Integration
The N-BASE dramatically reduces our customers' integration effort and time.
All of Metaswitch's network software products (including packet and optical MPLS,
IP routing, MGCP/Megaco/H.248, SIP, Diameter, Session Border Controller (SBC),
ATM and SNA) are written to the N-BASE APIs, and only ever access local system
resources via the N-BASE APIs.
For access to local system resources such as the management plane or data plane, the
N-BASE provides well-documented, stable APIs (known as "stubs"). These are
typically customizable macro interfaces to local system services and
use asynchronous, message-based interfaces between the components.
This design enables the products to be readily integrated with any operating system
and underlying hardware, as well as custom user applications, third-party components,
and legacy systems.
Metaswitch also partners with third-party organizations
to supply integrated solutions
that combine each party's technology and minimize the integration effort and risk for
our customers. In conjunction with its partners, Metaswitch can provide an extensive range
of reference code and pre-integrated solutions.
The following diagram illustrates some of Metaswitch's integrated control plane products (DC-RSM, DC-MPLS,
and DC-IP Routing) communicating via N-BASE "stubs" (MIB,
IP Sockets, Label Switch, Interface Information, and Active Routes)
with local system resources (the Management plane, the native IP stack in the Operating System,
and Data Plane components).
Management Integration
All Metaswitch network software products use a common interface for management and
configuration. This can easily be mapped onto a wide range of management tools and
has been used by our customers for integration with CLI, GUI and SMNP management suites.
Metaswitch has partnered with the leading management software companies to provide fully integrated management solutions:
- Pre-integrated CLI, XML/web and SNMP management interfaces using MINDLink(Metaswitch) are available via the embeddedMIND™
product from our partner GoAhead Software.
- Pre-integrated CLI, web, SNMP, and NETCONF northbound interfaces are available from our partner Tail-f Systems.
IP Stack Integration
The asynchronous, message-based interfaces to the underlying IP transport allow the products
to be efficiently integrated in all system architectures. We provide integration with the
standard IP stack for each operating system as part of our standard pre-ported N-BASE versions,
and with the standard sockets API used by the majority of IP stacks.
Data Plane Integration
For performance reasons, Data Plane functionality is normally closely integrated with the
communications hardware, so most chipsets are supplied with their own Layer 1 and Layer 2 drivers.
All of Metaswitch's network software products use carefully designed interfaces that can be
easily integrated with these drivers. These interfaces are implemented using an asynchronous
message-based paradigm, thereby allowing complete flexibility of data plane design.
This includes distributed data planes and programming backup data planes when resilience is
required.
For some products and environments, Metaswitch is able to supply complete reference data
plane implementations.
More Information
For more information about the N-BASE and Metaswitch's network software products and
expertise contact
.