An introduction to telecom network ethernet inventory with IMS
VC4’s Inventory & Management System (IMS) can help a telecom service provider to manage multiple types of ethernet platforms, including metro ethernets and carrier ethernets. The latter also includes e-lines, e-LAN and e-tree connections.
In addition, IMS allows for ethernets to be transported over SDN/SONET, MPLS and carrier ethernet transport links.
If an ethernet connection is expanded into a carrier ethernet, it can then be transported via fiber cables, microwaves and GPON.
Network Ethernet Inventory Management
Within the Inventory & Management System, there is a separate network ethernet inventory that allows the software to manage complete networks, along with the following functions:
Ethernet connections
As mentioned above, all connections relating to an ethernet can be managed within IMS, with graphical overviews available for each.
These diagrams are created using information from within the database, which provides details relating to the employee, the protection rout and the leased line, to name just a few items.
Once this can be seen, users can decide exactly what other information is visible on screen.
See the diagrams below, which demonstrate an example of an ethernet service running over an SDH platform and a fiber connection. The final picture shows an MPLS ethernet service operating via pseudowires.
- Ethernet over SDH
Example of MPLS Ethernet Service running over Pseudowires:
- MPLS over Pseudowires
Layering and equipment
The network ethernet application of IMS makes it extremely easy for different connection layers to be viewed and explored. For instance, users can travel from fiber to ethernet and from V-LAN to customer service screens.
What’s more, the ethernet functionalities of IMS allow for the user to model all equipment and platforms within the software. As it is a vendor independent telecom solution, vendors can also be modelled in IMS. Graphical representations can be viewed at each stage throughout this process, while network maps can also be created.
- Equipment Ethernet
Each piece of equipment can be pre-wired to a patch panel, DDF, ODF or other form of distribution frame as required. These frames and accompanying cabling can then be stored in the Inventory & Management System.
- DDF/ODF related to Ethernet equipment
Distribution frames can also be created in this application, using the location information as a starting point.
Below a screenshot of an ODF with its positions.
- ODF with its positions
Below screenshot a cable route of two equipment on different location connected to each other via internal cabling and distribution frames.
- Cable Route Ethernet Services
Finally, relationships between ethernet services and other platforms can be managed in IMS, such as those involving SDH/SONET connections, fiber, WDM or MPLS. This can be applied to carrier/sub relations and circuit/cable links between ports as well.
- Relation between Ethernet and other platforms
Graphical network drawings can be created in the Network Map functionality.
All items on the Network Map are drawn from the database. Equipment and connections can be opened directly from the Network Map. Configuration of the network can be done via this form.
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