Managing SONET networks

The synchronous optical network (SONET) standard allows the development of fiber-optic network elements that enable many advanced network capabilities, including cost-effective drop and insert (or add/drop), complete performance monitoring of both facilities and payloads, and remote provisioning and maintenance through high-capacity embedded operations channels carried in the SONET overhead. These advanced capabilities are accompanied by the need for intelligent network management to effectively utilize all the advantages that SONET brings to the telecommunications network. The management functions required by SONET networks, the benefit to the network of those functions, the varied network management environments that exist for SONET, and the network management architecture being deployed for SONET are discussed.<>