Overview   |    Specifications   |    Learn More

BigBand FastFlow^® BPM (Broadband Provisioning Manager) enables cable operators to streamline the activation and configuration of broadband services. Designed with superior versatility, best-of-breed scalability and the highest levels of reliability and availability, FastFlow BPM provides operators of all sizes the tools to maximize service revenue and increase subscriber satisfaction.

• Carrier-class suite of provisioning servers streamlines activation and configuration of broadband cable services
• Cost-effectively automates deployment of cable modem, EMTA, RG and CPE devices
• Simplifies activation of highly differentiated services such as tiered high-speed data, VoIP, bandwidth on demand, and video over DOCSIS
• Unrivaled performance and best-of-breed scalability through centralized and distributed deployment options without expensive proprietary hardware or per-feature licensing
• Seamlessly scales from small to large subscriber deployments cost-effectively, meeting service demand pressures and minimizing the impact on network operations costs
• Supports all DOCSIS, PacketCable, CableHome, OpenCable and DSG standards with the broadest array of functionality all in one platform
• Interoperable with a wide range of multi-vendor devices
• Supports full provisioning server redundancy for high availability

BigBand FastFlow cost-effectively automates the configuration and activation of cable modems, EMTAs (embedded multimedia terminal adapters), RG (residential gateways), CPE (customer premise equipment) and simplifies deployment of new highly-differentiated triple-play services such as, tiered high-speed data, VoIP, bandwidth on demand, and video over DOCSIS^®.

Fully interoperable with a wide range cable broadband devices and industry leading CMTS’s (cable modem termination system), FastFlow provides operators superior versatility supporting all DOCSIS, PacketCable^®, CableHome^®, OpenCable™ and DSG (DOCSIS set-top gateway) standards, and the broadest array of functionality, such as a robust user-friendly CLI (command line interface) and GUI (graphical user interface) all in one platform.

Unrivaled performance and best-of-breed scalability is achieved through FastFlow’s centralized and distributed server deployment options. BigBand Networks estimates that FastFlow provides 50 percent faster device registration than the nearest competitor, and can support over 2 million LDAP entries in a single server. Unlike other in-class server platforms, FastFlow does not require expensive proprietary hardware or per-feature licensing. This allows operators to seamlessly scale from small to large subscriber deployments cost-effectively, meeting service demand pressures and minimizing the impact on network operations costs while avoiding the performance problems often associated with provisioning systems.

BigBand FastFlow also supports full provisioning server redundancy, which provides the highest levels of reliability and availability necessary for data, voice and video services.

BigBand FastFlow BPM streamlines the activation and configuration of broadband services

User-Friendly Management Suite
BigBand FastFlow makes it easy to configure CPE devices and provision services using a carefully designed, Java-based graphical user interface. Screens are displayed in a tree hierarchy that can be navigated intuitively, and provide a wide array of performance monitoring information and other data. An industry-standard CLI is also provided for control and diagnostics.

FastFlow Graphical User Interface
SNMP provides seamless access to critical statistics and functionality from local and remote locations, and facilitates interoperability with a broad range of CMTS platforms and third-party equipment.

Dynamic generation of configuration files and streamlined provisioning procedures help reduce administrative costs and human errors.

Full DOCSIS/EuroDOCSIS Server Suite Support
BigBand FastFlow supports the full DOCSIS/EuroDOCSIS- servers suite functionality all in one platform:

• DHCP - assigning IP addresses to cable modems, EMTAs, CHPSs, and CPEs;
• DNS - includes Dynamic DNS support for mapping a static FQDN (Fully-Qualified Domain Name) to a dynamically assigned IP address;
• TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) - downloading configuration files to cable modems, CHPS, and EMTAs;
• ToD (Time-of-Day) - maintaining network time;
• Syslog (System Log) - monitoring and storing information on system and network events.

In addition BigBand FastFlow supports dynamic configuration files for both DOCSIS- and EuroDOCSIS-compliant cable modems, CableHome PSs, and PacketCable-compliant EMTAs, a requirement for enabling real-time service selection and modification.

Full Server Redundancy
BigBand FastFlow supports full provisioning server redundancy, which provides the highest degree of reliability and availability necessary for triple-play data, voice and video services. Provisioning server redundancy is implemented with a two server platform primary and secondary. If a primary FastFlow server stops functioning, the secondary server immediately takes control of the system and becomes the primary server. When the malfunctioning primary server failure is repaired, it then reverts back to becoming the primary server.

