Chapter 02

ECIL AMSS Configuration

2.1 INTRODUCTION ECIL s Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS) is a computer-based message switching system working on store and forward principle. AMSS receives the messages from terminals connected directly to it, and also from terminals connected via other switches. It analyses the received messages for the correctness of the format and address, stores them in the memory and also on online mass-storage media and automatically retransmits the messages to its destination. While re-transmitting, AMSS keeps in view the precedence of message. In the process of re-transmitting, AMSS checks continuously for the availability of the line for the destination of message. In case the message is not as per the format or has incorrect addresses, the message is rejected and the service message is generated depending on the variety of error and sent back to the originator of the message. For supervision of the switch AMSS sends reports to the supervisory terminals about changes in status of the system and lines. AMSS generates periodical statistical and status reports for the supervisor. AMSS provides facilities to store the every days messages on the removable media for the long-term storage and retrieval. The AMSS accepts AFTN message format. The messages are input from message terminal equipped with user-friendly interface with graphical interface and worked under windows software environment. AMSS switch consists of redundant, fully duplicated computer. Normally one of the systems works as online and other as hot standby. Incase of failure of one system, the other system takes over automatically ensuring availability of the switch. The AMSS is configured around powerful Intel PIII- 700 MHz-1.3 GHz. microprocessor and has a high throughput capability. The operating system for the AMSS is SCO UNIX version 5.0.5 environment. The AMSS can support from 128 lines. AMSS supports a variety of line type protocols from RS232C, Telex, X.25, Frame relay, COPB, Tele-printer with speeds varying from 50 baud to 64 Kbps and character code being either 5 bit or 8 bit. For supervision and control of switch, a set of user friendly commands with online help are provided, which include service, message retrieval, and to obtain reports on request. CATC, ALLAHABAD MAY 2005 Page 1 of 8

2.2

SYSTEM CONFIGURATION AMSS Server (s). Disk Switch. Database Server (s). X.25 / Communication Server. Workstations / Nodes. Ethernet Switch / Hub. Communication Channel Multiplexer (CCM) Adaptor. Line Termination Unit (LTU) Rack. Patch Panel Rack. Remote Printers. Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS).

The ECIL AMSS setup consists of following:

The schematic of AMSS setup of ECIL AMSS is given at the end of this chapter . 2.2.1 AMSS Server The AMSS servers are running on SCO UNIX 5.05 operating system. The ECIL AMSS is having two servers; one is configured as SYSTEM A and other as SYSTEM B. At one time any one of the server can be made Online and the other Hot Standby. This is done by running appropriate Unix Shell Scripts (./n or ./r or . /h ) in respective servers. Both of the AMSS servers are installed with Switch Over Logic Control (SOLC) cards. Depending upon which server is online (SYS A or SYS B), both SOLC cards provide SOLC logic to the LTU rack. This logic connects the online server to the outgoing/incoming channel in the LTU rack. The Online and Hot Standby servers communicate health to each other through SOLC cards. The AMSS server is installed with Stallion card as communication controller module to serve multiple numbers of channels. Both the AMSS servers are individually connected to parallel printers. The system generated health / activity information are printed on these printers. 2.2.2 Disk Switch

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The SCSI disks are referred as DISK 0 and DISK 1. Each SCSI disk and its corresponding connector are housed in a single cabinet and as a whole referred as Disk Switch. The SCSI Disk 0 is housed in Disk Switch 01 and Disk 1 is housed in Disk Switch 02 respectively. The connection of each SCSI disk with servers is shown in the following figure. Each SCSI disk is logically divided into seven logical areas. These are: Ledger area Message area Incoming MCP area Outgoing MCP area Incoming Index area Outgoing Index area Journal area

Ledger area
Information that is needed for recovery is stored here. Line status for each channel. Down time Break status Number of rejected messages per day Hourly incoming total Incoming total Outgoing total Peak hour incoming total Expected incoming sequence number Expected outgoing sequence number Count of SVC messages (incoming / outgoing) Incoming closed Outgoing closed Route status for each route Blocked CATC, ALLAHABAD MAY 2005 Page 3 of 8

Auto diversion enabled Divert priority Status of the diverted route Number of messages in each priority queue Start and end address of each priority queue Alternate routes (diverted route) System total of incoming and outgoing messages Disk starting address and offset for Message area Incoming MCP area Outgoing MCP area Incoming Index area Outgoing Index area Status of both the disks Partial update Full update Update request Count of delayed messages in each priority Byte count of every remote channel each day Outgoing messages for 10 days Peak hour incoming for 10 days Peak hour outgoing for 10 days Previous incoming Previous outgoing Hourly outgoing total Hourly pending Hourly incoming total

Message Area
Incoming and outgoing messages are recorded in the message area. Size of the message area depends on Maximum number of messages to be stored Average length of message. CATC, ALLAHABAD MAY 2005 Page 4 of 8

Number of days the message has to be stored.

