Cisco PGW 2200 Softswitch

Cisco PGW 2200 Softswitch

®
The Cisco PGW 2200 Protocol Gateway is a multiprotocol, carrier-grade softswitch designed to support media
gateway control functions and interworking in next-generation networks (NGNs) for IP-IP, IP-public switched
telephone network (PSTN), and PSTN-PSTN connectivity and to connect these networks to both standards-based
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) services and Intelligent Network (IN) services. The Cisco PGW 2200 supports both
SIP interworking and border control functions, H.323, and a wealth of PSTN protocols with more than 90 country
variants for interconnection across the world. Currently used in more than 600 customer networks, the Cisco PGW
2200 scales cost-effectively from service provider-hosted enterprise networks to very large service provider
applications.

Product Overview

The Cisco PGW 2200 supports multiple roles in NGNs. With its flexible database tables,
powerful routing control commands, and range of extensive attributes against trunk groups, it
can be used as a flexible component in many networks, including H.323 and SIP. The Cisco PGW
2200 can be used in a versatile capacity within distributed architecture networks, such as those
conforming either to the specifications of Telecoms and Internet converged Services and
Protocols for Advanced Networks (TISPAN), or to the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)
framework specifications for both SIP- and non-SIP-oriented networks.
The Cisco PGW 2200 is capable of routing a call based upon analysis of an E164 telephone
number or a SIP user and domain name, providing a powerful and generic call routing
capability. The analysis and routing can be carried out using the Cisco PGW 2200's own internal
analysis databases or by interfacing to route or application servers. When handling SIP traffic,
the softswitch is able to work in proxy mode or Back-to-Back User Agent (B2BUA) mode with
user-controlled levels of information transparency and topology hiding.
The Cisco PGW 2200 has interworking capabilities for SIP, H.323, SS7 ISDN User Part (ISUP),
Primary Rate Interface/Q Interface Signaling Protocol (PRI/QSIG), Digital Private Network
Signaling System (DPNSS), Intelligent Network services using SIP and intelligent Network
Application Protocol (INAP). The softswitch can autonomously make routing and analysis
decisions using its onboard database, making it a single-device solution. The fully 64-bit
database also allows it to scale to large service provider deployments. The Cisco PGW 2200
maintains every critical component needed in these networks, such as full hot standby
redundancy, standard billing interfaces, and Lawful Intercept capabilities. The softswitch can
control media gateways such as the Cisco MGX® Family, Cisco Integrated Services Routers, and
Cisco universal gateways such as the Cisco AS5300 and AS5400 Series, and supports services
such as interactive voice response (IVR) or IP call centers, interconnecting with Cisco Unified
Intelligent Contact Management (ICM) servers.
The Cisco PGW 2200 is capable of extremely high performance in a single 1-unit to 5-unit rack
and will scale beyond this capacity across multiple racks for higher capacity, colocated or across
geographic regions for additional redundancy. In its smallest configuration, an entire softswitch,
media gateway, and time-division multiplexing (TDM) backhaul functionality can fit in less than
9 centimeters (cm) of rack space with no compromise on SIP or PSTN features.
A command line and graphical interface are available to support configuration and
manageability, and the industry-standard interfacing allows for easy integration into existing
applications.
The Cisco PGW 2200 Release 9.8(1) operates on Sun Microsystems hardware running the
Solaris 10 operating system.

