Cisco® integrated services routers offer a wide variety of WAN connectivity modules to accommodate the range of application needs in customer networks. The new Cisco ADSL2 and ADSL2+ high-speed WAN interface cards (HWICs) deliver business-class asymmetric DSL (ADSL) services for customers ranging from small-to-medium sized businesses to enterprise branch offices. Both, 1-port and 2-port HWIC cards are now shipping. While the 1-port HWIC card has an ADSL port, the 2-port HWIC card has an ISDN BRI backup port in addition to ADSL port.
OVERVIEW
The new ADSL HWICs provide 1-port ADSL (Figure 1) connectivity to a WAN. These HWICs, combined with the Cisco 1841 integrated services router (ISR) and the Cisco 2800 and 3800 series integrated services routers (ISRs), provide high-speed digital data transmission between customer premises equipment (CPE) and a central office. This enables service providers and resellers to offer additional services by supporting features for business-class security, voice integration, differentiated classes of service (CoS), and managed network access with Cisco IOS® Software. These value-added features, along with the manageability and reliability of Cisco IOS Software technology, provide the mission-critical networking that businesses require.
Both the 1-port and 2-port HWIC cards are supported on the Cisco 1841, 2801, 2811, 2821, 2851, 3825, and 3845 ISRs. The 1-port HWICs are supported starting with Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4(4)T and the 2-port HWICs are supported starting with Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4(6)T.
Figure 1. Single-Port HWIC Provides ADSL Port for Connectivity
Figure 2. Dual-Port HWIC with ADSL Port for Connectivity and ISDN BRI Port for Backup
The ITU accepted the ADSL2 standard in July 2002 and the ADSL2+ standard in January 2003. The ADSL2 standard (ITU G.992.3) adds new features and functions targeted at improving ADSL performance and interoperability. In addition, the standard adds support for new applications, services, and deployment scenarios. Among the changes are improvements in data rate and reach performance, rate adaptation, improved diagnostics, and power enhancements. The conventional ADSL standard (ITU G.992.1) provides downstream data rates of up to 8 Mbps and upstream data rates of up to 0.8 Mbps, and ADSL2 provides higher downstream rates of up to 12 Mbps and upstream data rates of up to 1 Mbps. The ADSL2+ standard (ITU G.992.5) doubles the bandwidth used for downstream data transmission, effectively doubling the maximum downstream data rates, and achieving downstream data rates of up to 24 Mbps and upstream data rates of up to 1.5 Mbps. The exact data rates vary depending on the distance from the DSL access multiplexer (DSLAM), DSLAM type, line card and chipset, and firmware, noise profile, quality of copper, etc. The reach-extended ADSL2 standard (G.992.3) Annex L increases performance on loop lengths greater than 16,000 feet from the Central Office.
ADSL over Basic Telephone Service (HWIC-1ADSL and HWIC-ADSL-B/ST)
Key Features
• Supports ADSL over basic telephone service with Annex A ITU G. 992.1 (ADSL), G.992.3 (ADSL2), and G.992.5 (ADSL2+)
• Supports reach-extended ADSL2 standard (G.992.3) Annex L
• Complies with ANSI T1.413 issue 2
• Supports ATM Adaptation Layer 5 (AAL5) services
• Supports ATM CoS features constant bit rate (CBR), non-real-time variable bit rate (VBR-nrt), real-time variable bit rate (VBR-rt), and unspecified bit rate (UBR)
• Supports up to 23 virtual circuits per HWIC
• Supports IP quality of service (QoS)
• Supports Dying Gasp function
• Has one RJ-11 ADSL interface
• Interoperates with third-party DSLAMs (See Tables 1 and 2)
• The 2-port HWIC has the backup ISDN BRI port
ADSL over ISDN (HWIC-1ADSLI and HWIC-ADSLI-B/ST)
Key Features
• Supports ADSL over ISDN with Annex B G.992.1 (ADSL), G.992.3 (ADSL2), and G.992.5 (ADSL2+)
• Supports reach-extended ADSL2 standard (G.992.3) Annex L
• Complies with ANSI T1.413 issue 2
• Supports AAL5
• Supports ATM CoS features CBR, VBR-nrt, VBR-rt, and UBR
• Supports up to 23 virtual circuits per HWIC
• Supports IP QoS
• Supports Dying Gasp function
• One RJ-11 ADSL interface
• Interoperates with third-party DSLAMs (See Tables 1 and 2)
• The 2-port HWIC has the backup ISDN BRI port
APPLICATIONS
Business-Class DSL with WAN Backup
The Cisco 1841 ISR and the Cisco 2800 and 3800 series ISRs offer multiple WAN slots. These routers are configured with ADSL2+ HWICs for primary WAN access and an ISDN WIC for WAN backup. This scenario provides redundancy for mission-critical applications (Figure 2). In addition, the WAN flexibility in these platforms enables the customers to swap out the ADSL2+ HWIC with any other WIC or HWIC depending on their business need.
