Telecommunication Management Network, TMN

* * Mani Subramanian “Network Management: Principles and practice”, Addison-Wesley, 2000.

Background

   Based on OSI CMIP/CMIS Address the interoperability of multi-vendor equipment used by different service providers and define standard interfaces Provide a framework for telecommunications network and service management  Management goes beyond networks and network element to include managing services provided by service providers as well as business management

Trends In Telecommunications

   Globalizations and Deregulation  End-to-end service involves multiple providers • Demand for standards based

network and service management (interoperability)

Merge of telecom and datacom  Need for Inter-working between management protocols to provide end-to-end management Evolution in protocols o

Need for flexible management architecture

 Competition    Time-to market for new services • Need for sound (flexible)

architecture

Focus on customer care (i.e., service quality) Decreasing margins (do more with less) • Increase revenue

(providing high quality services) while minimizing network operation costs

Example of Management (1)

Trunk Testing System    Trunk is a logical connection between two switching nodes Periodic measurement of loss and S/N of all trunks Failing threshold set for QoS; failing trunks removed out of service before the customer complains Trunk Test System Transmission Test System Telecommunication Network Nodes Voice Public Switch Transmission Links Transmission Test System Public Switch Voice

Figure 11.1 Operations System for Network Transmission

Example of Management (2)

Telephone Switch Traffic     Traffic monitored at switch appearance Call blocking statistics obtained Traffic and call-blocking statistics provide data for planning Importance of Operations, administration, mainte nance, and provisioning Traffic Counter Traffic Measurement System Data / Telecommunication Network Nodes Traffic Counter Router / Switch Router / Switch Transmission Links

Figure 11.2 Operations System for Traffic Measurement

TMN Conceptual Model

    TMN is conceptually a separate network Interfaces between the TMN and the Telecommunication network are formed by exchanges and transmission switches OSs (Operations Systems) perform most of the management functions and they are connected to TMN through a Data Communication Network (DCN) The DCN is used to exchange management information between OSs

TMN Objectives

 The basic concept behind a TMN is to:  provide an organized architecture to achieve the interconnection between various types of OS’s and/or telecommunications equipment for the exchange of management information using an agreed architecture with

standardized interfaces

including protocols and messages  The M.3010 recommendation defines “general architectural requirements for a TMN to support the management requirements of administration to plan, provision, install, maintain, operate and administer telecommunication networks and services”

TMN Management Architectures

   

Functional Architecture

 Describes a number of management functions (control, monitor, etc.)

Physical Architecture

 Defines how management functions are implemented into physical equipment

Information Architecture

 Describes concepts that have been adopted from OSI management

Logical Layer Architecture

 A model that shows how management can be structured according to different responsibilities

TMN Functional Architecture

  The TMN functional architecture explains the distribution of functionality within a TMN The TMN functional architecture is defined by: 

TMN function blocks

, being the roles in which functions operate (coordinate, mediate, etc.) 

TMN function points

, being the service boundary between two communication management function blocks

TMN Functional Architecture

 Interfaces between function blocks are defined as reference points f q x g m class between OSF, QAF, MF and NEF class for attachment of a WSF class between OSFs of two TMNs or between TMN OSF and OSF-like function in other network class between WSF and users class between QAF and non-TMN managed entities

 

TMN Functional Architecture

Network Element Function, NEF: o o o Exchanges, transmission systems, switches, etc.

NEs are subject to management and support the exchange of data between users They include management functions (i.e., agents) Operation Systems Functions, OSF: o Operations and Notifications o o Within a TMN, multiple OSFs may exist and they communicate through q3 interface OSFs belonging to different administrative domains may also communicate through x reference point CMIP CMIS

TMN Functional Architecture

 

Work Station Function, WSF

o Interprets management information to a human user through g interface

Q Adapter Function, QAF

o o Non TMN entities (e.g. proprietary) can be connected to a TMN entity Translate between q reference point and m reference point ( similar to a proxy agent in SNMP )

TMN Functional Architecture



Mediation Function (MF)

o Located within the TMN o o Operations on the information between network elements; e.g. storage, filtering, threshold detection, etc.

