Regarding Lingo from Mitnik Testimony

[simon]

In regards to the article http://online.securityfocus.com/news/497 about K. Mitnik's testifying, I was wondering what some of the terminology was all about, and if I could get a better explaination of some of it... Or atleast some reading material to take to work ;)

"The ex-hacker also discussed a testing system called CALRS (pronounced "callers"), the Centralized Automated Loop Reporting System."

"DMS-100 switching systems."

Is that still used today, what is being used in PacBell (SBC) territory? Doesn't SBC own nevada bell too?


Is there any other background I should know here? (I haven't read about telco stuff in years! *grin*)

Thanks all,
simon

[skroo]

Originally posted by simon
"The ex-hacker also discussed a testing system called CALRS (pronounced "callers"), the Centralized Automated Loop Reporting System."

It's not listed at http://www.telecomdefinitions.com/ , but it sounds as though it's used to test the local loop (circuit from the CO to your home) for faults from the CO or operator's console. This is simply speculation on my behalf, though.


"DMS-100 switching systems."

The DMS-100 is a type of switch, competing with to AT&T's 5ESS / SS7 models. Essentially, it's what sits at the CO and actually gets your call from your phone to someone else's.

Also check out http://www.telecomwriting.com for more info. I'm giving the 50,000-foot-view on this.

Is that still used today, what is being used in PacBell (SBC) territory? Doesn't SBC own nevada bell too?

a) The DMS-100 is still very much in use today. PacBell / SBC has some, but they were mainly use by (IIRC) GTE. FWIW, Disneyland's telco needs are served by DMS-100s, IIRC.

b) Yes.

[simon]

yeah i'm hip to what switches are and do... and some other junk that i can pull out of "the memory hole"...

anyways, thanks!

[Grifter]

Either way, those are very good sites to know about.