Cisco ATA adaptor, ATA 186, ATA 188 Overview
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Cisco Analog Telephone Adaptor Overview
This section describes the hardware and software features of the Cisco Analog Telephone Adaptor
(Cisco ATA) and includes a brief overview of the Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP).
Cisco ATA analog telephone adaptors are handset-to-Ethernet adaptors which allow regular analog
telephones to operate on IP-based telephony networks. Cisco ATAs support two voice ports, each with
an independent telephone number. The Cisco ATA 188 also has an RJ-45 10/100
This section covers the following topics:
• Overview of Media Gateway Control Protocol, page 1-2
• Hardware Overview, page 1-3
• Software Features, page 1-5
• Installation and Configuration Overview, page 1-9
Figure 1-1 Cisco ATA Analog Telephone Adaptor
BASE-T data port.
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CISCO ATA 186
ANALOG TELEPHONE ADAPTOR
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The Cisco ATA, which operates with Cisco voice-packet gateways, makes use of broadband pipes that
are deployed by means of a digital subscriber line (DSL), fixed wireless cable modem, and other Ethernet
connections.
Note The term Cisco ATA refers to both the Cisco ATA 186 and the Cisco ATA 188, unless otherwise stated.
Cisco ATA 186 and Cisco ATA 188 Analog Telephone Adaptor Administrator’s Guide for MGCP (version 3.0)
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Overview of Media Gateway Control Protocol
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Figure 1-2 The Cisco ATA 186 as an Endpoint in an MGCP Network
Chapter 1 Cisco Analog Telephone Adaptor Overview
Telephone/fax
Figure 1-3 The Cisco ATA 188 as an Endpoint in an MGCP Network
Telephone/fax
V
Cisco ATA 186
V
Cisco ATA 188
Ethernet
Broadband CPE
(DSL, cable,
fixed wireless)
Ethernet
Broadband CPE
(DSL, cable,
fixed wireless)
Broadband
Broadband
Layer 3
IP infrastructure
Call Agent
Layer 3
IP infrastructure
V
V
Voice
gateway
PSTN
Voice
gateway
PSTN
Overview of Media Gateway Control Protocol
The Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP) is the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standard
for multimedia conferencing over IP. MGCP is an ASCII-based, application-layer control protocol
(defined in RFC2705) that can be used to establish, maintain, and terminate calls between two or more
endpoints.
Like other VoIP protocols, MGCP is designed to address the functions of signaling and session
management within a packet telephony network.
Signaling allows call information to be carried across network boundaries. Session management
provides the ability to control the attributes of an end-to-end call.
One aspect of MGCP that differs from other VoIP protocols is that MGCP endpoints rely on instructions
from a Call Agent to control call progression, call tones, and call characteristics.
MGCP provides the following capabilities to the control server:
• Determines the location of the target endpoint.
• Determines the media capabilities of the target endpoint. Using Session Description Protocol (SDP),
MGCP determines the lowest level of common service between the endpoints. Conferences are
established using only the media capabilities that can be supported by all endpoints.
Call Agent
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Chapter 1 Cisco Analog Telephone Adaptor Overview
• Determines the availability of the target endpoint.
• Establishes a session between the originating and target endpoint if a call can be completed. MGCP
also supports mid-call changes, such as adding another endpoint to the conference or changing a
media characteristic or codec.
• Each MGCP endpoint supports up to two connections per device. Each connection has a fixed
ID—0, 1, 2, or 3. Connection IDs 0 and 2 are assigned to MGCP Endpoint 0, and connection IDs 1
and 3 are assigned to MGCP Endpoint 1.
MGCP is a client-server protocol. The Call Agent handles all aspects of setting up calls to and from
endpoints. Call Agents or control servers provide the feature capabilities that a particular endpoint uses.
Endpoints connected to different Call Agents likely will have a different set of features.
Each control-server vendor determines its own set of features.
Hardware Overview
The Cisco ATA 186 and Cisco ATA 188 are compact, easy-to-install devices. Figure 1-4 shows the rear
panel of the Cisco ATA 186. Figure 1-5 shows the rear panel of the Cisco ATA 188.
Hardware Overview
Figure 1-4 Cisco ATA 186—Rear View
10BaseT ACT 5VPHONE 1 PHONE 2
RJ-11 FXS ports
RJ-45 10BaseT
Figure 1-5 Cisco ATA 188—Rear View
10/100 UPLINK10/100 PC LINKLINK 5VPHONE 1 PHONE 2
RJ-11 FXS ports
LINK LED
72210
Power
connector
ACT LED
72211
Power
connector
LINK LED
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RJ-45 10/100BaseT ports
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