DSU Product Family Overview

Classes of DSUs

Basic

Basic DSU/CSUs are ideal for networks where there are no requirements for remote diagnostics or any form of centralized management.

Managed

Managed DSU/CSUs provide a way for an IT manager to view many remote devices from a centralized monitoring console. Managed DSU/CSUs can also generate alarms when certain network events occur, and forward those alarms to the management console to assist in network troubleshooting. A managed DSU/CSU typically includes an SNMP-compatible agent and supports standard interface MIBs.

Although slightly more expensive to purchase than a basic DSU/CSU, a managed DSU/CSU can significantly reduce service outage time because of its diagnostic capabilities.

Frame Monitoring

Frame Monitoring DSU/CSUs include the management features of a managed DSU/CSU, and can also monitor the performance of the public Frame Relay network.

In addition to monitoring Frame Relay SLA (Service Level Agreement) performance parameters, this class of DSU/CSU can also determine bandwidth usage peaks and can be used to correctly size the WAN service (FR port and PVC). The Frame Monitoring DSU/CSU provides the means for the IT manager to determine the optimal balance between performance and cost.

Add/Drop ports

Many businesses transmit data, voice and video over a WAN and use DSU/CSUs to connect multiple types of communications equipment. For integrating voice and data, you need the carrier to provide an integrated voice/data service. You also need an add/drop port on the DSU/CSU, which allows you to combine a data interface (V.35) and a fractional T1 or E1 onto a single WAN connection.

If business traffic levels from a PBX are relatively low, significant cost savings can be achieved by integrating these data traffic sources onto a single T1 connection.