Telecommunications Monitoring. Comparative Analysis

Monitoring is called a systematic collection and processing of information that can be used to improve the process of making various decisions. In the context of power supply systems of the telecommunication equipment, the main task of monitoring is to increase the predictability and reliability of the system itself, as well as to reduce the cost of its maintenance.

So, here we go.

The telecommunications’ industry has been experiencing significant changes, the transition from traditional switching networks to the packet data transmission, accompanied by avalanche-like growth, has being provided to subscribers of various telecommunication services.

In this case, the constant increase in the complexity of information and telecommunication systems, reliability of telecommunication network and the quality of services are of particular importance. That’s what the communication monitoring is all about. To succeed, it’s impossible to underestimate it.

The complexity and scale of the network infrastructure

Telecommunication infrastructure is a complex heterogeneous network, including telecommunication, server and software of various levels, working in various standards and under the different protocols.

They predetermine a high level of automation monitoring and management tools that should be used to ensure a reliable network. The purpose of creating a monitoring system for Telecom infrastructure means:

• ensuring high speed of processing users requests to provide the required information about resources and services;
• providing firmware management of information and telecommunications
  resources;
• creation of an effective diagnostic and timely alert for warning of the emergency situations and increase of the fault-tolerant telecommunication systems;
• the collection, processing, storage and information on the status of all telecommunications and the real-time network infrastructure from the architecture of the network, the type of switch and supply, etc.

At the same time, the following should be provided:

non-interference in the operation of network equipment, due to the overlay of data collection architecture;
- increased safety, since the probes do not depend on the switches and the loss of information in the system. There are no failures or overloads in the network;
- continuous collection of statistical information, which allows the creation of large-scale data, necessary to perform a pseudo-statistical analysis of the network, traffic, and the technical parameters of service;
- network management and maintenance in real time mode — parameter management quality of service;
- integration with improved tools data analysis tools;
- creation of a single information center for work on the status of systems and network.

In practice, in monitoring system infrastructure, the following basic requirements are applied to the platforms:

- Scalability;
- Support for distributed architecture of client — server;
- Openness, allowing to manage equipment different manufacturers;
- Differentiation of support staff function.

In telecommunications such thing as monitoring is necessary but often neglected due to various reasons. Companies may face the aftermath of poor monitoring systems analysis and experience telecommunications network interruptions in the most unpredictable places. So, it’s vital to realize the and follow the general requirements and generalization of architecture in often similar systems.

Comparison of the monitoring systems is traditionally carried out following by such parameters as:

1. Formation of reports SLA (Service Level Agreement) as required.

Monitoring of guaranteed quality parameters Service SLA, defining the inter-operators relationship.

2. Formation of trends.
Identification of the main trends in the dynamics of the telecommunications network quality.

3. Forecasting trends.
Forecasting changes in the dynamics of the telecommunications network quality indicator.

4. Analysis of the network topology.
Collect information about the elements of the network.

5. Use of the agency monitoring model.

The availability of devices that collect and provide information about the network operation.

6. SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol ) support.

Using the SMNP protocol to exchange the information about the states of the objects observed in the real time.

7. Logging of events.
Generating detailed status records for various network elements.

8. Sensors for emergency situations.

Availability of devices for notification of critical situations, negative trends and other changes in the telecoms network performance.

So, what’s the point?

Telecommunication companies and other organizations that wanna keep their networks in order and their business successful, that is to receive a number of benefits, primarily time — saving, need to regularly monitor and update them to stay tuned in and support communication on the highest level.

Due to reflecting all the necessary console parameters and reports, on-time monitoring can easily reduce the load on operators, associated with the monitoring and controlling power equipment, and with just a few mouse clicks, to be able to quickly identify the problem and solve it.

Besides, the ability to understand the SNMP protocol for the software the companies use for monitoring, makes it possible to implement effective monitoring regardless of the vendors hardware and to completely abandon the heterogeneous management tools.

Thanks to this, the costs of testing will be reduced, management decisions — accelerated, and it becomes possible to get a complete picture of the state of the infrastructure facilities and even more.

As far as our company is concerned, monitoring remains rather painful, since there is always a lack of time. However, that does not matter that there is no supervision of technical equipment and other resources and channels of communication that may take on the final results and the company’s overall progress. We do our best to keep finger on the pulse and monitor the systems as per industry demands.

Do you?