Telecom Network Management 101

Table of Contents

Dedications

Acknowledgments

Telecommunications Network Management 101

A Troubleshooter' s Guide

Introduction

Chapter 1: Overview of a Network and a Network Management System

• Network Components
  • Switches/Routers/Servers
  • Database
  • Transmission Facilities
  • Subscriber Billing Systems
  • Customer Care and Provisioning
  • Network Management Systems
• Introduction to Operational Support Systems and Services
  • Information Mediation
  • Call Detail Records and Subscriber Billing/Network Transaction Detail Records
  • Network Management
• Understanding the Network Management System' s Basic Components
  • Network Element Management
  • Network Systems Management
  • Service Management
• The PUZZLE: Areas of Management

Chapter 2: Network Management Architectures

• Network Management Activity Layers
  • The Network Management Planar Model
• Monitoring
• Control
  • Network Element Management
  • Network Systems Management
  • Service Management
• Coordination of Resources
  • TMN and the Customer Management Layer
    • Customer Care
    • Fraud Management
• Network Management Architectural Configuration Approaches.
  • Network Centric
  • Customer Centric
  • Service Centric
• Approaches Preference

Chapter 3: Maintenance, Testing, and Trouble Shooting

• Outsourcing
• Maintenance
  • Maintenance Standards
• Testing
• Types of Testing
• Acceptance Test
• Trouble Shooting/Repair
  • Define The Trouble
  • Develop Theories Behind The Cause Of The Trouble
    • Hardware Troubles
    • Software Troubles
  • Isolate The Cause Of The Trouble By Investigating The Theories
  • Fix/Correct The Trouble
    • Basic Tool Rules
    • Basic Rules for Repairing
  • Document The Trouble, The Cause, and The Solution
• Hardware Trouble War Story
• Software Trouble War Story

Chapter 4: Structure and Presentation of Management Information

• Basic Information - What You Need To Know First
• Information Presentation
• Second Level of Information
• Assess and Repair

Chapter 5: Network Management Philosophy and Processes

• Knowing Your Network
  • Big Picture
  • The Details Behind the Big Picture
  • Knowing Non-Network Information
• Management Processes
  • Training
• Basic Operating/Performance/Metric Information
• Mean Time Between Failure (MBTF)
• Mean Time To Repair (MTTR)
• Mean Time To Service Restoration (MTTSR)
• Availability
• Side Note: Reliability
• Philosophy

Chapter 6: Crisis Time

• Crisis Questions 1:
• Crisis Questions 2:
• Solution To A Trouble Caused By The Carrier
  • Key Thing to Remember:
  • Key Thing To Remember For The Future:
  • What To Do:
  • What To Do When You Encounter Operational Problems With New Technology
• Solution To A Trouble Caused By The Customer
  • What To Do:
  • Key Things To Remember:
• Call Lists:
  • Typical Call List:

Chapter 7: TDM Wireline Networks - Typical Troubles and Resolution Process.

• Customer Reported Troubles.
  • Things To Do:
  • Things To Do:
• Customer Reported Troubles - Static and Noise.
  • Things To Do:
  • Things To Do:
• Customer Reported Troubles - Dead Line.
  • Things To Do:
• Customer Reported Troubles - Customer Premise Equipment
  • Network Reported Troubles.
• Network Reported Troubles - Temperature.
  • Things To Do:
• Network Reported Troubles- Network Connectivity
  • Things To Do:
• Network Reported Troubles - Routing Table Errors.
  • Things To Do:
• Network Reported Troubles - Customer Profile Errors.
  • Things To Do:
• Network Reported Troubles - Self-Inflicted Circuit Provisioning Errors.
• Quality of Service Troubles To Look For: The Most Common Reported
  • Attenuation.
  • Phase Distortion.
  • Noise.
  • Crosstalk.

Chapter 8: Internet Protocol Based Network Troubles.

• Customer Reported Troubles.
  • Things To Do:
  • Things To Do:
• Network Reported Troubles.
• Network Reported Troubles - Temperature.
  • Things To Do:
• Network Reported Troubles- Network Connectivity
  • Things To Do:
• Network Reported Troubles - Routing Table Errors.
  • Things To Do:
• Network Reported Troubles - Customer Profile Errors.
  • Things To Do:
• Network Reported Troubles - Self-Inflicted Circuit Provisioning Errors.
• Factors Affecting IP Network Quality of Service In An Interconnected Environment
• Quality of Service Troubles To Look For: The Most Common Reported
  • Packet Delay/Latency.
  • Fixed Delays.
  • Things To Do:
  • Variable Delays.
  • Things To Do:
  • Packet Jitter
  • Things To Do:
  • VoIP Routing.
  • Things To Do:
• VoIP - Routing Protocols.

Chapter 9: SS7 Routing Troubles.

• Architecture.
  • Things To Remember
• Typical Troubles.
  • Things To Do
  • Message Discrimination.
  • Message Distribution.
  • Routing.
  • Things To Do.

Chapter 10: Bandwidth Reference.

• Digital Transmission Rates.
• Optical Transmission Rates.
• Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) Rates Table.
• X Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL)
  • High data rate Digital Subscriber Line (HDSL)
  • Very high data rate Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL)
  • ISDN Digital Subscriber Line (IDSL)
  • Single Digital Subscriber Line (S-DSL)
  • Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL)
  • Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
  • Rate Adaptive Digital Subscriber Line (RADSL)

Chapter 11: Internet Protocol Routing References and Troubles.

• Datagram Processing.
  • Things To Do - Router Examine.
  • Things To Do - Host Examine.
• Routing Protocols.
  • RIP (Routing Information Protocol)
  • Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)
  • Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)
    • The Network Manager and BGP Messages.

Chapter 12: Transmission Notes.

• Non-Digital Loop Noise Factors.
• Transmission Loss - Analog.
  • Transmission Level Point
  • Reference Level
  • Inserted Connection Loss.
  • Expected Measured Loss.
  • Actual Measured Loss.
• Transmission Loss - Digital.
  • Digital Milliwatt
  • Digital Reference Signal
  • Digital Pads.
  • Encoders.
  • Decoders.
  • Equivalent Power Level

Chapter 13: Generic Test Plan Template.

• Connectivity
• Connection Test
• Data Integrity Test
• Loop Back Test
• Protocol Integrity Test
• Interoperability Test
• Feature Test
• OSS Test
• Test Summary

Chapter 14: Converged Technology.

• Converged Technology Testing Tips.

Annex A: Testing On A Budget

Annex B: Acronyms, Definitions & Terminology.