The Chicago NAP - Technical Information AMERITECH ADVANCED DATA SERVICES Mark Knopper February 7, 1995 Introduction The NSFNET Network Access Point for Chicago is operated by Ameritech Advanced Data Services (AADS), in cooperation with Bellcore. The NAP service is based on DS-3 ATM connections, with service in the Chicago LATA. OC3c (155 Mbps) ATM is also available. NOTE: We are experiencing problems with the ATM DSU being used for the DS-3 configuration. A contingency plan is being put into place, and is described at the end of this document. Chicago NAP Architecture The architecture for the NAP is Asynchronous Transfer Mode, based on a switch fabric supported by AADS in the Chicago LATA. The switching platform is the AT&T Globeview GCNS 2000. Interfaces supported include: DS-3 (45 Mbps) HSSI with ADSU, DS-3 Native ATM, and OC-3c (155 Mbps) SONET. Customers of the NAP service will use Permanent Virtual Circuits (PVCs) to communicate. Switched Virtual Circuit support is planned for 1995. Chicago NAP Service There is a monthly fee for access. A full mesh PVC configuration among NAP customers, with up to 100 PVCs included in the base service agreement. Bellcore's project to implement Customer Network Management will be supported once it becomes available, and vendor-suppled network management packages will be used also as they are available. The NAP service is a LATA-wide service, connecting to the Network Service Provider Points of Presence (POPs). Co-location is also available but is limited due to space and operations resources. The Route Server for the Routing Arbiter will be co-located in the AADS facility in Chicago. AADS will provide a NAP home page online via WWW. A mailing list, chicago-nap@aads.net, is being created for discussions specific to this NAP. Chicago NAP Network Operations AADS maintains a Network Operations Center, with 24/7 continuous service. An 800 number is provided for operations support for customers. A trouble e-mail account will be monitored by the NOC staff. AADS Network Operations personnel will work with the Routing Arbiter and NSP network operations staff to anticipate and respond to problems. Operational targets include 99.2% availability with less than 2.25 service outages per year. Chicago ATM NAP Attachment Policy AADS is developing an attachment policy. The current draft specifies that attaching customers should intend to form bi-lateral agreements with other NAP-attached networks; upgrade attachment technology and protocols as appropriate; and participate on the Chicago-NAP mailing list. AADS will remove PVCs between two customers at the request either customer. Attaching networks will be refered to the Routing Arbiter. NAP connections will operate at 45Mbps initially. When interoperable technology is available, connections at 155Mbps will be available. AADS will disconnect any station which is disrupting the reliable operation of the NAP maliciously or accidentally, and will attempt to contact the network(s) involved. The standard NAP service will connect customers in the Chicago LATA. Customers may also connect from out of the LATA if they select an inter-exchange carrier. Chicago ATM NAP Pricing Example The following monthly prices include ATM DS-3 service with ADSU, to a location in the Chicago area with varying circuit mileage. 0 miles 1-5 miles 6-10 miles 12 Month $5900/mo. $6425/mo. $7075/mo 36 Month $4750/mo. $5325/mo. $5900/mo. 60 Month $4000/mo. $4625/mo. $5175/mo. Plus Installation (non-recurring): DS-3 $2000 For more information: Contact nap-info@aads.net, or Mark Knopper at 313-913-0800 or mak@aads.net. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chicago NAP Contingency Plan Description The target configuration for the AADS Chicago NAP is ATM, at either DS3 or OC3c rates. However, due to a problem with the ATM DSU's being used, causing performance degradation, AADS is implementing an interim configuration. To allow the NSFNET transition traffic to be carried without performance problems, the MCI, ANS, and Sprint routers along with the Routing Arbiter's route server, will be connected via a local FDDI ring in the AADS Chicago facility. In order to implement this plan, the following steps are being taken: 1. AADS has ordered 3 cisco 7010 routers with 1 FDDI and 2 HSSI cards; 3 DS3 CSU/DSUs; and 3 DS3 ATM DSUs. These will be installed in the switch room in Chicago. An additional FDDI card may be needed for the Route Server configuration to connect to the ring. 2. The Sprint, ANS and MCI DS3 lines will be moved from the ATM switch to the HSSI ports on the routers; and the routers will be connected to each other via a local physical fiber FDDI ring. The Route Server Sun/Cisco can be connected to this ring. 3. The second router HSSI port and ADSU for each will be connected to the ATM ports on the switch, allowing the routers to communicate both via FDDI and ATM. This will allow the NAP to come up right away using FDDI, and ATM connections to be used simultaneously. NAP customers connected by ATM will be able to communicate with the FDDI NAP customers using these second ports. AADS does intend to continue to expedite testing and implementation of the new Kentrox ADSUs and ATM configuration. We intend for this FDDI contingency configuration to be used only as an interim plan until these problems are resolved.