Management Functions and Reference Models W.lilakiatsakun

TMN Layer Telecommunication Management Network Telecommunication Management Network A set of standards by ITU (International Telecommunication Union) A set of standards by ITU (International Telecommunication Union) It is a part of ITU Recommendation series M.3000 series It is a part of ITU Recommendation series M.3000 series It is defined by ITU Recommendation M.3010 It is defined by ITU Recommendation M.3010

Management Layer (1) TMN-layer: a management hierarchy reference model

Management layer (2) TMN (Telecommunication Management Network) TMN (Telecommunication Management Network) –Network Element –Element Management –Network Management –Service Management –Business Management

Management layer (3) Network element Network element –It means “the management agent “ –It provides agent services, mapping the physical aspects of the equipment into the TMN framework.

Management layer (4) Element management Element management –This layer deals with vendor specific management functions and hides these functions from the layer above, the Network Management layer. Examples of functions performed at the Element Management layer are: Examples of functions performed at the Element Management layer are: –detection of equipment errors, –measuring power consumption, –measuring the temperature of equipment, –measuring the resources that are being used, like CPU- time, buffer space, queue length etc., –logging of statistical data, –updating firmware.

Management layer (5) Network Management Network Management –To manage the functions related to the interaction between multiple pieces of equipment. –Involves with keeping the network running as a whole (end-to-end) Examples of functions performed at this layer are: Examples of functions performed at this layer are: –creation of the complete network view, –creation of dedicated paths through the network to support the QoS demands of end users, –modification of routing tables, –monitoring of link utilization, –optimizing network performance, and –detection of faults.

Management layer (6) Service management Service management –The Service Management layer is concerned with management of those aspects that may directly be observed by the users of the telecommunication network. –These users may be end users (customers) but also other service providers (administrations). Managing the services that the network provides and ensuring those services are running smoothly

Management layer (8) The notion of Service Management can be regarded as the most valuable contribution of TMN and other management frameworks The notion of Service Management can be regarded as the most valuable contribution of TMN and other management frameworks Examples of functions performed at the Service Management layer are: Examples of functions performed at the Service Management layer are: –Quality of Service management (delay, loss, etc.), –Accounting, –Addition and removal of users, –Address assignment, –Maintenance of group addresses Ex. A customer orders a phone service, a number of operations required Ex. A customer orders a phone service, a number of operations required Number allocation Number allocation Company directory updating Company directory updating Testing and troubleshooting Testing and troubleshooting

Management layer (7) Business management Business management –It is responsible for the management of the whole enterprise. –It can better be related to strategical and tactical management, instead of operational management, like the other management layers of TMN. –Examples Billing and invoicing Billing and invoicing Help desk management Help desk management Business forecasting Business forecasting Etc ? Etc ?

Reference Model (1) It can be used for guidance and helps It can be used for guidance and helps –To check a management system or operations support infrastructure for completeness (most important aspect) –Categorize and group different functions –To identify scenarios and use cases that need to be collected and to recognize interdependencies and interfaces between different tasks

Reference Model (2) FCAPS – Fault, Configuration, Account, Performance, Security FCAPS – Fault, Configuration, Account, Performance, Security OAM&P – Operation, Administration, Maintenance and Provision OAM&P – Operation, Administration, Maintenance and Provision eTOM (extended Telecom Operation Maps) – FAB :Fulfillment – Assurance - Billing eTOM (extended Telecom Operation Maps) – FAB :Fulfillment – Assurance - Billing

FCAPS (1) FCAPS is popular with enterprises and data providers FCAPS is popular with enterprises and data providers FCAPS is part of TMN model FCAPS is part of TMN model –F : Fault management –C : Configuration management –A : Accounting management –P : Performance management –S : Security management

FCAPS (2)

Fault management (1) Deal with faults that occur in the network Deal with faults that occur in the network –Equipment or software failure –Communication services fails to work properly Functionality (not limited to) Functionality (not limited to) –Network monitoring + alarm management + advanced alarm processing function –Fault diagnostic/ root cause analysis/ troubleshooting –Maintaining historical alarm logs –Trouble ticketing –Proactive fault management

Fault management (2) - Network monitoring Allow a network provider organization: Allow a network provider organization: –To see whether the network is operating as expected –To keep track of its current state –To visualize the current state The most important aspect of network monitoring is alarm management The most important aspect of network monitoring is alarm management Alarm is an unsolicited messages from the network indicate that some unexpected event has occurred Alarm is an unsolicited messages from the network indicate that some unexpected event has occurred –Link down –Intrusion detected

Fault management (3) - Basic Alarm Management Function (1) Alarm management with basic function Ex. Alarm management with basic function Ex. –Collecting alarms –maintaining accurate and current lists of alarms (historical alarm data) –Visualizing alarms and network state The most important task consists of collecting alarms and making sure that nothing important is missed The most important task consists of collecting alarms and making sure that nothing important is missed

Fault management (4) - Basic Alarm Management Function (2) Visualizing Alarm (a) Table list (b) Topology Map