Incoming MCP area

Size of this area depends on Maximum number of messages to be stored in the disk MCP of each incoming message is stored in this area.

Outgoing MCP area.

Size of this area depends on Maximum number of messages to be stored in the disk MCP of each outgoing message is stored in this area.

Incoming Index area

Size of this area depends on Maximum number of messages to be stored in the disk for each incoming message is stored in disk, stores the an index consisting of Channel number Sequence number Block number in the message area Offset

Outgoing Index area.

Size of this area depends on Maximum number of messages to be stored in the disk For each outgoing message stored in disk, stores the an index consisting of Channel number Sequence number Block number in the message area Offset

Journal area
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Journal information is stored for each message In-time date/hours/minutes Inprefix Incoming sequence number Outtime date/hours/minutes Outprefix Outgoing sequence number Destination indicator Priority Online server stores outgoing / incoming messages on the Message Areas of both the disks for 30 days. The Ledger area of each disk i.e., Disk 0 and Disk 1 is divided into two partitions which are referred as File 0 and File 1. The information that is needed for recovery is stored in this Ledger Area. The Online server stores the information required for recovery on these four partitions (File 0, 1 of Disk 0 & File 0, 1 of Disk 1) in sequence in the interval of 30 seconds. The discussion on other areas is beyond the scope of this course. These are discussed in detail in the ECIL AMSS System Administration Course.
SYSTEM A
Active Terminator SCSI Connector PCB

SYSTEM B

DISK SWITCH 01
SCSI CONNECTOR

DISK SWITCH 02
SCSI CONNECTOR

Active Terminator SCSI Connector PCB

SCSI

PORT

SCSI DISK 0

SCSI DISK 1

SCSI PORT

Motherboard

Motherboard

Figure: Disk Switch Configuration 2.2.3 Database Server The Database Server is running on Windows NT Server 4.0 operating system. The purpose of this server is to maintain a database of transmitted/received

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NOTAM/MET/ATC/FIC messages for which data have to be kept for more than 30days. In international airports where message traffic is high, more than one-database servers are used for storage of ATC, FIC, and MET/NOTAM/HFRT messages with redundancy. The RAID controller card is installed in the Database server to connect more than one SCSI disks in an array, called Redundant Array of Inexpensive/Independent Disks (RAID). The RAID5 configuration is implemented in the application server with three 36GB disk. The advantages of using RAID are manifold. If any one of the disks in the array becomes unserviceable, it can be removed without affecting the functionality of the system i.e. hot swappable. The RAID5 configuration is based on data striping.

Disk A

Disk B

Disk C

The block of data to be stored is striped and stored in the Disk A and B and the corresponding parity on the Disk C in the first cycle. In the next cycle striped data is stored in Disk B & C and the parity on Disk A. and subsequently data is written on C & A and parity on B. In the event of failure of a disk, data is recomputed with the help of parity. 2.2.4 X.25 Server In airports where traffic is very high it is required to send data over a high-speed line and for this purpose X.25 server is used. This server acts as an interface between LAN of any particular airport and X.25 line. The X.25 server is connected to X.25 line through a high-speed modem or PAD (Packet assembler and Dissembler). The X.25 server is also running on Windows NT Server 4.0 operating system and having additional hardware (EICON card) to incorporate X.25 communication interface. 2.2.5 Workstation / Node. Each position (like Supervisor, NOTAM booking, HFRT etc) is having a personal computer referred as Workstation or Node which consists of Main System Unit, 15 color monitor, TVSE Keyboard, two button mouse and serial printer. The workstations are running on Windows NT Workstation 4.0 operating system. Any position wants to use ECIL AMSS must run appropriate application program (for example

