Vocality Prepares 4.8.1 Software Release
05/April/2008 14:46
Vocality's Engineering Department is
pleased to announce that the forthcoming release of software, 4.8.1
is currently in testing for release soon. The new release adds
three critically important new features to the router and
multiplexer range. The software is compatible with all current V25,
V50plus, V150 and V200 devices.
- OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) for efficient IP network route management
- MLPP for voice prioritisation when using restricted WAN links
- ISDN Terminal Adapter, Extender and Bonding, supporting the new ISDN Card
MLPP Available
04/February/2008 22:28
MLPP functionality is now available in
Vocality software at no extra cost.
Multi-level Precedence and Pre-emption (MLPP) is a protocol devised to allow high-priority users to interrupt low-priority users in a voice network where bandwidth is restricted. Vocality has implemented this across all of its analogue, digital, ISDN and SIP voice channels in response to demand from the US DoD, amongst others. The protocol allows up to five priority levels of subscriber to coexist on a network and guarantees that high-priority users can always get through, holding any interrupted calls for the duration while playing out comfort tones and then allowing the low priority call to be reinstated.
MLPP is implemented in the main Vocality software which operates in devices such as the V150 and V200.
Multi-level Precedence and Pre-emption (MLPP) is a protocol devised to allow high-priority users to interrupt low-priority users in a voice network where bandwidth is restricted. Vocality has implemented this across all of its analogue, digital, ISDN and SIP voice channels in response to demand from the US DoD, amongst others. The protocol allows up to five priority levels of subscriber to coexist on a network and guarantees that high-priority users can always get through, holding any interrupted calls for the duration while playing out comfort tones and then allowing the low priority call to be reinstated.
MLPP is implemented in the main Vocality software which operates in devices such as the V150 and V200.
New ISDN Card from Vocality International
04/February/2008 22:13
Vocality International has shipped the new ISDN Card, offering a combination of router, serial data and 1 to 4 Terminal Adapter ports. Further information is available here.
Contact Vocality International for pricing and specification information on the new ISDN Multi-Function Card shipping this month.
V25, V50plus, V150, V200 : 4_07.01 Features Upgrade Available
14/December/2007 18:10
Vocality is pleased to announce some
enhancements to the established
V25/V50plus/V150/V200 range of Mux/Router products
in the 4_07.01 software release.
Secure Voice Relay
The Secure Voice Relay(SVR) card relays STUIII secure calls digitally allowing the calls to be relayed in the native Vocoder bandwidth. The SVR card can be fitted to any analogue or digital card in the current product portfolio(V25, V50FXS/FXO, V150FXS/FXO, V150/V200 Digital Voice card). The SVR also interworks with the legacy V100 STU III card and support for STU-IIB will be available in a forthcoming release.
IP Aggregate Enhancements
In previous releases, an IP aggregate could be used across a NAT (network address translation) gateway if no port translation was done and a dynamic DNS name was available for the translated address. A new authentication feature now removes these restrictions. An IP aggregate can be configured at one end to accept a connection from any peer multiplexer. A challenge/response authentication scheme ensures that we only accept connections from authorized peers, as long as the same password is configured at both ends.
The layout of the IP aggregate menus has been changed. Previously the aggregates were arranged in a single table with two rows assigned for configuring the parameters for each aggregate. Now a single menu page is presented for each IP aggregate configured, simplifying the setup.
The Setup Delay and Setup Idle time are designed for use in networks where the ToS in multiplexed traffic is used to setup bandwidth across a packet switched network. If this bandwidth reservation is not instantaneous and the network equipment does not buffer outstanding traffic when establishing the circuit, the IP aggregate can be configured to buffer this traffic for the Setup Delay period.
A robustness mode has been implemented using a new field to configure a simple forward error correction scheme for IP aggregates. When enabled, the bandwidth used by the IP aggregate is increased.
Push Config over IP Aggregates
The addition of the IP aggregate enhancements (described above) allow the Push Config feature to be used over an IP aggregate service. Push Config provides a mechanism for configuring remote multiplexers from a central hub in order to remove the need for multiplexer management skills from personnel in the field, whilst retaining the ability to dynamically change network operation.
Improved IP packet filtering
It is now possible to configure both the received and target channel that each IP filter applies to. The Ethernet interface of IP tributary that a packet was received on can now be identified as well as the source address, destination address, protocol and TOS, as before.
PEP Enhancements
A new simpler and more efficient scheme for selecting which TCP traffic is subject to the Proxy Enhancement Protocol (PEP) optimization has been included. Any combination of the received interface, the target interface, source address, destination address, ToS and the TCP protocol decide whether the packet is subjected to PEP or bypassed. If no match is found in then the default result is to optimize all traffic.