Fault management (4) - Basic Alarm Management Function (3) Historical alarm data can be useful Historical alarm data can be useful –To resolve future problems faster by recognizing patterns and recalling their past resolution –To establish trends, to see how alarm rates and types of alarms reported have evolved over time

Fault management (5) - Advanced Alarm Management Function(1) Alarm forwarding function – , SMS Alarm forwarding function – , SMS Acknowledging function – allow network operators to acknowledge alarms Acknowledging function – allow network operators to acknowledge alarms –Trouble ticket The clearing of alarm – a second alarm to indicate that the alarm condition no longer exists The clearing of alarm – a second alarm to indicate that the alarm condition no longer exists

Fault management (6) - Advanced Alarm Management Function(2)

Fault management (7) - Alarm and Event filtering (1) Filtering - To block out as many irrelevant or less important event as possible or redundant alarm Filtering - To block out as many irrelevant or less important event as possible or redundant alarm –Subscribe only needed alarms as specified by some criteria –Deduplication : discard the redundant alarms within a time Correlation – To preprocess and aggregate data from events and alarms distill it into more concise and meaningful information Correlation – To preprocess and aggregate data from events and alarms distill it into more concise and meaningful information

Fault management (8) - Alarm and Event filtering (2)

Fault management (9) -Fault diagnostic and Troubleshooting (1) The analysis process that leads to a diagnosis is often referred to as a root cause analysis The analysis process that leads to a diagnosis is often referred to as a root cause analysis For example: Device Overheating For example: Device Overheating

Fault management (10) -Fault diagnostic and Troubleshooting (2)

Fault management (11) -Fault diagnostic and Troubleshooting (3) Troubleshooting can involve simply Troubleshooting can involve simply –retrieving additional monitoring data about a device. –Injecting some tests into a network or a device Loopback tests Loopback tests Ping / traceroute Ping / traceroute

Fault management (12) -Proactive Fault management Most fault management is reactive Most fault management is reactive –Deal with faults after they have occurred Proactive fault management Proactive fault management –Taking a step to avoid failure conditions before they occur –Test network to detect deterioration in the quality of service –Alarm analysis that recognizes pattern of alarms caused by minor faults that point to bigger problems

Fault management (13) -Trouble ticket The trouble ticket system helps keep track of which trouble tickets are still outstanding The trouble ticket system helps keep track of which trouble tickets are still outstanding Trouble tickets are assigned to operator who are responsible for resolving the trouble ticket Trouble tickets are assigned to operator who are responsible for resolving the trouble ticket Not every alarm results in trouble ticket, only when alarm conditions having impact to deliver services or need human intervention Not every alarm results in trouble ticket, only when alarm conditions having impact to deliver services or need human intervention

Configuration Management (1) It includes the initial configuration of a device to bring it up as well as ongoing configuration changes It includes the initial configuration of a device to bring it up as well as ongoing configuration changes Configuration management functions: Configuration management functions: –Configuring Managed Resources –Auditing the network and discovery what’s in it –Synchronization management information in the network –Backing up network configuration and restoring –Managing software images running on network equipment

Configuration Management (2) -Configuring Managed Resources This involves sending commands to network equipment to change its configuration settings This involves sending commands to network equipment to change its configuration settings It might involve only one device or many devices. It might involve only one device or many devices.

Configuration Management (3) -Auditing and discovery Auditing - To find out what actually has been configured – read and check Auditing - To find out what actually has been configured – read and check Reason to do (auto) Discovery Reason to do (auto) Discovery –Inventory records might not be accurate –Changes might not always be recorded –More efficient than to enter the information into management app. –etc

Configuration Management (3) -Synchronization (1) Reconciliation Reconciliation –The network is considered as the master of information –The information should reflect what is actually in the network

Configuration Management (4) -Synchronization (2) Reprovisioning Reprovisioning –The management system is the master of management information

Configuration Management (5) -Synchronization (3) Discrepancy reporting Discrepancy reporting –The decision of how to synchronize is made by the user

Configuration Management (6) -backup and restore In case of some catastrophic event, it helps network operators brings the network back to operation in a short period of time In case of some catastrophic event, it helps network operators brings the network back to operation in a short period of time For example For example –Save in a file –Setup a TFTp server

Configuration Management (7) -Image Management How to keep track of software images are installed on which network device How to keep track of software images are installed on which network device How to deliver new images to those devices without disrupting service How to deliver new images to those devices without disrupting service

Accounting management (1) It is at the core of the economics of providing communication services It is at the core of the economics of providing communication services Accounting management needs to be highly robust, highest availability and reliability standard apply Accounting management needs to be highly robust, highest availability and reliability standard apply Account management is often associated simply with billing Account management is often associated simply with billing

Accounting management (2) Account management can serve as an additional feature of the service itself Account management can serve as an additional feature of the service itself –Billing information online

