Title
Network Management Challenges and Trends in Multi-Layer and Multi-Vendor Settings for Carrier-Grade Networks
Abstract
The exponential growth of Internet traffic gives no respite to the telecommunications industry and is visibly shortening the life-cycle of the technologies used for core networking. To cope with the traffic demand, the industry has primarily focused on the evolution of the data and control planes, and has rapidly made progress in both subjects. However, the innovations in the market have not reached the management plane at the same speed. This stems from a number of factors, most of which point to the segmentation of competencies in managing multi-layer infrastructures. Current carrier-grade networks are organized as multi-layer infrastructures, typically composed of two layers: IP routers deployed in tandem with optical transport nodes. In turn, each of the two layers is typically composed of devices from different vendors, each of which usually supplies its own (proprietary) network management system (NMS). In practice, the lack of broadly accepted mechanisms for enabling interoperability among the different NMSs has led to the isolation of these proprietary systems. As a result, the operation and maintenance tasks on the network are becoming increasingly complex, which is leading to duplication of functions, higher OPEX, and significant delays in the coordination of multi-layer provisioning processes. In this paper, we examine in detail the interoperability challenges of managing multi-layer and multi-vendor carrier-grade networks, and review the current trends and recent standards in the area, with strong focus on industrial advances. We cover the Multi-Technology Operations System Interface (MTOSI) as well as OpenFlow, and analyze their potential impact and reach. We also discuss some of the reasons why relevant carrier-grade management proposals have not been able to fulfill the requirements of Internet service providers (ISPs), and identify a set of features that might help pave the way to market for new management products.
Year
DOI
Venue
2014
10.1109/COMST.2014.2327754
Communications Surveys & Tutorials, IEEE  
Keywords
Field
DocType
IP networks,Internet,open systems,optical fibre networks,telecommunication network management,telecommunication network routing,telecommunication standards,telecommunication traffic,IP routers,ISP,Internet service providers,Internet traffic,MTOSI,NMS,OPEX,carrier-grade management proposals,carrier-grade networks,control planes,core networking,maintenance tasks,management plane,management products,multilayer infrastructures,multilayer provisioning processes,multitechnology operations system interface,network management system,optical transport nodes,proprietary systems,telecommunications industry,traffic demand,IP,Networks,interoperability,management,multi-layer,multi-vendor,optical
Telecommunications,Internet traffic engineering,Interoperability,Computer science,Computer network,Provisioning,Carrier grade,OpenFlow,Network management,Overlay network,Internet traffic
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
16
4
1553-877X
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
3
0.45
0
Authors
9
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Martinez, A.1123.00
Marcelo Yannuzzi220221.82
Víctor López330.45
Diego Lopez430.45
Wilson Ramírez5364.59
René Serral-Gracià68812.48
Xavier Masip-Bruin737448.12
Maciej Maciejewski8142.45
Jörn Altmann965075.27