Telecommunications Management Network
Encyclopedia
The Telecommunications Management Network is a protocol model defined by ITU-T
for managing open system
s in a communications network. It is part of the ITU-T Recommendation series M.3000 and is based on the OSI
management specifications in ITU-T Recommendation series X.700.
TMN provides a framework for achieving interconnectivity and communication across heterogeneous operations system and telecommunication networks. To achieve this, TMN defines a set of interface points for elements which perform the actual communications processing (such as a call processing switch) to be accessed by elements, such as management workstations, to monitor and control them. The standard interface allows elements from different manufacturers to be incorporated into a network under a single management control.
For communication between Operations Systems and NEs (Network Elements), it uses the Common management information protocol
(CMIP) or Mediation devices when it uses Q3 interface.
TMN can be used in the management of ISDN
, B-ISDN
, ATM
, and GSM
networks. It is not as commonly used for purely packet-switched data networks.
Modern telecom networks are automated, and are run by OSS software or operational support systems. These manage modern telecom networks and provide the data that is needed in the day-to-day running of a telecom network. OSS software is also responsible for issuing commands to the network infrastructure to activate new service offerings, commence services for new customers, and detect and correct network faults.
Business management : Includes the functions related to business aspects, analyzes trends and quality issues, for example, or to provide a basis for billing and other financial reports.
Service management : Handles services in the network: definition, administration and charging of services.
Network management : Distributes network resources, performs tasks of: configuration, control and supervision of the network.
Element management : Handles individual network element
s including alarm management, handling of information, backup, logging, and maintenance of hardware and software.
A network element provides agent services, mapping the physical aspects of the equipment into the TMN framework.
ITU-T
The ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector is one of the three sectors of the International Telecommunication Union ; it coordinates standards for telecommunications....
for managing open system
Open Systems Interconnection
Open Systems Interconnection is an effort to standardize networking that was started in 1977 by the International Organization for Standardization , along with the ITU-T.-History:...
s in a communications network. It is part of the ITU-T Recommendation series M.3000 and is based on the OSI
Open Systems Interconnection
Open Systems Interconnection is an effort to standardize networking that was started in 1977 by the International Organization for Standardization , along with the ITU-T.-History:...
management specifications in ITU-T Recommendation series X.700.
TMN provides a framework for achieving interconnectivity and communication across heterogeneous operations system and telecommunication networks. To achieve this, TMN defines a set of interface points for elements which perform the actual communications processing (such as a call processing switch) to be accessed by elements, such as management workstations, to monitor and control them. The standard interface allows elements from different manufacturers to be incorporated into a network under a single management control.
For communication between Operations Systems and NEs (Network Elements), it uses the Common management information protocol
Common management information protocol
The Common Management Information Protocol is the OSI specified network management protocol.Defined in . It provides an implementation for the services defined by the Common Management Information Service specified in , allowing communication between network management applications and...
(CMIP) or Mediation devices when it uses Q3 interface.
TMN can be used in the management of ISDN
Integrated Services Digital Network
Integrated Services Digital Network is a set of communications standards for simultaneous digital transmission of voice, video, data, and other network services over the traditional circuits of the public switched telephone network...
, B-ISDN
Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network
In the 1980s the telecommunications industry expected that digital services would follow much the same pattern as voice services did on the public switched telephone network, and conceived a grandiose end-to-end circuit switched services, known as Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network...
, ATM
Asynchronous Transfer Mode
Asynchronous Transfer Mode is a standard switching technique designed to unify telecommunication and computer networks. It uses asynchronous time-division multiplexing, and it encodes data into small, fixed-sized cells. This differs from approaches such as the Internet Protocol or Ethernet that...
, and GSM
Global System for Mobile Communications
GSM , is a standard set developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute to describe technologies for second generation digital cellular networks...
networks. It is not as commonly used for purely packet-switched data networks.
Modern telecom networks are automated, and are run by OSS software or operational support systems. These manage modern telecom networks and provide the data that is needed in the day-to-day running of a telecom network. OSS software is also responsible for issuing commands to the network infrastructure to activate new service offerings, commence services for new customers, and detect and correct network faults.
Logical layers
The framework identifies four logical layers of network management:Business management : Includes the functions related to business aspects, analyzes trends and quality issues, for example, or to provide a basis for billing and other financial reports.
Service management : Handles services in the network: definition, administration and charging of services.
Network management : Distributes network resources, performs tasks of: configuration, control and supervision of the network.
Element management : Handles individual network element
Network element
A network element is usually defined as a manageable logical entity uniting one or more physical devices. This allows distributed devices to be managed in a unified way using one management system....
s including alarm management, handling of information, backup, logging, and maintenance of hardware and software.
A network element provides agent services, mapping the physical aspects of the equipment into the TMN framework.
Recommendations
The TMN M.3000 series includes the following recommendations:- M.3000 Tutorial Introduction to TMN
- M.3010 Principles for a TMN
- M.3020 TMN Interface Specification Methodology
- M.3050 Enhanced Telecommunications Operations Map (eTOMETOMThe eTOM , published by the TM Forum, is a guidebook that defines the most widely used and accepted standard for business processes in the telecommunications industry...
) - M.3060 Principles for the Management of the Next Generation Networks
- M.3100 Generic Network Information Model for TMN
- M.3200 TMN Management Services Overview
- M.3300 TMN Management Capabilities at the F Interface
See also
- Simple Network Management ProtocolSimple Network Management ProtocolSimple Network Management Protocol is an "Internet-standard protocol for managing devices on IP networks. Devices that typically support SNMP include routers, switches, servers, workstations, printers, modem racks, and more." It is used mostly in network management systems to monitor...
(SNMP) - Common management interface protocol (CMIP, X.700)