ActivStation

ActivStation is the technology platform common to all of ActivNetworks' products. The heart of the ActivStation is the TCP/IP connection interception mechanism, which allows the Transparent and Invisible deployment mode known as PLUG'n ACTIV mode.

fig 1

The ActivStation includes a patented process that allows for two-hour installation without network reconfiguration, thanks to the PLUG'n ACTIV mode.

(Cf — IP Transparency and the PLUG'n ACTIV mode).

The ActivStation is part of a longer-term vision. It is the result of ANVAR-supported research in the area of active networks and is the cornerstone of this architecture. It can therefore be considered part of the network cabling, a sort of intelligent cable able to process the traffic passing through it.

It is therefore the natural platform for installing and inserting processing services that affect the data traveling on the network. The ActivStation is a service insertion platform on the network.

The ActivStation is made up of the following components:

• A hardware platform,

• A fail-over card,

• The A.O.S, an operating system designed for network applications.

This platform can be used to install additional services and modules.

The A.O.S

A.O.S is the ActivStation's operating system. Its core is the transparent and undetectable TCP/IP connection interception mechanism. It also includes a specific API, the ASAPI, aimed at services and modules. This allows modules to process the connections that have been intercepted and "passed" to the services. The API also features a variety of tools allowing the development of services or the adaptation of existing programs to create new services.

If you want to know more about the specifications of A.O.S and its services, please register here.

Services

Services are applications designed to process the network's dataflow. The interception mechanism traps any connections that match pre- configured rules and passes them over to defined services.

Modules

Modules are functional add-ons that can also be installed on the ActivStation. There are two types: either standalone applications with a web user interface, or functional modules added to other services to provide additional functionality.