Cisco PGW 2200 Applications

Next-Generation Network Communications

The Cisco PGW 2200 allows the creation of SIP-based distributed networks by operating as a
core IP Multimedia System (IMS) architecture component; it can also perform multiple roles in
the mobile and PSTN arena within the TISPAN framework.
With the 9.8(1) release, the current softswitch capabilities are expanded and the ability to
operate as a Signaling Border Element (SBE) within a distributed Session Border Controller (SBC)
is introduced. SBC functions can be divided into two logical sub-elements, signaling path border
element or SBE and data path border element or DBE. The SBE provides signaling functions such
as protocol interworking (for example, H.323 to SIP), identity and topology hiding where the
DBE provides media-related functions such as deep packet inspection and modification, and
media relay under SBE control. To date, the SBE and DBE logical elements have generally been
realized
within a single, physical SBC device referred to as a unified SBC. However these can be
decoupled for ease of management and scalability using standards-based H.248 interface
between SBE and DBE. In its SBE capacity the Cisco PGW 2200 is able to do the protocol
interworking, provide centralized analysis and routing as well as carrier-class billing capability,
and enable simultaneous support of both a VoIP network and SS7/PSTN networks worldwide.
Taking everything into account, within an IMS or TISPAN architecture, the Cisco PGW 2200 can
be fitted into the roles of Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF), Breakout Gateway Control
Function (BGCF), and Interfacing Border Control Function (IBCF).

Service Provider-Hosted Call Center Applications

The Cisco PGW 2200 can interwork with third-party products and Cisco products such as Cisco
Unified Contact Center (also known as Cisco IPCC, IP Contact Center), Cisco Unified
Communications Manager, and Cisco Unified Communications , allowing for the deployment of
a range of customer-care solutions that tightly integrate web-based customer and attendant
portals with a diverse range of network services such as consultative transfer and location-
based routing for optimizing customer management and the customer experience.
Business Voice and Hosted Unified Communications

Through SIP or H.323, service providers can offer multisite voice and data, and voicemail and
messaging using applications such as Cisco Unity® Unified Messaging. The Cisco PGW 2200 can
transparently interwork services from the enterprise network into the service provider
network. Service providers can also offer services such as TDM private branch exchange (PBX)
interconnection using the protocols available on the Cisco PGW 2200, and can interwork both
new and existing services with Cisco Unified Communications Manager by using the Cisco PGW
2200 for full feature transparency across the network.
The Cisco PGW 2200 supports H.323 Annex M.1, allowing the smooth migration from TDM to IP
PBXs in hosted communications scenarios without loss of any supplementary service.
A web portal allows operators to monitor and configure the entire business voice solution with
flexibility. The alarm and management subsystems include Simple Network Management
Protocol (SNMP) and configuration through text and graphical interfaces.

SIP Trunking

With Release 9.8(1), the Cisco PGW 2200 supports SIP trunking and will interwork over a SIP
trunk to the Cisco Unified Communications Manager.

Fixed Mobile Convergence

The proven interoperability between the Cisco PGW 2200 and a diverse range of networks,
media gateways, and application servers allows its use as a component to support a variety of
applications, such as Fixed Mobile Convergence, where the softswitch can be used with the
application server for functions such as "forking" of calls to fixed and mobile destinations for
higher call-completion rates, call reattempt, and call rerouting. The industry-standard
capabilities can accelerate deployment of services by helping ensure interoperability with third-
party products.

National and International Transit

Carriers can take advantage of the PSTN interconnection capability of the Cisco PGW 2200 and
transport traffic via IP over optimal routes using Time-of-Day Routing and Least Cost Routing
capabilities. Pre- and post-paid services can be enabled, and Intelligent Network AIN or INAP
functions for services such as 800 and 900 numbers. The onboard database infrastructure
allows for a proven local number portability (LNP) capability of an extremely large number of
subscribers today. The Cisco PGW 2200 provides revenue assurance through fault-tolerant
billing and network security testing against all its interfaces, and regulatory compliance
including Lawful Intercept capability.