Figure 3. ADSL2+ WAN Access with ISDN Backup
Banking Application
In this scenario (refer to Figure 3), a bank branch is able to use the Cisco 2811 ISR with an ADSL2+ HWIC and ISDN Basic Rate Interface (BRI) WIC to provide primary and backup WAN access. In addition, the 8-port asynchronous/synchronous HWIC (HWIC-8A/S) is used as an interface to ATM machines. This scenario further highlights the versatility of the Cisco 2811 because it enables the banking databases to update any ATM transactions that take place while continuing to provide WAN access and redundancy for mission-critical applications.
Figure 4. Banking Application
Business-Class Security
The Cisco 1841 ISR and the Cisco 2800 and 3800 series of ISRs with the ADSL2+ HWICs can be optimized for Internet security with the Cisco IOS Firewall supporting stateful inspection firewall and intrusion prevention system features. With an always-on DSL connection, Internet security is vital to protect corporate resources from malicious network attacks. These features can be enabled on the modular routers by purchasing the optional Cisco IOS Software with the Advanced Security or higher feature set.
These platforms can also be optimized for VPNs, which allow secure use of the Internet for communications with the same policies and levels of security and performance as a private network. VPNs provide security through encryption tunneling, and the Cisco routers support hardware-based Triple Data Encryption Standard (3DES) IP Security (IPSec) and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) support. Encryption features can be enabled on the routers by purchasing the optional Cisco Advanced Security IOS Software.
IP and ATM Quality of Service
The Cisco 1841 ISR and the Cisco 2800 and 3800 series of ISRs with the ADSL2+ HWIC help service providers offer differentiated service options based on premium, standard, or best-effort service classes. The routers employ QoS features such as application-aware networking with IP QoS features and traffic management with ATM CoS features.
Application-Aware Networking with IP QoS
Using Cisco QoS features including Class-Based Weighted Fair Queuing (CBWFQ), low-latency queuing (LLQ), Weighted Random Early Detection (WRED), etc., the Cisco 1841 ISR and the Cisco 2800 and 3800 series of ISRs with ADSL2+ HWICs help service providers and resellers offer services that can differentiate bandwidth based on a specific application or a specific user. For example, an order entry department's traffic can be given priority over that of a marketing department.
Traffic Management Using ATM CoS
In addition to IP QoS features, the Cisco 1841 ISR and the Cisco 2800 and 3800 series of ISRs with the ADSL2+ HWIC map IP QoS to ATM CoS features, including support for CBR, VBR-nrt, VBR-rt, and UBR. These features help service providers manage their core ATM network infrastructures to deliver scalable, cost-effective services with QoS guarantees to their customers. Per-virtual-circuit traffic shaping and queuing allows further optimization of the existing bandwidth between customers and various services.
DSLAM Interoperability
Tables 1 and 2 list the DSLAMs supported by the new ADSL/ADSL2+ HWICs at first customer shipment (FCS) of Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4(4)T with firmware 2.5.27, and 12.4(6)T with firmware 2.5.42. The DSLAMs listed in Table 1 provide interoperability for the ADSL standard (G.992.1); those listed in Table 2 provide interoperability for ADSL2 and ADSL2+ standards (G.992.3 and G.992.5). These tables will be updated as more DSLAMs are tested and supported.
