The management of VC-based switched ATM networks

The deployment of broadband ISDN (B-ISDN) networks based on asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network technology has created customer expectations of a telecommunications environment offering access to a multitude of service types (incorporating voice, data and graphic) accessible from a single customer access point. In addition, customers expect greater management control over the configuration and operation of such services. While first implementations of public ATM networks (such as the Pan-European ATM pilot) are already in the market place these tend to confine their service offerings to basic semi-permanent virtual path services. Satisfaction of customer service expectations requires that such networks provide customers with more dynamic control (via signalling) over the creation and deletion of customer connections. In addition, customer expectations in relation to bandwidth availability and quality of service control requires that such networks support more dynamic “on-demand” virtual path (VP) and virtual circuit (VC) connections. The successful operation of such networks requires automated management systems reflecting the operator processes involved. This paper presents the main management results of the work carried out by the Eurescom project into the specification of the management requirements to support the operation of a first Pan-European VC-based switched ATM network. The paper describes the functional architecture defined to support the specification work, the main results of the specification work and the open management issues identified by the task