Cisco PGW 2200 Release 9.8(1)

Release 9.8(1) Overview

Major highlights of Cisco PGW 2200 Release 9.8(1) include further database improvements for
greater capacity and infrastructure changes resulting in increased performance. The Cisco PGW
2200 already provided Media Gateway Control for TDM using MGCP or H.248 protocols; this
capability is now strengthened with full H.248 Version 2 implementation supporting control of
gateways in an IP-IP call capacity, controlling and anchoring the media stream and performing
Network Address Port Translation (NAPT). In a distributed architecture, the Cisco PGW 2200 can
now be placed in a signaling border element or controller (SBE/SBC) role controlling at the edge
one or more data border elements (DBEs). If a Cisco MGX Family gateway is controlled it is now
also possible to do transcoding. Other DBEs can include the Cisco 7600 or XR 12000 Series
Routers.
The introduction of SIP profiles on the Cisco PGW 2200 enables the system user to have
powerful configuration control of the transparency of information when working in a SIP-SIP
B2BUA mode by taking trust issues fully into account and providing a robust SIP interconnection
capability. In addition, when handling SIP calls, the Cisco PGW 2200 can now dynamically select
the underlying transport type as either UDP or TCP and can interwork the two on a call,
allowing greater resilience for service provider networks.
To meet the increasing demand for interworking with SIP networks, support for SIP-I (profile C
of ITU Q1912.5) is introduced on the Cisco PGW 2200, supporting an initial set of protocol types
and allowing interconnections via SIP carrying ISUP information transparently.
As already briefly mentioned, the Cisco PGW 2200 can now also analyze according to SIP user
and domain information and offers the possibility to configure screening against sources. It is
also possible to translate destinations either in non-E.164 or E.164 format and to translate from
one format to the other.
In summary, within an NGN IMS or TISPAN architecture, the Cisco PGW 2200 can be fitted into
the roles of MGCF, BGCF, or IBCF and offers Service Policy Decision Function (SPDF)
functionality.

Product Evolution

The strong feature set of the Cisco PGW 2200 has allowed for a wealth of applications for voice
networks. The Cisco PGW 2200 can be used for transit services, and large-scale network-access-
server (NAS) farms for dialup Internet access. The proven H.323 capabilities of the Cisco PGW
2200 help service providers allow direct voice-over-IP (VoIP) interconnection to enterprise
customers. In addition, a rich level of SIP functions is present in the Cisco PGW 2200 for service
provider interconnection. For service provider-hosted IP telephony solutions, the Cisco PGW
2200 allows for direct IP connections to voice gateways and IP PBXs such as the Cisco Unified
Communications Manager with phones communicating through Skinny Client Control Protocol
(SCCP) and SIP. As service providers realize their ambition to carefully migrate to an all-IP
architecture, the Cisco PGW 2200 provides a unique, proven platform capable of TDM and PSTN
interoperability and ready to be repositioned and move forward as part of an NGN IMS or
TISPAN distributed network architecture.
Cisco PGW 2200 Summary

Cisco's industry-leading support for comprehensive SIP, PSTN, PBX, H.323, and Intelligent
Network protocols, and its patented universal call model, have resulted in a world-class design
with a rich feature set to enable creation of next-generation networks and services. The unique
capabilities, proven interoperability, and strong record of performance of the Cisco PGW 2200,
as well as Cisco's VoIP expertise and strong support infrastructure, are critical strengths to help
ensure that Cisco PGW 2200 deployments can provide an excellent softswitch solution.

Technical Summary

Tables 1 through 4 give features and technical information about the Cisco PGW 2200 Protocol
Gateway.

Table 1. Key Features

Feature Description Benefits

Enhanced SIP An extensive SIP feature set includes This support offers
support B2BUA mode, either transparent in a interoperability with a range of
trusted environment or Full with SIP endpoints and other SIP
Topology hiding in a non-trusted entities in SIP and mixed
environment. Midcall services are networks.
fully integrated between SIP and
other protocols, performance and
network congestion handling (for
example, reconfigurable
transmissions), and enhanced SIP
services interworking to all protocols,
including H.323. For SIP
interconnections SIP-I is available
along with the ability to choose the
transport UDP/TCP dynamically, for
greater resilience. Support for either
Strict or Loose routing is provided.

All-IP architecture All hardware can be geographically This architecture offers

distributed and is fully redundant. redundancy and graceful
scalability across sites.

