Check back tomorrow after the release. We will provide the initial modules here then.

The following support modules complement the ISO release:

Language Module

When we roll an ISO, we discard all of the language translations for all languages other than English. This is just to save space. This module contains all of the translations for packages on the ISO that were removed. Installing this module restores all of the translations.

Development Module

When we roll an ISO, we discard all of the development header files, static libraries, and manual pages from sections 2, 3, 5 and 9. These are required for developing software or for compiling packages from the Arch Linux AUR. If you want to do software development or compile packages on the distro, you need to install this module. Installing this module restores all of the manual pages, static libraries and header files that were removed from the ISO.

Software Development Catalogue

The ISOs do no ship with a compiler or a software build tool chain: not even the ABS (Arch Build System). To build packages you will need to install a fair number of packages from the Arch Linux core repositories. This software development catalogue will pull in all of the necessary tool chain for developing and compiling software on the package.

The following application (deployment) modules are planned—or in progress—with a brief description of each:

SS7 Monitoring Probe

This application modules turns the platform into an SS7/SIGTRAN signalling monitoring probe. It performs collection of signalling data, spooling to a centralized NOC, real-time monitoring feeds to management workstations or central collectors. All platforms will be capable of running this module in conjunction with their other signalling duties. Messages are captured in standard pcap and pcap-ng formats can can be read by the OpenSS7 Network Analyzer for a visual representation of the network from a NOC centre, and can be read an live captures fed to Wireshark (included in the ISO).

SS7 Link Concentrator

This application module takes traditional narrowband SS7 links, interfaced using a single, dual or quad E1/T1 card and automatically converts them to SIGTRAN M2UA links and acts as a mini-SG for transporting traditional SS7 links from a number of remote sites back to a SIGTRAN signalling gateway (or STP).

TDM to VOIP Trunking

This module provides the ability to convert the TDM trunking at a remote switching centre to VoIP trunking transparent to the legacy switch. It transport the VoIP traffic using ATM over IP (more efficient than RTP) and converts narrowband signalling traffic to SIGTRAN; suitable to interconnection into a centralized media gateway. The module can be reversed to act as a concentrator at the carrier end and can interwork with an IP-IP MG. This solution scales down to scale up by providing a low-capital, cost-effective appliance that can be distributed to a large number of remote locations.

Signalling Gateway/Signal Transfer Point

This module is a full blown SIGTRAN SG and SS7 STP. It can convert signalling traffic between traditional and SIGTRAN signalling formats using M2PA, M2UA or M3UA. Put it in front of an STP or use it as an STP. It is intended to use the self-organizing fault-tolerant clustering with self-configuring automatic point code allocation and routing. All traffic can be monitored, captured, collected, and fed to the NOC in real-time. Each node in the cluster will support 96/124 signalling links, and can pass 1 Gbps of signalling traffic (enough for a medium sized country).

Media Gateway

Full blown media gateway. Initially using quad E1/T1 cards for TDM but eventually the DS-3 and OC-48 cards highlighted below. Full ATM over IP cross-junctors and self-organizing fault-tolerant failover.

IP Transcoder

This module provides a straightforward IP-IP gateway, RTP transcoder, SBC, and pin-hole firewall. It aims to provide 64,000 fully transcoded channels per node without DSP (purely in software) using the parallel processing capability of STREAMS and the SSE4 computing capabilities of the D525 processor.

CNAM/LIDB Cache

This module provides a CNAM/LIDB cache for caching a local exchange carriers own CNAM and LIDB records to avoid excess charges for intra-switch and inter-switch calls within the switch centre. The probe module, above, provides automatic priming of the database.

DS-3 Card

This module uses the high-performance STREAMS stack to tear apart DS-3 frames in software by placing a card such as the Sangoma DS-3 card into clear channel mode and performing M3-1 multiplexing in software. This will allow the fanless hardware appliance to interface 672 channels of TDM or narrowband signalling links. These DS-3 cards are down to about $600 a piece and are quite cost competitive with the quad E1/T1 cards.

OC-48 (or Quad OC-3/OC-12) Card

This modules supports an optical card of our own design that will fit in the little chassis described under Hardware. It will interface quad OC-3, quad OC-12 or OC-48 depending on the SFP modules installed. The target cost of this open-hardware project is $1,500 per card, and it will do a whopping 64,000 voice channels with full working and protect and automatic fail-over.

ATN Ground Router

This modules provides a fault-tolerant clustered ATN ground router. Using the STREAMS X.25 and OSI stacks. Full IDRP and interworking to X.25 over SCTP.