Datatek Applications

Network Migration Services

Case Study 2

The Mechanized Loop Test (MLT) Operations System (OS) is considered a critical component in the maintenance of end-user “loop” (i.e., telephone line) facilities. The MTL OS conducts automated facility tests and provides real time analysis of facility service states, occasionally followed by notification of potential problems before they impact telephone service.

The central component of an MLT networking infrastructure is the Data Communications Network (DCN) -- a stand-alone message router interconnecting an MLT host to the Loop Test System (LTS). MLT hosts may directly connect to the DCN where co-location is feasible otherwise, modems and leased facilities are used. Leased facilities also connect the DCN and LTS resident in different Central Offices (COs). A BNS-2000 network improves upon the abovementioned DCN solution by interconnecting the devices required for an MTL OS at the edges of a BNS-2000 WAN thus eliminating the co-location issue and costs associated with multiple leased facilities.

The Telephone Company Data Center communications infrastructure used to interconnect an MLT host to the LTS is aging. Hardware and Software support of the DCN has moved into the secondary maintenance market, limiting the number of personnel with the depth of knowledge to sustain this type of test network. Datatek’s migration solution consisting of the Datatek DT-6061 Embedded Network Processor with resident IP-LTCN software replaces the DCN. In concert with an updated LTS, the MLT OS is brought up to current, maintainable technology.

Most of the well-established telecom companies serving the local exchange market have long used LMOS (Loop Maintenance Operations System) and SARTS (Switched Access Remote Test System) in their internal operations. Both of these applications use 3270 terminals for user access. These terminals have for the most part been replaced with PCs running 3270 client emulation software that communicates via TCP/IP with a server providing the BiSync host gateway function. The server terminates BiSync lines from the LMOS and SARTS hosts, thus emulating 3270 terminals. One large telecom company was using a dedicated processor, locally called the Open Dynamic Network (ODN) server, to provide this 3270 server function as well as other special services, in each of three regions. Reliability was an ongoing problem occasional failures of any of the ODN servers would bring all LMOS/SARTS operations within a given region to a halt. For this reason, and because of the high cost of maintenance of their ODN servers, this company was looking for a way to eventually migrate all of these functions to other devices.