Multiprotocol Call handling and supplementary Features can interwork across

support services are supported for any-to-any different networks and can be
protocol, not limited to SIP-SIP. migrated easily as the network
evolves.
Interconnection The Cisco PGW 2200 offers immediate A wealth of knowledge and
capability interconnection to public and private, interconnection history allows
circuit, and packet networks the Cisco PGW 2200 to operate
worldwide, according to ITU-T, ETSI, in many countries.
ANSI, IETF, TISPAN, and Third-
Generation Partnership Project
(3GPP) specifications.

Advanced routing The Cisco PGW 2200 offers an The wide feature set allows for
and analysis extensive feature list, available from flexibility in many critical areas
Cisco. Examples include service and of operation. Features can be
policy creation based on Time-of-Day configured within the real-time
Routing for network usage database, allowing changes to
optimization, call limiting for class of be updated and deployed
service to carriers, decision making rapidly.
based on Calling Party Number
(CGPN) or SIP Source user and
domain/Called Party Number (CDPN)
or SIP Destination user and domain,
release cause code and other
parameters, digit and parameter
modification such as Nature of
Address (NOA), codec preferred
routing, overload and congestion
procedures, and digit buffering for
international gateways. Full number
translations based on longest match
provide for rapidly modifying
CGPN/CDPN or redirecting numbers.
Trunk-group properties can be
configured in Extensible Markup
Language (XML) format for ease of
maintenance.

Onboard, real- Many tables, such as a number Allows the Cisco PGW 2200 to
time database portability table, are possible to be a single-device solution
support analysis functionality. Current offering all forms of call
maximum number of entries is 70 screening and routing.
million.

Distributed The Cisco PGW 2200 can operate as a The Cisco PGW 2200 supports
Session Border Signaling Border Element (SBE) within protocol interworking and
Controller (SBC) a distributed SBC architecture. provides centralized analysis
and routing as well as carrier-
functionality class billing capability. It can be
placed neatly within an
IMS/TISPAN architecture
supporting both PSTN and VoIP
traffic simultaneously.

Enterprise and call A range of features such as blind and The Cisco PGW 2200 can be
center capability consultative call take-back and used for multitenant hosted
transfer are provided. services. In the small
configuration the Cisco PGW
2200 is also suitable for
enterprise-managed
applications.

Application-layer The Cisco PGW 2200 supports the The IP and PSTN capabilities
integration following protocols: SIP, Signaling allow for comprehensive
System 7 (SS7) INAP, ANSI AIN, and compatibility when deploying
Domain Name System (DNS). E.164 services.
Number Mapping (ENUM) is a
planned item.

Midcall triggering This feature supports extensive Services can be active and
events, for example SIP REFER, dual- benefit from user and network
tone multifrequency (DTMF), and input during the call.
QSIG Facility support.

Video call support The Cisco PGW 2200 supports video Enables Cisco PGW 2200 to
codecs to enable video call handling in inter-operate and support
addition to audio call handling TelePresence solutions as well
as other voice/video solutions.
This feature becomes available
June 2009.

Network Cisco MGC Node Manager (MNM) The Cisco PGW 2200 provides
management monitors multiple Cisco PGW 2200 for simple integration into
nodes and allows for graphical existing management tools and
configuration, monitoring, and portals as well as ready-to-use
generating reports and displays. text and graphical interfaces.
Command-line interface (CLI) support
is also available, in addition to support
for SNMP and RADIUS. Database
modifications require no downtime.

Billing The Cisco PGW 2200 collects and Comprehensive billing and
 stores CDR information. For offline measurements information is
processing and interrogation of this collected on the Cisco PGW
data, the Cisco Billing and 2200 and there is an option to
Measurements Server can be used in use the billing and
conjunction with the Cisco PGW 2200. measurements server to save
The server collects, formats, and and allow management of this
stores billing and measurements data data.
from the Cisco PGW 2200. The
formatted data can then be processed
by a billing system and other
measurement collection and
reporting systems.