DHCP Client
A DHCP client has been added to this software release. This allows the multiplexer to be assigned an IP address from an external DHCP server on the network. This should be used when the multiplexer uses IP for aggregate and management services only. If the multiplexer is used for routing IP it should be configured with fixed IP addresses as before.
Jitter Buffer Management
The multiplexer implements jitter buffers on voice and constant bit rate (CBR) serial data tributaries. These are designed to handle small amounts of jitter that are typically experienced on satellite services. Some IP aggregate services are prone to more jitter. In previous releases it was possible to tune the size of the jitter buffer implemented on each voice and data tributary via TTY commands to account for this additional jitter across the aggregate connection (contact your Vocality support representative for details of these commands). To supplement this individual tributary jitter buffer tuning, this software release has introduced a system wide baseline jitter buffer size to provide a simpler mechanism for increasing the size of all jitter buffers in the system. The tributary jitter buffer sizes are configured to be this new baseline size plus the amount configured for the individual voice or data port. Note than an increase to jitter buffer size results in an increase in delay through the multiplexer.
Secure Voice Relay
The Secure Voice Relay(SVR) card relays STUIII secure calls digitally allowing the calls to be relayed in the native Vocoder bandwidth. The SVR card can be fitted to any analogue or digital card in the current product portfolio(V25, V50FXS/FXO, V150FXS/FXO, V150/V200 Digital Voice card). The SVR also interworks with the legacy V100 STU III card and support for STU-IIB will be available in a forthcoming release.
IP Aggregate Enhancements
In previous releases, an IP aggregate could be used across a NAT (network address translation) gateway if no port translation was done and a dynamic DNS name was available for the translated address. A new authentication feature now removes these restrictions. An IP aggregate can be configured at one end to accept a connection from any peer multiplexer. A challenge/response authentication scheme ensures that we only accept connections from authorized peers, as long as the same password is configured at both ends.
The layout of the IP aggregate menus has been changed. Previously the aggregates were arranged in a single table with two rows assigned for configuring the parameters for each aggregate. Now a single menu page is presented for each IP aggregate configured, simplifying the setup.
The Setup Delay and Setup Idle time are designed for use in networks where the ToS in multiplexed traffic is used to setup bandwidth across a packet switched network. If this bandwidth reservation is not instantaneous and the network equipment does not buffer outstanding traffic when establishing the circuit, the IP aggregate can be configured to buffer this traffic for the Setup Delay period.
A robustness mode has been implemented using a new field to configure a simple forward error correction scheme for IP aggregates. When enabled, the bandwidth used by the IP aggregate is increased.
Push Config over IP Aggregates
The addition of the IP aggregate enhancements (described above) allow the Push Config feature to be used over an IP aggregate service. Push Config provides a mechanism for configuring remote multiplexers from a central hub in order to remove the need for multiplexer management skills from personnel in the field, whilst retaining the ability to dynamically change network operation.
Improved IP packet filtering
It is now possible to configure both the received and target channel that each IP filter applies to. The Ethernet interface of IP tributary that a packet was received on can now be identified as well as the source address, destination address, protocol and TOS, as before.
PEP Enhancements
A new simpler and more efficient scheme for selecting which TCP traffic is subject to the Proxy Enhancement Protocol (PEP) optimization has been included. Any combination of the received interface, the target interface, source address, destination address, ToS and the TCP protocol decide whether the packet is subjected to PEP or bypassed. If no match is found in then the default result is to optimize all traffic.
DHCP Client
A DHCP client has been added to this software release. This allows the multiplexer to be assigned an IP address from an external DHCP server on the network. This should be used when the multiplexer uses IP for aggregate and management services only. If the multiplexer is used for routing IP it should be configured with fixed IP addresses as before.
Jitter Buffer Management
The multiplexer implements jitter buffers on voice and constant bit rate (CBR) serial data tributaries. These are designed to handle small amounts of jitter that are typically experienced on satellite services. Some IP aggregate services are prone to more jitter. In previous releases it was possible to tune the size of the jitter buffer implemented on each voice and data tributary via TTY commands to account for this additional jitter across the aggregate connection (contact your Vocality support representative for details of these commands). To supplement this individual tributary jitter buffer tuning, this software release has introduced a system wide baseline jitter buffer size to provide a simpler mechanism for increasing the size of all jitter buffers in the system. The tributary jitter buffer sizes are configured to be this new baseline size plus the amount configured for the individual voice or data port. Note than an increase to jitter buffer size results in an increase in delay through the multiplexer.