Introduction - Patton electronics SmartNode Series Software Configuration Manual

1 • System overview

Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of the main elements of a SmartNode system and includes the follow-
ing sections:
• SmartNode hardware platforms (see
• SmartWare embedded software (see
• SmartView Management Center tools (see
A complete SmartNode system or network, as installed in any of the application scenarios introduced in section
"Applications" on page 25, is typically composed of three main elements plus a third-party network infrastruc-
ture:
• The first and most obvious element is the SmartNode devices (also referred to as hardware platforms or net-
work nodes) that provide the physical connectivity, the CPU and DSP resources. All SmartNode models
support packet-routed and circuit-switched traffic equally well.
• The second element comprises the embedded software—called SmartWare—running on the SmartNode
hardware platforms.
• The third element is the set of SmartView Management Center tools for configuring and controlling
SmartWare and SmartNodes in a network. Complementing the management interfaces provided in
SmartWare, the SmartView tools enable network administrators and operators to handle large numbers
of SmartNode devices.
• Finally, a third-party IP network and transmission infrastructure provides IP connectivity between the
above elements. This infrastructure can range from a simple Ethernet hub or switch to highly complex net-
works including multiple access technologies, backbone transmission, and services nodes.
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SmartWare Software Configuration Guide

Introduction