Alternatives for the transport of ISDN customer network management messages

The customer network management (CNM) capabilities that are currently contemplated can be organized into configuration, fault, performance, security, and accounting management classes. These management classes are discussed, two operations architectures that could support CNM capabilities in an integrated services digital network (ISDN) environment are examined, and applicable standards activity in the area of ISDN customer network management is indicated. It is suggested that an operations architecture defined by a bearer-service-based interface to a centralized network management system may best provide network management functionality to the large corporate customer who may have a corporate network consisting of both public and private components. In addition, an architecture defined by standard signaling-based messages to very well-defined distributed operations functionality may also provide relatively simple customer network management capabilities to the small customer or the typical end-user in a large corporation (i.e. some employee other than the telecommunications manager)