The Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) Network
Push headend quality signals to the edge of the network
DOCSIS® 4.0 supports both evolutionary and revolutionary network technologies. Evolutionary DOCSIS 4.0 technology, such as Extended Spectrum DOCSIS (ESD), leverages existing HFC cable access architectures to expand network bandwidth (a maximum of 1.8 GHz in ESD networks) beyond what is currently supported by DOCSIS 3.1—an evolutionary stage of traditional hybrid fiber-coaxial infrastructure. Revolutionary DOCSIS 4.0 technologies such as Distributed Access Architecture (DAA), on the other hand, enable you to transition from a coaxial-based to (potentially) an all-fiber network infrastructure and push headend quality signals to the edge of the network —a revolutionary break from traditional HFC architectures.
CommScope’s portfolio of end-to-end DAA solutions supports a variety of network architectures, including Remote PHY and Remote MAC PHY. Our solutions are designed to grow with your network, so that you can leverage your current DOCSIS 3.1 network assets to support a DAA deployment now while future-proofing your investment for later DOCSIS 4.0 upgrades.
Full DOCSIS 4.0 DAA operation begins in the headend: DAA decentralizes and virtualizes headend and network delivery by placing the digital to RF interface at the optical-coax boundary in an access node. The analog links from the headend are also replaced, converting the service group’s analog fiber link to digital fiber Ethernet links, which expands bandwidth and helps to improve network performance. By remaking and redeploying the edge of the network and driving digital to analog conversion closer to the home, DAA provides better spectral efficiencies and increases the number of wavelengths supported on each fiber.
Other key advantages of DAA networks include:
- Enhanced performance via digital Ethernet links
- Migration to centralized data centers
- Flexible advertising, channel lineups, and bandwidth management
End-to-end DAA architecture
vCCAP Evo™
Visit CommScope’s vCCAP Evo Solution Page for more information.
Traditional, chassis-based CMTS cannot support full DOCSIS 4.0 operation, due to age and/or density requirements. Instead, DOCSIS 4.0 DAA networks replace HFC analog fiber technology with IP-based transport over digital fiber links to create a software-defined network. Virtualizing the headend is therefore a pre-requisite for DOCSIS 4.0 DAA operation.
CommScope’s vCCAP Evo solution is a virtual Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP) that can help you cost-effectively address DOCSIS 4.0’s evolving density, throughput, and efficiency requirements, rapidly adopt new headend technologies as they become available, and nimbly pivot to support new service tiers and expanded subscriber bases.
The vCCAP Evo platform is based on field-hardened functionality from the C100G I-CCAP chassis to support cloud-native, highly scalable, and highly available virtualized CMTS functionality. The vCCAP Evo platform also supports a separate, virtualized video auxiliary core via products such as CommScope’s Video Unified Edge (VUE). An ideal choice for your next-generation DOCSIS® 4.0 DAA deployments, the vCCAP Evo platform also has the versatility to support your current DOCSIS 3.0, DOCSIS 3.1, and D3.1Enhanced (D3.1E) networks as you transition to full DOCSIS 4.0 capacity.
VUE
Visit CommScope’s vCCAP Evo Solution Page for more information.
CommScope’s Video Unified Edge (VUE) supports the video data plane and video control plane, operating as an auxiliary video core in a DAA network to enable the delivery of video content to RxD devices. The VUE auxiliary core control plane (ACCP) communicates with RxDs to configure them for video services and to collect video-relevant telemetry. In the data plane, VUE ingests broadcast, narrowcast VOD, and SDV encrypted video MPEG transport streams, multiplexes them into operator-configured output transport streams, and encapsulates the transport stream video multiplexes into DEPI tunnels for delivery to RxDs.
Video Topology Manager (VTM)
The Video Topology Manager (VTM) is a high-level DAA video management solution that can manage multiple VUE video core systems. The VTM provides automation capabilities that enable you to configure and/or modify configurations of RxDs in mass. For operators that use the CommScope® DAC, the VTM can automate the creation of the DAA device population(s) frequency plans from the DAC’s existing channel maps. The VTM provides a central dashboard GUI that allows you to manage RxDs, narrowcast service groups, and broadcast service groups in real time.
HLX™ Domain Manager
DAA devices and other elements of the DAA network are managed by the CommScope HLX Domain Manager, a cloud-native management hub that helps maximize operational efficiencies and reduce costs. The CommScope HLX Domain Manager simplifies the onboarding, provisioning, and management of your DAA devices via automated workflows that enable you to minimize downtime caused by service interruptions and easily scale your network as you add devices.
