multiplexer units. Plain English commands allow the user to poll each Microplexer to retrieve information about the operation of the network. After a command is entered, the Alpha Star automatically displays the relevant statistics on the command terminal, outputs them to a printer and writes them to disc. When the statistics are written to disc, "the date and time are also recorded so that historical files are generated to provide the user with information on transmission peaks and the levels of system performance. The Alpha Star also allows a number of diagnostic tests to be initiated from the central station. Circle number 091 on enquiry card.
Tran Telecommunications Tran markets the M3200 system which it describes as an "integrated network". The concept behind this product is that a user's communications network should be viewed as a logical entity quite separate from the computers, terminals and other devices which connect to it. The M3200 system is therefore designed as a stand-alone set of hardware and software components whose function is to transmit information in digital form. The system allows networks to be built from a hierarchy of intelligent components with a device called the Network Processor taking the topranking position in the network. The Network Processor is based on a highperformance minicomputer augmented by a number of in-buih microprocessors; it simultaneously handles switching, network management and diagnostics for a wide variety of digital traffic. Circle number 092 on enquiry card.
19
All under control? W e continue our review of network m a n a g e m e n t and control systems. S p a c e limitations mean that w e can only give very brief details of what are often very sophisticated systems, and we therefore strongly r e c o m m e n d readers to enquire for further details of any systems they may be interested in.
Coherent Communications Systems The Intelligent Speech Plus from Coherent C o m m u n i c a t i o n s S y s t e m s offers centrally controlled testing and fault diagnosis for a number of remote unattended terminals. The system incorporates microprocessor technology and a number of software options to ensure that testing is carried out without encroaching on the data-carrying capacity of the network. Control commands can be input manually via a visual display unit or teletypewriter, or may be programmed directly from a computer. The system will handle up to 64 remote addresses each with a maximum of 16 lines. Circle number 086 on enquiry card.
Infotron Systems Infotron's Supermux 790 provides central control of all network resources. Amongst many other functions, the operator can monitor, interact with or busy out any channel as well as initiate local and remote loopbacks, transmit test messages and measure channel response time. The 790 can also provide for alternate routeing in the event of a complete line failure. The 790 gathers performance statistics about the network, which can include hard-copy reports on link and channel utilisation, showing average and peak loads, buffer utilisation reports and event summaries for all network devices. Circle number 087 on enquiry card.
Lion Systems T h e Incad II from L i o n uses a microprocessor-based architecture to give central control of network diagnostics and reconfiguration including interface switching, monitoring and recording. The central operator position is equipped with a colour visual display screen with graphics facilities, keyboard and printer. The screen gives an overall DECEMBER 1981/JANUARY 1982
view of the network operation with alarm and control verification information. The printer provides a hard copy log with a time stamp for each control command issued by the operator. The keyboard is function-oriented for ease of use. Incad II can support a number of operator positions which can be sited locally or remote from the data network. The system is modular and can be configured to handle very small to very large networks; the manufacturer says that its modular approach allows for future growth and ease of maintenance. Circle number 088 on enquiry card.
RacaI-Milgo The CMS Series from Racal-Milgo is a minicomputer-based system available in a variety of configurations according to the user's requirements. The manufacturer says the system offers total flexibility in the monitoring, testing and reconfiguration of up to 10,000 addressable devices. The system will handle pointto-point, muhipoint and distributed processing networks. Essential information about all devices and sites in the network is held in the data store for display on the operator's visual display screen at any time. Monitoring and alarm handling are performed on a dedicated secondary channel overlaid on the network so that the main data channels are unaffected by the CMS Series system. Management reports are available at all times. A key feature of the system is the optional colour graphic display. Circle number 089 on enquirY card.
Tech-Nel T e c h - N e l ' s network management system offers advanced V-24 A/B switching with local or remote control via an easyto-use operator's console with visual display screen and " q w e r t y " style keyboard. The system gives full reporting of events, alarms and status conditions and provides a hard-copy log on an associated printer. The user is guaranteed flexibility by retaining manual override for the individually addressable and programmable switches, and the modular design allows the system to be expanded to over 8,000 switches per controller. A variety of operator interchangeable
modules allows a range of fast fault detection and correction facilities to be applied to any data channel. Tech-Nel emphasises that it believes its system offers a particularly cost-effective solution to the problems of identifying and remedying network faults. Circle number 090 on enquiry card.
Timeplex The Alpha Star network management system is specifically designed for use with Timeplex's Series II Microplexer networks. The unit incorporates a powerful microcomputer with floppy disc storage to gather and store network statistics from up to 16 Microplexer intelligent multiplexer units. Plain English commands allow the user to poll each Microplexer to retrieve information about the operation of the network. After a command is entered, the Alpha Star automatically displays the relevant statistics on the command terminal, outputs them to a printer and writes them to disc. When the statistics are written to disc, "the date and time are also recorded so that historical files are generated to provide the user with information on transmission peaks and the levels of system performance. The Alpha Star also allows a number of diagnostic tests to be initiated from the central station. Circle number 091 on enquiry card.
Tran Telecommunications Tran markets the M3200 system which it describes as an "integrated network". The concept behind this product is that a user's communications network should be viewed as a logical entity quite separate from the computers, terminals and other devices which connect to it. The M3200 system is therefore designed as a stand-alone set of hardware and software components whose function is to transmit information in digital form. The system allows networks to be built from a hierarchy of intelligent components with a device called the Network Processor taking the topranking position in the network. The Network Processor is based on a highperformance minicomputer augmented by a number of in-buih microprocessors; it simultaneously handles switching, network management and diagnostics for a wide variety of digital traffic. Circle number 092 on enquiry card.
19