System Components
System Description
1-7
Controller Cards
A controller card manages the system; it is responsible for the packet routing protocols, the SmartEdge OS
command-line interface (CLI), and communications with a network management system running the
NetOp™ Element Management System (EMS) software. The controller card also loads all configuration
information necessary for the traffic cards. Controller cards are installed in slots 7 and 8 in the
SmartEdge 1200 chassis. Controller cards are described in the following sections:
• Controller Card Features and Functions
Controller Card Versions
The SmartEdge router supports three versions of the controller cards:
• XCRP Controller card
Two versions of this controller card support either a DS-1 interface for BITS equipment (labeled
“XCRP-T1 BITS”) or an E1 interface for SSU equipment (labeled “XCRP-E1 SSU”).
• XCRP3 Controller card
Two versions of this card differ only in the total size of main memory. The interface to BITS or SSU
equipment is software selectable.
• XCRP4 Controller card
This controller card supports applications that require high volumes of traffic; it also supports more
subscribers than the other controller cards. Unlike the XCRP3 Controller card, the interface to BITS or
SSU equipment does not support the transmission of timing data to the external equipment.
Table 1-3 compares the XCRP and XCRP3 Controller cards.
Table 1-3
XCRP and XCRP3 Controller Card Comparison
Feature
XCRP
XCRP3
Processors
Dual processors with shared memory that run
independently and perform different functions
Dual processors with shared memory that run
independently and perform different functions
Control processor functions
• SONET/SDH software
• SmartEdge OS software
• NetOp EMS software
• External timing (synchronization) software
• SONET/SDH software
• SmartEdge OS software
• NetOp EMS software
• External timing (synchronization) software
Main memory (total)
768 MB
768 or 1,280 MB
NVRAM
No
512 KB DRAM with battery backup
Internal timing
Stratum 3 oscillator
(±4.6 ppm with freerun, normal, and holdover
modes)
Stratum 3 oscillator
(±4.6 ppm with freerun, normal, and holdover
modes)
Real-time clock
No
Yes, synchronized with NTP server
External timing implementation
1
Separate hardware versions
Software selectable
Internal storage for system images
and files
2
384 or 512 MB
1 GB