Lawful Intercept The Cisco PGW 2200 has been tested The mediation devices allow for
with mediation devices from multiple immediate Lawful Intercept
vendors, using the Cisco Service connection between the Cisco
Independent Intercept (SII) PGW 2200 and many country-
architecture. specific mediation interfaces
worldwide.

Table 2. Protocol Support

Protocol Description Benefits

Family

SIP • SIP, RFCs 2543 and 3261 Allows for the creation of industry-standard
• RFC 3261 Strict and Loose SIP networks and enables a high level of
Routing compatibility interfacing into SIP networks
• SIP-GTD (Generic Type from multiple vendors
Descriptor, 98-percent
compatible with ITU-T Q.1980.1,
Narrowband Signaling Syntax)
• RFC 3204, MIME media types
for ISUP (SIP-T)
• RFC 2782 DNS SRV
• RFC 2976 SIP INFO
• RFC 3262 Reliability of
provisional responses
• RFC 3311, SIP UPDATE
• RFC 3323, SIP Privacy: id
• Q.1912.5, SIP P-Asserted-
Identity
 • draft-ietf-sip-privacy-04 Remote
Party ID
• Q.1912.5 ITU ISUP SIP/SIP-I
interworking
• RFC 3455, P-Headers (for 3GPP
IMS)
• RFC 3515, SIP REFER
• RFC 3892 SIP Referred by
mechanism
• draft-levy-sip-diversion-08 SIP
Diversion header
• SDP RFCs 2327, 3264, and 4566
• RFC 4028 Session timing
• SIP-I: Q.1912.5 (03/2004),
"Interworking between Session
Initiation Protocol (SIP) and
Bearer Independent Call Control
Protocol (BICC) or ISDN User Part
(ISUP) (doesn't support BICC)
• RFC 2915 & 3263 DNS NAPTR
• RFC3326, SIP Reason Header
Field
• RFC-3265, SIP telephone Event
Notification (In-dialog SUBSCRIBE)
• draft-Mahy-sip-signaled-digits-
00 (for application/dtmf-relay)

H.323 • H.323 Versions 2 and 4 (H.225 ITU standards-based VoIP communications

and H.245) with proven interoperability with a large
• H.323 Annex M.1 range of H.323 endpoints and strong
• H.246 Annex C interworking capabilities to SIP and PSTN
networks; Annex M.1 can allow for complete
• H.323 encoding of G.726 Annex
interworking of services between TDM PBXs
B
and IP communications, such as Cisco Unified
• Non RAS Mode Communications Manager

Gateway • IETF MGCP (RFC 3435) Standards-based communication to gateways

control • H.248.1 Version 2 available in for media connection and border control
Q3 2007, including H.248.4, 8, 10, functions
14, and 37
Enterprise • ITU-T Q.931 Digital Subscriber Protocol and service interworking support for
Signaling System Number 1 connection to corporate voice networks
(DSS1) worldwide
• AT&T 41459 ISDN PRI
• ETSI ISDN PRI ETS 300 102
• ETSI/ECMA QSIG EN 300 172
and related supplementary
services
• BTNR 188 DPNSS 1 and
ND1301:2001/03

SS7 • ITU-T ISUP Q.761-764, Q.767, World-class SS7 support, including feature
ETSI ISUP V1-V2-V3, BTNR interworking to any protocol, IP, and PSTN
TUP/IUP, and ANSI ISUP (90+
country variants)
• ITU-T TUP Q.721
• ITU-T INAP CS-1 and Q.121X
• ITU-T TCAP Q.771-774
• ITU-T SCCP Q.711-714
• ANSI AIN 0.1 (T1.667),
Transactional Capabilities
Application Part (TCAP), and SCCP

