Operations, administration and management or operations, administration and maintenance (OA&M or OAM) are the processes, activities, tools, and standards involved with operating, administering, managing and maintaining any system. This commonly applies to
telecommunication
Telecommunication is the transmission of information by various types of technologies over wire, radio, optical, or other electromagnetic systems. It has its origin in the desire of humans for communication over a distance greater than that fe ...
,
computer network
A computer network is a set of computers sharing resources located on or provided by network nodes. The computers use common communication protocols over digital interconnections to communicate with each other. These interconnections are ...
s, and
computer hardware
Computer hardware includes the physical parts of a computer, such as the computer case, case, central processing unit (CPU), Random-access memory, random access memory (RAM), Computer monitor, monitor, Computer mouse, mouse, Computer keyboard, ...
.
In particular, Ethernet operations, administration and maintenance (EOAM) is the
protocol
Protocol may refer to:
Sociology and politics
* Protocol (politics), a formal agreement between nation states
* Protocol (diplomacy), the etiquette of diplomacy and affairs of state
* Etiquette, a code of personal behavior
Science and technology
...
for installing, monitoring and troubleshooting
Ethernet
Ethernet () is a family of wired computer networking technologies commonly used in local area networks (LAN), metropolitan area networks (MAN) and wide area networks (WAN). It was commercially introduced in 1980 and first standardized in 198 ...
metropolitan area network
A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a computer network that interconnects users with computer resources in a geographic region of the size of a metropolitan area. The term MAN is applied to the interconnection of local area networks (LANs) in ...
(MANs) and Ethernet
WANs
WANS (1280 AM) is a southern gospel radio station located in Anderson, South Carolina, United States. The station is licensed by the FCC to broadcast with 5 kW. during the daytime and 1 kW. directional at night.
Station history
WANS 12 ...
. It relies on a new, optional sublayer in the data link layer of the
OSI model
The Open Systems Interconnection model (OSI model) is a conceptual model that 'provides a common basis for the coordination of SOstandards development for the purpose of systems interconnection'. In the OSI reference model, the communications ...
. The OAM features covered by this protocol are discovery, link monitoring, remote fault detection, remote
loopback
Loopback (also written loop-back) is the routing of electronic signals or digital data streams back to their source without intentional processing or modification. It is primarily a means of testing the communications infrastructure.
There are m ...
Standards
* Fault management and performance monitoring (
ITU-T Y.1731) - Defines performance monitoring measurements such as frame loss ratio, frame delay and frame delay variation to assist with SLA assurance and capacity planning. For
fault management
In network management, fault management is the set of functions that detect, isolate, and correct malfunctions in a telecommunications network, compensate for environmental changes, and include maintaining and examining error logs, accepting and ...
the standard defines continuity checks,
loopback
Loopback (also written loop-back) is the routing of electronic signals or digital data streams back to their source without intentional processing or modification. It is primarily a means of testing the communications infrastructure.
There are m ...
s, link trace, and alarm suppression (AIS, RDI) for effective fault detection, verification, isolation, and notification in carrier networks.
* Connectivity fault management (
IEEE 802.1ag
IEEE 802.1ag (also CFM) (''IEEE Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks Virtual Bridged Local Area Networks Amendment 5: Connectivity Fault Management'') is a standard defined by IEEE. It defines protocols and practices for OAM (Operatio ...
) - Defines standardized continuity checks, loopbacks and link trace for fault management capabilities in enterprise and carrier networks. This standard also partitions the network into 8 hierarchical administrative domains.
* Link layer discovery (
IEEE 802.1AB) - Defines discovery for all
provider edges (PEs) supporting a common service instance and/or discovery for all edge devices and
P routers) common to a single network domain.
*
Ethernet in the First Mile
Ethernet in the first mile (EFM) refers to using one of the Ethernet family of computer network technologies between a telecommunications company and a customer's premises. From the customer's point of view, it is their first mile, although from th ...
defined in
IEEE 802.3ah
Ethernet in the first mile (EFM) refers to using one of the Ethernet family of computer network technologies between a telecommunications company and a customer's premises. From the customer's point of view, it is their first mile, although from th ...
IEEE 802.3ah EFM Standard Ratified
/ref> mechanisms for monitoring and troubleshooting Ethernet access links. Specifically, it defines tools for discovery, remote failure indication, remote and local loopbacks, and status and performance monitoring.
* Ethernet protection switching ( ITU G.8031) - Brings SONET
Synchronous optical networking (SONET) and synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) are standardized protocols that transfer multiple digital bit streams synchronously over optical fiber using lasers or highly coherent light from light-emitting diode ...
APS / SDH MSP-like protection switching to Ethernet trunks.
OAMP
OAMP, traditionally OAM&P, stands for operations, administration
Administration may refer to:
Management of organizations
* Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal
** Administrative assistant, Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an admini ...
, maintenance
Maintenance may refer to:
Biological science
* Maintenance of an organism
* Maintenance respiration
Non-technical maintenance
* Alimony, also called ''maintenance'' in British English
* Champerty and maintenance, two related legal doctrine ...
, and provisioning
In telecommunication, provisioning involves the process of preparing and equipping a network to allow it to provide new services to its users. In National Security/Emergency Preparedness telecommunications services, ''"provisioning"'' equates to ...
. The addition of 'T' in recent years stands for troubleshooting, and reflects its use in network operations environments. The term is used to describe the collection of disciplines generally, as well as whatever specific software package(s) or functionality a given company uses to track these things.
