Overview

A Transport Manager is a thin layer acting as an interface between a User Adaptation Layer and the IP Transport Layer. The Transport Manager that is used with the MAP-to-Diameter Interworking Function (MD-IWF( SS7 Application supports the MTP3 User Adaptation Layer (M3UA) and the Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) IP Transport Layer.

Transport Manager enables the configuration of "Transports" (SCTP associations with remote hosts over an underlying IP network). It provides the interface to the Adaptation Layer and manages the connections and data transmission from SCTP sockets.

Note: The terms Association, connection, and Transport are used interchangeably in this document.

The Transport Manager performs the following activities:

Handles Transport establish and tear down requests from the User.
Manages Transport state and its User Adaptation Layer states for each Transport.
Processes Transmit and Receive data.
Provides multihoming for SCTP associations and validation of SCTP IP addresses.

The Transport Manager provides connection-based services, including IP-based addresses, to the MD-IWF SS7 Application on a physical MP server. Each MP has two Signaling IP Addresses. The Transport Manager uses these Signaling IP Addresses as Local IP Addresses for Transports.

Limitations

Transport Manager has the following limitations:

Transport Manager does not support Transport Layer Security (TLS) and IPsec connections over SCTP.
Transport Manager does not support IPv6 IP addresses.