Hardware
Issue 5 January 1998 1-5555-230-024
Hardware
Though the primary components are the same, your DEFINITY ECS can vary
widely in size and appearance, depending on your capacity requirements . It may
be as small as a single wall-mounted cabinet, or it may be as large as several tall
cabinets linked together in the same room or even hundreds of kilometers apart.
Regardless of configuration, however, the system’s foo tprint is relatively small.
DEFINITY ECS’s main hardware components are port networks. Up to three port
networks can be connected directly to each other. When there a re more than
three port networks, the connections are made through a Center Stage Switch .

Processor Port Network

Every DEFINITY ECS has one Processor Port Network; it is often the only
component in small systems. The Processor Port Network h ouses the Switch
Processing Element.
The Switch Processing Element contains the central processing unit , which
supervises system operation. It also contains a mass sto rage system for loading
system software and saving system translations.
Because your application requirements may vary widely , DEFINITY ECS has
three types of Switch Processing Elements available with proven capa cities of
70,000 calls per hour, 140,000 calls per hour, and 250,0 00 calls per hour. The
performance you realize will depend on the call processing, a dministrative, and
maintenance activities in which your system is engage d.

Expansion Port Network

Expansion Port Networks are used when the system grows beyond the capacity
of a single port network or must serve geographically dispersed offices. They
provide additional ports as needed. A system can have up to 43 Expansion Port
Networks.

Center Stage Switch

The Center Stage Switch is a connection hub that provides port network
communication. It is an essential component of a DEFINITY ECS configur ation if
the system is composed of more than three port networks. Of ten it is
incorporated in smaller configurations to allow for grow th. The Center Stage
Switch consists of from one to three switch nodes. Switch nodes are c omposed
of one or two switch node carriers, depending on whether the system is being
duplicated for enhanced reliability. Each carrier can reside in the Process or Port
Network cabinet or an Expansion Port Network cabinet. One switch node can
accommodate up to 15 Expansion Port Networks.