Easiness of operations is a topic that we at DNWP are working hard on to bring across our network management. The digital user generation that is accustomed to touchable interfaces by Apple and graphical layouts by Google since their childhood is predicted to expect the same ease of use and simplicity also at work. Usage of the ‘old school’ command line interfaces will no longer be common among the future network operators.
Further along with the digitalization, operating a massive communication network might soon be a task of a fairly small maintenance team. This development comes along with topics such as operational efficiency and risk management. Yet, when applying changes to the network are not daily routines, easiness and intuitiveness of the operated system become even more important.
For utility system providers like DNWP, this means turning our professional skills strictly to focus on UI and automation. These factors will help our customers to build and care for their critical communication networks with high quality also in the future.
An easy and intuitive web-based service creation is here
‘Point and click’ is a new way of commanding a DNWP critical communications network. This easy method helps to create e.g., a new IP based service in an instant. The feature is available for all our MPLS-TP networks monitored with an DNWP network management system. This is how to do it in four steps:
Step 1: Real-time plan your MPLS-TP network by pointing the network element locations out of a graphical map. The map includes the necessary site and fiber infrastructure information.
Step 2: Graphically design the planned service and the related MPLS-TP layers using the Traffic Manager tool. Links, tunnels and pseudowire as well as Virtual private LAN and line services can be created on screen. Working and protected paths can be selected within all the possible routes.
Step 3: Single-click activate your design into the network elements. The new configuration is sent to all elements and verified automatically. Your new Traffic Manager configuration is run and crosschecked in the network elements to avoid any conflicts.
Step 4: Automatically archive your design data to a database. The database consists of the up-to-date information about your network configuration. Redundant and synchronized servers protect your valuable data in every situation. Inventory Reports show listings of installed equipment and commissioned services.
Care for your network
Taking care of a critical communications network is an open-ended task. The ‘point and click’ method additionally includes maintenance functionalities to help you to stay on top of the information such as:
- 24/7/365 monitor your network with alarm and performance management tools. The Alarm Chrono shows all active and historical alarms with an alarm assignment. The combination of Traffic Manager performance monitoring and MPLS-TP OAM functions provides real time and statistical information e.g., about delays and possible data losses.
- Troubleshoot your network based on the monitoring information even before any services are affected. The real time element displays and the sophisticated end to end service level monitoring tools enable fast forwarding in case of any issues.
- Modify and change your evolving network. Adding new services or modifying operational ones are non-service affecting actions. Even changing the network topology with protected tunnels is a hitless operation using the Traffic Manager.
