An information model for service and network management integration: from needs towards solutions

This paper proposes enhancements for information modeling to support service and network management integration. Despite the existence of management standard models (TMN, TMF, DMTF), it seems that operators are facing difficulties choosing the appropriate model, defining its instances and achieving its implementations. The analysis of this situation stresses the need for an information model able to represent the real world objects independently of their management. To respond to this key requirement, we propose solutions, based on a metamodel, that guarantee information coherence, self-management capability and management integration. These propositions allow the operators to support new workflows and to handle new services efficiently. Furthermore, the M3100 model, the MTNM model and the ENST model are applied to model an ADSL network example.