Though the term, and the concept, originated in the wired telephony
Telephony ( ) is the field of technology involving the development, application, and deployment of telecommunication services for the purpose of electronic transmission of voice, fax, or data, between distant parties. The history of telephony is i ...
world, the discipline (if not the term) has expanded to other spheres in which the same sorts of work are done, including cable television and many aspects of Internet services and network operations. 'Ethernet OAM' is another recent concept in which the terminology is used.
Operations encompass automatic monitoring of the environment, detecting and determining faults, and alerting admins. Administration typically involves collecting performance stats, accounting data for the purpose of billing, capacity planning using Usage data, and maintaining system reliability. It can also involve maintaining the service databases which are used to determine periodic billing.
Maintenance involves upgrades, fixes, new feature enablement, backing up and restoring data, and monitoring the media health. The major task is Diagnostics
Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of a certain phenomenon. Diagnosis is used in many different disciplines, with variations in the use of logic, analytics, and experience, to determine "cause and effect". In systems engineer ...
and troubleshooting. Provisioning is the setting up of the user accounts, devices, and services.
Although they both target the same set of markets, OAMP covers much more than the five specific areas targeted by FCAPS (See FCAPS
FCAPS is the International Organization for Standardization, ISO Telecommunications Management Network model and framework for network management. ''FCAPS'' is an acronym for fault, configuration, accounting, performance, security, the management ...
for more details; it is a terminology that has been more popular than OAMP in non-telecom environs in the past). In NOC environments, OAMP and OAMPT are used to describe the problem management life cycle more and more - and especially with the dawn of Carrier-Grade Ethernet, telco terminology is becoming more and more embedded in traditionally IP termed worlds.
O - Operations
A - Administration
M - Maintenance
P - Provisioning
T - Troubleshooting
Procedures
Operational
Basically, these are the procedures you use during normal network operations.
They are day-to-day organisational procedures: handover, escalation, major issue management, call out, support procedures, regular updates including emails and meetings. In this section group, you will find things like Daily Checklists, On-call and Shift rotas, Call response and ticket opening procedures, Manufacturer documentation like technical specifications and operator handbooks, OOB Procedures
Administration
These are support procedures that are necessary for day-to-day operations - things like common passwords, equipment and tools access, organisational forms and timesheets, meeting minutes and agendas, and customer Service Reports.
This is not necessarily 'network admin', but also 'network operations admin'.
Maintenance
Tasks that if not done will affect service or system operation, but are not necessarily as a result of a failure. Configuration and hardware changes that are a response to system deterioration. These involve scheduling provider maintenance, standard network equipment configuration changes as a result of policy or design, routine equipment checks, hardware changes, and software/firmware upgrades. Maintenance tasks can also involve the removal of administrative privileges as a security policy.
Provisioning
Introducing a new service, creating new circuits and setting up new equipment, installing new hardware. Provisioning processes will normally include 'how to' guides and checklists that need to be strictly adhered to and signed off. They can also involve integration and commissioning process which will involve sign-off to other parts of the business life cycle.
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting is carried out as a result of a fault or failure, may result in maintenance procedures, or emergency workarounds until such time as a maintenance procedure can be carried out. Troubleshooting procedures will involve knowledge databases, guides, and processes to cover the role of network operations engineers from initial diagnostics to advanced troubleshooting. This stage often involves problem simulation and is the traditional interface to design.
See also
* Carrier Ethernet
Carrier Ethernet is a marketing term for extensions to Ethernet for communications service providers that utilize Ethernet technology in their networks.
Background
Ethernet has a long history. It has become dominant in enterprise networks. This d ...
* FCAPS
FCAPS is the International Organization for Standardization, ISO Telecommunications Management Network model and framework for network management. ''FCAPS'' is an acronym for fault, configuration, accounting, performance, security, the management ...
* IEEE 802.1 IEEE 802.1 is a working group of the IEEE 802 project of the IEEE Standards Association.
It is concerned with:
* 802 LAN/MAN architecture
* internetworking among 802 LANs, MANs and wide area networks
* 802 Link Security
* 802 overall network mana ...
* International Telecommunication Union
The International Telecommunication Union is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for many matters related to information and communication technologies. It was established on 17 May 1865 as the International Telegraph Unio ...
* Metro Ethernet Forum MEF, founded in 2001, is a nonprofit international industry consortium, of network, cloud, and technology providers. MEF, originally known as the Metro Ethernet Forum, was dedicated to Carrier Ethernet networks and services, and in recent years, si ...
* NComm NComm is one of the most popular shareware terminal programs used on the Commodore International, Commodore Amiga line of computers, especially for connecting to Bulletin board system, BBS systems via a modem connected to the telephone line. The pro ...
* Operations support system
Operations support systems (OSS), operational support systems in British usage, or Operation System (OpS) in NTT, are computer systems used by telecommunications service providers to manage their networks (e.g., telephone networks). They support ...
* Provider Backbone Transport
Provider Backbone Bridge Traffic Engineering (PBB-TE) is an approved telecommunications networking standard, IEEE 802.1Qay-2009. PBB-TE adapts Ethernet technology to carrier class transport networks. It is based on the layered VLAN tags and MAC-in ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
EFM OAM Tutorial EFM OAM Tutorial
mdash;Download 802.3 specifications.
* ITU-T M.3020 "TMN INTERFACE SPECIFICATION METHODOLOGY"
* Lee, Cheng-yin (Ottawa, CA), Elkady, Amr (Ottawa, CA) 2007 Extensible OAM support in MPLS/ATM networks United States Alcatel Canada Inc. (Kanata, ON, CA)
* http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=544990
* http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc3429.html
* http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/routers/access/as5850/software/operations/guide/ehrsc/pref.html
Ethernet
System administration
Telephony
Network management