Configuring Subscriber Management Server

A subscriber management system is used to manage the subscribers of Cable TV. Cable TV operators use the conditional access system to determine the channels to be given to their users. Cable TV allows users to choose from a bouquet of channels. It is not mandatory for users to choose all the channels that the Cable TV operator gives them. They can choose some of all the channels available. Subscriber management is the term that defines the entire management of this customer database.

A subscriber management server is used for cable TV subscription policy management. The server stores all details related to the customers. The server has data about new subscriber acquisition, existing subscriber channel subscription details, addition and/or deletion of channels by subscribers and similar other data. With the subscriber management server in place, cable operators can do bandwidth management – a technique that shows them how much bandwidth to be allocated to every subscriber.

Sometimes, there is a need to configure the subscriber management server. There could be various reasons to undertake this activity. It may be done to change the server architecture or subscriber data update. It is a complex technical process that can be undertaken by software programs developed by experts. There are various ways a subscriber management server can be configured. One of the most popular methods of configuration is done using an external DCHP server.

For your clients, you can configure the subscriber management server by using an external DCHP server. The procedure given below can be used on E-Series routers.

• Step 1: Enabling the DHCP external server application.
  host1(config)#service dhcp-external
• Step 2: Specifying each DHCP server for which to monitor the traffic. A maximum of four DHCP servers can be specified.
  host1(config)#ip dhcp-external server-address 10.10.10.1
• Step 3: Configuring a default policy for subscribers using a previously configured classifier group.
  host1(config)#ip policy-list filterAll
  host1(config-policy-list)#classifier-group filterGroupA
  host1(config-policy-list-classifier-group)#filter
  host1(config-policy-list-classifier-group)#exit
  host1(config-policy-list)#exit
• Step 4: Configuring a dynamic subscriber interface policy.
  host1(config)#profile disableUser
  host1(config-profile)#ip policy input filterAll
  host1(config-profile)#ip policy output filterAll
  host1(config-profile)#exit
• Step 5: Configuring a route map.
  host1(config)#route-map routeMapWest21
  host1(config-route-map)#set ip interface-profile disableUser
  host1(config-route-map)#exit
• Step 6: Enabling auto configuration mode.
  The substeps involve configurations for gigabit Ethernet (12/0) interface, ip address (typically 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0, etc.), configuring ip-subscriber including primary etc.

For your subscriber management server, the configuration can be done by expert third party vendors. There are many vendors available in the market that can configure your subscriber management server.

There are subscriber management server configuration software programs available in the market that can do a similar job for your subscriber management server. Through the configuration of the subscriber management server, you will effectively get to do subscriber management and keep your subscribers happy by giving them the best of services.