56System architecture

Call processing, maintenance, and administration are controlled by software programs stored either as firmware programs, as software programs resident in system memory, or as nonresident programs on disk. The information that describes system configuration and associated IPE is called office data. This data resides in the system memory and on disk.

Firmware

Firmware provides fundamental programs consisting of hard-wired logic instructions stored in Programmable Read-only Memory (PROM). Firmware programs manipulate data in the central processor and control input/output operations, error diagnostics, and recovery routines.

Software

Software programs consist of instruction sequences that control call processing, IPE, administration, and maintenance functions. Several generic software programs with optional feature packages are available.

Office data

Office data describes the characteristics of the system in terms of configuration and call-dependent information, such as features and services. Office data is arranged in blocks defining IPE, system configuration, and transient data.

Resident programs

Resident programs are always available in memory during system operation. Some resident programs are permanently programmed into the ROM portion of system memory. Other resident programs are automatically loaded into system memory at system power-up.

Resident programs include:

Error Monitor, which continuously monitors call processing

Initialize Program, which locates faults, rebuilds data, and releases reserve memory areas

Overlay Loader, which locates, checks, and loads programs into the overlay area

Overload Monitor, which monitors the volume of system messages and determines where overloads occur

Resident Trunk Diagnostic, which monitors all trunk calls

System Loader, which loads resident programs from the disk drive unit into system memory at power-up

Traffic Monitor, which examines the system schedule, transfers traffic data from accumulating to holding registers, and produces reports

Nortel Communication Server 1000

Communication Server 1000M and Meridian 1 Large System Overview

NN43021-110 02.05 Standard

30 September 2008

Copyright © 2003-2008 Nortel Networks

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Nortel Networks NN43021-110 manual Firmware, Software, Office data, Resident programs