Bridging the network management gap: how element managers can streamline SONET network management and provide a migration path for broadband management

SONET (Synchronous Optical NETwork) was conceived to relieve the problem of disjointed transport systems by allowing direct linking of several different portions of a telecommunications network into one large, coherent infrastructure. A major problem with these disjointed transport systems is the lack of effective, coherent manageability by their operators. A critical advantage of SONET is the ability to establish a control network that allows single point of access for communication between network elements (NEs) and operational support systems (OSs). SONET NEs also exploit the power of microprocessors, allowing NEs the intelligence to maintain local databases and perform functions once reserved for OSs. However, network management is still the most underdeveloped area of transport technology evolution, resulting in a significant gap between the power of this new technology and the ability to use that power effectively.<>