With the Universal Trunk, the customer can employ more cost-effective interconnection facilities between nodes and other BNS-2000/BNS-2000 VCS components using IP, Frame Relay or ATM, rather than traditional - and costly - leased-line services. Another way of saying this is that it permits the movement of the BNS-2000 products toward the "network edge". This is implemented by interconnecting BNS-2000/BNS-2000 VCS nodes with other BNS-2000/BNS-2000 VCS Nodes, Remote Shelves, or SAM devices over different backbone networks, such as IP, ATM or Frame Relay.

The Universal Trunk is a fully-integrated BNS-2000/BNS-2000 VCS module. It supports interconnection with other BNS-2000/BNS-2000 VCS nodes, remote shelves (MPCs) and all types of SAMs.

The Universal Trunk supports an IP infrastructure interface that is compatible with an IP-DSU. It also supports an RS-530 interface with both DDS and Frame Relay protocol support at serial rates up to T1. ATM networks are supported via an RJ48C connector at T1 or E1 rates.

The Universal Trunk is a companion product to the DT-4000, and supports the same trunking interfaces. The Universal Trunk may also be installed in SAM64s/504s to upgrade their trunking interfaces.

Field software updates, which can be initiated from a remote location, take place while the Universal Trunk is in service and transporting data. As new features and enhancements come out, you can upgrade to a new release of the Universal Trunk software using an industry-standard Telnet application or serial RS232 connection to the Universal Trunk.

The Universal Trunk contains an SNMP agent, which may be queried by one or more SNMP managers. It also supports sending SNMP Trap messages to a predefined SNMP manager