BigBand FastFlow redundancy protects against:

• During the boot process, the cable modem, CHPS, or EMTA requests a configuration file from FastFlow BPM;
• If FastFlow BPM cannot obtain a subscriber profile from the directory server FastFlow BPM provides the device with the last known configuration file in its local cache, enabling the device to successfully complete the boot process.

Centralized Management of Distributed Servers
BigBand FastFlow allows operators to use a centralized CLI or GUI user interface to configure FastFlow BPM distributed servers. Because multiple servers can store all service and subscriber information on the same directory server, the distributed FastFlow servers appear to operators as a single, unified system.

Rock-Solid Security
BigBand FastFlow provides a wide array of security features to protect against unauthorized access and data loss. These features include:

• Use of IP chains to protect the FastFlow Linux OS from unauthorized access by filtering inbound or outbound packets based on user-selectable filtering rules;
• Restricting access to the GUI and CLI to users that have an account. FastFlow supports role-based access profiles and customizable login accounts. This includes four levels of access: read only, read/write, CSR and read/write/user admin. In addition, access can also be controlled on a regional level;
• Limiting access to SNMP MIB objects to only authorized users; and full SNMPv3 security.

In addition, FastFlow supports the full PacketCable security specification.

Secure PacketCable EMTA Provisioning
BigBand FastFlow supports EMTA device network provisioning to enable IP-based voice communications over cable networks. An EMTA device contains the interface to a physical telephony device, a network interface, CODECs (Coder-Decoders), and all signaling and encapsulation functions that are necessary for VoIP support, carrier-class features and QoS.

In addition, FastFlow BPM supports SIP EMTAs. Support for SIP, the prevailing industry standard for VoIP telephony systems allows FastFlow BPM to support a much broader-range of EMTAs. SIP-based EMTAs often delivery broader functionality and cheaper infrastructure costs to the operator than non-SIP devices.

KDC Support
In a PacketCable network, the KDC (Key Distribution Center) server manages security between EMTAs and FastFlow BPM. Operators can use a third-party KDC server to provide this security between EMTAs and FastFlow. Since a network considers an EMTA to be an untrusted device in a network, the EMTA must prove it’s identify to FastFlow before the EMTA can communicate with FastFlow.

CableHome Support
BigBand FastFlow CableHome support provides operators an IP-based architecture for managing home-networked services on a cable network through a DOCSIS cable modem. A CableHome device is a combination of a cable modem and PS (Portal Services). The PS component can be embedded or standalone and provides the following capabilities:

• Management and provisioning;
• Addressing and packet handling;
• Quality of service;
• Security.

DSG Device Provisioning
BigBand FastFlow is the first product of its kind to support provisioning of DSG devices; IP set-top boxes that integrate cable modem and digital television functionality. FastFlow BPM allows operators to distinguish DSGs from conventional cable modems and other devices.

OpenCable Advanced Host Device Support
BigBand FastFlow OpenCable advanced host device support provides operators control over software application updates to OpenCable consumer devices so that next-generation digital TV services can be provided to subscribers as soon as they become available. FastFlow support for OpenCable-based solutions, ensures operators that as the industry moves towards new digital TV services, they will remain well ahead of their internal deadlines to introduce OCAP-enabled and retail OpenCable devices with enhanced digital TV applications.

DHCP Option 43 Support
FastFlow BPM Support for DHCP Option 43 allows operators to execute immediate provisioning of newly released vendor devices, including provisioning of vendor class identification, embedded component and vendor specific capabilities.

Multiple ISPs
To provide subscribers with new services such as high-speed Internet access and phone service, operators may choose to partner with third parties. FastFlow BPM enables operators to partner with third parties to provide support for multiple ISPs (otherwise know as “open access”). Providing multiple ISP support enables cable subscribers to access the Internet through the ISP of their choice. FastFlow supports an unlimited number of ISPs.

OSS Integration
A performance and reliability optimized LDAP directory server stores all FastFlow service and subscriber information. Any OSS can use LDAP to access this information, thereby simplifying the integration of FastFlow into a cable operator’s existing OSS.

Enhanced Patch Management
An innovative design differentiates BigBand FastFlow’s operating system from other software components, allowing the platform to continue operating during an upgrade streamlining the patch management process and reducing operations cost.

Simplified Application Integration
Embedded support for SOAP (Service Oriented Architecture Protocol) and XML (Extensible Markup Language) device management delivers easy and simplified integration with 3rd party billing and mediation systems.