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supervisor.exe for supervisor position or hfrt.exe for HFRT position) on his workstation. 2.2.6 Ethernet Switch / Hub. Ethernet Switch or Hub is a central unit through which all the servers and workstations/nodes are interconnected by LAN cables. The advantage of using Ethernet Switch over Hub is that, the improved client server response time can be achieved because of single collision domain. 2.2.7 CCM Adaptors The CCM adaptors are used as the interface between of the Unix server and the LTU rack. It works in coordination with Stallion card for multiplexing of messages through different channels. Each CCM adaptor can support up to 16 numbers of channels. 2.2.8 Line Termination Unit (LTU) Rack The LTU rack consists of its own power supply modules and three types of line termination units, LTU-C, LTU-B/C/M, and LTU-D. The term B/C/M refers to the modes of LTU operation. All of these LTU cards are terminated on the same back plane motherboard in the LTU rack. LTU B/C/M: The LTU B/C/M card is basically a communication interface card, which is terminated on back plane motherboard by 64-pin EURO connector. The card provides interfacing capabilities for three different interfaces namely: a. Tele-printer Interface (B Mode). b. Terminal c. Modem Interface (C Mode). Interface (M Mode).

Any of the above modes can be selected, one at a time through Dipswitch selection. In B mode LTU B/C/M does the code conversion (ASCII to Baudot and vice-versa) as well as voltage conversion (from +/- 60 volts TP level to +/-12 volts RS 232 level and vice-versa). This unit also provides line isolation, over voltage protection, current protection etc.

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LTU C: It is used to connect remote printers to UNIX server. Unlike LTU B/C/M, LTU C only operates in C mode (RS 232 to RS 232 interfaces and also performs the functions of line isolations, over voltage protection, current protection.

LTU D: The SOLC cards of both the AMSS servers provide the SOLC logic signals to LTU-D card. The logic level of these signals depend upon, which AMSS server is online (SYS A or SYS B). LTU D card further extends this logic signals to all other LTU cards through back plane motherboard. These logic signals then connects the SYSTEM A or SYSTEM B, which is presently online to the outgoing/incoming channels and remote printers.

LTU Rack Power Supply: The LTU rack has four redundant power supply modules a) +60 V DC, 6 Amps. b) 60 V DC, 6Amps. c) +/- 12 V DC, 5 Amps. d) +5 V DC, 30 Amps.

Above dc supplies are required by LTU cards electronic circuitry and for voltage conversion. Input to all the above modules is 176V - 264V, 50 Hz A.C. supplied by AC distribution box housed in the LTU rack. The supply to AC distribution box is from AC mains. 2.2.9 Patch Panel Rack The Patch panel, Modems and Line Drivers are housed in this rack.

Patch panel: The output of LTU B/C is connected to TP lines at patch panel using U LINK. Each patch panel module is capable of connecting 16 channels. The loop back test for the system side as well TP line side can be done by changing the position of U LINK. Modems: Any remote computer can be connected to the ECIL AMSS using Dial Up modems. Line Drivers: The line drivers are used to connect remote printers, which are far away from the system site. Line drivers can drive the line up to a distance of 15 Kms at 300 bps, 12 Kms at 1200 bps, 8 Kms at 9600 bps, and up to a distance of 2 Kms at 19.2Kbps.

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2.2.10 Remote Printers The ECIL AMSS is incorporated with Report Printer; Reject Printer located in supervisor position and Drop Printers located in other positions as required. These printers are referred as Remote Printers. The remote printers are connected to UNIX server through LTU C. Report Printer: System generated Hourly, Half hourly reports and other system information are automatically printed on this printer. Reject Printer: Messages rejected by the system and Channel Check and Mischeck messages are automatically printed on this printer. Drop Printers: As per the requirement of the station, Drop printers can be provided to any location through LTU C. 2.2.11 Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS). The ECIL AMSS is equipped with a VINITEC Alpha series UPS to supply uninterrupted AC power of high quality to the system, even when the incoming main is cut off completely. The capacity of the UPS depends upon the load. A battery bank does the necessary storage of electric energy. The UPS consists of following basic elements. Rectifier / Charger. Inverter. Battery bank.

The rectifier is supplied by the electric utility network AC (alternating current) power .The DC output of the rectifier in turn supplies the inverter and float charges the battery. In the event of failure of the mains supply, the inverter will be supplied directly from the battery. The high-tech inverter is key to the system. Being supplied either the rectifier (or so indirectly by the mains) or the battery; it generates an uninterrupted AC output to feed the critical load. The inverter is protected against overloads, short circuits and overheating etc.

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NOTAM

MET

HFRT

BOOKING

MLU

AREA

BRIEFING

ETHERNET SWITCH OR HUB

DATABASE SERVER1 (JKA)

DATABASE SERVER2 (JKB)

ADC/FIC SERVER (JKC)

ADC/FIC SERVER (JKD)

REMOTE LINES
LTU RACK SYSTEM A SYSTEM B

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