Even if the PC is on a LAN, it may connect to the airline host via a gateway, meaning that the network is slow and inefficient, as well as being proprietary. The network itself is one-dimensional. It supports only ALC protocols, which are difficult to incorporate with other protocols. This condition is an impediment to growth. The solutions that are available today are fragmented.
Some vendors provide terminals or ASCUs but no networking devices.
Cisco Solution for Network Consolidation Overview of Cisco's Solution to the Airline Dilemma Figure 3 illustrates Cisco's alternative to the traditional network configuration shown in Figure 2. Previously, these ASCUs were connected to modems or TPADs. The use of Cisco IOS software from end to end means that the quality of service, security, and network management features of the software can be employed. This support is employed by the routers identified as Central CPE in Figure 3. It's important to note that Cisco's solution supports the use of multiple data center routers, providing a method of resiliency if one path to the host fails.