Abstract:
FRM220 and FRM220A are sometimes confused, thinking that FRM220A is a replacement for the mature FRM220. This is not the case, and this document was created to answer the most frequently asked questions on 220 vs 200A.
--==FRM220A is for Ethernet Transport==--
Because the FRM220A has the Ethernet back-plane for each card to connect to the L2 switch, the FRM220A should be considered as an Ethernet Transport Platform. The FRM220 with its rich card set should be considered as a Multi-Service Platform.
--==FRM220A does not replace FRM220==--
FRM220A currently only supports those cards that have a back-plane Ethernet up-link. FRM220A is NOT a replacement for FRM220. It is designed with different applications in mind. However, those cards designed for FRM220A will also be supported in the FRM220.
--==FRM220A with integral switch==--
FRM220A has an integral 28-port(24+4) Gigabit Ethernet L2 managed switch that allows each card slot to up-link at 10/100/1000 speed to the switch. The aggregate is via 4x10/100/1000 copper LAN ports plus 4x1000/2500 SFP, available at the rear of the FRM220A chassis. These 8 ports can all be used at once for ring, for aggregation, or for cascading. The four fiber ports also support the 4x2.5G (10G) aggregation with compatible switch.
--==Can iMUX use for Mobile Backhaul?==--
iMUX was created specifically for mobile back haul (MBH) applications, where existing SDH or multiple E1s can be used for transmissions between the BSC and BTS locations of Ethernet data. It can also be deployed in any application where Ethernet is the end service but where E1 lines are the available transport.
--==New feature cards available==--
The two new cards that work with the GSW/SNMP aggregate are the 1000EAS/X and FSW103.
1. The 1000EAS/X is a "replacement/upgrade" of the popular 1000EAS. Utilizing a new switch chip and CPU, this card adds jumbo frame support and rapid spanning tree among other features including 'up-link to back-plane' ability to use GSW/SNMP as aggregate. 1000EAS/X can work in 220, 220A or as a stand-alone managed converter.
2. The FSW103 is a 1 fiber plus 3 copper Fast Ethernet card which also supports back-plane uplink to the GSW/SNMP switch. This card support industrial temperature range operation (-40~85C) but has no real L2 features. It does support enabling ALS (auto laser shutdown) and each of the copper UTP ports supports software setting of auto or forced Ethernet speed and Duplex. This card can work in 220, 220A or as a stand-alone converter when placed in CH01M with serial console.
--==Logical break between FRM220 and FRM220A==--
Adding support for the old cards into GSW/SNMP (FRM220A) is a double edged sword. Yes it is convenient to have all cards in one platform. But, the old cards have no back-plane Ethernet support, which wastes the Gigabit switch. The GSW/SNMP will have future product upgrade, such as 10G up-link and L3 switch. It would be a significant effort for R&D to continually port the massive FRM220 card set to a maturing FRM220A platform, unless the cards support back-plane Ethernet.
--==Continued development for FRM220A platform==--
There will be continued development to add new cards to the FRM220A to take advantage of the internal switch. Two cards already discussed would be a 4-port 100/1000Base-FX card (SFP based) as well as a 4-port 10/100/1000 (copper) card. Both would have up-link to the aggregate gigabit switch. This would provide very hi-density, in a 2U, up to 80 ports of copper and/or fiber mixed.
--==Will FRM220A cards work in FRM220?==--
Our design philosophy is very simple. Cards for FRM220A should support Ethernet up-link to take advantage of the internal L2 switch. But, all cards specifically designed for the FRM220A will also work and be manageable in the FRM220 with NMC-R2. They just won't have any back-plane Ethernet up-link.
We hope this as helped make a little more clear the differences in these products and how they are being developed. If you have any questions still, just e-mail us at
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FRM220 versus FRM220A Management Compatibility Table
| | FRM220 | FRM220A | EMS | | Card Types | NMC | NMC-R2 | GSW/SNMP | Ver. 2.18 | | 10/100i | YES | YES | | YES | | 10/100iS-2 | YES | YES | | YES | | 10/100i-2E | | YES | | YES | | 10/100A(AS-2) | YES | YES | | YES | | 1000E(ES,EDS) | YES | YES | | YES | | 1000EA(EAS,EAS-2F) | YES | YES | | YES | | 1000TS | YES | YES | | YES | | 155M(S) | YES | YES | | YES | | E1/T1-R(B) | YES | YES | | YES | | Data(V35,X21,530,232) | YES | YES | | YES | | **ET100 | | | | | | Serial(485/422/232) | YES | YES | | YES | | **Serial-FDC | | | | | | FXO/FXS | YES | YES | | YES | | FTEC | | YES | | | | 2.7G-2S(3-S) | YES | YES | | YES | | 4G-2S (3S) | | YES | | | | 10G-SS | YES | YES | | | | 10G-SXX | | YES | | | | MD40(80) | | YES | | | | FOM04 | | YES | | YES | | FOM01 | | YES | | | | E1/Data | | YES | YES | YES | | EoE1 | | YES | YES | YES | | iMUX5 | | YES | YES | | | iMUX8, 16 | | | YES | | | 1000EAS/X | | YES | YES | | | FSW103 | | YES | YES | | | **Eoe1/GFP | | | | | 100M(S)
| | YES | | | 1000MS
| | YES | | |
Updated November 25, 2011
NMC s/w version 2.26
NMC-R2 s/w version 3.35
GSW/SNMP s/w version 1.027
**New cards, still under development |
