Integrating CORBA and TMN environments

A TMN is a management architecture framework which provides an environment for interfacing a telecommunication network with computer systems in order to provide different management functions at several different levels. ITU-T X.700 series standards (also known as OSI network and systems management standards) are developed to manage networks and network elements in TMN environment. Many efforts have been made to define managed objects and develop management platforms for telecommunication network management. However, less effort has been made for telecommunication service management. The OSI based network management are not particularly suitable for service management. New technologies are required. CORBA technology, on the other hand, provides a distributed object computing environment. It provides a basic framework for distributed object management and is capable of supporting global multi-vendor networks. Its distributed nature, object orientation, and the capability of handling complicated objects make it a candidate technology for telecommunication service management. It is important that these two technologies can work together to provide an integrated telecommunication service and network management environment. This paper discusses different strategies of interfacing CORBA and the OSI based TMN environment