The modular design of the 5ESS®-2000 Switch also carries through to its software architecture. The software extends the many advantages of a distributed processing environment throughout all the systems and subsystems of the switch. High reliability, incremental growth and flexible operation are among the benefits.

Lucent Technologies Bell Laboratories develops the software for the 5ESS®-2000 Switches. This renowned technical organisation also oversees the rigorous and extensive testing programmes which assure software quality. The ISO 9001/TickIT certification has been awarded the 5ESS®-2000 Switch in recognition of the consistent high quality of its software design and development.

The systems design and development approach for the 5ESS®-2000 Switch emphasises world-class quality and reliability, fault prevention, and the continuing commitment to finding and correcting problems as early as possible.

Distributed Processing for Switching

Most of the 5ESS®-2000 Switch software is written in the C programming language. From its start in UNIX environments, the C language has rapidly grown to become the most widely used of high-level programming languages. One reason for this success is that the C language lets software developers write machine-independent code. This, in turn, allows programmes to be readily moved from one processor to another.

The machine-independence of the software provides numerous advantages. Switch functions, for example, can be readily moved from the AM to the switching modules. One result is the stand-alone capability of the Remote Switching Modules.

More details are available through Lucent Technologies customer representatives or by email request to this Home Page site.

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