PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch based remote power control system for the better performance of ISPs in Bangladesh

摘要

There are Forty ISPs (Internet Service Provider) operate in Bangladesh which provide services like Basic Internet Connection, IP-VPN Services, MPLS, Mail Server, Intranet etc., to both Corporate & SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) users, along with individual users by various delivery method like ADSL, DSL, FTTH, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, Radio or simple Ethernet connection. To cover, vast geographic area & to provide last mile connectivity to their users, ISPs setup numerous PoPs or Point of Presence in strategic locations, equipped with required hardware and connected by backhauling of telecommunication lines or FTTH connections or Radio. Usually the strength of an ISP is measured by its number of PoPs and the number of subscribers these PoPs can handle. Nowadays PoPs are usually resided inside the rented space of telecommunication switching room or BTS (Base Transceiver Station). These PoPs are usually equipped with network equipment like Network Switch, Gateway, Router, E1 Converters, and Media Converters etc. Most of the time, these PoPs are not manned. And because these are rented, the original owners (Telecom Operators) keep those locked in. Problem arises when the mentioned equipment (E1 converter, Media Converter) becomes unresponsive, or in tech slang, gets hanged. To resolve the issue, one has to go to the remote site just to flip the power switch to perform a simple reboot of the unresponsive device. A common phenomenon in this situation is, often there aren't any technically trained personnel at the site who can perform maintenance and resets on equipment. Even if it is a manned station, the risk of wrong equipment getting rebooted is high. To encounter such problems, lower the travel time expense-time, eliminate the man-hour misused and specially minimize downtime, we developed a PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch based remote power control system by which a network administrator can control power of network equipments from anywhere and anytime. Power over E- hernet switch offers advance switching controls and provides power to network devices using Ethernet cables. These are the sole reasons which propelled the motivation to research in this particular issue. We believe this would help this competitive industry (ISP) to minimize cost and maximize service efficiency.