CHAPTE R
27-1
Cisco Prime Network 4.0 User Guide
OL-29343-01
27
Monitoring Cable Technologies
Cable broadband communication operates in compliance with the Data Over Cable Service In terface
Specification (DOCSIS) standard which prescribes multivendor interoperability and promotes a retail
model for the consumer's direct purchase of a cable mo de m (CM ) of choi ce. Figure 27-1 depicts the
architecture of the cable broadband in compliance with this standard:
Figure 27-1 Cable Broadband Architecture
DOCSIS defines two key devices necessary for broadband cable communication:
• Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) is a piece of equipment typically located in a cable
company's headend or hubsite, and used to provide high speed data services, such as cable Internet
or voice over Internet Protocol, to cable subscribers. A CMTS provides many of the same functions
provided by the DSLAM in a DSL system. In order to provide the se high spee d data servi ces, a cabl e
company will connect its headend to the Internet via very high capacity data links to a network