Telecom networks are provisioned with various Power and Cooling systems and devices that lack a uniform global standard for communication protocols, which in turn limits your ability to capture critical data about the current condition, status, and operational performance of the devices in your facilities.

It is true that nowadays, most telecom operators are deploying power and cooling devices that are SNMP compatible, making their integration and network management more efficient. However, the proliferation of SNMP devices requires more and more IP addresses which can be a hard task to fulfill in some facilities. That is why for large facilities, an IP Address Management (IPAM) device makes sense as one can economically regroup a large number of SNMP devices deployed across the facility accessible through a single IP address while saving IP addresses for revenue-producing Network Elements. In addition, an IPAM device will streamline network operations, cut the wait for IP Address attribution and eliminate the impact of IP Address re-allocation when IT staff is making network assignment modifications.

But the reality for most incumbent telecom operators is different as their facilities have been in place for a long-time where the Power and Cooling devices deployed are rarely IT secure and occasionally not even IP capable. However, a simple solution such as protocol conversion can easily be retrofitted and provides a ton of advantages.

Protocol conversion enables legacy devices to:

• Achieve in-depth insight into Power and Cooling systems health conditions
• Aggregate Power and Cooling systems data to optimize operational behavior

• Perform SNMPv3 integration of Industrialized Modbus RTU or Modbus TCP devices

• Make “IT secure” unsecure (SNMP v1/v2c) and non-HTTPS devices

• Access data remotely from legacy serial devices through the network

The above-mentioned advantages will help you minimize risks and generate savings as you gain constant access to Power and Cooling critical data not available to you before, or only available through a truck roll to the facility to get it. However, once you do get the data, chances are it is already obsolete.

A protocol conversion device such as Multitel’s iO Gateway can extend the useful life of legacy Power and Cooling systems or their monitoring devices by choosing to not replace them with secure SNMPv3 compatible equipment, extending the life of your network investments.

Multitel’s iO Gateway is a telecom grade product specifically designed for telecom network operators wanting to:

• Simultaneously access multiple Power and Cooling legacy devices remotely through a single IP Address

• Bring back or remotely reach out to non-IT secured or Ethernet/IP devices removed from the network

• Maintain remote access to native device’s HTTP interface for system configuration and maintenance purposes

• Increase IT security by converting any SNMP v1 or v2c trap into an SNMP v3 trap inform to Network Surveillance Management Tools/Software

For more information on the iO Gateway, visit our IP Address Management and Communication Protocol Security blog posts, our product page or contact us here.