Signaling • Backhaul Session Management Cisco pioneered, reliable, fully redundant

backhaul (BSM) over Reliable User carrier-grade signaling backhaul using
Datagram Protocol (RUDP) (draft- standards-based protocols
ietf-sigtran-reliable-udp-00.txt)
for DSS1 or QSIG Facility/Non-
Facility Associated Signaling
(FAS/NFAS)
• Extended ISDN User Part
(EISUP) over RUDP (inter-PGW)
• SIGTRAN MTP3 User Adaptation
(M3UA) (RFC 3332) over Stream
Control Transmission Protocol
(SCTP) (RFC 2960) (ISUP)
• SIGTRAN M3UA (RFC 3332) over
SCTP over IP (TCAP/SCCP)
• SIGTRAN SUA (RFC 3868) over
SCTP (TCAP/SCCP)
• SIGTRAN IUA (RFC 3057) over
 SCTP (DSS1 or QSIG)

Other IP • DNS Standard interfaces for compatibility,

interfaces • Secure File Transfer Protocol hardened and tested for vulnerability
(SFTP) prevention
• Secure Shell (SSH) Protocol
• SNMP
• RADIUS
• HTTP

Table 3. Hardware Support

Device Type Supported Hardware Benefits

Signaling • Cisco IP Transfer Point (ITP) To support the widest range of

gateways implemented on the Cisco 2811 IP requirements, a large family of signaling
Transfer Point LinkExtender (ITP-L). backhaul support is available, from
Cisco 7204, 7206, 7301, and 7600 integrated functions within the media
Series. Also available on the Cisco gateway to the equally cost-effective ITP-
2651XM Series (end of sale), and L and the higher-performance Cisco ITP.
the Cisco 7500 Series (end of sale)
• Cisco Signaling Link Terminal (SLT)
on the Cisco 2611XM (2 link) and
Cisco 2651XM (4 link) (both end-of-
sale products)
• Cisco Integrated SLT on Cisco
AS5350 (end of sale), and Cisco
AS5350XM, AS5400HPX (end of
sale), and AS5400XM

Media • Cisco AS5350, AS5350XM, The Cisco universal gateways or

gateways AS5400HPX, and AS5400XM integrated services routers can be used
Universal Gateways for many networks, including hosted
• Cisco MGX 8880 (Media Gateway solutions, and the larger Cisco MGX
Control Protocol [MGCP] and Family gateways can be used for high-
Trunking Gateway Control Protocol density TDM and VoIP traffic. A single
[TGCP]); H.248 support for voice Cisco PGW 2200 can support 1000
interworking services module gateways for expansion.
(VISM-PR) and voice switch services
module (VXSM)
• Cisco 1700, 2600, 2700, and 3700
Series access routers
 • Cisco 2800 and 3800 Series
Integrated Services Routers

DBE • Cisco 7600, ASR 1000 Series and These are the gateway DBEs that have
gateways MGX VXSM been validated with the Cisco PGW 2200
as SBEs so far. Note that the MGX VXSM
will be used where transcoding is
required.

Cisco PGW • Sun Netra X4200M2 The highly cost-effective carrier-grade

2200 • Sun Fire X4600M2 Sun Netra X4200 is ideal for many
hardware • Sun Netra 210, Netra 240, Netra networks. The Sun Netra 440 and X4600
platforms 440, and Sun Fire V120 and V210 (all are capable of higher throughput.
end of sale)

Table 4. Configuration Metrics

Device Sizing Information per Cisco PGW 2200 Benefits

Type

Signaling Up to 96 signaling gateways (M3UA), 8 Graceful scaling of signaling

gateways through SCCP User Adaptation (SUA); up interfaces
to 1536 M3UA signaling paths

Media Up to 1000 media gateways (MGCP), Graceful scaling of VoIP and PSTN
gateways 150 (ISDN/QSIG) or 256 (NAS for dialup network size
access)

SS7 point Up to 1536 destination point codes Large number of OPCs and DPCs
codes (DPCs), 6 originating point codes (OPCs), possible, for the greatest flexibility in
and 8 capability point codes per OPC PSTN interconnection

Product Migration Options

The recommended Cisco PGW 2200 release for existing deployments and all new networks is
Release 9.8(1), which is now available. Release 9.8(1) is compatible with earlier releases.