Applying TMN to a highly reliable distributed switching node

A highly reliable, operated efficiently, and scalable switching node is required for multivendor system management networks. This paper presents techniques for applying the Telecommunications Management Network (TMN) concept to a distributed switching node. First, we select the TMN protocol structures so as to minimize the command response time. To ensure efficient operation and flexible design of the operation, administration and maintenance (OA&M) software, we propose a command-message handling function for mapping managed objects (MOs) to the OA&M software. We have designed MO classes for switching-system-specific devices with a redundant configuration that ensures highly reliable system operation. The feasibility of these techniques have been confirmed on a prototype system.