Introduction
555-230-024
1-6 Issue 5 January 1998
Carriers and Cabinets
Carriers are enclosed shelves composed of vertical slots that hold circuit packs.
Circuit packs make up the logic, memory, and switching circuitry for the system.
Port circuit packs connect to telephones, computers, and communications lines.
The carriers are designed to accept any type of port circuit pack in each circuit
pack position.
Each cabinet contains at least one carrier. The circuit packs fit into connectors
attached to the rear of the slots. Every connector is connected to signal buses
and power supplies in the cabinet. The cabinets also house equipment that sup-
plies power backup, ringing signal voltage, and mass storage for software trans-
lations.
There are four types of cabinets:
■ Compact Single-Carrier Cabinet. This cabinet, which can be mounted on
a wall, houses small system configurations for small organizations. It
contains one Processor Port Network and does not connect to any
Expansion Port Networks.
■ Compact Modular Cabinet. This cabinet is similar to the Compact
Single-Carrier Cabinet, but up to three of the cabinets can be connected
together.
■ Single-Carrier Cabinet. These cabinets are modular, can be connected to
Expansion Port networks, and can be stacked up to four high. They are
often used by small businesses that are growing or expect to grow. The
■ Multicarrier Cabinet. A tall cabinet that contains up to five carriers and can
be connected to Expansion Port networks. Multicarrier Cabinets are used
by large organizations that require larger configurations.