Hierarchical structure of Network Management

Network Management System (NMS) is based on client-server distributed architecture, enabling centralized monitoring and control of the Element Management System (EMS). NMS server discovers the network topology, network inventory alarms and events from the EMS working underneath.

NMS also monitors the network changes and synchronizes the database with EMS. Similarly, EMS is based on client-server distributed architecture, enabling centralized monitoring and control of the optical nodes. EMS server discovers the network topology, network inventory alarms and events. It also monitors the network changes and synchronizes the database with Network Element Software (NES).

NMS provides management of multiple EMS across an optical network. Management data from geographically scattered EMS Network Operation Center (NOC) can be collected and represented on to a centralized database NMS NOC. The EMS user interface forms a single NOC. The service providers with NOC operations can use state-of-art graphical interface to configure and set-up nodes.

The functionalities supported by NMS include:

• Effective management of telecommunication network and business applications.
• Ease of configuration to bring customer into service in minimum time.
• Enhanced network monitoring capability with proactive maintenance.
• Performance audits to monitor network health.

The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is an application layer protocol that facilitates the exchange of management information between network devices. Its basic components are:

• Managed device: Managed device (like routers, switches, bridges and hubs) collect and store management information making it available to EMS using SNMPv1 and SNMPv2. It contains an agent, which is a network-management software module that resides in a managed device. An agent translates the management information of the node into a SNMP compatible format.
• EMS: The EMS executes applications that monitor and control managed devices.
• NMS: The NMS receives the information collected by EMS.

NES is embedded in individual nodes. NES present in each node provides control and management of individual nodes. Service providers can individually configure and control nodes through a simple and easy to use World Wide Web (WWW) browser interface. This can be done using the widely used and popular Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP). NES user interface is a hypertext system that provides an interface between the user and the node application software.