Providing Global Management Functions for ATM Networks

Modern computer networks with their increasing bandwidth and their ability of QoS support require adequate management solutions. For ATM networks, a management system especially needs global functions combining the local management functionality distributed over all individual network devices to network-wide functions in order to manage e.g. end-to-end connections and their QoS aspects. In this context, the following paper presents an approach to ATM network management which introduces a function-oriented architecture. Based on this architecture, the functionality of two developed management entities, the ATM Network Monitor and the PVC Manager, which are both designed for important network-wide management functions like topology discovery, connection management, and QoS monitoring are described in detail.