Carrier Grade Linux - Applications and Services

Applications and Services

The OSDL CGLWG defines three main types of applications that carrier-grade Linux will support — gateways, signaling servers, and management.

• Gateway applications provide bridging services between different technologies or administrative domains. Gateway applications are characterized by supporting a large number of connections in real-time over a large number of interfaces, with the requirement of not losing any frames or packets. An example of a gateway application is a media gateway, which converts conventional voice circuits using TDM to IP packets for transmission over an IP-switched network.

• Signaling server applications, which include SS7 products, handle control services for calls, such as routing, session control, and status. Signaling server applications are characterized by sub-millisecond real-time requirements and large numbers of simultaneous connections (10,000 or more). An example signaling server application would include control processing for a rack of line cards.

• Management applications handle traditional service and billing operations, as well as network management. Management applications are characterized by a much less stringent requirement for real-time, as well as by additional database and communication-oriented requirements. A typical management application might handle visitor and home location registers for mobile access, and authorization for customer access to billable services.