Table 1. DSLAM Interoperability for ADSL
Product Number and Standard
HWIC ADSL Firmware
DSLAM Part Number
DSLAM Line Card/Chipset
DSLAM Firmware
Annex A-HWIC-1ADSL and HWIC-ADSL-B/ST
2.5.42-12.4(6)T*
Alcatel ASAM 7300
ADLT-J (12-port)/Alcatel
GFD5AA42.030
Alcatel ASAM 7300
ADLT-L (24-port)/Alcatel
LBTEAA43.033
Lucent Stinger
Stngr-72-gs/Globespan
9.7.1 and 9.7.1e64
Lucent Stinger
Stngr-72-ct/Centillium
0278
Cisco 6260
atuc-8-dmt/Globespan
Cisco 6260
atuc-4-flexi/Globespan
Annex B-HWIC-1ADSLI and HWIC-ADSLI-B/ST
2.5.42-12.4(6)T
Alcatel ASAM 7300
ADLT-N (24-port)/Alcatel
LBTEAA43.033
ECI SAM 240
ECI16/ADI 930
xa5.11
ECI SAM 240
ECI16A/ADI Anaconda
xc5.11
Siemens Xpresslink 2.1
SUADSL: 32I/TI
Item No: S50010-M1208-A101, Version:985
Siemens Xpresslink 2.0
SUADSL: 16I/TI
Item No: S50010-M1067-A101, Version:985
* HWIC-1ADSL and HWIC-1ADSLI were first supported in 12.4(4)T with 2.5.27
Table 2. DSLAM Interoperability for ADSL2 and ADSL2+
Product Number and Standard
HWIC Firmware
DSLAM Part Number
DSLAM Line Card/Chipset
DSLAM Firmware
Annex A-HWIC-1ADSL and HWIC-ADSL-B/ST
2.5.42 - 12.4(6)T**
Alcatel ASAM 7300
ADLT-D (24-port)/BRCM
L7D6AA47.020
Lucent Stinger
stngr-72-gs-adsl-card/GSPN
9.7.1e64
Annex B-HWIC-1ADSLI and HWIC-ADSLI-B/ST
2.5.42 - 12.4(6)T
Alcatel ASAM 7300
ADLT-F (24-port)/BRCM
L7D6AA47.020
** HWIC-1ADSL and HWIC-1ADSLI were first supported in 12.4(4)T with 2.5.27
Performance
ADSL performance varies according to a variety of factors, including DSLAM line-card type, DSLAM software version, training rate, line noise, and loop length.
Software Support
The 1-port HWICs are supported starting the 12.4(4)T and 2-port HWICs are supported starting the 12.4(6)T. All HWICs are supported on the Cisco 1841 ISR and the Cisco 2800 and 3800 series ISRs.
The ADSL2 and ADSL2+ features are supported in the IP Base image for the Cisco 1841 ISR and the Cisco 2800 and 3800 series ISRs. The default Cisco IOS Software for the Cisco 1841 ADSL2+ bundles is the Cisco IOS Software IP Broadband image. In addition to all the features of the IP Base image, the IP Broadband image also has the Service Assurance Agent feature. The default Cisco IOS Software image for the Cisco 2800 Series ADSL bundles is the Cisco IOS Software SP Services image.
Platform Support
All the ADSL2+ HWICs are supported only in the onboard HWIC slots of the modular ISRs. Table 3 provides platform support details.
Table 3. Platform Support Details and Maximum Number of HWICs per Platform
HWIC-1ADSL and HWIC-1ADSLI
Maximum Number of HWICs
Cisco 1841 and 2801
2
Cisco 2811, 2821, 2851, 3825, and 3845
4
Product Number and Ordering Information
ADSL over basic telephone service (Annex A) product numbers are listed in Table 4 and ADSL over ISDN (Annex B) part numbers are listed in Table 5.
Table 4. ADSL over Basic Telephone Service (Annex A) Product Numbers
Product Number
Description
HWIC-1ADSL
1-port ADSL over basic telephone service HWIC (system)
HWIC-1ADSL=
1-port ADSL over basic telephone service HWIC (spare)
HWIC-ADSL-B/ST
HWIC with ADSL over POTS and ISDN BRI ports (system)
HWIC-ADSL-B/ST=
HWIC with ADSL over POTS and ISDN BRI ports (spare)
CISCO1841-ADSL2
Cisco 1841 bundle, HWIC-ADSL, IP Broadband, 32 MB Flash/128 MB DRAM
CISCO1841-ADSL2-B
Cisco 1841 bundle, HWIC-ADSL-B/ST, IP Broadband, 32 MB Flash/128 MB DRAM
HWIC with ADSL over ISDN and ISDN BRI ports (system)
HWIC-ADSLI-B/ST=
HWIC with ADSL over ISDN and ISDN BRI ports (spare)
Cable Information
The straight-through cable is the default cable and is included in the HWIC packaging. Customers who have an external splitter require the crossover cable. The crossover cable can be ordered as a spare (part number CAB-ADSL-RJ11X=).
Cisco 1800, 2800, and 3800 Series Regulatory Approvals
When installed in the Cisco 1800, 2800, and 3800 series integrated services routers, the ADSL2 and ADSL2+ HWIC does not change the router standards (regulatory compliance, safety, EMC, telecom).
Refer to the platform-specific data sheets for their regulatory compliance, safety, EMC, and telecom standards.
