System Overview
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3 SYSTEM OVERVIEW
This chapter provides an overview of the main elements of a SmartNode system.
The chapter includes the following sections:
•
Introduction
•
SmartNode hardware platforms
•
SmartWare embedded software
•
SmartView management tools
3.1 Introduction
A complete SmartNode system or network, as installed in any of the application scenarios
introduced in Chapter 2, “Applications”, is composed of three main elements plus a third-party
network infrastructure:
•
The first and most obvious element is the
SmartNode
devices (also referred to as
hardware
platforms
or network
nodes
) that provide the physical connectivity, the CPU and DSP
resources. Throughout the range of SmartNode models all have the common characteristics
of supporting packet-routed and circuit-switched traffic equally well.
•
The second, and in many aspects core element, is the embedded software running on the
SmartNode hardware platforms. The software designed by Inalp Networks AG for the
SmartNodes is termed
SmartWare
. This software is handled as a separate element because it
is as far as possible platform-independent and so provides the same features and
functionality throughout the complete SmartNode model range.
•
The third element is the set of SmartView management tools provided to configure and
control SmartWare and SmartNodes in a network. The focus of the
SmartView
tools is on
assisting network administrators and operators in handling large numbers of SmartNode
devices. This complements the standard element management interfaces provided in
SmartWare.
•
Finally the third-party IP network and transmission infrastructure provides IP connectivity
between the above elements. This infrastructure can range from a simple Ethernet hub or
switch to highly complex networks including multiple access technologies, backbone
transmission and services nodes.
Figure 3-1 illustrates these four elements.
Software Configuration Guide, Revision 1.03
