C•CURE 800/8000 Hardware Configuration Guide - Tyco Security ...

iSTAR Dialup OverviewiSTAR Dialup OverviewDialup iSTARs let you connect the C•CURE 800/8000 host to controllers atremote locations using modems and standard telephone lines.The C•CURE 800/8000 host and iSTAR phone line/modem connection isbased primarily on Windows standard telephony communications andRemote Access Service (RAS).• The lowest level of the communications, which deals with modem states,is handled by the Microsoft Windows Telephony ApplicationProgramming Interface (TAPI). TAPI supports the use of any type ofmodem on the host.• The higher level of the communications, which deals with thetransmission of C•CURE 800/8000 relevant data, is handled by MicrosoftRAS. RAS treats dialup connections as if they were network connections.As a result, the C•CURE 800/8000 host views the connection establishedbetween the iStar and itself via phone line and modem as any othernetwork connection.How Dialup Controllers WorkAs described above, the host and the iSTAR use a foundation of TAPI andRAS to support their connection. iSTAR controllers are organized into clustersas follows:• One controller designated as the Master provides the primarycommunications to the host for the cluster.• A backup communications path, the “secondary communications path,”is configured for the cluster to re-establish communications with the hostif a communications failure occurs on the primary communications path.The possible communications paths between the host and the iSTAR clusterare shown in the illustration in Figure 10-1 on page 10-3.10–2 C•CURE 800/8000 Hardware Configuration Guide