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The composition of today’s networks has contributed to the complexity of managing these networks. These networks are commonly composed of network elements provided by various vendors. The task of interoperability extends beyond the network element layer up to the management layers, to include interoperability between multi-vendor Element and Network Management Systems.
Service Providers have also taken advantage of technological advancements in transport network equipment. It is not uncommon for service providers to deploy next generation, multi-technology network elements, (or “hybrid NEs”), as these network elements provide new services and optimal network resource utilization. However, network management solutions that have been specified to date applies only to a specific technology.
There is an industry demand for a full-featured, commercially available, scalable and non-proprietary network management solution, where multi-vendor, multi-technology management systems interoperate in an open architecture environment.
The objective of the Multi-Technology Network Management (MTNM) project is to create an UML-based interface between the Network Management Layer (NML) and Element Management Layer (EML), which provides a scalable and non-proprietary network management solution, where multi-vendor, multi-technology management systems interoperate an open architecture.
Specifically, the MTNM interface supports management of ATM, frame relay, SONET/SDH, DSL and Ethernet networks.
The NML-EML interface has been specified to support a wide variety of network management business scenarios from the provisioning of connections to the retrieval of equipment inventory information. Examples of the business scenarios that may be supported include, but are not limited to:
- Inventory Discovery
- Connection Provisioning
- Equipment Provisioning
- Performance Management
Service Providers will benefit from a common multi-technology network management interface able to translate the service definitions that are made in Service Management Systems into technology specific implementations. It will result in:
- Rapid Service Delivery by decreasing service activation time
- Fast introduction of new technologies: New Technologies can be introduced in the Network without causing major changes to the interfaces at the Network Management Level.
- Increased Operating Efficiency through automation and integration of network management and element management systems.
- Enable multi-vendor interoperability affording service providers the option of choosing various vendor products.