A study to enhance Operation and Management functions in GEMnet environment

In a private network, Operation and Management (O&M) functions should be restricted to a certain level of maintainability because of minimum cost requirements. It seems difficult to satisfy sufficient O&M functions for both operators and users. From the viewpoint of this situation, it is required to abstract the indispensable O&M functions in order to carry out the effective operations and to easily expand a network accordingly. In this article, we clarify functions that should be enhanced first in a private network O&M as the network expands. We have examined real network management processes and determined the problems to be solved. As a case study, using Global Enhanced Multifunctional Network (GEMnet) which is an experimental network for R&D in NTT, we have examined three O&M work processes: 1 ) service order and installation management, 2) fault management and 3) provision of information to managers and users. We have also developed an Operation Support System (OSS) for GEMnet to provide the functions that need to be enhanced and to determine how to construct an OSS economically and quickly. Development of the OSS finished in March 2001.