You can deploy the CommScope HLX Domain Manager in a single server configuration or on multiple servers in a resilient Kubernetes cluster. Resilient cluster deployments enable you to manage more devices than you could with a single server.
HLX Domain Manager—resilient cluster architecture
DAA Nodes
CommScope’s portfolio of DAA nodes support a variety of deployment scenarios and network designs. You can choose from factory configured, full station nodes or select a modular upgrade kit (if applicable) to reconfigure a fielded CommScope node for DAA operation. CommScope DAA nodes support a full range of network architectures, including DOCSIS 3.1, D3.1Enhanced (D3.1E), Full Duplex DOCSIS (FDX) DOCSIS 4.0, and Extended Spectrum DOCSIS (ESD) DOCSIS 4.0. CommScope’s DOCSIS 4.0 DAA modules feature a Unified SoC design that supports both FDX and ESD operation; the DOCSIS 4.0 modules can also operate in DOCSIS 3.1 and D3.1E networks.
CommScope’s DAA portfolio includes the RD2322 module, which supports Remote PHY (R-PHY) and Remote MACPHY (R-MACPHY) DAA operation in DOCSIS 3.1 networks. R-PHY operation moves DOCSIS signal generation out of the headend and into a module in the access node. Remote MACPHY (R-MACPHY) does the same for DOCSIS signal generation and processing.
Specific CommScope DAA solutions include:
- RD1710-U6 Unified RPD Module for the Opti Max® OM6000® Node: The RD1710-U6 supports 1 DS x 1 US segmentation in DOCSIS 4.0 FDX/ESD networks and 1 DS x 2 US segmentation in legacy DOCSIS 3.1 networks.
- RD1424-M4 RPD Module for NC4000® and Opti Max OM4 Series Nodes: The RD1424-M4 supports R-PHY operation with up to 2 DS segments and up to 4 US segments in legacy DOCSIS 3.1 networks.
- RD2322 RxD Module for NC4000 and Opti Max OM4 Series Nodes: The RD2322 supports either R-PHY or R-MACPHY operation based on the software image loaded on the module. Software options support 1x1, 1x2, or 2x2 segmentation in legacy DOCSIS 3.1 networks.
- RD1710-U2 Unified RPD Module for the DC2182 Node: The RD1710-U2 supports 1 DS x 2 US segmentation in legacy mid-split and high-split DOCSIS 3.1 networks and mid-split, high-split and 392/468 MHz Ultra High Split DOCSIS 4.0 networks. The DC2182 node has a compact, cabinet-style form factor for street cabinet and MDU deployments.
Why CommScope?
Revolutionary Network Solutions
CommScope’s Access Network Solutions (ANS) has a comprehensive portfolio of revolutionary end-to-end solutions that can help you reinvent your network. By deploying next-generation technologies in targeted areas of your network, you can improve performance, drive efficiencies, and support leading-edge services to retain your current subscribers and win new ones. Whatever your business goals, CommScope has the products, experience, and know-how to help you achieve them.
Now Meets Next®
Building upon our tradition of innovative next-generation network technologies, ANS’s end-to-end portfolio of cable access network products includes cutting edge solutions for today, with an eye towards tomorrow’s next generation network technology.
End-to-End Systems Design and Integration
CommScope’s Professional Services team has a rich and diverse set of skills, processes, and methodologies to help you design, deploy, and expand your networks. Whether you need a complete, end-to-end HFC/DAA/FTTx network solution, or you’re planning projects in targeted areas of your network, CommScope’s Professional Services team provides support for every facet of your network upgrade project — from system design to after-sale services such as product training and operational support—to ensure you meet your network upgrade and optimization goals quickly, seamlessly, and economically.
Evolution and Revolution: The Many Paths to DOCSIS® 4.0
Solution Brief
Learn about the many evolutionary and revolutionary options for transforming your HFC network.
A side-by-side comparison of centralized vs distributed access architectures
White Paper
This paper defines and compares two Classes of Access Architectures that will emerge this decade for Cable Networking.
Unlocking the Potential of Remote MACPHY
White Paper
Download this white paper and explore how a new approach to distributed access architecture (DAA) evolution can help unlock your network’s full potential.
Additional resources
Services for Network Transformation
Your trusted partner for access network transformation, deployments, infrastructure management and engineering projects
Services for Network Transformation
Your trusted partner for access network transformation, deployments, infrastructure management and engineering projects