IP•Tube GT1 SS7-Signal

The IP•Tube GT1 SS7 SIG delivers SS7 signaling over cost effective IP networks without costly replacement of existing equipment. Benefits are realized immediately, simple installation emulates existing point to point circuits without reconfiguration of the MSC, STP or HLR. The IP•Tube GT1 SS7 SIG encapsulates the SS7 Message Signal Units (MSUs), Link Status Signal Units (LSSUs), and optionally Fill-In Signal Units (FISUs) into IP packets from the T1 interfaces of:

• Telco Switches
• Signal Transfer Points
• Mobile Switching Centers
• Home Location Registers

The IP•Tube GT1 SS7 SIG transparently transports SS7 messages over IP networks. SS7 signaling network elements such as local and tandem switches, Mobile Switching Centers, Signal Transfer Points and Home Location Registers that are interconnected to remote network elements by IP•Tube GT1 SS7 SIGs are able to transmit their signaling messages over cost effective and flexible IP networks.

The IP•Tube GT1 SS7 SIG uses an industry standard SS7 Framer to receive and transmit SS7 messages. Minimal IP bandwidth is required to deliver SS7 since only Message Signal Units (MSUs), Link Status Signal Units (LSSUs) SS7 frames are encapsulated into IP packets. 

In order to assure high quality communications over links with intermittent or noisy performance, such as Wireless or Broadband over Power Line, the IP•Tube GT1 SS7 SIG employs Engage’s robust Assured Delivery Protocol with the following benefits: 

• Packet out of sequence detection and re-sequencing
• Duplicate skipping,
• Lost packet retransmission with configured delay.

All IP•Tube GT1 models ship with dual 10/100BaseT Ethernet LAN ports. The dual Ethernet interfaces provide for: 
• Management interface on LAN port 2 when LAN port 1 is connected to a VPN tunnel 
• The LAN ports can be configured to support connections over 2 opposite ADSL links 
• Alternator Option for load balanced SDSL interconnects 
• Protector Option for Redundant Packet Path connections with Constant or Switch Over Criteria 

The IP•Tube GT1 uses the Type of Service byte in the IP packets and 802.1p/q mac level prioritization to prioritize the encapsulated SS7 Messages.

Interconnecting the IP•Tube GT1 through a Virtual Private Network with a sufficient real time committed information rate ensures that the required quality of service is provisioned. The IP•Tube GT1's second Ethernet interface provides a management port when the first Ethernet interface is connected to a VPN. Each Ethernet LAN interface features independent IP network configurations.

The 2nd T1 Interface can be activated to provide a Drop and Insert interface for direct inline connection to the SS7 DS0 without requiring a DACs. 

The IP•Tube GT1 SS7 SIG with the MUX option has the ability to support remote SS7 messaging taps from 24 SS7 timelsots.

The protector option utilizes the second LAN interface as a redundant path for the interconnection of the IP encapsulated T1 Circuit. The extension of the T1 circuit has a fault tolerant link that is configured to always on, or with switch over criteria.

The Enhanced version has configuration parameters that enable a secondary packet path with high relative delay to primary path be synchronized. The packet sequence delay synchronization ensures concurrent redundancy with a high degree of error tolerance. Error free operation is accomplished when a primary or secondary Packet is not received and a redundant duplicate packet is available. The IP•Tube also supports the transmission of multiple duplicate packets to support Mission Critical Circuit extension with redundancy that is only limited by the bandwidth provisioned.

The IP•Tube GT1 SS7 SIG has configurations with 1 to 4 integrated T1 interfaces each of which supports 1 to 31 SS7 Communication links. The IP•Tube GT1 SS7 SIG is designed for Pay-As-You-Grow expansion.  Customers can elect to economize initial installation by purchasing a single active T1 port, and then enabling an additional SS7 DS0s or T1 ports via an option license key.

The IP•Tube family is ready for your most demanding central office or data center environments. With the Rack Mount Kit, IP•Tube products are easily installed in 19" and 23" racks. Easy access to both front and rear sides facilitates technician maintenance procedures.