MF can be shared between multiple OSSs; e.g. RMON

TMN Functional Architecture



Data Communication Function (DCF)

o o o o Provide the necessary physical connection with various network components DCF implements layers 1-3 of OSI Connect NEs, QAs, and MDs to the OSs at the standard q interface Connect MDs to NEs and QAs using q interface

TMN Physical Architecture

TMN Q Adapter (QA) Operations System (OS) X Operations System (OS) Q3 Network Element (NE) X/F/Q3 Data Communications Network (DCN) Mediation Device (MD) F/Q3 Q3 Qx F Workstation Data Communications Network (DCN) Qx Q Adapter (QA) Qx Network Element (NE)

TMN Information Architecture

   TMN makes use of OSI Systems Management and is based on an object-oriented paradigm.

principles Management systems exchange information modeled in terms of managed objects (MO) A

managed object (MO)

is defined by: o o o o the attributes visible at its boundary the management operations which may be applied to it The behavior exhibited by it in response to management operations or in reaction to other types of stimuli (e.g., threshold crossing) The notifications emitted by it

TMN Information Architecture

Information Model based on Object-Oriented Approach Manager application functions M C F management operations Q I/F M C F notifications

TMN

Agent MCF: Message Communication Function R: Network Resource to be managed R R R MIT: dynamic structure, unlike MIB which is static

OSI System Architecture

OSI Manager Manage ment Data OSI Manager Application OSI Agent OSI Agent Application Application Entity Presentation (ITU Recommendation X.216 and X.226) Session (ITU Recommendation X.215 and X.225) Transport (ITU Recommendation 224) Network (x.25) DLC PHY Physical Medium Application Entity Presentation (ITU Recommendation X.216 and X.226) Session (ITU Recommendation X.215 and X.225) Transport (ITU Recommendation 224) Network (x.25) DLC PHY

OSI System Architecture

Managing Process Management Function Agent Process CMISE CMIP CMISE lower layers lower layers

OSI Information Model

 A managed object (MO) is     attributes operations it possesses that may be performed upon it notifications that it may issue MOs  A managed-object class is a model or template for MO instances that share the same attributes, notifications, operations and behavior  A MO class can be created from other MO classes (called packages ) Conditional Package Attributes Behavior Operations Notifications    Managed Object Class Mandatory Package Attributes Behavior Operations Notifications Conditional Package Attributes Behavior Operations Notifications A MO has the properties associated with the mandatory package and may include properties of conditional packages MO classes are obtained by using an inheritance tree Other trees are: naming tree and registration tree

OSI Information Model

Hub Managed Object Class hub id vendor name model number serial number number of interfaces type of interfaces speed of interfaces Hub1 Instance hub id = “ Hub1 ” vendor name = “ ABC ” model number =“ abc ” serial number = “ 123 type of interfaces = 6 ” number of interfaces = 12 speed of interfaces = 10000000 Hub2 Instance hub id = “ Hub2 ” vendor name = “ XYZ ” model number =“ xyz ” serial number = “ 456 type of interfaces = 6 ” number of interfaces = 12 speed of interfaces = 10000000 Managed Object Class and Instances

OSI Information Model

     Superclass vs. subclass Attributes of a Superclass are maintained by a subclass and more are possibly added Single inheritance, multiple inheritance ( polymorphic ), o A subclass derives its property from more than one superclass and allmorphic o A subclass derived from multiple superclasses takes the properties of one superclass Routers Switched 100-Mbps Hub Top Switched hub hub Switched 10-Mbps Hub Switched Multirate Hub Regular hub 10-Mbps Regular Hub 10-Mbps Uni-LAN Hub

OSI Information Model

 GDMO: Guidelines for Definition of Managed Object Templates o o Extensions to ASN.1 to handle the syntax of managed information definition Template (similar to ASN.1 Macro) is introduced to combine definitions Mandatory package and properties MO name Specifies a superclass Templates used to combine definitions of attributes, operations and notifications Official registered name of the object class under the ISO registration tree

