Inspire April08 Network Management Reprint

article reprint — TELLABS INSPIRE apRil 2008

Network Management Systems — Unleash the Power From collecting dust to saving money. by Tim Kridel

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Your company orders a state-of-the-art EMS/NMS solution, but it literally collects dust because no one has the time to set it up. Or maybe it’s set up, but no one got around to configuring it, so it sits idle. Or the EMS/NMS is used on a regular basis, but it still takes a significant amount of time to compile data that could be used to make major decisions, such as adding network capacity. Any or all of these scenarios probably sound familiar. An idle EMS/NMS is a waste of the large investment typically required for the hardware, software and training. And even if the EMS/NMS is in service, usage is often inefficient if users do not understand its full capabilities.

Network Management Systems —

Unleash the Power

Management systems are typically designed to simplify tedious, time-consuming tasks and have a wide range of enhanced features. In many cases, though, the systems are simply used for network monitoring or system provisioning. “Sometimes service providers are using it for just one or two features,” said Curtis Taylor, senior product manager for the Tellabs® MetroWatch® Integrated Network Manager (INM). “Is it being fully utilized and doing everything it could be doing?”

Case in point: A wireless service provider was looking for a way to simplify the process it used to understand its backhaul bandwidth utilization. Although this seems like a simple function, gathering the large amounts of necessary data and assembling them into an understandable form was a lengthy and complex process. This is a critical component of controlling necessary costs for all wireless service providers.

Call in the Professionals Service providers increasingly turn to vendors and other third parties for help with tasks that require expertise or resources that they don’t have in-house, and network management is no exception. “Management systems have come a long way,” Taylor said. “They are very feature rich and unless you take the time to really learn them, it is easy to miss valuable time-saving capabilities. Why not lean on a partner to leverage all of the features and functionality that can help you effectively manage your business? That could help you optimize your network and save money.” As an example, Tellabs® Management System Services provide expert help with all of Tellabs’ EMS and NMS systems:

From collecting dust to saving money. by t i m k r i de l

n Management system deployment

— Includes configuration site survey, hardware build and installation, OS installation and configuration, database installation, EMS/NMS software installation, database configuration and system acceptance testing.

n Database consulting and backup configuration

— Includes reviewing data availability requirements, analyzing existing resources and backup strategies, custom-designing a backup and recovery strategy and testing in a variety of scenarios.

n Database redundancy configuration

— Includes bringing in a team of Oracle database experts to implement a customized MOP and disaster-recovery test plan.

n Remote database maintenance

— Includes administration and maintenance, proactive monitoring of the active database for potential problems and software upgrades and patches.

n Northbound interface integration —

Enables Tellabs management systems to communicate with OSS or umbrella management systems to support functions such as fault management, network provisioning and network inventory.

n OSS update service

— Supports bulk system updates to assist when new network elements are added to your network or when older systems are replaced.

n Management system consulting services

— Includes services tailored to the service provider’s specific needs and covers all aspects of management system implementation, usage and maintenance.

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article reprint — unleash the power

Tellabs Management System Services essentially wrap around the service provider’s existing EMS/NMS and then squeeze out the value trapped by underutilization.

so the customer can ensure sufficient bandwidth is available to handle peak calling periods while maintaining the lowest possible cost for backhaul facilities.

“Tellabs can create custom scripting and GUIs so service providers can print reports automatically, as opposed to having a couple of people assigned to manually retrieve the information and assemble it into a usable report,” Taylor said. “This service helps make sure a system is being effectively utilized and that service providers are taking advantage of all of the features and functionality.”

There are many other examples of features contained in a management system that users fail to leverage fully, such as performance management reports that help highlight troublesome facilities and capacity management to ensure that system growth is planned as needed. Systems such as the Tellabs MetroWatch INM or the Tellabs® 8000 Network Manager include other features that take advantage of the ability to manage different types of network elements. Features such as “Micro-Topologies” enable a service provider to view a circuit that passes through multiple network elements and click anywhere in that topology view to zoom in on potential problem areas. With proper training and a little extra help to utilize key features, service providers can greatly expand the value that a management system brings to their business.

In the earlier case of the service provider that needed to understand backhaul bandwidth utilization, Tellabs was able to provide a solution that included the Tellabs MetroWatch INM and management system consulting services to create customized utilization reports. These reports are capable of providing detailed information for various time periods throughout the day and week, Acronym FCC Federal Communications Commission MDU Multiple-Dwelling Unit MVPD Multi-Channel Video Programming Distributor DBS Direct Broadcast Satellite PCO Private Cable Operator NCTA National Cable & Telecommunications Association GUI Graphical User Interface

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