Introduction

Tidestone Integrated Network and Service Management System---deployed by Tidestone Software (Shanghai) Ltd., Corp, is a new multi-dimensional, multi-subjected, multi-technical and multi-hierarchy software. The system refers to the integrated management standards of telecom operators and unites Tidestone’s abundant experience in telecom network management. The self-developed software is also a end-to-end integrated network management solution which faces network, businesses and operations.

System architecture

The architecture of TS-CSNMS is based on the hierarchical designing theory by ITU-TMN and the functional modularization structure by TeleManagement Forum (eTOM). It achieves the functions of network management and operation management like TMN or eTOM. The system also provides end-to-end solutions in heterogeneous networks and establishes a synthesized management flat on the multi-domain broad band net with data (DDN, ATM, frame relays, IP) and transmission (SDH/DWDM). It offers effective support to telecom operators for improving service quality.

The application module of TS-CSNMS consists of operations management sub-system, network management sub-system and the interface communication gateway module, which is used to communicate with the elements management system (EMS). These application modules integrate operation layers, net layers and element management layers, and provide central operation and network management based on the uniform user interface. They also provide detailed telecom service management solutions such as network monitor, service opening, service inspection and service guarantee to the telecom operators.

With the development of telecommunication industry, the competition between operators becomes more vigorous. The key point to alive is to improve the service and user satisfaction, and therefore, the operator needs better-integrated and extensible network service software. It is the target of TS-CSNMS.

TS-CSNMS, based on the theory of TMN and eTOM, communicates with vendors’ EMS, provides rounded functions in element management, network management and service management:

Element layer: The element nodes lie at bottom. They provide equipment with communication interface. Their function limits in managing the configuration, alarming, event, performance and communication of each node.

Element management layer: the element management system of vendors manages topology, configuration, alarming, events, performance and path of sub-net. EMS uses internal protocols and communicates with nodes downwards; and simultaneously, it provides standard or private communication protocols and enables upper communications upwards.

Network management layer: NMS provides the central operation management, including resource, configuration, fault, performance, privilege and system management, to the whole network.. Network management sub-system is the most basic part in TS-CSNMS. It provides uniform management to network resource, central monitor to network status, global optimization to performance and integrated disposal to fault.

The sub-system plays an important role: NMS collect resources from EMS and issues operation instruction downwards; NMS provide service configuration to SMS and accepts service requirement instruction upwards.

Interface communication gateway--- ICG lies at the bottom of the whole system. It communicates with EMS or equipment directly by means of specific protocols and provides communication interfaces to the upper network management functional module. It can abstractly encapsulate the information model of element equipment and make the upper network integrated management module independent of specific equipment or communication protocols. Every kind of EMS matches a specific gateway.

In details, interface communication gateway has the following functions:

provides transmission channel for EMS---accept instructions upwards and collect data downwards

screens heterogeneous EMS plays as EMS adaptor provides uniform interface model to network management layer Service management layer: the service management sub-system provides client management, service starting, VPN, SLA, service guarantee and CNM. SMS is established on the network management sub-system. Its main function is order form acceptance and transaction, service fulfillment, service assurance, SLA management. GUI: the system provides UI in both Chinese and English version.

User category: external user, service operator, network operator.In short, providing different Vendor Interface Communication Gateway on network layer, TS-CSNMS screens the heterogeneity of EMS, which includes the difference among EMS interface protocols, EMS interface information models and EMS interface functions. The network management module and service management module are based on the uniform information model of gateway transformation. They are unrelated to heterogeneity and complexity of EMS. Their target is to provide universal management on network and service. TS-CSNMS owns good extensibility and maintainability because of such hierarchical screening mechanism. It provides an integrated end-to-end solution to heterogeneous network and establishes a uniformly-integrated flat in the multi-domain broad band net. TS-CSNMS mainly offers users such functions:

User-centered service and network management

User VPN management

Monitoring service status and SLA management

A sound business security system

End-to-end service configuration and starting

Central network maintenance

Initiative fault management module

Immediate performance date collection and display

Automatic generation of various statistic report form

Rigorous net, service and system security management

Main function introduction

Integrated network resource management

Automatic discovery of net topology

TS-CSNMS can discover network resource and topology automatically. The network resources include net element, integrated circuit board, port( both logical and physical), physical link, service electronic circuit and router. The system can also display and manages equipment from different vendors. Network data real-time synchronization

TS-CSNMS can monitor network status real-timely, and synchronize source data to make database and the network resource in attendance. If some faults occur in synchronization, the operator can synchronize the data manually when needed. Service start

TS-CSNMS supports the configuration and start of end-to-end electronic circuit, and associate it with users. Its main function is to accept user’s request of starting the service, to find feasible router and assign resources. Then, the system establishes the end-to-end circuit, completes its activations and cut. The starting methods are classified in such kinds as automatically, semi-automatically and manually. Network resource utilization ratio report form

TS-CSNMS provides detailed network resource utilization ratio statistics. For example, it can generate report forms on port utilization ratio, slot utilization ratio, relay utilization ratio and so on. The form can be issued from the whole net as well as the specific location and each node. The system regularly provides network operation and analysis report.

