Active Equipment Monitoring

Asentria provides a wide range of modular hardware to improve network management capabilities within a communication network. SiteBoss units have many specialized capabilities to give your Network Operation Center (NOC) better monitoring, access, and control capabilities over your remote base transceiver stations (BTS or cell sites). Asentria SiteBoss units are specifically designed to be used in the latest and most advanced wireless network build-outs. SiteBoss S571 units are particularly suited to direct management from your NOC of BTS sites. The S571 is an integrated power distribution unit with the same powerful linux processor and firmware as featured in our powerful SiteBoss S550 unit. The S571 is the most powerful tool available to put control in the hands of your NOC personnel to reduce the operating costs associated with potentially unnecessary service visits.

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WIRELESS MODEM ACCESS
A primary function of an Asentria S571 unit in an active equipment monitoring application is to provide wireless connectivity to a site when the primary means of connectivity, such as microwave backhaul, fails. This ability gives the NOC additional ability to diagnose and correct problems at a remote site, in the event that the primary method of connectivity fails. This ability, along with the ability to do DC reboot, is a primary reason why Asentria SiteBoss equipment is deployed in active equipment monitoring, access, and control applications.

AISG CONTROL
The roll-out of 3G & 4G systems has accelerated the use of antenna line products with digital remote control and monitoring facilities The Antenna Interface Standards Group (commonly referred to as AISG) is an industry standards group formed by collaboration between communication infrastructure manufacturers and network operators. AISG’s purpose is maintaining and developing a standard for digital remote control and monitoring of antenna line devices in the wireless industry.

AISG is a protocol that is used to control antenna tilt in a cellular network. AISG control is an option within the SiteBoss S571 unit. It allows an operator to avoid the cost of having to arrange for someone to climb the antenna mast in order to make manual adjustments of the antenna. Instead, the antenna tilt can be controlled from the Network Operation Center (NOC). Asentria’s AISG Control option is intended to work with antennas from multiple manufacturers.

DC POWER CYCLING
DC Power Cycling is a feature of certain SiteBoss units and Event Sensor peripherals. The S571 is an intelligent DC power distribution unit, taking in bulk power and distributing it via fuse protected relays to the other equipment in the cabinet. DC Power Cycling enables NOC personnel to access a SiteBoss unit, through an ethernet or wireless connection, and power cycle selected DC powered devices at the remote location. This helps prevent the need for service visits, while reducing costs and reducing the length of network outages, improving customer satisfaction with the network.

OUT-OF-BAND ACCESS
Out-of-band access is another feature of SiteBoss units being used to manage active service providing equipment. Using a wireless modem as an example, NOC personnel can access a SiteBoss unit via the wireless modem, and then connect through the SiteBoss via serial ports connecting the SiteBoss to active equipment, or through the SiteBoss’ ethernet connection to connect to other active equipment on the same network as the SiteBoss.

LOAD SHEDDING
Load shedding can be accomplished through the use of the internal scripting language within the box. This may require some effort on the part of Asentria technical staff. The most common example of load shedding is where, with the loss of main AC power, the SiteBoss begins to power down less vital equipment to prolong the life of the batteries at the cell site location. If AC main power is still off and it appears that the site is going to lose power entirely, the SiteBoss will turn off all equipment in a preferred order. When AC power is restored, the SiteBoss can power equipment back up in a preferred order as well.

Asentria provides a broad range of flexible, scalable, and easy-to-use products for management of remote telecommunications sites. Active Equipment Monitoring common use cases include:

NEW 3G & 4G BUILD-OUTS
SiteBoss units for active equipment monitoring are typically designed in to a new wireless network buildout. In the case of the SiteBoss S571, the unit is actually the power distribution unit for the site, so all other equipment is powered through the S571 device.

TYPICAL CUSTOMERS
SiteBoss units for active equipment monitoring have typically been mobile operators within N. America and Europe.

COMMONLY USED PRODUCTS
SiteBoss S571 devices, Expansion Cards, and Event Sensors, particularly the PB-2 accessory. The SiteBoss unit is almost always integrated directly in the Network Management Software via SNMP.