Subject: Telecom Network Management

Topic: Introduction of Network Management

• The earliest computer networks were simple consisting mainly of one or more mainframes connected to a few peripherals. Since the no. of n/w resources were quire small, managing such networks was relatively simple and adhoc techniques were sufficient.

• In comparison today's networks are considerably more complex & in addition, network complexity is constantly increasing. Network complexity arises mainly from to aspects : the large no. of devices and the diversity of devices on the network

• Typical networks may consist of hundreds and thousands of devices, such as PCs, workstations, file servers , pointers ,resources ,hubs ,firewalls etc.

• Each devices on the network could be manufactured by a different vendor and as a result , even the characteristics of similar devices could be widely dissimilar.

• Because of the increased n/w complexity we need to use automated tools to perform network management.

• An added problem is that n/ws are dynamic. As organizations grow the n/w grows more machines are added and as the no. of machines on a LAN increases, LAN is often broken up into segments which are connected by routes.

• Further vendors often come up with new devices offering improved capabilities such devices are often incorporated into n/w s explaining other devices. Keeping track of a changing n/w necessitated the use of n/w management tools.

• Lack of reliability of n/w component is another factor for good n/w management tools.

• Disks may get corrupted , n/w components may fail bringing down a n/w device. Tracking and rectifying such failures in n/w components are other factors to be considered, for which n/w management tools are useful