Patton electronic SmartNode 4110 Series manual Introduction

SmartWare Software Configuration Guide 1 • System overview

Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of the main elements of a SmartNode system.

A complete SmartNode system or network, as installed in any of the application scenarios introduced in section “Applications” on page 41, is typically composed of the following main elements plus a third-party network infra- structure:

•The first and most obvious element is the SmartNode devices (also referred to as hardware platforms or net- work nodes) that provide the physical connectivity, the CPU and DSP resources. All SmartNode models support packet-routed and circuit-switched traffic equally well.

•The second element comprises the embedded software—called SmartWare—running on the SmartNode hardware platforms.

•Finally, a third-party IP network and transmission infrastructure provides IP connectivity between the above elements. This infrastructure can range from a simple Ethernet hub or switch to highly complex net- works including multiple access technologies, backbone transmission, and services nodes.

Introduction 39