OSI vs. SNMP

Features

Information Model MIB Language Mgmt Entity Interactions Protocol Operations MO Addressing Management Applications Standardization Body

OSI Mgmt (CMIP)

Object-Oriented GDMO Manager-Agent, Manager-Manager M-Get, M-Set, M-Action M-Create, M-Delete M-Event-Report MIT with OID Scoping/Filtering Five Functional Areas ITU-T, ISO

Internet Mgmt (SNMP)

Scalar SNMP SMI Manager-Agent, Manager-Manager Get, Set limited Create/Delete Trap MIT with OID at leaves of the tree Not Specified IETF

Management Service Architecture

Vendor dependent

 

Management Service Architecture

Network Element Layer, NEL o Comprise NEs such as switches, routers, transmission facilities o Managed by the OSFs residing in the element management layer Element Management Layer, EML o It deals with vendor specific management functions and hide these functions from the layer above o Functions performed: o o Detection of equipment errors Measuring power consumption and the temperature of equipment o o o o Measuring resource usage: CPU, shared buffer, queue length, etc.

Logging of statistical data Etc..

NOTE: OSF in the element management layer and NEF may be implemented in the same piece of equipment

Management Service Architecture

 Network Management Layer, NML o Managed functions related to interaction between multiple pieces of equipment (i.e., managing a network) o Internal structure of network elements is not visible (they are vendor specific) o o Functions performed: o Create the complete network view o Setup/provisioning dedicated paths (with QoS parameters) for end users through the network o o Modifying routing table Monitoring link utilization o o Optimizing performance Fault detection The OSFs in NML interacts with the OSFs at the EML: it uses information provided by the EML to implement its functions o Here OSFs in NML acts as a manager and OSFs at EML acts as an agent

Management Service Architecture

 Service Management Layer, SML o Manage services provided by the network and seen by users o Users may be end users (customers) and/or service providers using the telecommunication network o Relies on management information provided by the Network Management Layer (NML) o o o The internal structure of the network (i.e., network details) are hidden Functions performed: o QoS management (delay, jitter, etc) o Accounting/billing o Addition/removal of users, etc..

Example: inter-operator management o Two interconnected networks may exchange management information (e.g., necessary for QoS negotiation) but both network operators keep their network structure hidden from each other, (Proprietary).

Management Service Architecture

 Service Management Layer, Example o A transport network (e.g., ATM, SONET or WDM) that is used by service providers to connect end routers and provide services IP Border Router IP Border Router

Border OXC Core OXC Border OXC UNI Client/Server Model

Management Service Architecture

    Two independent control planes isolated from each other o The IP routing, topology distribution, and signaling protocols are independent of the ones at the Optical Layer Routers are clients of optical domain o The Optical Networks provides wavelength path to the electronic clients (IP routers, ATM switches) Optical topology invisible to routers Standard network interfaces are required such as UNI and NNI

?

Black Box for IP networks

Management Service Architecture



Management Service Architecture

Example IP over ATM example o IP service provider connects to the ATM provider through X reference points o The details of the ATM backbone are hidden from the IP service provider o o IP provider is not allowed to monitor/modify/etc. internal equipment of the ATM backbone; rather, only high level information is communicated, such as QoS figures !

An ATM link is considered as a single element for the IP network, therefore the reference point at the EML of IP o o Another reference point at the IP NML: o Allows for fault detection, rerouting, load balancing, optimization, etc..

Finally, the IP network should monitor the ATM links for any degradation in network performance that may impact the QoS of the IP provider: o Therefore another reference point at the service management layer

Management Service Architecture

 Business Management Layer, BML o Includes all the functions necessary for the implementation of policies and strategies within the organization which owns and operates the services (and possibly the network) o o interacts with the service management layer Is influenced by high levels of control such as legislation or macro-economic factors (e.g., tariffing policies, quality maintenance strategies)