User service management

User management

TS-CSNMS divides users into different classes such as common customers, big customers and VIP. It also supports the Insert, Delete, Modify and Query operation to customer or customer group. User VPN

The system automatically provides a defaulted VPN to every group. Users can dynamically establish and delete sub-VPN or event-VPN. Sub-VPN consists of those circuits of certain user group; and event-VPN involves multi-groups. At the end of event, user can delete event-VPN. Sub-VPN is a subset of customer group VPN. SLA management and service monitor

Service Level Agreement is kind of promise on service assurance from telecom operators. The system can define SLA modules establish and modify user’s SLA, support different matches between SLA and circuits. After the activation, TS-CSNMS can dynamically calculate the fact value of service circuit variables and compare with the expected value. If the variables reach certain threshold, the system will alarm operators. If fault occurs in SLA circuit, the system may automatically switch to backup circuit or roundabout router so as to assure the service quality. If the quality is below certain indexes, the system will restore it swiftly. Moreover, TS_CSNMS can generate service report forms regularly or irregularly. Service order management

TS-CSNMS offers the whole procedure of management from requisition, validation to start. SOM also provides users with generating, modifying, deleting and planning orders. At first, the system may check the service variables; and then, it distribute network resources for impletion and start. CNM based on Web

TS-CSNMS provides the CNM based on Web. The customer can browse the service orders, VPN, circuits list, fault introduction, performance and SLA reports through Internet.

Fault management

Active alarming management

Active alarming management means to deal with the fault before customer’s report. TS-CSNMS can collect, deal with, store and display alarms. It uses different colors to distinguish different alarming levels. Alarm compression, screen and filtration

TS-CSNMS can compress the same alarms’ reports. The system compresses the repetitive records into one by only updating the time and incrementing times. Moreover, TS-CSNMS can screen the records and filter the records according to certain conditions. Alarm association and relativity analysis

TS-CSNMS can associate the fault with influenced services. The system is able to display all faults and differentiate the “sources” in colors by means of relativity analysis. If a certain alarm occurs, the system may display all influenced services. Thus, users can confirm and correct fault sources fast. Alarm statistic analysis

TS-CSNMS provides strong alarm statistic analysis which assists operators to know the fault and predict the tendency. Users can analyze the information according to its equipment, area, site and alarm class. Fault form management

TS-CSNMS can generate fault forms automatically as well as manually. If serious fault occurs, the system may automatically generate forms. Also, operators can decide whether to generate forms manually according to the levels. The operators may set the correcting time when generating the forms. If the operator fails to repair the fault in time, the fault form will be upgraded automatically and generate alarm. Fault report

TS-CSNMS provides detailed fault reports which display alarm statistic information in classes, and outputs data in the form of Excel.

Performance management

In order to settle the possible problems before leading to faults, TS-CSNMS can collect and analyze the real-time data of network performance and circuit status.

TS-CSNMS can also collect and display physic links, ports and circuit PVC performance variables in diagram. The system analyzes the throughput, port currency, CPU utilization ratio, transmission delay and packet dropout rate among routers. It also analyzes the data stream from any ports in router and exchanger, including protocol, class and destination distribution.

Simultaneously, customers can set the threshold of performance variables. If the value exceeds, the system issues the alarm. Furthermore, the system also provides history data analysis and form generation.

IP network management

Router monitor and simulation

TS-CSNMS enables users to monitor the router real-timely based on BGP and ISIS, collect Metrics, generate topologic Metric and retrieve Metric values between routers. The system can also show the monitoring information of routers, links and Metrics. TS-CSNMS may stimulate routers by setting the link Metrics. MPLS VPN configuration

TS-CSNMS can discover and configure the IP router which supports MPLS based on BGP MPLS VPN. At first, TS-CSNMS establishes links between customer edge and provider edge. Then it configures VRF tables and QoS strategy on PE equipment. Finally the system monitors PE equipment and VPN network and assures MPLS VPN by using tag domain of both nodes. IP server resource monitor

TS-CSNMS enables users to monitor and configure the resources such as processes, CPU/RAM utilization ratio, disk utilization ratio, concurrency, packet dropout ratio etc. on IP server. Terminal simulation

TS-CSNMS provides terminal simulation management and offers users’ remote login, authentication/log management and broadcast batch instruction.

System self-management

This function provides the performance and status monitor to host computer, OS, DB, DCN and application programs. Simultaneously, TS-CSNMS can backup and restore data and system.

Security management

TS-CSNMS provides user authentication, password control, role assignment and hierarchical management. The system distributes a certain role to each user; and it limits users’ privileges. TS-CSNMS classifies the users into central system administrators, network maintainers, service clerks and local administrators, network maintainers, service clerks as well as terminal users.

Advantages:

A uniform multi-vendors, multi-subnet and multi-service topologic view; reduce the cost

Overall planning and central management to whole network resources; enhance utilization ratio

Improvement and simplification to controls; enhance production efficiency

Convenient start to online service; gain social benefit

Amalgamation with service and network; provide end-to-end service

Association with fault and service; provide active fault alarm

Monitor, collect, display, analyze performance data real-timely

Take advantage of international standard technique; cope with equipment expansion and technical development

Manageable equipment

Alcatel ATM/FR/DDN

Nortel Passport

Lucent ATM/FR

Marconi ATM

HuaWei ATM

Juniper IP router

RiverStone IP router

Cisco IP router