Performance management (1) -Performance metrics (1) Throughput – units of communication per unit of time Throughput – units of communication per unit of time –Link Layer – octets/sec –Network layer – packets/sec –Application layer Web – requests/sec Web – requests/sec Voice – called that can be processed/ hour Voice – called that can be processed/ hour * Utilization = % (throughput / max capacity) *

Performance management (2) -Performance metrics (2) Delay Delay –Link layer – time for an octet that is transmitted to reach its destination –Network layer – time that a packet take to reach the destination –Application layer Web – time that a request message take to reach the server Web – time that a request message take to reach the server Voice – time it takes to receive adial tone after you have lifted the receiver Voice – time it takes to receive adial tone after you have lifted the receiver

Performance management (3) -Performance metrics (3) Quality – might different Quality – might different –Link layer – percentage of seconds during which errors in transmission occurred –Network layer – percentage of packet dropped –Application layer Web - percentage of request that could not be serviced Web - percentage of request that could not be serviced Voice - percentage of voice calls that were dropped or abnormally terminated Voice - percentage of voice calls that were dropped or abnormally terminated

Performance management (4) -Monitoring and Tuning At basic level, to retrieve a snapshot of the current performance At basic level, to retrieve a snapshot of the current performance For a more sophisticated analysis, to observe over long period of time For a more sophisticated analysis, to observe over long period of time –Plot a histogram of some performance values with a new sample taken every 5 minutes

Performance management (5) -Collecting performance data Polling – a manager polls to agents Polling – a manager polls to agents –Not scale Intelligent agent – agents can be set up to do data collection Intelligent agent – agents can be set up to do data collection –RMON 1/2 Use protocol supported Use protocol supported –Netflow or IPFIX

Security Management (1) Security of Management Security of Management Management of security Management of security

Security Management (1) -Security of management Security of management deals with ensuring that management operations themselves are secured Security of management deals with ensuring that management operations themselves are secured Tasks to defend against threat: Tasks to defend against threat: –Set up proper processes and procedures ton ensure orderly operations –Assign access privileges –Require secure passwords –Passwords need to be changed at regular interval –Establish audit trail –Set up proper facilities for backup and restore

Security Management (2) -Management of Security Common security threat – hacker attack, denial of service (DoS), malware, spam Common security threat – hacker attack, denial of service (DoS), malware, spam Management of security provides function to deal with and protect against threats Management of security provides function to deal with and protect against threats –Same function as security of management Also, perhaps include the following Also, perhaps include the following –Intrusion detection system (IDS) –Applying policy to limit or allow to only gradually increase amount of traffic –Capability to blacklist ports and network addresses at which suspicious traffic patterns –Honey pots to gather information about security vulnerability

Limitation of the FCAPS categorization (1) Many cases of functionality cannot be easily categorized Many cases of functionality cannot be easily categorized –Test the functioning of a given service For troubleshooting – fault management For troubleshooting – fault management For validating – configuration management For validating – configuration management For measuring performance – performance management For measuring performance – performance management

Limitation of the FCAPS categorization (2) –Log and report When utilization reaches a certain level - Performance management When utilization reaches a certain level - Performance management When events indicates certain changes in the network configuration - Configuration management When events indicates certain changes in the network configuration - Configuration management When unsuccessful logon attempts into network devices - Security management When unsuccessful logon attempts into network devices - Security management

OAM&P (1) Operation, Administration, Maintenance and Provisioning Operation, Administration, Maintenance and Provisioning OAM&P is popular in large telecommunication service providers OAM&P is popular in large telecommunication service providers Operation – day-to-day running of the network Operation – day-to-day running of the network –Cooridinating activities among administration, maintenance and provisioning –Monitoring the network to ensure it runs properly

OAM&P (2) Administration – cover the support functions that are required to manage the network and do not involve performing changes (configuring, tuning) Administration – cover the support functions that are required to manage the network and do not involve performing changes (configuring, tuning) –Designing the network –Tracking network usage –Assigning addresses –Planning upgrades –Keeping track of network inventory –Collecting accounting data –Billing customers

OAM&P (3) Maintenance – include functionalities ensuring that the network and services operate as they are supposed to Maintenance – include functionalities ensuring that the network and services operate as they are supposed to –Diagnosing, troubleshooting, repairing Provisioning – concern with proper setting of configuration parameters on the network Provisioning – concern with proper setting of configuration parameters on the network

TOM (1) Telecommunication Operation Map Telecommunication Operation Map TOM distinguishes among three life cycle stages – FAB (Fulfillment, Assurance, Billing) TOM distinguishes among three life cycle stages – FAB (Fulfillment, Assurance, Billing) Fulfillment ensure that a service order that was received is carried out Fulfillment ensure that a service order that was received is carried out –Turning up any required equipment –Performing configuration –Reserving resources

TOM (2) Assurance – includes all activities ensuring that a service run smoothly after it has been fulfilled Assurance – includes all activities ensuring that a service run smoothly after it has been fulfilled –Monitoring service for QoS purposes –Diagnosing any faults and repairing Billing – making sure that services provided are accounted properly and can be billed to the user Billing – making sure that services provided are accounted properly and can be billed to the user