. . __ __._____._____:_____._____._____._____:_____._____._____ : Y : _ : _ Y_ _ : _ : . : ___Y __ : . : ____: --------| _ | _ | | _/ ___j _ | | l___ | \_ | | | \_ |-------- _\\//_ | : : : : : | L : | :__: : | | / : | : | : _\\//_ (_o,O) `--'--'--'--'--'--^-----'--'--' `--'-----^-----'-----'-----' (O.o_) " " infomation on the TXEx exchange based processors. " " typed by iNFERNO mMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMmMm The TXE series of switches are widely used in the English phone system. They are a step down from the digital switches (TXD, AXE10, UXD5 etc..), being electronic (and not fully digital). A TXE is controlled by its exchange based processor which is an ICL DRS300 level 70 microcomputer running UNIX. What you must remember is that it doesn`t handle the calls for the resident area the switch itself does that but it does control the switch and is the main interface between man and computer. The E.B.P. is connected to both the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network, the one you use) and the PSN (Packet Switched Network). General communication between the EBP and external computers is made using the PSN, but when this is unavailable the PSTN is used. For this reason, if you do some scanning of TXE exchanges you will probably come across it after some time (but thats a LOT of time scanning!!). Inside the actual exchange it`s connected to a micro-LAN (Local Area Network) from which the terminals in the exchange can access it - if the user has full account details. All the EBPs in an area are connected to a Central Site Processor which handles up to thirty other EBPs, which communicate as 'nodes' on an X.25 network (the PSN as mentioned before). Being a typical UNIX system, when logging on the 'Login' prompt will show and the user will have to identify himself (or herself??). Again, some users may be presented with the UNIX shell prompt instead. It uses a COMFORTE menu system (COMputers FOR Telephone Exchanges) which displays all the options on screen (i'm not too sure how this is handled remotely, but it is similar i think).